Quote Originally Posted by ackworth miller View Post
Today's departure of Ben Purrington on loan to AFC Wimbledon got me thinking: how does the strength of our squad compare to last season? To me, we have added in defensive areas meaning we have better options than Ihekwe at Centre Back. However, I believe Vyner will have a lot off work to do to prove he is up to the standard of Josh Emmanuel who in my opinion is a great modern full back who will go far. Left back you could say we are weaker having lost Purrington and with no other out and out left backs on the books. At present no Towell and only 2 central mods whereas we had Potter and Towell at the start of last season in addition to what we have now.

The wingers are the same as last season. Strikers: We had Keiffer up until January and then Lavery on loan as well as JCH and our current strikers. Now we have Vassell- league 1 player last season

Therefore, my overall assessment is the squad is no stronger than it was last season, if I am kind I'll say its about the same strength. Should our recruitment so far have been better? We have spent nothing so far have we. Hopefully we will get a permanent CM in and another striker in a permanent deal. Then I would be fairly satisfied but so far I would say we have not really strengthened enough.
It's an interesting question, although in some areas you are quoting knowing how things turned out for us, for instance how good Emmanuel is, but when we got him at begining of last season he was a raw full back, but blossomed with game time, and didn't really start to show that promise until after 2 or 3 months.
Towell wasn't with us from the beginning ,if I remember correctly? but came late in the first transfer window as I recall, and that was a risk as he hadn't really pulled up any trees, although did well in Ireland, and you missed out frecks who was there at the start.
Kieffer Moor was also a gamble but ,again, a gamble that went for us, in the first few games, Kieffer and Jamie Proctor looked a great combination, at home anyway, but when proctor got injured, Kieffer absolutely blossomed.
You mentioned the wingers being the same, but I think they will all contribute to our season, and I love the fact that they are all a bit different in what they do. I went to the Cardiff friendly, and we did look a little vulnerable at times early on , but to say we turned the game round would be an understatement, because how we didn't win by more than 2-1, I really don't know.
All the new boys played really well and looked sharp, are we a better team than last season? I have absolutely no idea, but I certainly don't expect this team to throw the towell in like the team of 2 years ago did, and the team of 12 months ago would have made a good fist of staying in the championship too.
OK only my opinion, and I think we do need at least a couple of more players in midfield and at the back, but I say bring it on.