Is This The Best Squad?

[Pendle Red]

Jimmy Bells in today's Lancashire Telegraph saying they boast their best ever squad since he's been part of the management squad!

I have to agree there is strength in depth, the quality is there, could perhaps do with another defender with league experience just to add pressure for places?

Come on you Reds!

[Redash]

What's the point in having pressure for places, when the weakest defender we have, will always be the first name on the team-sheet.

[JEFF]

Originally Posted by Redash

What's the point in having pressure for places, when the weakest defender we have, will always be the first name on the team-sheet.

Probably the weakest TWO defenders will always be the first names on the team-sheet.

We have recently signed a Northern Ireland International centre half yet we play with one of our weakest defenders at centre half and we play with a utility player at centre half and leave the International centre half on the bench.

[John_Timmins]

ok why play Mullers when we have an northern Ireland striker on the bench?? in evil....

[yerself]

We have a left winger who can't kick a ball with his left foot.

[maccawozzagod]

and a striker playing right wing (ish) and another striker playing left centre midfield.

but yes it is probably the best squad we have ever had.

One or two little tittilations I'd like to see would be (in a 4-4-2) Cav to move to the right side of midfield and Branch to the left side of midfield leaving Edwards and Leam as full-backs. Branchy has got a good left foot and would be a useful outlet for spraying balls around, whilst Cav has been exceptional going forward this season. Both of them would benefit from having somebody behind them and both full backs would in turn be far more consistent with having proper cover in front of them. I'd like to see Proctor and Craney governing the midfield a la Barry and Craney as I believe Proctor is better than Barry was. And Webb should start

[Revived Red]

I agree about Branchy's left foot, Macca. It's the rest of him that worries me.

[Willie Miller]

Robbie can't be that bad , we've had promotion after promotion with him at the club....

Robbie may make mistakes in positioning but has a footballer he's first class

[Oggy]

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

Robbie can't be that bad , we've had promotion after promotion with him at the club....

Have to agree with that, love the lack of complacency shown in this thread, though.

Probably, on paper, the best squad since I've been watching, but nowhere near the best team. If the three players with League experience could apply themselves a little more, it would help. Still, early days.

[SamF]

I'd say conference winning side was better if I'm honest.
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[maccawozzagod]

Originally Posted by SamF

I'd say conference winning side was better if I'm honest.
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if we're talking better for the level or better than the team we have now then ....... this is undoubtedley the best team as we are higher than ever before.

But the Unibond team were the best of the lot pound for pound..... 100 points 100 goals????????

[carpon]

Originally Posted by SamF

I'd say conference winning side was better if I'm honest.
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I'd agree that the conference winning side played some good stuff and to win that league by the margin we did was an achievement that speaks volumes for all those connected with that achievement,playing staff and management.But in retrospect, the opposition in that league was considerably different in class to the sides we face now.

I'd agree somewhat that the current squad has a little more "strength in depth" than we've had for some years. But I'd counter that statement with an arguement that IF the club wants to keep the forward momentum going,then the squad HAS to have more strength in depth.

After all, last season's struggle against relegation could be explained away by the contributing factors of the loss of Roberts and Craney at a crucial time and the fact that we lacked the "strength in depth" that we may have this season.

All in all, after our somewhat jittery start to the season, I like many others am both pleased and satisfied that we have recovered from the iffy start and put some distance between ourselves and the drop zone. Hopefully Coley,with Eric's backing can continue to strengthen the playing staff which will in turn reap rewards,the rewards being the sides continued presence in it's current "loftier" position and hopefully attracting back more paying custom from the local public.

However, I'd hope all concerned guard against complacency,be they players or management. At this stage in proceedings, we can just as soon be dragged back into the mire that we tread in last season as soon as we could push on to better things!!!

Here's hoping the improvement continues !!!

[Oldgobbin]

Just to put things in perspective a bit, my mate and I went to watch the Farsley v Barrow cup tie on Saturday. Doing that kind of thing makes you really appreciate how much progress has been made at Stanley. As we said, did we REALLY regularly watch football at that level? All I can say is full marks and a big thank you to Coley, Jimmy and Eric for keeping us moving onward and upward. Keep the faith!!

[yerself]

If it's the best squad it didn't show today against Notts County. Do Shaun Whalley and the dilapidated Dingle actually draw wages?