Our present squad

We are building excellent depth. For the first time ever we have a second team that actually challenges the first. In practice, since we are playing in two leagues next season both teams will get regular starts. Everyone knows our first team so I won’t repeat it but the ‘second XI’ are:

Benitez

Khalaili

Mingueza
Tomiyasu
Lerma or a new signing/loan later

Sosa

Doucoure
Hughes

McNeil

Strand Larsen

Franca

And in some positions we have a (incomplete) 3rd team :

Matthews

Gozo

-
-
-

Devenny

-
-


Guessand
Nketiah
-

Some of these third team gaps may be filled later in the window if not by academy players.


It’s up to our new manager to get all these players challenging for 1st team positions. Whatever happens this season we should not see the appauling cliffedge drop in form that we did last Christmas.
 
maddog said:
We are building excellent depth. For the first time ever we have a second team that actually challenges the first. In practice, since we are playing in two leagues next season both teams will get regular starts. Everyone knows our first team so I won’t repeat it but the ‘second XI’ are:

Benitez

Khalaili

Mingueza
Tomiyasu
Lerma or a new signing/loan later

Sosa

Doucoure
Hughes

McNeil

Strand Larsen

Franca

And in some positions we have a (incomplete) 3rd team :

Matthews

Gozo

-
-
-

Devenny

-
-


Guessand
Nketiah
-

Some of these third team gaps may be filled later in the window if not by academy players.


It’s up to our new manager to get all these players challenging for 1st team positions. Whatever happens this season we should not see the appauling cliffedge drop in form that we did last Christmas.
Click to expand...
Guessand hasn't been brought in on loan to languish in your 3rd XI. He's likely to be getting a good amount of game time. Sage will know him from the days Guessand was at Nice and Sage at Lyon. In other words, he knows what he's getting.

Also, given the intense pressing game Sage demands from his teams, I expect him to use his subs earlier than our previous managers so as to maintain the tempo etc. Consequently, a number of your so-called 2nd XI will get regular minutes in games and not simply the odd 15 minutes here and there.

I heard it rumoured that Sage has been impressed with Ozoh. It will be interesting to see whether we resist the apparent interest from several clubs and hang on to him. If we do, then expect him to feature.

Having said all that, yes, you're right about the growing depth of our squad.
 
Last edited:
PatrickA said:
Looking at our centre back options,

The Good News
- Richards is a warrior who has shown consistent form in the last couple of seasons and is a reliable performer
- Canvot has great potential and improved significantly as he played more games
- Riad has been unlucky with injuries, but in his limited opportunities he has shown flashes of his talent
- Tomiyasu is a class player with a very good experience , but he has to prove his long term fitness
- Lerma has shown he can be a competent stand in
- Mingueza can apparently play there, even though he’s more of a RWB.

The Bad News
- none of them are Lacroix or Guehi

We are linked with getting at least one centre back in this window and for me that will be very important.
I remain unconvinced by our current options against the opposition we will encounter.
Although a very good defender, I don’t see Richards as having the recovery pace or accuracy of distribution to play in the centre of the back 3.
I think somebody mentioned that we could muddle through to January with the current options and address it in January if necessary.

To me, that’s an unnecessary risk.
Click to expand...
I completely agree. A very good player in the centre of the back three can go some way towards mitigating any shortcomings the players on the right or left may have. He can organise them and cover for them.

Conversely, even if we have very good defenders on the right and left sides they can't easily cover for a less-capable central defender, should we end up with one.

Richards may surprise us, but I share your concerns and reasoning.
 
doombear said:
Because we wanted him before Villa out bid us and it seems we still want him - at the right price, however.

As for Uche, sadly he suffered a very bad knee injury in a so-called friendly and is out for the season, so, no - he won't be next.
Click to expand...


I meant after he'd arrived. I imagine that Glasner just didn't like him in order that he go back, and we figured that there is still a player there that we're interested in.

