Trepidation for the 26/27 Prem season ?

[TheBigToePunt]

Was I the only one thinking European football would lead to us assembling a better squad and starting xl but in the last year and a bit it’s done the opposite with another starter from the first xl gone in Munoz I feel if we don’t get a few more players in that improves the first xl we are in for a very long season that’s without the chance that sarr and jpm may move on too!

I cannot fathom the preoccupation with squad depth. For one thing, we'll be in Europe until the group stage ends, perhaps a round more, but certainly it won't be a regular event. To try and have two proper senior players for each position is total overkill the moment we exit Europe.

Moreover, as you point out, our best XI is very weak. It doesn't matter how often you can swap players around without reducing the standard of the team if that standard is too low.

It feels to me like these two things are connected. Take Munoz as an example. We've cashed in and seem to have replaced him with two players effectively in Mingueza and Khalaili, both of whom are younger. Great, but are either actually as good? Depth is not the same as quality.

Finally, I really think that squad depth is overrated. Playing every week is a massive part of a players development. It's why Guehi, Olise etc signed for us instead of one of the big clubs. For us to have two players we rotate for any given position rather than one clear first choice is not only a questionable use of resources, it hinders that players growth. It also stops them taking ownership. There are far too many footballers floating around counting their "minutes' these days, mugging themselves off that they are important because the manager uses them for the finish of the game. You get far more from a person who feels depended upon and responsible for the results, rather than only part involved. That needs to be weighed against tired legs and fatigue.

I'd rather we just had a good XI with a bit of cover than a strong squad. That's how we did well under most of our previous managers.

 

[mtp1958]

I said awhile back that I would make judgement about our season to come once transfer window closes , well the first window closed , and I'm still not sure , are we going for all the cups as the squad we have means everyone get a chance , we can play 6 rest 5 ,

Worry one , is the dressing room going to be big enough ,
Worry two , are we in a chelsea world to many players ,
Worry three , will Sage really know who his best 11 will be with so many choices , that really worrys me ,

Sage really has his work cut out wading through this lot , maybe it gives him options to change formation during a game , have we signed a goal scoting midfielder in all that lot that would be a bonus ,
Will Sarr and Mateta still be here by the time all windows close , I'm now looking at getting the next 3 games out of the way , give Sage chance to access his options and when the international break is over he can then settle more on his first 11 ,
So how I see the season progress from here to be honest I'm not sure ,

Yours Confused OBE BBC and in the Bar

 

[sprites]

I cannot fathom the preoccupation with squad depth. For one thing, we'll be in Europe until the group stage ends, perhaps a round more, but certainly it won't be a regular event. To try and have two proper senior players for each position is total overkill the moment we exit Europe.

Moreover, as you point out, our best XI is very weak. It doesn't matter how often you can swap players around without reducing the standard of the team if that standard is too low.

It feels to me like these two things are connected. Take Munoz as an example. We've cashed in and seem to have replaced him with two players effectively in Mingueza and Khalaili, both of whom are younger. Great, but are either actually as good? Depth is not the same as quality.

Finally, I really think that squad depth is overrated. Playing every week is a massive part of a players development. It's why Guehi, Olise etc signed for us instead of one of the big clubs. For us to have two players we rotate for any given position rather than one clear first choice is not only a questionable use of resources, it hinders that players growth. It also stops them taking ownership. There are far too many footballers floating around counting their "minutes' these days, mugging themselves off that they are important because the manager uses them for the finish of the game. You get far more from a person who feels depended upon and responsible for the results, rather than only part involved. That needs to be weighed against tired legs and fatigue.

I'd rather we just had a good XI with a bit of cover than a strong squad. That's how we did well under most of our previous managers.

I don't totally disagree. But the team's drop in performance levels last year, while trying to manage two games a week consistently, would suggest depth is more important than you're making it out to be.

Then there's competition for places and how that increases the levels of everyone at training and in games. Even an extra 5% makes a big difference.

