Do we have the strength in depth?

[Rafa La Bamba]

----------------Reina
--Degan---Skrtel---Agger---Dossena
-Gerrard---Alonso--Masch---Babel
-----------Keane--Torres

-----------N'Gog--Kuyt
--Yossi---Lucas---Plessis---Pennant
--Aurelio--Hyypia--Carra--Arbeloa
--------------Cavalieri


So we got strong back up or not? I say we have.

[JD]

Cavalieri appears a bit 'cavalier' for my liking.  Losing Reina would be at least a handful of goals over the course of the season IMO.

N'Gog looks like he knows where the net is should anything happen to the the other two - but then Voronin looked good last pre-season.  As for Kuyt - hardly prolific.

Centre backs - definitely sorted and even left and right backs - if we keep Finnan I feel we have adequate cover in defence.

In midfield we have 5 capable central midfielders - unfortunately our problem - which has not been addressed this summer surprisingly is down the wings.

Jermaine Pennant is a good Premiership player but he isn't a great one, or a great European footballer for that matter.  Ryan Babel still has a lot of development to go through.

It's clear to me that we do have strength in depth - in every position apart from down the wings.  If we have a downfall in the season ahead - that will be why.

[shikhark]

----------------Reina
--Degan---Skrtel---Agger---Dossena
-Gerrard---Alonso--Masch---Babel
-----------Keane--Torres

-----------N'Gog--Kuyt
--Yossi---Lucas---Plessis---Pennant
--Aurelio--Hyypia--Carra--Arbeloa
--------------Cavalieri


So we got strong back up or not? I say we have.

I cant believe you put Carra in the 2nd lineup ...

[adammac]

We have always had a deep squad for the least 2 or 3 years, our problem is quality players in the first XI. I think if you can add quality to the first XI then the trickle down effect will mean better depth (especially in those wide attacking position)

[Rafa La Bamba]

The thing is, does our first XI need improving now? Or would you give it a shot this season with that IX ?
I'm happy about our 2nd team because we also have good youths coming in like Nemeth, Pacheco and Insua.

I just hope the we have a first team and a second team rather than one big squad to be rotated to death. Oh I forgot Voronin instead of N'Gog :S

[Magillionare]

Im sure we have the strength and depth to at least challenge! Im under no ilusions this year, im happy with a title run to be honest at least its progress

[bartman49]

We have the a team full of quality and in my opinion the best team we have had since Souness ripped up Kenny's team in the early nineties weather we can take the next step is another matter but at least we have people on the bench who have done it all and so with a little luck and good play we have a real chance to win things this coming season...

[clint_call01]

We have a good squad but ra ra why did you put carra. in the second sqaud ? I would put him rb to keep skrtel and agger together. Our problems like many of us said is the wings. if we buy a proper winger or a player that play good in the side it will be better.

[dunlop liddell shankly]

We've got a great startin line up with enough quality to come of the bench. After that we've still got talent, most of it raw an untried. We're all under the impression we don't have out and out world star wingers, well maybe we're just gonna play through the middle, with the hope our full backs provide the width. It seems to me that Benitez is happy with accomaditin the wing position with somebody who isn't naturally a winger. That's fair enough if they can do a job there, Gerrard and Babel can so I'm happy with those two down the flanks. Especially if we use this 4-2-3-1 formation where the 3 behind Torres are interchangeable so we won't have one winger. If for example we bought Wright-Phillips or Ashley Young, are they capable of playin behind Torres? Gerrard and Babel can and I think that's the way Benitez is goin.

If Benitez felt we were desperate for a Wright-Phillips or Young type winger then we'd of got one. We've had the money to buy one if we were really desperate. Also this is the first year I haven't heard Benitez come out and talk about our lack of options down the wings. So just because we're not blessed with a Steve Heighway or John Barnes anymore isn't a problem if we're not gonna play to those strenghts anyway. Another point is Torres is good in the air, no doubt about that, but he's not Alan Shearer or Andy Gray where he's gonna knock centre halves out the way to win a header. We've just sold the man we aim our crosses to (Crouch) so now we'd just be throwin aimless balls into the box because Torres, Keane and Babel aren't exactly the most prolific in the air. So this year I'm not as worried we about our lack of top class quality down the flanks.