Clause is rumoured £25m automatically triggered on 8 goals or assists
 
doombear said:
Because we wanted him before Villa out bid us and it seems we still want him - at the right price, however.

As for Uche, sadly he suffered a very bad knee injury in a so-called friendly and is out for the season, so, no - he won't be next.
Click to expand...
Unless this injury has knocked a tenner off his asking price of course.
 
doombear said:
Guessand hasn't been brought in on loan to languish in your 3rd XI. He's likely to be getting a good amount of game time. Sage will know him from the days Guessand was at Nice and Sage at Lyon. In other words, he knows what he's getting.

Also, given the intense pressing game Sage demands from his teams, I expect him to use his subs earlier than our previous managers so as to maintain the tempo etc. Consequently, a number of your so-called 2nd XI will get regular minutes in games and not simply the odd 15 minutes here and there.

I heard it rumoured that Sage has been impressed with Ozoh. It will be interesting to see whether we resist the apparent interest from several clubs and hang on to him. If we do, then expect him to feature.

Having said all that, yes, you're right about the growing depth of our squad.
Click to expand...
Yeah fine. Swap them around however you like. The point is that we have at least two quality teams.
 
maddog said:
We are building excellent depth. For the first time ever we have a second team that actually challenges the first. In practice, since we are playing in two leagues next season both teams will get regular starts. Everyone knows our first team so I won’t repeat it but the ‘second XI’ are:

Benitez

Khalaili

Mingueza
Tomiyasu
Lerma or a new signing/loan later

Sosa

Doucoure
Hughes

McNeil

Strand Larsen

Franca

And in some positions we have a (incomplete) 3rd team :

Matthews

Gozo

-
-
-

Devenny

-
-


Guessand
Nketiah
-

Some of these third team gaps may be filled later in the window if not by academy players.


It’s up to our new manager to get all these players challenging for 1st team positions. Whatever happens this season we should not see the appauling cliffedge drop in form that we did last Christmas.
Click to expand...
Speak for yourself...for me and most Palace fans I talk to, we'd hope for Mingueza to be signed as a starter. And potentially Tomiyasu too, depending on fitness. We're also united in saying if Doucoure gets back anywhere close to full fitness, he comes straight in alongside Wharton - such was his impact.

Guessand is another who could feel aggrieved at your line up - he certainly pushes for a start as the other 10 next to Sarr.

But I actually agree with your wider point - having players like Riad, Tomiyasu, Kamada, McNeil, Pino waiting in the wings to contribute is exciting - we're building depth indeed.
 
sprites said:
Speak for yourself...for me and most Palace fans I talk to, we'd hope for Mingueza to be signed as a starter. And potentially Tomiyasu too, depending on fitness. We're also united in saying if Doucoure gets back anywhere close to full fitness, he comes straight in alongside Wharton - such was his impact.

Guessand is another who could feel aggrieved at your line up - he certainly pushes for a start as the other 10 next to Sarr.

But I actually agree with your wider point - having players like Riad, Tomiyasu, Kamada, McNeil, Pino waiting in the wings to contribute is exciting - we're building depth indeed.
Click to expand...
The way Sage has been talking it sounds like he will be using his subs a lot. So will he be telling the attackers give it your all for 60 mins?

So if players are getting plenty of game day I don't think it will be an issue. I guess we will have to wait and see.
 
Badger11 said:
The way Sage has been talking it sounds like he will be using his subs a lot. So will he be telling the attackers give it your all for 60 mins?

So if players are getting plenty of game day I don't think it will be an issue. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Click to expand...
I am REALLY liking the idea of using subs earlier...as well as building the depth to bring on quality subs

One of my biggest frustrations with previous managers was the lack of changes when either protecting a lead or chasing a goal - changing at 89 minutes always baffled me!

