habergham

Third in a row now, poor bloke no luck with injuries.
At least we have Toffolo this season.
 
I’ll ask him about his new powers of invisibility when I see him next that could come in handy when atracking down the flanks.
 
must have been fairly serious for him to be still a few weeks away from fitness, as he has been out since the colchester game - approx ten weeks ago.
 
NottyImp said:
So, one fewer player in an already small squad.

I'm genuinely concerned that the Cowleys' Achilles Heel is squad size.

But we'll see, come the end of August.
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Me too mate 22 will be too small IMHO, a couple more than that for me are required.
But if put this on social media even Michael Hortin says you're wrong as a small squad is right as it stops player unrest and we have tighter unit.
Christ England have a 23 man squad for a maximum of 7 games!
We have Sam injured again, Bostwick went off (hopefully nowt serious) then O'Connor and Frecklington who shouldn't be expected to play Saturday/Tuesday.
Will Akinde be the same?
Hate to sound negative about of management team after all the success they've brought us but I just think its more sensible to have a squad of 24/25.
Not that much bigger is it and would a touch more of security just in case for injuries.
 
Davidimp said:
Me too mate 22 will be too small IMHO, a couple more than that for me are required.
But if put this on social media even Michael Hortin says you're wrong as a small squad is right as it stops player unrest and we have tighter unit.
Christ England have a 23 man squad for a maximum of 7 games!
We have Sam injured again, Bostwick went off (hopefully nowt serious) then O'Connor and Frecklington who shouldn't be expected to play Saturday/Tuesday.
Will Akinde be the same?
Hate to sound negative about of management team after all the success they've brought us but I just think its more sensible to have a squad of 24/25.
Not that much bigger is it and would a touch more of security just in case for injuries.
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It's like Geoff Boycott playing a T20 match. He would be 20 not out after 20 overs. But those 20...would be quality runs. I'd much rather us have a cushion of players. 20 plus 5 or 6 developing players to bring on and to be the apprentices for the future.
 
Was told he’s also had a bad case food poisoning which slowed down his recovery, not sure how true this is though!
 
If we’re only signing 1 more CB, i’d like to see if Habergham can be used as a CB. Gives him more options and may work particularly well in a back 3 if we go that way. Still has plenty to offer us as a player so no way he should be leaving.
 
Why people want a squad size of over 22 at this stage, I have no idea.

22 should be fine for the first half of a season. Squads naturally bloat in the second half of the season because of any long-term injuries, risk of suspensions etc.

We don't need four players sat in the stand every game.
 
UnbelievableJeff said:
It's like Geoff Boycott playing a T20 match. He would be 20 not out after 20 overs. But those 20...would be quality runs. I'd much rather us have a cushion of players. 20 plus 5 or 6 developing players to bring on and to be the apprentices for the future.
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Shocking example Jeff! Boycott biffed and battered 146 in the 1965 Gillette Cup Final!
 
Davidimp said:
Me too mate 22 will be too small IMHO, a couple more than that for me are required.
But if put this on social media even Michael Hortin says you're wrong as a small squad is right as it stops player unrest and we have tighter unit.
Christ England have a 23 man squad for a maximum of 7 games!
We have Sam injured again, Bostwick went off (hopefully nowt serious) then O'Connor and Frecklington who shouldn't be expected to play Saturday/Tuesday.
Will Akinde be the same?
Hate to sound negative about of management team after all the success they've brought us but I just think its more sensible to have a squad of 24/25.
Not that much bigger is it and would a touch more of security just in case for injuries.
Click to expand...


I think 22 is absolutely the ideal number tbh. If you get any more you will just end up getting make weights and unhappy players which will create squad disharmony. It's fine if you are PL scum club who can pay players a fortune to sit on their backsides and who will just roll in cash but we can't or wouldn't want to do that so what's the point of having players who can't get near the team all season just in case. Any player who is any good at our level isn't going to be happy continually not getting any football.

It's always a fine balancing act but I am fortunate to be friends with a couple of ex pro footballers and they have both said that simmering resentment and unhappy players were the biggest factors in teams being unsuccessful.
 
Casperimp said:
I think 22 is absolutely the ideal number tbh. If you get any more you will just end up getting make weights and unhappy players which will create squad disharmony. It's fine if you are PL scum club who can pay players a fortune to sit on their backsides and who will just roll in cash but we can't or wouldn't want to do that so what's the point of having players who can't get near the team all season just in case. Any player who is any good at our level isn't going to be happy continually not getting any football.

It's always a fine balancing act but I am fortunate to be friends with a couple of ex pro footballers and they have both said that simmering resentment and unhappy players were the biggest factors in teams being unsuccessful.
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Yep i agree, the bigger the squad the higher the risk of players being unhappy about game time. I certainly wouldn't want to go higher than 21/22 players.....and even that means we're paying money to people sitting in the stand.
 
SIMJON said:
Yep i agree, the bigger the squad the higher the risk of players being unhappy about game time. I certainly wouldn't want to go higher than 21/22 players.....and even that means we're paying money to people sitting in the stand.
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3 injuries and a suspension and you can't fill the bench.

I'd actually be OK with 21/2, though, as at least that would be bigger than our paper-thin squad last season.
 
NottyImp said:
3 injuries and a suspension and you can't fill the bench.

I'd actually be OK with 21/2, though, as at least that would be bigger than our paper-thin squad last season.
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Only because we have 7 on the bench now. Not filling it occasionally wouldn't be the end of the world. Last season we had a small squad but even then we had plenty of players that didn't really feature...Stewart, Long, Farman etc.
 
I can understand why some clubs have big squads, and can keep them happy, if they have a second team which plays in a reserve league. It keeps the players fit and keeps them playing competitive football. They know that if their chance comes they will be ready, plus the management can keep a close eye on them and the development of the youngsters where they can progress from their academy/youth set up through the reserves to prepare them for the first team. Also allows players coming back from injury to play competitive without the stress of going straight back into the first team. Bigger budget but less chance of unrest possibly.
 
Assuming 22 is the magic number, I wonder if there is any provision to give the ‘second 11’ any game time. It is really a balancing act keeping them all involved and all somewhere near to match fit. Maybe lots of behind closed doors practice matches?
 
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