[solodee]

                      Reina

Arbeloa  Carragher  Agger  Dossena

Kuyt  Gerrard  Mascherano  Riera

         Keane    Torres

SUB: Benanyun Alonso Babel Skrtel Hyypia Arbeloa
________________________ ________________

          Cavalieri

Degen  Hyypia  Skrtel  Insua

Pennant  Lucas  Plessis  El Zhar

        Ngog   Babel
________________________ ________________________ _

The Premiership, The FA Cup & The Champions LEague.

After the dismal performance against Tottenham in the Carling Cup, I really thing we do not have enough strength in depth to carry the three competitions! And there is a down side to it all:

Alonso may leave in January (Probably still hurting from the Barry saga)
Arbeloa may also leave in January (Contemplating going back home)
Pennant to be disposed of. (This will only succeed  if a Premiership team playing in Europe calls for him)
Babel wants to go back to Ajax on loan (Lack of playing time)

We still do not have another world-class striker like Torres; With Keane been psychologically battered by the price tag and bench time.

And we are still on top of the Table (WOW)

How do we get out of this situation?

GOOD SIDE: We are still on top of the table.

[ayrton77]

^^^^^^

Whilst I can see to a certain point where you're coming from, I think you're hitting the panic button a bit early.

I can't see us faltering in the Champion's League, we have too much experience and confidence - I see another good challenge this year.

In the league, I do think our performances are going to change with the return of Torres. Everyone will be back in their usual positions, and things should settle back into order. We've stayed top without him, by hook or by crook, so why should we falter with him back? If anything, it's the other big clubs who should be worrying about keeping up!

Finally, IMO Arbeloa and Alonso are certainly going nowhere. Pennant will be good riddance to bad rubbish. The only worry is Babel... but we have Riera on the left, and Torres will be back up front.

If you really want to panic though, you forgot to mention the rumours surrounding Danny Agger's possible departure!

[mcarz]

I honestly believe we have strength in depth. Looking above at the possible line ups we could field every weekend, I don't see how pundits say we don't have strength in depth. Our squad is 1 of the best and that is being proven by us being top of the league, it might be only 1 point but we're still top.

[crouchinho]

We do have strength in depth, the bullshit thing is that our depth is being compared to Chelsea and Scum which is totally unfair.

We have depth, theirs is better however.

[Paul 08]

We do have strength in depth it showed against psv and throughout this season so far we can now beat teams without Gerrard or Torres in the team. Which shows how much rafa has worked on the squad this season

[Witto]

Well we beat Chelski and the Mancs without Torres

[Adryan]

Having all the players and covers don't mean anything unless a balanced and good first eleven are chosen.

[solodee]

Having all the players and covers don't mean anything unless a balanced and good first eleven are chosen.

Maybe the title should be "Do we have quality in depth?". That will be needed when we have to a League match, then the FA and then the Champions League. You will need to rest some to keep them effective.

[solodee]

We really need to do better than N'gog, El Zhar and Lucas as our quality sub.

We lack strength and quality in depth.

[RedDrog]

Clearly not as it has been proven over the season so far. All the current managers signings aswell. Quality first team signings could be named on one hand maybe...

[chats]

You could say United have Carlos Tevez on the bench and we have David N'gog.

There are teams around us (mainly United) who have a stronger squad than us. Personally I think we're performing above our expectations to be up there against teams who are in a much better financial state and can keep players worth £15-20 million on the bench.

[RedDrog]

Personally I think we're performing above our expectations

No, no, no. We should be challenging this year. We had a great opportunity this season and f*cked it up. Manager has to take full responsibility IMO.

[chats]

No, no, no. We should be challenging this year. We had a great opportunity this season and f*cked it up. Manager has to take full responsibility IMO.

United's side cost 100 milllion more than ours. And I think we're still challenging this season.

[RedDrog]

United's side cost 100 milllion more than ours. And I think we're still challenging this season.

Possible 10 points off... Your having a laugh right. It's a farce and time for some people to take their heads outta their a*se and face the music. You do want the league title don't you???

[JD]

I don't think our squad is anywhere near the level of Man United's. 

We don't even have a decent right back as cover for Arbeloa and you can hardly say we are blessed with depth when it comes to genuine goalscorers.

So in answer to the original question - no we don't.

[lfc 4life]

We have always had a deep squad for the least 2 or 3 years, our problem is quality players in the first XI. I think if you can add quality to the first XI then the trickle down effect will mean better depth (especially in those wide attacking position)

So true.