Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:13 pm  

Now I know we're lacking in quality in some areas but I'm astonished by how deep our squad is, something which doesn't seem to have been mentioned. The sides we are putting out aren't the best but they are still good teams, only obviously lacking in the halves.

We have used a ridiculous amount of players this year and had loads of injuries, yet we still sit 7th, in my opinion that's a good effort by the young lads who have come in and stood up.

The following players will have all played this year after the next round:

1. Paul Wellens
2. Ade Gardner
3. Jordan Turner
4. Sia Soliola
5. Francis Meli
6. Lance Hohaia
7. Jonny Lomax
8. Josh Perry
9. James Roby
10. LMS
11. Tony Puletua
12. Jon Wilkin
13. Willie Manu
14. Anthony Laffranchi
15. Mark Flanagan
16. Paul Clough
17. Gary Wheeler
19. Josh Jones
20. Lee Gaskell
21. Tommy Makinson
23. Nathan Ashe
24. Joe Greenwood
25. Alex Walmsley
26. Adam Swift
27. Ant Walker
28. Jordan Hand
30. Mark Percival
31. Dom Speakman
32. James Tilley
33. Luke Thompson
35. Lewis Charnock
36. Stuart Howarth

With only Carl Forster not having played, that's a huge 32 players used in just 13 rounds. That also includes 7 debutants straight from the academy.

With all the doom and gloom at the minute I think that this point is quite important to remember, just how stretched the squad has been and how well the younger players have coped.

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:18 pm  

Next year, with some good recruitment, our squad could/should be reasonably strong with some depth as the young players have proved they can hold their own. I just hope the youth development doesn't stop McManus bringing in new faces.

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:20 pm  

In terms of numbers, we haven't reached those of 2011 yet, although during 2011 we did have Robes and Jammer fit for pretty much the whole season, which probably saved our bacon somewhat.

Our young players always cope. They coped brilliantly in 2011 and a different set are coping brilliantly in 2013. Whether or not we will see them play next season, should our first teamers be fit again, is of course another matter. But certainly they have done the club proud and should all get a bonus at the end of the season!

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:21 pm  

St. Rughead wrote:

Next year, with some good recruitment, our squad could/should be reasonably strong with some depth as the young players have proved they can hold their own. I just hope the youth development doesn't stop McManus bringing in new faces.

However ...

If, say, Luke Thompson shows himself to be a real diamond on the pitch as a prop forward, which would you rather do: recruit someone from outside the club or use him as a first choice prop and just, say, recruit an outsider to fill in the second needed spot?

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:29 pm  

Thompson is only 18. I'd still sign an older pro and give him bit parts until he is physically ready to play week in week out at a high level.

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:32 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

However ...

If, say, Luke Thompson shows himself to be a real diamond on the pitch as a prop forward, which would you rather do: recruit someone from outside the club or use him as a first choice prop and just, say, recruit an outsider to fill in the second needed spot?

Use Thompson without a doubt, but at the moment I'd say we need signings. I mean, I hope McManus doesn't think unproven players, say Charnock and Tilley, are ready to be thrown into having to be part of the first team after only a few games as opposed to bring new players in.

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:43 pm  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

Thompson is only 18. I'd still sign an older pro and give him bit parts until he is physically ready to play week in week out at a high level.

Wasn't Jammer 18 when he first played? And wasn't Sam Burgess 17 when he first played? I haven't seen Thompson but he could be physically ready at 18 to play against the biggest of opposition. I won't be seeing him on Saturday either as I'm not going to London this time but according to Saints he is 'a big unit' so that sounds promising.

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:47 pm  

St. Rughead wrote:

Use Thompson without a doubt, but at the moment I'd say we need signings. I mean, I hope McManus doesn't think unproven players, say Charnock and Tilley, are ready to be thrown into having to be part of the first team after only a few games as opposed to bring new players in.

What I'm getting at I suppose is this. What if Thompson blows us away in his position on debut just as Percival did in his on debut? Would you still want to bring someone else in or would you want to see Thompson make the spot his own? (I take it you wouldn't want us to block Percival by bringing another centre in?)

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:57 pm  

Jammer is a freak. Look at Burgess. He is practically falling apart.

Re: Squad Depth : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:58 pm  

Not really relevant. A lot of those players were used unnecessarily, it wasn't like they were all drafted in in emergencies.

There are a lot of players in our squad. But as I've said before the quality of those players is starting to resemble a Salford or Wakefield squad of about 10 years ago. The odd gem here and there but a squad going nowhere fast.