"Overall I think the comments so far about a 'paper thin' squad is about right, so that injury, suspension of a loss of form from a couple of players and we have nothing to compensate for it."
Not sure if the paper thin squad hasn't already been tested. We have so far this season lost Furman, Mellor, Morais, Parker and Black through injury and Mvoto for a games suspension. I would have thought that Furman, Black and Morais and possibly Parker would be considered starters and we have coped quite well and indeed got better as we have gone on. The first few games were not brilliant but we have got going now and more importantly we have seen a set of strikers who can score goals.
In comparison to the start of last season where we were served up a mixture of Tounkara, Feeney, Kelly, and sometimes Taylor up front we now have strikers who are scoring Kuqi, Reid and Smith albeit Reid has been relying on a free shot from 12 yards up until last Saturday. If you add in Josh Parker who I beleive will be a star for us this season. The Kuqi factor is something we haven't really witnessed since Wijnhard came to us in my opinion. Not only a goal scorer but an old head who will / can bring on the younger, less experienced players not only in technique but in attitude as well. I think dickov has played a blinder to get Kuqi here and was prepared to wait as long as it took to get him! Well done Paul.
The midfield to me is the weakest area where the "paper thin" comment is justified and this is where we have suffered this year already. Furman is a big miss and I don't think we have adequate cover for him. We have seen too many games this year where the midfield has been taken by the scruff of the neck straight from the kick off by the opposition and it has taken us 20 minutes to grapple it back. Rochdale, Stevenage spring to mind at home. There have been games where we haven't managed to get it back at all Colchester for example. Wesolowski is a decent addition and i think that when the Furball comes back those two will form a decent partnership.
Centre Halfs, generally stronger than last year with the Hazell cock up factor removed. There isn't much pace there but was there even when Hazell was partnering Mvoto ??
Kieran Lee has been strong and consistent in my view with the left back slot again proving difficult due to injuries, although Mellor has proved that he can do the job he isn't a natural defeder and we need him to be more creative up front.
In summary I think our squad whilst smaller than last year, is generally stronger and has the ability to be more consistent than last year.
I'm going for a top half finish with a sniff of the play offs a possible.
Up the Latics.....