More intensity and the use of subs is one of those the big previous issues IMHO, which it looks like Sage with resolve 🤞
 
maddog said:
We are building excellent depth. For the first time ever we have a second team that actually challenges the first. In practice, since we are playing in two leagues next season both teams will get regular starts. Everyone knows our first team so I won’t repeat it but the ‘second XI’ are:

Benitez

Khalaili

Mingueza
Tomiyasu
Lerma or a new signing/loan later

Sosa

Doucoure
Hughes

McNeil

Strand Larsen

Franca

And in some positions we have a (incomplete) 3rd team :

Matthews

Gozo

-
-
-

Devenny

-
-


Guessand
Nketiah
-

Some of these third team gaps may be filled later in the window if not by academy players.


It’s up to our new manager to get all these players challenging for 1st team positions. Whatever happens this season we should not see the appauling cliffedge drop in form that we did last Christmas.
Click to expand...
My concern is that we have a second XI capable of challenging the first XI because a lot of the first choice players aren't very good, rather than because the reserves are strong.

I don't doubt that the likes of Guessand or McNeill, for instance, would do as good a job as, say, Pino. The problem is that Pino has not performed to the required level and is not obviously going to.

I think squad depth is nice to have but it's not as important as having a good team to begin with.
 
doombear said:
Guessand hasn't been brought in on loan to languish in your 3rd XI. He's likely to be getting a good amount of game time. Sage will know him from the days Guessand was at Nice and Sage at Lyon. In other words, he knows what he's getting.

Also, given the intense pressing game Sage demands from his teams, I expect him to use his subs earlier than our previous managers so as to maintain the tempo etc. Consequently, a number of your so-called 2nd XI will get regular minutes in games and not simply the odd 15 minutes here and there.

I heard it rumoured that Sage has been impressed with Ozoh. It will be interesting to see whether we resist the apparent interest from several clubs and hang on to him. If we do, then expect him to feature.

Having said all that, yes, you're right about the growing depth of our squad.
Click to expand...

Have you heard any more rumours that we should be made aware of?
 
doombear said:
Guessand hasn't been brought in on loan to languish in your 3rd XI. He's likely to be getting a good amount of game time. Sage will know him from the days Guessand was at Nice and Sage at Lyon. In other words, he knows what he's getting.

Also, given the intense pressing game Sage demands from his teams, I expect him to use his subs earlier than our previous managers so as to maintain the tempo etc. Consequently, a number of your so-called 2nd XI will get regular minutes in games and not simply the odd 15 minutes here and there.

I heard it rumoured that Sage has been impressed with Ozoh. It will be interesting to see whether we resist the apparent interest from several clubs and hang on to him. If we do, then expect him to feature.

Having said all that, yes, you're right about the growing depth of our squad.
Click to expand...

Have you heard any more rumours that we should be made aware of?
 
The squad depth looks fantastic. My only concerns are:

- Sosa is a poor back up to Mitchell. We'd be weak down the left it he gets crocked.

- We're still short of a quality centre midfielder. I love Hughesy but fear his legs are going, similar with Lerma. I think it's unlikely Doucoure will return to his best but hope he proves me wrong. Is this the season Ozoh comes through?

The squad feels huge. Surely a few will be let go? - I would expect Franca, Esse and Devenny to be on their way out the door.

With the depth we have, I'd expect high tempo football with plenty of rotation in the attacking positions. This should allow us to be competitive in all competitions, which would be superb.
 
Goal Machine said:
The squad depth looks fantastic. My only concerns are:

- Sosa is a poor back up to Mitchell. We'd be weak down the left it he gets crocked.

- We're still short of a quality centre midfielder. I love Hughesy but fear his legs are going, similar with Lerma. I think it's unlikely Doucoure will return to his best but hope he proves me wrong. Is this the season Ozoh comes through?

The squad feels huge. Surely a few will be let go? - I would expect Franca, Esse and Devenny to be on their way out the door.

With the depth we have, I'd expect high tempo football with plenty of rotation in the attacking positions. This should allow us to be competitive in all competitions, which would be fantastic.
Click to expand...
Would love to see Franca, retained,play and be a great success!!
 
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