05 Aug 2025 12:23:13
I've been a bit distracted with one thing and another ( and our pre season games so far have been underwhelming to say the least) but I'm getting round to having a look at our squad for this season. A few random thoughts.
I'd be glad to see Miguel go. For such a giant goalkeeper I've never seen him come for a cross. He doesn't even dominate his 6 yardsm box never mind the penalty area.
We are short up top. Woody was magnificent for us last season but he's not getting any younger. Taiwo yet to fire and no one knows if he will ever get back to 2 years ago after his injuries ( particularly the one which required stomach surgery). The problem is that prolific strikers are gold dust and extremely expensive, usually only available to the money bags top 4 teams.
Nuno likes to get his incomings in early so he can bed them in. Not the case this pre season I'm afraid.
Full backs are a bit light. After Aina and Nico we have to decide about young Moreira ( personally I'd keep him) and Omar Richards ( get rid imo).
All in all, our " first team " are probably good enough to get us mid table, provided MGW, Murillo haven't had their heads turned. both have had poor pre seasons so far. So Sels, Williams, Aina, Malenkovic, Murillo, Dominquez (when fit) Yates, Sangere, Jesus. Anderson, MGW. CHO, Ndoye, Wood. Then you have the 2nd string ( which we will need for whichever European competition we end up in) like Abbott, Jota, Moreira, Morato, Boly, Cunha Jair, Taiwo, etc. Plenty of decisions to be made and work to be done I think.
05 Aug 2025 13:10:29
Great assessment mate.
Our squad depth is such a worry!
05 Aug 2025 15:16:12
Squad depth is rogie bit we've had to get rid of toffolo, danillo, sosa, Miguel, turner, omabamadele and obrien as none could do a job for us, I'd add jota and morata to that list aswell as neither are good enough plus awoniyi is at the last chance saloon
There's no point signing players if they can't come into the side abd perform though.
05 Aug 2025 16:21:57
No point signing more players than we can fit in a squad. People keep saying we need more players, but the squad is full if we sign another winger (Traore), Midfielder (Luiz) and full back (Maffeo, Tchchchachahcha or whoever).
With thos signed there is already no space (due to home-grown rules) for Moreira, Jota and the big goalie. Who are we going to drop if we sign anyone else?
05 Aug 2025 17:49:37
Think we have room
Sels/ Gunn (HG) / Bott (HG-21)
Aina (HG? ) / Williams (HG) / new RB
Milenkovic/ Murillo/ Boly/ Morato/ Cunha (U21)/ Abbott (HG-U21)
Luiz/ Anderson (HG) / MGW (HG) / Yates (HG) / Sangare/ Dominguez
HO (HG) / Ndoye/ Traore (HG? )
Wood (HG? ) / Jesus/ Awoni
Only makes 21 with U21 not counting to the 25 in PL. 12 not HG players if troare-wood-Aina are regarded as HG if not makes 15 and we allowed 17.
I am hoping we get another winger and left back in, Morato is not suitable cover at LB and HO needs to decide what he is doing contract wise. Will know more tonight in who is left out of squad.
05 Aug 2025 18:59:41
FOR UEFA SQUAD
Traore Wood and Aina count as Hg from your domestic league (you have to have 4 of them) but of the "regulars" only Yates and Abbott qualify as the 4 HG from your own club (you have to have a further 4 of them or can't have a full squad).
You basically need 4 HGs from domestic league academies and 4HGs from your own academy ON TOP.
We have loads of HG from your own domestic league, so no probs there.
So if we add Luiz to the above that is 25, but we can't have that many. If we lose a CD (Morato) that would be 24 again.
05 Aug 2025 18:59:52
UEFA's Homegrown Player Rule (HGP) requires clubs participating in UEFA competitions to include a minimum number of "locally trained" players in their squad lists. This rule aims to encourage youth development and improve competitive balance within European football. Specifically, a club must include at least 8 "locally trained" players on their List A squad, with a maximum of 17 non-locally trained players.
Key aspects of the rule:
"Locally Trained" Definition:
A "locally trained" or "homegrown" player is defined as one who has been registered with a club affiliated to the same national association for at least three entire seasons (or 36 months) between the ages of 15 and 21. This can be with the club itself (club-trained) or with another club within the same national association (association-trained).
No Nationality Requirement:
The rule focuses on where a player has been trained, not their nationality.
Squad Size Restrictions:
Clubs can register a maximum of 25 players on List A. Out of these, at least 8 must be "locally trained".
Club vs. Association:
The 8 "locally trained" players are further divided, with a maximum of 4 being "club-trained" and the remaining 4 being "association-trained".
B List:
A separate List B exists for younger players who have been eligible to play for the club for a certain period, with specific rules regarding uninterrupted registration and loan periods.
Historical Context:
The rule was introduced to address concerns about the Bosman ruling, which gave more power to richer clubs in player transfers.
In essence, the rule encourages clubs to invest in their youth academies and develop local talent, rather than relying solely on signing players from other clubs or leagues.
05 Aug 2025 19:02:14
each club team entering European competitions to name eight home grown players in their 25 man squad. The relevant stipulations can be found here in the Champions League and Europa League 2013-14 Article 18 regulationsThe UEFA HGP rules stipulate that 4 of the designated squad players have to be ‘club-trained’ and 4 must also be ‘association-trained’. A club-trained player is defined as a player who regardless of his place of birth has been registered between the ages of 15 and 21 with his current club for a period of three entire seasons or 36 months. An ‘association-trained’ player fulfils the same criteria but with another club in the same association.
05 Aug 2025 19:02:57
All great posts. Rogie, at this stage, mate, I am deeply uneasy with the situation to be honest ??.
05 Aug 2025 20:02:45
Apologies redcyclist you did not need to tell me rules of UEFA as I thought you was on about PL squad which is the most important to make sure we are competitive. I not worried about UEFA squad, I would expect couple of academy lads to be in the 'A' list for the early part of the competition, also wouldn't expect to use Wood at all for 1st part of competition and look at it in Jan when can change some players.
05 Aug 2025 22:41:52
Yeah, the Prem squad looks a lot easier to sort out. We will still have to lose a few players if we sign many more, but at least we can name a full squad for the Prem.