 

[park the bus]

I said awhile back that I would make judgement about our season to come once transfer window closes , well the first window closed , and I'm still not sure , are we going for all the cups as the squad we have means everyone get a chance , we can play 6 rest 5 ,

Worry one , is the dressing room going to be big enough ,
Worry two , are we in a chelsea world to many players ,
Worry three , will Sage really know who his best 11 will be with so many choices , that really worrys me ,

Sage really has his work cut out wading through this lot , maybe it gives him options to change formation during a game , have we signed a goal scoting midfielder in all that lot that would be a bonus ,
Will Sarr and Mateta still be here by the time all windows close , I'm now looking at getting the next 3 games out of the way , give Sage chance to access his options and when the international break is over he can then settle more on his first 11 ,
So how I see the season progress from here to be honest I'm not sure ,

Yours Confused OBE BBC and in the Bar

5 games up to September 20th. all close enough to thoroughly test any questions about squad depth and strategy: Fulham, Boro, Ipswich, Lech Poznan, Leeds. Come October we'll know if we have a competitive team and a manager who knows his beans.

 

[Mr Palaceman]

I said awhile back that I would make judgement about our season to come once transfer window closes , well the first window closed , and I'm still not sure , are we going for all the cups as the squad we have means everyone get a chance , we can play 6 rest 5 ,

Worry one , is the dressing room going to be big enough ,
Worry two , are we in a chelsea world to many players ,
Worry three , will Sage really know who his best 11 will be with so many choices , that really worrys me ,

Sage really has his work cut out wading through this lot , maybe it gives him options to change formation during a game , have we signed a goal scoting midfielder in all that lot that would be a bonus ,
Will Sarr and Mateta still be here by the time all windows close , I'm now looking at getting the next 3 games out of the way , give Sage chance to access his options and when the international break is over he can then settle more on his first 11 ,
So how I see the season progress from here to be honest I'm not sure ,

Yours Confused OBE BBC and in the Bar

Personally, I think this has been a really good window. Over many seasons the complaint on the site has been that we haven't signed enough players and now we have signed players, we have somehow signed too many. We also started to get players in early on, again the complaint has always been we leave it late, which was not the case this time around, we were signing right through the window.

To address your worries..

"Worry one, is the dressing room going to be big enough".
This is your first worry? I hope you are saying this as a tongue in cheek comment..

"Worry two , are we in a Chelsea world to many players"
We where very light previously and considering that we have a proper European campaign to contend with I think it's great that we have competition for positions and cover for injuries.

"Worry three , will Sage really know who his best 11 will be with so many choices , that really worries me".
That is what the manager is there for. Its his job to select the team. If a manager can't pick his best players then what is the point of a manager.

It has also been suggested in other posts that the team somehow lacks quality. How do we know that yet? We have made 11 signings, some of them look good from the start and we only lost two in Munoz and Lacroix both good players but not irreplaceable.

We have to wait and see if there has been a drop in quality as far as I'm concerned.. I don't think so but time will tell. That's not confusing, that's how it always is, for every team.

I was watching a Talksport podcast and every fan from every club was moaning about their transfer window. It seems to me that nothing is ever good enough unless you are Man City.

Everton fans were crying, they sold players and the Balogun transfer failed. Chelsea fans were crying as they lost Fernandes without a replacement. Aston Villa fans were crying as, well, they lost all their players, Man Utd fans were crying because they hadn't strengthened for the Champions League and a Palace fan was crying because we left it late again.. really!

The only thing I'm crying about is that we are so negative about our club. Half the threads started are ridiculously negative, all based on assumption, speculation and pessimism.

I'm now going to look forward to the coming games, now the transfer frenzy is over. I look forward to seeing how our squad settles and who we can get excited about watching.

I'm not singling out your post as anything negative , bad or wrong. I could have replied to a few recent posts in this thread and I get that they are a lot of unknowns, there always are. For us this season more unknowns than usual, we have a new manager etc.

You end your post with.. "So how I see the season progress from here to be honest I'm not sure". For me, that's what its all about?

I hope we have a good season with our new look and new manager. Nothing is guaranteed, is it ever with us but come the end of the season, I expect to still be supporting a Premier League club that hopefully finishes above Br!ghton (bit of an ask at the moment) and Notts Forest...

COYP...

 

[mtp1958]

Personally, I think this has been a really good window. Over many seasons the complaint on the site has been that we haven't signed enough players and now we have signed players, we have somehow signed too many. We also started to get players in early on, again the complaint has always been we leave it late, which was not the case this time around, we were signing right through the window.

