A look at our squad

[slother]

While watching Swansea v West Ham I've rattled up a list of our squad. Any similarity to a certain football management sim is entirely coincidental.

1	GK	Asmir Begović	Important	2016
29	GK	Thomas Sørensen	Important	2014
27	GK	Carlo Nash	Backup	2013
28	DR	Andy Wilkinson	Important	2014
30	DR/MR	Ryan Shotton	Squad	2015
3	DLC	Danny Higginbotham	Squad	2013
4	DC	Robert Huth	Indispensable	2016
17	DC	Ryan Shawcross (c)	Indispensable	2014
20	DC	Matthew Upson	Squad	2013
2	D/DMC	Geoff Cameron	???	2016
12	D/DMC	Marc Wilson	Important	2014
32	DMC	Diego Arismendi	Backup	2013
8	DMC	Wilson Palacios	Important	2015
18	MC	Dean Whitehead	Squad	2013
6	MC	Glenn Whelan	Squad	2016
24	MCR	Rory Delap	Squad	2013
14	MCL	Jamie Ness	???	2016
23	MCL	Michael Tonge	Backup	2013
7	AMR	Jermaine Pennant	Important	2013
21	AMR/L	Michael Kightly	Important	undisc.
26	AML	Matthew Etherington	Important	2014
19	FC	Jonathan Walters	Important	2015
25	ST	Peter Crouch	Important	2015
9	ST	Kenwyne Jones	Important	2014
11	ST	Mamady Sidibe	Backup	2013
33	ST	Cameron Jerome	Squad	2015
?	DMC/L	Maurice Edu	???	???

Pennant has a one-year extension in his contract, dependant on appearances.

These positions I think are reasonable descriptions of players' natural positions, irrespective of Pulis' shoehorn.

Of the players out of contract next year:

• Sidibe - (hopefully) go on a free.
  
• Pennant - will he be offered an extension if he doesn't earn it? Should we be looking to cash in now?
  
• Tonge - oh do fuck off.
  
• Delap - coaching contract
  
• Whitehead - will be 31, cash in now?
  
• Arismendi - could we find a buyer now?
  
• Upson - released
  
• Shotton - stick (sell now) or twist (extension)?
  
• Higgo - coaching contract/released
  
• Nash - coaching contract/released
  

Who else can we spare?

• Palacios: £3m - £5m
  
• Pennant: £2m - £4m
  
• Etherington: £1m - £2m
  
• Jones: £4m - £6m
  
• Jerome: £3m - £5m
  

Any observations? Other than we're desperately short of quality on the wings and cover all over except GK, centre mid and up front.

EDIT: Fixed, Bayern

[slother]

With our evident lack of width and the demise of the winger (especially ours), what odds Pulis switches to a continental 4-2-3-1 with:

DMC DMC
AMC AMC AMC
ST

Aww come on, now I'm attention seeking. Putting all that info in a table nearly killed me

[bayernoatcake]

I swear Shotton signed a 4 year contract last season?

And if Ryan's contract expires then, it's time for a new deal soon.

[Binndy]

Except for Pennant and nash ,sell or loan out as many of the players as is possible whos contracts end 2013.

[droz]

Nice idea, Slother.

Not sure that Pulis sees Pennant as 'important', though - even though he should be. He appears to see Whitehead as 'important', though...

Can see Tonge, Arismendi and Sidibe seeing out their contracts without playing much, if at all.

[robwahlmann]

Despite all the negativity I think we already have improved our squad since last season! ;D

[StokeyMan]

Ha, that's the most professional looking post I've ever seen on here!

Robwahlmann - we have definately strengthened, and perhaps have the option of Palacios with the benefits of a full pre-season, but who knows?

I'd say Whelan and Whitehead are more than just 'squad' players to our Tone. They're certainly as valued as Palacios. Shawcross needs tying down to a new contract this season, we mustn't let it run into next year incase we panic and cash in at a cut-rate.

I'd be happy to see that formation come in to play, either the 4-2-3-1 you suggested, or even the more conventional 4-3-3 which a few have suggested. It wouldn't hurt changing the tactics for a difficult away game, it could even throw the opponents off - with our predictable tactics teams can easily setup to counter us, but struggle at something they would not expect. Roll on sunday! The match I look forward to the most all year!

[Deleted]

So how many of those 27 do you reckon won't be in the 25 and how many are young enough/home grown to not have to be listed?

[vote for pedro]

we need a left back, a striker and a ball playing central midfielder before deadline day

that will hopefully see sidibie, tonge and arismendi left out