The Squad List (2024/25 Edition)

[Nemo]

Much mentioned 24 man squad for a 3-4-3 set up probably likely to be something like:

GK
1 Ripley
2 Ward

DF
3 Wright
4 Delaney
5 Minturn
6 Mabete
7 TBC Left Footed CB

WB
8 Kirkman
9 TBC Left Wing Back
10 McGregor
11 TBC Right Wing Back (Sobowale if he doesn't leave)

CB/CM hybrid
12 Clarke
13 Ball

CM
14 Kilkenny
15 Oldaker
16 Snowdon
17 TBC One more midfielder

CM/CF Hybrid
18 Nichols
19 Butterworth

CF/Wide forward
20 Smith
21 Drinan
22 Glatzel
23 Tabor
24 TBC Smith cover

Think that's four spots assuming Sobowale and Ameen both leave. Maybe Butterworth does? Maybe midfielder # 17 is another attacker, depends where Nichols expects to be used I'd guess.

For a "small" squad we'll also have Evans, McCormick, Hart, Brown, Mitchell, Gonzalez-Birchall, Alston on the first team staff - it's not really a reduced size of squad, it's just not counting seven players!

[Riddick]

Positions are very hard to predict with Holloway.

My key question is, is our first 11 stronger than last season?

[Peter Venkman]

Like for like on our starting team vs Chesterfield last season

BYCROFT
FRECKLETON
HALL
WRIGHT
LONGELO
KING
OFOBORH
CLARKE
COTTERILL
DRINAN
SMITH

Ripley, Nichols, Mcgregor, Kilkenny and Kirkman are definate upgrades.

The other starting CB we don't know about yet, Tabor is an unknown as is Ball/Oldaker compared to Cotterill.

[Anonymous77]

Based of Ball and Holloway’s interviews it seems pretty certain he will be used in the Clarke CB/CM hybrid role. Unfortunately can’t rely on Clarke for 46 games a season so good to see we’ve identified a similar option so we don’t need to change shape.

[reeves4england]

Like for like on our starting team vs Chesterfield last season

BYCROFT
FRECKLETON
HALL
WRIGHT
LONGELO
KING
OFOBORH
CLARKE
COTTERILL
DRINAN
SMITH

Ripley, Nichols, Mcgregor, Kilkenny and Kirkman are definate upgrades.

The other starting CB we don't know about yet, Tabor is an unknown as is Ball/Oldaker compared to Cotterill.

You would hope those two are much better fits for the deep role than Cotterill ever was. Totally wasted there.

[Nemo]

Definite upgrade on the start of last season, maybe slightly below the end of last season? Depends on if we replace Ofoborh I guess. Similar.

First XI something like:

Ripley

Wright
Clarke/Ball
Delaney

Kirkman
Kilkenny
Oldaker/Nichols
McGregor

Drinan
Glatzel
Smith

[Peter Venkman]

You would hope those two are much better fits for the deep role than Cotterill ever was. Totally wasted there.

Absolutely agree, Cotterill only looked good in the advances attacking role sat behind the striker and given free reign. Which he probably got to play only 3 or 4 times in the entire season.

[Barrett17]

Definite upgrade on the start of last season, maybe slightly below the end of last season? Depends on if we replace Ofoborh I guess. Similar.

First XI something like:

Ripley

Wright
Clarke/Ball
Delaney

Kirkman
Kilkenny
Oldaker/Nichols
McGregor

Drinan
Glatzel
Smith

3 Top Players off of being happy going into the season with that. Additions need to improve us now. Only change in your side is i'd have Wright in middle and Clarke at RCB.