To address your worries..

"Worry one, is the dressing room going to be big enough".
This is your first worry? I hope you are saying this as a tongue in cheek comment..

"Worry two , are we in a Chelsea world to many players"
We where very light previously and considering that we have a proper European campaign to contend with I think it's great that we have competition for positions and cover for injuries.

"Worry three , will Sage really know who his best 11 will be with so many choices , that really worries me".
That is what the manager is there for. Its his job to select the team. If a manager can't pick his best players then what is the point of a manager.

It has also been suggested in other posts that the team somehow lacks quality. How do we know that yet? We have made 11 signings, some of them look good from the start and we only lost two in Munoz and Lacroix both good players but not irreplaceable.

We have to wait and see if there has been a drop in quality as far as I'm concerned.. I don't think so but time will tell. That's not confusing, that's how it always is, for every team.

I was watching a Talksport podcast and every fan from every club was moaning about their transfer window. It seems to me that nothing is ever good enough unless you are Man City.

Everton fans were crying, they sold players and the Balogun transfer failed. Chelsea fans were crying as they lost Fernandes without a replacement. Aston Villa fans were crying as, well, they lost all their players, Man Utd fans were crying because they hadn't strengthened for the Champions League and a Palace fan was crying because we left it late again.. really!

The only thing I'm crying about is that we are so negative about our club. Half the threads started are ridiculously negative, all based on assumption, speculation and pessimism.

I'm now going to look forward to the coming games, now the transfer frenzy is over. I look forward to seeing how our squad settles and who we can get excited about watching.

I'm not singling out your post as anything negative , bad or wrong. I could have replied to a few recent posts in this thread and I get that they are a lot of unknowns, there always are. For us this season more unknowns than usual, we have a new manager etc.

You end your post with.. "So how I see the season progress from here to be honest I'm not sure". For me, that's what its all about?

I hope we have a good season with our new look and new manager. Nothing is guaranteed, is it ever with us but come the end of the season, I expect to still be supporting a Premier League club that hopefully finishes above Br!ghton (bit of an ask at the moment) and Notts Forest...

COYP...

Nice post yes the managers job is to get the best out of the teams he picks , but with so many incoming it can cloud things as proved at Chelsea , he does have abundance of talent to choose from ,
Normally after a window I can see a picture as just 3 maybe 4 max coming in but 11 , but this is like a 10k jigsaw may take a little longer to see the whole picture , hence the not sure part yet , I believe in Sage's ability to see a clearer picture 👍🏻

 

[Mr Palaceman]

Nice post yes the managers job is to get the best out of the teams he picks , but with so many incoming it can cloud things as proved at Chelsea , he does have abundance of talent to choose from ,
Normally after a window I can see a picture as just 3 maybe 4 max coming in but 11 , but this is like a 10k jigsaw may take a little longer to see the whole picture , hence the not sure part yet , I believe in Sage's ability to see a clearer picture 👍🏻

Well, can't argue with that. Sage does have a lot to chose from. I like that though.

I can't remember a time when we signed so many in a transfer window, except maybe under Holloway. Didn't we sign a few too many and then have to tell a player we had just signed that we couldn't register him in the squad. 🤣 (Although, not funny at the time).

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

We have a big and good enough squad to to comfortably avoid relegation and put up a decent showing in the Europa league, whether the manager can manage the players he has, we win find out

 

[Badger11]

If Sage can talk some sense into JPM and Sarr we have a terrific squad.

I hope that neither downs tools, they will get their moves likely in January.

 

[mtp1958]

If Sage can talk some sense into JPM and Sarr we have a terrific squad.

I hope that neither downs tools, they will get their moves likely in January.

Well Mateta come back and scored ,
Think Sarr will be ok but both need to kick there agents into touch , if they had they may have both got their moves but with sound advice

 

[Part Time James]

Who has Sarr signed for? Too lazy to scroll

 

[Plaistow Eagle]

We have a big and good enough squad to to comfortably avoid relegation and put up a decent showing in the Europa league, whether the manager can manage the players he has, we win find out

Mate I think after the window - we now have a top 10 squad.

