Currently away from uk so not seen much on here.We have far more strength in the team than 2014/15 but with Dean Marney out for the season and a likely ban looming for Joey we are heading for a squad of 21 hardened players.Even now we are down to 21 as Defour is out for a week or so.Do we have the ability to recall any of our players out on loan such as Chris Long and The lad at Charlton should the sh1t hit the proverbial fan? Also I assume we can sign and play anyone presently OOC and unemployed.Having a squad size 4 or more short of the 25allowed could make the run in tough given our likely cup run to at least the semifinals if not the final.

Currently away from uk so not seen much on here.We have far more strength in the team than 2014/15 but with Dean Marney out for the season and a likely ban looming for Joey we are heading for a squad of 21 hardened players.Even now we are down to 21 as Defour is out for a week or so.Do we have the ability to recall any of our players out on loan such as Chris Long and The lad at Charlton should the sh1t hit the proverbial fan? Also I assume we can sign and play anyone presently OOC and unemployed.Having a squad size 4 or more short of the 25allowed could make the run in tough given our likely cup run to at least the semifinals if not the final.

No need to recall anyone. Our squad is far better than 2 years ago and we have multiple options in all positions. the future looks solid.

Are Westwood and Brady cup tied?

Problems with t'net here in Brazil which is why I seem to have given birth to triplets

Brady is thanks to Neil but Westwood isn't

Long has only just gone out on loan to Bolton so couldn't recall him

Squad is massive compared to last time. Centre midfield last time at this point was Jones and Arfield as Marney was injured - no backup.

This time we have Defour, Hendrick, Barton, Westwood - all an improvement on Jones & Arfield and yes Defour is out for a few weeks and Barton can get a ban but at present this is still a huge improvement.

Wide players this time - Gudmundsson, Brady, Boyd, Arfield.

Wide players last time - Kightly, Boyd (Arfield was playing centre)

Squad is looking good.

' given our likely cup run to at least the semi-finals if not the final..'

mmm...mdd2...what about if we beat Lincoln and then play say MUFC or Chelsea next..did you mean to say that?

Good man.

We have no recall on either Long or Ulvestad, or for that matter Kightly. The days of emergency loans are over, these are all window to window loans.

They wouldn't gone out had the manager thought there was a chance we would need them. The last of them, Kightly, was only given permission to leave once Robbie Brady was signed. It would take an injury/suspension list of biblical proportions to leave us desperately short this time.

It'd take two injuries to leave us short up top to be fair.

hampsteadclaret wrote:' given our likely cup run to at least the semi-finals if not the final..'

mmm...mdd2...what about if we beat Lincoln and then play say MUFC or Chelsea next..did you mean to say that?

Good man.

As those who know me are aware, I am a doom and gloom merchant re the Clarets but I think we will go all the way in the FA Cup this season but unsure if we will win it, just a very strong positive vibe this season.

Bordeauxclaret wrote:It'd take two injuries to leave us short up top to be fair.

Ideally we would have another striker but we were without both Barnes & Gray earlier in the season and it wasn't a major problem. We have players who can play behind a striker. Not what we would want, but not a disaster.

We have 12 players for the front 6 positions, including Marney but excluding Tarkowski. That sounds fine, but with Marney out for the direction and Barton at risk of a chunky suspension, I'm not sure we quite as well covered some would suggest.

That said, there are some big clubs in this league with less options than us up front.

The next challenge must be to make sure the current 3 strikers, and especially Gray, are tied down until at least summer 2019.

4-5-1 has worked very well at home.

mdd2 wrote:I think we will go all the way in the FA Cup this season

Bloody hell, Doctor! - You must be enjoying that cruise!

We are, Redders. Gutted about today as I expected at least a point. Squad now down to 20 for at least 3 games assuming Joey is still with us and 3 of those are keepers,won't be much left after the 11 and 7 subs.