Squad size

[Chris Black come back]

33 players on professional contracts currently on the books. 5 of which are loanees, and 5 of which are out on loan. Current match day squad for league is 18 players chosen from the currently 28 available professional players with the club.



TLT (L)
Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Sterry
Nixon
McGrath
O'Riordan (L)
Grehan
Pearson
Faulkner (OOL)
Williams (OOL)
Senior
Maxwell

Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Sbarra
Gotts
Crew (L)
Close
Westbrooke
Flint (OOL)
Straughan-Brown (OOL)

Ajayi (L)
Middleton
Gibson
Molyneux
Hurst (OOL)
Olusanya (L)
Ironside
Sharp
Hanlan

[Padge_DRFC]

McCann getting heavily backed

[GazLaz]

I think it’s crazy there appears to be no pressure on him to move players on. I know Terry is happy to back him and with the CD funds there is money there but we are wasting money. I know moving players on isn’t always that easy but there are managers out there that seemingly do it with ease.

[mushRTID]

Out of that lot I’d say Westbrook and Ironside will need to go for their own good.

It wouldn’t surprise me if by the end of the January window Clifton and SBarra have moved on to be replaced by one quality addition.

Other than that I don’t see too much movement.

[mushRTID]

McCann getting heavily backed

And delivering.

[Cramby10]

It must be a task in itself to keep everyone happy. You’d have to think there could be a few disgruntled players in there that aren’t even making the match day squad.

[colincramb]

I think it’s pretty clear he wants rid of close, Westbrooke and Ironside. Difficult to move players on though if there’s no suitors.

[mpc123]

33 players on professional contracts currently on the books. 5 of which are loanees, and 5 of which are out on loan. Current match day squad for league is 18 players chosen from the currently 28 available professional players with the club.



TLT (L)
Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Sterry
Nixon
McGrath
O'Riordan (L)
Grehan
Pearson
Faulkner (OOL)
Williams (OOL)
Senior
Maxwell

Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Sbarra
Gotts
Crew (L)
Close
Westbrooke
Flint (OOL)
Straughan-Brown (OOL)

Ajayi (L)
Middleton
Gibson
Molyneux
Hurst (OOL)
Olusanya (L)
Ironside
Sharp
Hanlan

Apart from the 2 young keepers he has used them all. What's the problem. If the budget was agreed, which its been well documented, the story of mccann knowing the league and saying I need this to have a bit of fun. Not too greedy, it got signed off then thats fine.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Sbarra and Ironside should be able to find clubs. Westbrooke too. It is madness to get to the end of the window with so many never making the squad. We’ll have to win the paint pot cup to pay for all the unused wages.

Another big one for me is Grehan he’s clearly got a big future but if he’s consistently 4th choice and not getting in the match day isn’t he better playing games on loan at least till Jan?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

It might not be a problem at the moment but, it could become one further down the line. Just last season at the previous meet the owners, GM admitted his squad was top heavy. Now, if we get to January and he wants to add further quality, then he by then should see where the funds to support it are tied up. He's in a luxurious position at the moment with having no pressure to get rid but that can easily change in football.

Whilst we get the impression the squad is fully together singing from the same hymn sheet, the larger it gets the more risk there is of it starting to fragment. Yes, McCann has said hid door is open if any players want to go and get games elsewhere. The problems can come if they stop talking to him and plot their own future, because we can't assume it's always the players we can do without, who want to leave.

[mpc123]

Im sure he knows all this , as per all his interviews, dont forget the vertu trophy, fa cup too.

[IDM]

The two younger goalies aren’t going to get a look in, so at least one could go out on loan.

As for the rest, if they are not making the squad then they should be pressing to get in it.  If we are too small squad wise, we end up playing lads who are struggling for form or not quite fully fit after injuries.  Competition for places is healthy.

And what if we have 3-4 longer term injuries.?  Folks will be quick to complain if we can’t fill their places.

I doubt we would let Close go, he’s proven at this level.

However I agree we could probably cope with 2 or 3 leaving or being loaned out, but not much more.

[Move DRFC]

Keep Close considering he’s performing well.

Ironside Westbrooke and Sbarra are done though aren’t they.

[Rovers91]

Ironside and Westbrooke need to go out on loan. I would sell Sbarra and Clifton, I really don't get how Clifton is getting game time he works hard but he has to with how often he loses possession.