I’m very happy with our Business in the window.

My only observation as is always with Parish - why was it all left so late.

Once again we’ve thrown away early points and it will take time for all the new signings to settle in and understand what Sage requires.

So realistically we’re now looking after the International break before we start seeing the best from this squad.

So once again we’ll be playing catch up.

When is Parish ever going to learn - yes we got there in the end, we’ve got depth and quality depth across the squad. But why did it take so long.

That aside I’m pleasantly surprised and happy.

COYP

 

[eagle52]

Well, can't argue with that. Sage does have a lot to chose from. I like that though.

I can't remember a time when we signed so many in a transfer window, except maybe under Holloway. Didn't we sign a few too many and then have to tell a player we had just signed that we couldn't register him in the squad. 🤣 (Although, not funny at the time).

Fairly certain that was Florian Marange. Settled his family here and had arranged kids school. Then given the Spanish archer.

 

[Save Dwindlehurst]

All last season posters were moaning the squad wasn’t big enough now people are moaning we’ve got too many (good) players!

 

[JHB]

All last season posters were moaning the squad wasn’t big enough now people are moaning we’ve got too many (good) players!

I think the trepidation is more that we might have too many (not quite good enough) players

 

[PatrickA]

All last season posters were moaning the squad wasn’t big enough now people are moaning we’ve got too many (good) players!

In a perverse way both statements can be true!

Glasner seemed to prefer working with a small squad, but it did hurt us last season when senior players were missing.

In contrast Sage as a new manager seens spoilt for choice .
He hasn't had the chance to get to know, in Premier League terms, the pre-existing players when another bunch arrives.
He could be experimenting for a couple of months to get the right blend with no doubt some squad members thinking they haven't had the opportunity or sufficient opportunity.

Nobody's fault, it's just how it's worked out.

 

[tonymikejoe]

This is a great challenge for our inexperienced manager Pierre Sage.
He has no working knowledge of the PL and has only been the boss for the equivalent of two seasons in France.
Yet, he has to fashion a winning team in the league, Europe and both cup competitions out of a bunch containing equally inexperienced PL players from vastly different backgrounds who have suddenly been thrown together.
This is a big job so we have to give him somewhat of a chance.
On the whole I believe the transfer window was eventually saved from total disaster and am confident we will stay in the division.

 

[The Dolphin]

Mate I think after the window - we now have a top 10 squad.

I’m very happy with our Business in the window.

My only observation as is always with Parish - why was it all left so late.

Once again we’ve thrown away early points and it will take time for all the new signings to settle in and understand what Sage requires.

So realistically we’re now looking after the International break before we start seeing the best from this squad.

So once again we’ll be playing catch up.

When is Parish ever going to learn - yes we got there in the end, we’ve got depth and quality depth across the squad. But why did it take so long.

That aside I’m pleasantly surprised and happy.

COYP

Everyone left it late - the last few days have been nuts.
I do not blame SP at all.
Agents delay stuff to try and get better deals etc. - it must be a nightmare for the clubs and especially now with the new SCR rules!

 

[BromleyMonkey]

This is a great challenge for our inexperienced manager Pierre Sage.
He has no working knowledge of the PL and has only been the boss for the equivalent of two seasons in France.
Yet, he has to fashion a winning team in the league, Europe and both cup competitions out of a bunch containing equally inexperienced PL players from vastly different backgrounds who have suddenly been thrown together.
This is a big job so we have to give him somewhat of a chance.
On the whole I believe the transfer window was eventually saved from total disaster and am confident we will stay in the division.

Neither did Glasner and that worked out okay
But you’re pretty much spot on though with all you’re saying, sage has got a massive job sorting out what his best team is now, especially now the season is under way, but at least he’s got plenty of players to shuffle.

 

[ASCPFC]

Neither did Glasner and that worked out okay
But you’re pretty much spot on though with all you’re saying, sage has got a massive job sorting out what his best team is now, especially now the season is under way, but at least he’s got plenty of players to shuffle.

I'm basing it on nothing at all and had really never particularly followed either manager, but for some reason I was more convinced by Glasner. I think it's just some kind of subconscious reaction to appearances or demeanor or something like just an instinct.