How good is our squad?

I think we lazily throw around the idea that our squad should be more than good enough to stay up, but is it? I'd use the gauge in my head of "if they left, where would they go?" and I reckon there's a lot that wouldn't get a premier league gig or would be a squad option at a poor team that regularly start for us. There's also very few that would go to a better team, Ruddy nailed on, maybe Fer and RvW then I don't think Howson or Snodgrass could do better than us. Someone may take a risk on Bassong but he's not going to a top 8 side. Hooper I'm sure would go somewhere around our level, too early to tell how good he is.

We start regularly with Turner who is terrible unless you play with a very deep line, where he's pretty decent. Most teams don't want to play this negatively and he left a poor Sunderland side for us. I think he'd struggle to get a PL gig and I don't see many players starting at CB who are loads worse than him other than at really s**t teams.

Then there's Martin and Whittaker - I think they're both top Championship standard to be honest. I don't think there's many clubs out there who struggle at right back as much as us.

Olsson spent a year in the Championship after relegation and there was hardly a load of competition for him and Garrido isn't Prem standard.

Tettey was largely average/poor last season, alongside Fer he's looked good but I don't think we've had enough games to know if that's how good he is. Probably a bottom half Prem player.

Pilkington, Snodgrass and Redmond are all decent wingers. Redmond is more one for the future but I imagine loads of teams would want him on the bench. I doubt there's many clubs who'd start him as much as we do though. On this season's performances I don't think Snodgrass is more than a bottom half winger and I had question marks over him last season. Good defesnively and from set pieces but not sure he's ever offered loads in open play. Pilks I have a massive hard-on for and if he keeps himself fit he's a solid Premier League winger.

Wes and Howson are both midtable standard for me but one of them never plays.

Elmander is dog s**t and wasn't good enough at this level when he was younger, yet alone now.

That sounds very doom and gloom. I think we have some good players but I don't think this squad has a divine right to be ahead of clubs like West Ham, Sunderland, Villa, Fulham or Stoke based on the quality of the squad alone.

Posted By: bjg123 on January 21st 2014 at 18:11:18

Message Thread

How good is our squad? (NCFC) - bjg123, Jan 21, 18:11:18
- Glass half empty post i would say - a better question might be (NCFC) - trianglepatch, Jan 21, 18:50:26
  - Michu, Bony, Rangel, Shelvey, De Guzman... from Swansea for starters (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:54:48
  - Rubbish, we're shit, doomed. Not a decent player in the squad. (n/m) (NCFC) - mike_the_sphinx, Jan 21, 18:53:24
- RvW..... we would have no chance of recouping what we paid right now (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:40:29
  - I think he's too lightweight. Remember thinking that against Everton on the opening day (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Jan 21, 18:49:28
  - not right now, but if he scored 15 or so next season (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:43:39
    - 15 goals... he'll be lucky to get 5 from what he has shown so far (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:45:02
- Agree, our squad is not as good as a lot of fans seem to think (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:39:44
  - Yes, Hughton has not signed as well as many make out (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:40:46
    - Collective "Troll" ^^^^^ nicely coordinated chaps. (n/m) (NCFC) - mike_the_sphinx, Jan 21, 18:42:08
    - I think he's signed very well (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:42:02
      - yes but Hughton can do no wrong in your eyes (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:44:19
        
        By the same logic, he can't do anything right in your eyes, so stale mate surely? (n/m) (NCFC) - Spacebar Monster, Jan 21, 19:20:01
        
        oh I see, you weren't responding to the original question (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:45:40
        
        responding to your troll.... either he has signed decent players and the squad is good (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:46:55
        
        I think he's signed decent players to make us competitive in the league (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:49:41
        
        I found this stat very interesting (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Jan 21, 18:54:22
        
        Aarrgghh, I've buggered that up completely (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Jan 21, 18:56:50
        
        Absolute horseshit, even someone with a passing interest in Norwich would know we didn't (NCFC) - Vivid Data Shark, Jan 21, 19:45:46
        
        not really sure what that shows (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:59:00
        
        But we started with the 12th and 11th placed team... A solid foundation. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 19:00:04
        
        by that logic we are overachieving (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 19:03:02
        
        No, we were on the up, and have been the last two seasons (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 19:04:41
        
        how many of our squad do you think could hold down a starting place in one of the (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 19:12:20
        
        Your question doesn't say much for Hugton's signings. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 19:21:56
        
        **Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with their (NCFC) - pants, Jan 21, 20:40:52
        
        I think he has done ok in the transfer market, but nothing special. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:52:14
        
        You've changed your tune (NCFC) - Huge Small, Jan 21, 18:58:09
        
        I thought he had signed really well... But our results say otherwise. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 18:59:18
        
        so we're mid-table despite his bad signings. (NCFC) - Ralf Scrampton, Jan 21, 19:24:49
        
        Well, we are a few points above the drop zone yes. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 19:25:39
      - But come the summer, they might if we upgrade in manager (n/m) (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Jan 21, 18:44:05
        
        doubt it's anything to do with the manager (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Jan 21, 18:44:49
- Glass half full. (NCFC) - APB, Jan 21, 18:25:49
  - ^^^ this times 9 (n/m) (NCFC) - Ralf Scrampton, Jan 21, 18:54:48
- Turner is awful. Elmander is dog shit. (n/m) (NCFC) - BigGrantHolt, Jan 21, 18:23:34
  - He is an aggressive powerful cb. I like him a lot. (n/m) (NCFC) - BigGrantHolt, Jan 21, 18:47:12
  - Why do people think Turner is awful? I like him (n/m) (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Jan 21, 18:44:28
    - nothing wrong with him. Solid central defender. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Jan 21, 19:01:22

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