How good is this squad?

[Phil Symonds 0]

I am surprised that we constantly hear that we have one of the best squads in the division.

If you take it position by position then in my opinion the following is apparrent.

• Green - one of the best in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, probably

Right Back

• Colin or A.N. Other - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

Central Defenders 

• Fleming - one of the best in the division, not any longer. One of the better ones in the division, no. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• Docherty - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, doubtfull.

• Shackell - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, yes before all his injuries and sickness. Good enough for the Premiership, possibly.

• Charlton - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no. Good enough for the Premiership, no. Same comments if considered as a left back.

Left Back

• Drury - one of the best in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, doubtfull.

Right Midfield

• We don''t have a specialist right midfielder, enough said.

Central Midfield

• Safri - one of the best in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, probably.

• Hughes - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• Etuhu - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, doubtfull. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• Jarrett - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

Left Midfield

• Brennan - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no. Good enough for the Premiership, no. Same comments if considered as a left back.

• McVeigh - left midfield or striker? - as a left midfielder one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no, purely because he is too inconsistent. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• Huckerby - left midfield or striker? - as a left midfielder, one of the best in the division, no, because of his lack of defensive application. One of the better ones in the division, probably. Good enough for the Premiership, not any more.

Strikers

• Rossi - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no, and we will probably never know as he doesn''t get given a chance (when fit). Good enough for the Premiership, not at the moment.

• Henderson - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no, and we will probably never know as he doesn''t get picked in the postion that he has played in at every available age for England so far. Good enough for the Premiership, not at the moment. If considered as a right midfielder he is not one of the best in the division, or even one of the better ones, as right midfield is not his natural position. Good enough for the Premiership, not as a right midfielder.

• Thorne - one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, not any more. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• McVeigh - as a striker, one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, maybe but let down by a lack of consistency. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• Huckerby - as a striker, one of the best in the division, no. One of the better ones in the division, no. He has the touch, the skills and strength but lacks heading ability and consistently drifts out to a wide left position which is not a striking position. Good enough for the Premiership, not any more.

• McKenzie - one of the best in the division, no. Whilst his energy, pace and commitment are exemplary his first touch, or lack of one, lets him down. One of the better ones in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, no.

• Ashton - one of the best in the division, yes. Good enough for the Premiership, yes.

And there you have it. A squad that is unbalanced and lacks overall quality for this division, let alone the Premiership. It is no wonder to me that we are lurking around midtable.

The best that we can hope for is the playoffs where we are likely to be outplayed.

And who is responsible for this lack-lustre unbalanced squad?  Mmmm...well it isn''t me.