How strong is the squad

Thinking about all of the players available when fit what would the team be like if we didn't field a player who started against Scunthorpe?

Ruiter
James
Ozturk
Flanagan
Love

McGeouch
Mumba
McGeady
Watmore

Sinclair
Wyke

Subs
Stryjek
Hume
O'Nien
Robson
Embleton
Molyneux
Nelson

I think that team would be good enough to win games in this league, so to answer the question I think for League 1 we have a very strong squad.

 

That’s ok
But I like this squad better

 

Obviously that is a better side but the point I am making is that for this league we do have strength in depth. It would not be enough in the Championship but at this level it is very good.

 

Yeh I think so we will be fine

 

Didn't we go 2 up-front second half with Sinclair against Charlton?

We looked better that half.

Dont know if that's a serious option though.

 

Yeh let’s get these injured players back
And have some more attaching options

 

I'd say we have a strong squad from what I've seen of us and the opposition. I don't know how good the other teams are yet but Charlton were impressive and we managed to beat them with a depleted side, think they had the same problem but still.

 

Disagree completely with this here, fella. I think we now have a squad that wouldn't set the championship alight, but we would do alright with it.

 

Don't get ahead of yourself. The squad may still not be strong enough to even get out of this division. Portsmouth, Peterborough and Barnsley continued their strong starts to the season with good away wins tonight.

Even a squad strong enough to get promoted means very little at the next level. Rotherham are having a nightmare start to life in the Championship following their promotion at the first attempt.

 

Seems to be a lot of doom and gloom attitudes on here the second somebody shows a glimmer of hope and positivity.

I expected a few teams to get off to a flyer, it always happens. I think they'll drop away as we get stronger throughout the season. We have by far the strongest squad in the league, so I think we have the right to be thinking like that. Rotherham are having a nightmare start but sit 17th in the league? Probably where they expected to be, tbh.

Watmore, Oviedo and Gooch, could handle premier league football. There's a case for Honeyman and quite possibly McGeough with his reputation also. Just about all the rest look to me like they could handle the Championship. We need tightening up at the back as that's the only question mark, for me.

 

I have plenty of hope and positivity, but am not about to take anything for granted.

I always chuckle when the horse punchers up the road begin renewing their passports and planning for Champions League football whenever they manage to go two games undefeated. Sunderland fans on the other hand generally expect their team to cock things up.

We are in this division because we deserve to be. There is no reason why Barnsley and Peterborough in particular won't maintain the same levels of performance throughout the season. Lets concentrate on this season before speculating how we will do in a higher division next year.

 

Somebody made a statement about the squad not being good enough for the Championship and I replied giving my opinion.

I know we are in this division because we deserve to be, I've never said anything to the contrary. I'm not taking anything for granted either, I'm just very positive about the season because we have the best squad in this division.

 

That's understandable after the last 10 years we've had though Saffy.

Also, and I say this with no conscious effort to feign humility, not everyone can be expected to be a dazzling sunbeam of magnificence like me mate

 

Haha - I know mate. It's just twice now I've been positive about us and twice I've been pulled up and dragged back because of it.

 

My comment was also meant to be positive, I think we are very well placed with the squad for this season and we would survive in the Championship, however we need more if we are to get back to back promotions.

 

Yeh me too I think we will be fine

 

Agreed, Washy

 

I'm with you on this one Saffy - the positivity relates to our new squad / entire set-up. We're in with a cracking chance of winning this league. If we don't we'll be very close and I fail to see why we can't be optimistic about that.

 

I can't see us not winning the league!

This wave of optimism is really freaking me out

 

Its early and there is a long way to go, things are looking good so "take each game as it comes" and enjoy the ride. Onwards and upwards hopefully.