Squad Sizes - How Does It Work?

[Prodigal Son]

Every home game I take a look at the back page of the programme and I am always amazed that every other club has a much larger squad than us. I think the smallest I have spotted is 24. I believe there is some sort of budget formula in place based on gates/revenues but even Col Ewe and MK Dons have larger squads than us by some margin yet they must have smaller budgets than us.

Ipregfer quality over quantity but think we have done remarkably well to somehow be joint top at this stage of the season ,albeit with some luck over the Christmas period.

Our limited transfer acitivity during the 'window' is frustrating as our competitors manage to sign players. According to this board we were in for three players last week who were making up their minds and a striker was spotted in talk this week.However, no signings.

Any thoughts on how others have larger squads?

 

[Jai]

They are prepared to buy more average players than we are? They have more productive youth systems than us, or bring more young players through. As much as ours is being improved and revamped at the moment, we are only starting to see a gradual benefit.

 

[Guest]

Some teams list more youth players in their squad than we do, and a lot of teams have several average-to-poor squad members to make up the numbers.

 

[The Viking]

Jai's point about the youth team is a good one. Look for example at how many of the Huddersfield team came through their youth ranks, while we only really have Lawson (Ademeno only made our squad list this year because of a poor run of injuries - I can't see him figuring this season unless the same thing happens again.) Thankfully it looks like Mr. Duncan and Tilly have started addressing this.

I would be happy to have quite a few currently 'average' players bulking up the squad if they were youth teamers with the potential to improve...less so if they were just average journey-man pros signed for a transfer fee and on higher wages.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

Completely agree with the comments about the youth set-up. Tilly and Ron Martin have re-appointed Ricky Duncan, who has ripped apart the youth set-up, and totally reorganised it along better lines. As per the reports in both the matchday programme and on the official site, more coaches have been hired, more scouting networks have been set up, and the idea of an Open Day is so simple - but seems to have turned up a couple of gems ! !

Who would have thought that we would run "Advanced Goalkeepers Courses"?

Youth set-ups have good years and bad years, but we seem to be going in the right direction.