I've done a bit of a breakdown on this, and I think we are fine

On official site 36 players (plus 2 out on loan) of which the following ten qualify as U21:

Chrisene, McConville, Wright , Diallo, Makama, Schwartau, Fisher , Forsyth, Myles, Mahovo



This makes a current squad of 26 so either I am missing one, or more likely something else (e.g. Reyes removed from squad when returning from loan, or some dispensation to the squad numbers due to season ending injuries).


Anyway, of those 4 will no longer qualify for u21 next season. - Chrisene, Diallo, Makama and Fisher. The rest will still be considered u21.


I would say we all expect Duffy, Reyes, Schlupp, Marcondes and Springett to leave (yeah you bust a gut, Tony, just when we needed you too but just not sufficient quality) . Amass will return to Man Utd and Field will return to QPR. Yes, we may go back in for them but then they’d be new signings, so not relevant for this discussion. I would also expect Medic and Jurasek to leave - if we cannot sell them then at least on loan and not part of the first team squad. 



This leaves us with:

Vlad, Stacey, Darling, Mattsson, Gibbs, Crnac, Forson, Slimane, Ahmed, Topic, McLean, Maghoma, Kvistgaarden, Moulden, Grimshaw, Cordoba, Fisher, Toure, Chrisene, Diallo, Makama and Fisher. 



This would mean the squad list is already at 22, so maximum of 3 new signings plus unlimited signings born on or after 1/1/2005 without being forced to sell anybody. Personally I would be OK with that. Three top quality signings, and some young talents., but I would expect to see some movement here - as well as we have done since Clement came in, if I look at that list then I would say the only players who would be considered key unless a massive bid comes in would be Makama, Chrisene, Kenny, Paris (for the talent), Cordoba, Mattsson, Fisher and Toure (unless we upgrade further in that position but I’d say he’s shown enough so far to stay). We have no idea what Clement will secretly think about Topic, Crnac, the keepers, Darling, Kvistgaarden or Forson in terms of the future. Personally I would probably want to bring in a proven goalscorer and offload Kvistgaarden despite my expectation that if he finds the right club he will be one of “those who got away”. I’d also consider trying to upgrade Stacey unless he is happy to play second fiddle to Fisher.

Conclusion is that I think the bigger constriction on recruitment this season is not the u21 players getting older, but the homegrown and club developed rules. At the moment a few of our homegrown players would be ones likely to leave either permanently or on loan - Barden, Duffy, Springett, Schlupp, Grimshaw, Moulden, maybe Gibbs and of course while we don’t want that, also Makama as one our more saleable assets. As for club developed, I am not sure who now qualifies who would possibly be in the first team squad. Schwartau and Fisher? Not sure about McConville. Mahovo, Forsyth and Myles perhaps - that would really help as those three and Schwartau don’t count against the squad. 


Posted By: Legacy Fan, Apr 4, 13:19:37