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Our Club....Squad Size....Quantity Vs Quality.... (And Other Things) ?


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Posted

Paul Hartley is in my estimation doing a very good job for DFC.

As well as hard working and skilled in a range of areas, as a young man, he has shown open-mindedness to new ideas (imo)

And if that is the case, although still learning, he will continue to improve. He will be aware himself, areas, where he has still to learn, and develop ........ further areas, where his ideas are proving successful, and working well for him and his team

He has only been with DFC a relatively short time, and is still, while going through this transitional period, I would think, still working out, what is best for DFC, (including himself and his team of players)

So although this may seem a strange way of starting the topic above, it is only my way of saying this is NOT  a crticism of PH.

PH will do what PH will do ......And why not ? ....... We are doing a lot better than just OK .....A lot, lot, better :)

But some recent forum posts have shown concern about the amount of injuries that our squad appear to have compared to other Clubs.    And of course, this understandably, raises the further question of are we getting value for money ?

If we have older players who may be excellent players, but are limited to how many games they can play in a season because of sustained injuries and requiring a long time healing process, are we really getting value for money, in signing players, who we can expect will be restricted to only a number of appearances........(emphasis on No fault of their own) ?

As an example of what I am trying to say here.........Would the same wage bill being paid to 40+ players of mixed age and ability, be better paid to 20+ players with proven skill and fitness ?

Naive suggestion ?      Probably (especially in the simple way I have asked the question)

But I am thinking of a Club, like Inverness Calley who it seems have a much smaller and much fitter squad. But seem to be able to put out a skilled, fit team of players every week, get results, and generally remain, injury free throughout the season.

I spent a wee bit time on the introduction of this topic to show, my comments are NOT criticism of PH .....and it is not.

This may even be PH's ultimate goal once this season ends.......who knows what team of players we will see on the park ?

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Posted

I think we've been a wee bit unlucky with injuries although some of it can be explained by us signing guys with dubious injury records. However I think ict have generally just been very lucky with injuries.

I remember Stuart McCall saying the first two years he was at Motherwell he hardly had an injury but in his third year he had loads to deal with which resulted in them plummeting down the league.

The fact we've done so well despite our problems is testament to Hartley and his players.

At present we have Irvine and Harkins absent. Across the road they have Paton, Dow and bilate out (although they're all sh**e).

Hartley has gone for a few experienced players but generally he's gone for younger players who want to improve. I'm very hopeful that meggatt, low and loy will do well for us.

Posted

With the relatively small budgets teams out with the Old Firm have, I think the best way to go about it is to have a few playing styles in mind and allocate your budget accordingly based on what positions are most important in your 'playbook'.  For example this season we've been playing narrow, so a good chunk of our budget has gone on central midfielders as we try to dominate the middle of the park and pressurise teams from there.  Out wide we don't have very much and little has been allocated to these areas as that isn't how PH wants us to play.

What I'm trying to say is you get star players for your key positions (Thomson, Harkins, McGowan), good players for other important positions (Bain, McPake and Tank was supposed to be one of these) and fill out the gaps as best you can with whats left to you (Dyer, Boyle/Harris).

You then look to get squad players that can cover a range of positions to protect as best as you can from injury for as little money as possible (JMac, Irvine).
It's about finding a balance between a competitive first XI in an effective system and being able to switch in squad players without reducing the quality too much.

Posted

GOOD SENSE IN BOTH RESPONSES ....THANK YOU.

Early days for DFC and PH, but the vibes are good, and the future, I think, is very promising. For Our Club, Our Manager, and ultimately, DFC FANS :)

I think BOD are really focused on where they want DFC to be in a few seasons. And has been said, their approach is sensible. No silly over-spending.

PH is NOT spending big money on superstars, and generally has a good eye for the bargains. But even low cost talent that PH manages to spot, have still got to be paid. Does anyone agree that we could land with too big a squad, putting too big a drain on the weekly wage bill ?

This has been a great successful season for us. And we still may finish in the top four. But excied even more about the build up for next season.

Posted

I think we'll run with a smaller squad next season and a slightly smaller wage bill gedee.

At present we have about 25 players. Next season I think we'll run with about 21.

Once letheren, dyer, gadz, davo, Benny, McBride, Reid, Boyle and possibly Irvine, Clarkson,ferry , Roberts and Heffernan are off the wage bill I think Hartley will only want a keeper, a fullback, a centre back, a winger, a midfielder and another striker in addition to the 3 on pre contracts. I suppose Irvine would be ideal cover for fullback.

Posted

Wattie, with getting to so few games, I really do appreciate posts from yourself (and many others) who are much more familiar with the "ins and outs and going-ons" at our Club. To be honest, I thought we had much more than 25 players, and on that number I don't think we have an excessive playing squad.

It will be interesting to see what players go, and who PH brings in. However as next season progresses, I am sure PH will appreciate starting a new season with players of his own choosing.  Another new season and fresh new challenges for PH.  In fact all of us, to look forward to.   C'mon the DEE :)

Posted

Looking ahead to next season I reckon we'll have:

Bain, McGinn, meggatt, Irvine, mcpake, konrad, McAllister, Harkins, McGowan, Thomson, low, Stewart, loy, wighton, tankulic plus another 6. Hopefully the likes of priest, Allan, kerr, black, carreiro and gemmell can push on into the first team squad.

Posted

I think we'll run with a smaller squad next season and a slightly smaller wage bill gedee.

At present we have about 25 players. Next season I think we'll run with about 21.

Once letheren, dyer, gadz, davo, Benny, McBride, Reid, Boyle and possibly Irvine, Clarkson,ferry , Roberts and Heffernan are off the wage bill I think Hartley will only want a keeper, a fullback, a centre back, a winger, a midfielder and another striker in addition to the 3 on pre contracts. I suppose Irvine would be ideal cover for fullback.

Agree with that Wattie, Irvine is probably due another year based on his performances, which is bad news for Cammy Kerr I suppose. A centre half, winger, centre mid and striker for me also.

Posted

Looking ahead to next season I reckon we'll have:

Bain, McGinn, meggatt, Irvine, mcpake, konrad, McAllister, Harkins, McGowan, Thomson, low, Stewart, loy, wighton, tankulic plus another 6. Hopefully the likes of priest, Allan, kerr, black, carreiro and gemmell can push on into the first team squad.

That's a pretty decent starting position for next season. A right winger is a must.

Posted

I'd like to see us go for Johnson and ainsworth of Motherwell for out wide. 24 and 27 respectively, bags of pace and a goal threat. I'd also take Declan Gallagher and Lyle Taylor if possible. I think we should be looking for some goal threat from midfield. John Herron from celtic maybe? No idea about the keeper as no one is going to want to come in to warm the bench. PH did say he was looking at a couple of foreign lads so hopefully they are decent.

Posted

Agree with that Wattie, Irvine is probably due another year based on his performances, which is bad news for Cammy Kerr I suppose. A centre half, winger, centre mid and striker for me also.

Spoke to Cammy yesterday in town. Had a bra blether. He said he has 2 games left on loan then coming back. Hopes to grab a spot on bench at least.

Said he is happy on loan and thinks he needs another season learning before pushing up.

Posted

I'd rather have one Thomson than two of Davidson and McBride. Out with KT we can find multiple heid,ess chickens, but the only guy I want to see is or shaft feet.

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