[Donnybax]

Clifton won't be going anywhere. McCann likes him and plays him in big games. Ironside will surely be going with another striker coming in. Sbarra isn't good enough for the football league so he should be moved on. Westbroke never makes a squad so you would think he's available as well.

[Chris Black come back]

McCann doesn't appear to be in any hurry to loan out players but you would have thought the following are the most likely departures with deadline today, probably on loan:

Joe Ironside
Zain Westbrooke

He is starting Sbarra in some games so that seems less likely. Ironside and Westbrooke are struggling for any minutes even in the League Cup games.

Then there is a loan for either Jacob Bryant or Jake Oram, although that would be to non-league so the deadline day restriction might not apply.

[Filo]

Ironside and Westbrooke need to go out on loan. I would sell Sbarra and Clifton, I really don't get how Clifton is getting game time he works hard but he has to with how often he loses possession.

You can’t sell contracted players if they do not want to be sold

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'd be surprised if Westbrook and Ironside are still here come the end of today but you never know.  Sbarra is an odd one, he's obviously got ability but he is probably one who could do with a loan as there's a good few ahead of him.

[Alan Southstand]

Either Close or Westbrook can be replaced by Flint, at no cost to us. Kerching!

[steve@dcfd]

So it looks that Ironside as gone to Tranmere.
So at moment Westbrooke and Sbarra are still in the squad both could go on loan to a National league side if they don’t get game time.
Otherwise we have the squad we have.
We started last season with Billy and Joe as our strikers then in January Street came in and our season improved ended up as Champions.
So now we have Sharp Hanlan and Olusanya and in league 1 they have to start scoring goals. Is our centre forward 3 better than when we finished league 2 time will tell. IMO I don’t think so

[Alan Southstand]

We havn’t even seen Olusanya yet, so how anyone can start making comparisons is beyond me!

Let’s just wait and see.

Personally, I’d hoped for Street, but that was a pipe-dream, as it’s turned out! Never mind, we move on and GM has now got to get the very best he can from the 3 we’ve got.

[steve@dcfd]

People talk about our squad size yet when you compare it with Lincoln we are still
 below their level. I’ve discounted our young players out on loan.
Listening to Lincoln’s CEO Rob Street was never for sale even at 10 times the amount they paid for him . We’ve moved on and we all hope GM as found a gem we will wait and see.

[Chris Black come back]

With Joe Ironside joining Tranmere Rovers permanently and Jake Oram going on loan to Matlock Town, that makes it now a senior squad of 26 players for 18 man match day league squad.

[In the box]

33 players on professional contracts currently on the books. 5 of which are loanees, and 5 of which are out on loan. Current match day squad for league is 18 players chosen from the currently 28 available professional players with the club.



TLT (L)
Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Sterry
Nixon
McGrath
O'Riordan (L)
Grehan
Pearson
Faulkner (OOL)
Williams (OOL)
Senior
Maxwell

Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Sbarra
Gotts
Crew (L)
Close
Westbrooke
Flint (OOL)
Straughan-Brown (OOL)

Ajayi (L)
Middleton
Gibson
Molyneux
Hurst (OOL)
Olusanya (L)
Ironside
Sharp
Hanlan

Should there be a maximum squad permitted per club if sustainable levels of income are to be observed fairly !!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

33 players on professional contracts currently on the books. 5 of which are loanees, and 5 of which are out on loan. Current match day squad for league is 18 players chosen from the currently 28 available professional players with the club.



TLT (L)
Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Sterry
Nixon
McGrath
O'Riordan (L)
Grehan
Pearson
Faulkner (OOL)
Williams (OOL)
Senior
Maxwell

Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Sbarra
Gotts
Crew (L)
Close
Westbrooke
Flint (OOL)
Straughan-Brown (OOL)

Ajayi (L)
Middleton
Gibson
Molyneux
Hurst (OOL)
Olusanya (L)
Ironside
Sharp
Hanlan

Should there be a maximum squad permitted per club if sustainable levels of income are to be observed fairly !!

Interesting question as it always one of the things that come up when looking at ways of controlling spending v income.

I think there are more fundamental issues which require examination even before squad size, salary caps and things like that come into play.

I think there should be more questions about what defines legitimate income even before determining what expenditure is permitted, particularly on salaries and fees.