The Squad of 25

[Trents]

As I understand it we have to have a 25 man squad registered for the league after the transfer window ends on 5th Oct.

I'd consider the shoe-ins to be:

Samba
Figuereido
Worrall
Christie
Blackett
Ribeiro
Jenkinson
Mbe Soh
Mckenna
Yates
Bachirou
Sow
Arter
Colback
Lolley
Freeman
Ameobi
Da Costa
Mighten
Grabban
Taylor
Guerrero

That's 22 right there. At least another keeper(maybe both Smith and Diallo?) and a new winger makes 24/25. There will be a few players sweating.

On the fringes:

Dawson - Do we need more CB cover? probably not.
Benalouane - See above
Gabriel/Darikwa For additional RB cover?
Johnson?
Carvalho?
Silva?

 

[congo_red_49]

I have my suspicions that we may see Ribeiro, Carvalho, Silva and Figueredo sold before that date.
I'm not normally one to put much stock in the rumours about players being shipped out because of falling out with agents and such like, but the fact that we have bought in players in the positions they play seems to lend some credence to it.

Based on that, my list would be:-
Samba
Dawson
Christie
Blackett
Ioannou
Jenkinson
Mbe Soh
Mckenna
Bachirou
Sow
Arter
Colback
Lolley
Freeman
Ameobi
Da Costa
Grabban
Taylor
Guerrero
Smith
Diallo
That new winger.
3 slots that won't make much difference.

Exemptions
Worrall, Yates, Mighten

 

[Ravi]

Do academy under 23s count towards the 25?

 

[RichNFFC]

Pretty sure this only applies to the Premier League.

 

[Haych]

Do academy under 23s count towards the 25?

I’m pretty sure they don’t

 

[Ravi]

Just checked - under 21s don’t count unless they’ve come in on loan.

 

[Harvey]

I remember reading that the Championship were going to introduce squads of 25 but don't know when it was being brought in, and also whether it still is given the Covid situation

 

[Ravi]

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/spo...ews/stoke-city-squad-players-transfer-4440854

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

There's various exemptions based on age and whether they have spent a number of years at the club.

Mighten, Yates and Worrall won't count towards the limit. Mbe Soh probably not either I don't think.

 

[Redemption]

As I understand it we have to have a 25 man squad registered for the league after the transfer window ends on 5th Oct.

I'd consider the shoe-ins to be:

Samba
Figuereido
Worrall
Christie
Blackett
Ribeiro
Jenkinson
Mbe Soh
Mckenna
Yates
Bachirou
Sow
Arter
Colback
Lolley
Freeman
Ameobi
Da Costa
Mighten
Grabban
Taylor
Guerrero

That's 22 right there. At least another keeper(maybe both Smith and Diallo?) and a new winger makes 24/25. There will be a few players sweating.

On the fringes:

Dawson - Do we need more CB cover? probably not.
Benalouane - See above
Gabriel/Darikwa For additional RB cover?
Johnson?
Carvalho?
Silva?

Lamouchi said he wants 23 + 3 goalies. You only have one goalie listed. Assuming that some players don't count because of the age/academy rules.

And, let's assume that Ioannou is done but not announced and then we have the desired winger, so let's assume that happens.

The sift is a bit harder.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

25 man squad.

16 matchday players.........

 

[Redemption]

The rules from the EFL

43.9 Squad Lists

43.9.1 Clubs shall be permitted to name up to a maximum number of Players in their Squad
List based on the following provisions:

(a) in respect of Championship Clubs, 25 Players of which a minimum of 8 must be a Home Grown Player;

(b) in respect of League One and Two Clubs:
(i) in Season 2020/21, 22 Players of which a minimum of 8 must be a Home Grown Player; and
(ii) in Season 2021/22 and each subsequent Season, 20 Players of which a minimum of 8 must be a Home Grown Player.

The limit set out in Regulation 43.9.1(b)(ii) increases to 22 for any Club relegated into League One, for its first Season following relegation.

43.9.2 The following Players do not need to be included in the Squad List to be eligible to play in League Matches:

(a) in respect of Championship Clubs, any Under 21 Player (save for any Under 21 Player who is registered with the Club on a Temporary Loan Transfer); and

(b) in respect of League One Clubs and League Two Clubs, any Under 21 Players.

So this really give us - working to the rules

- Goalies
- Outfield players
- U21s

if you apply Lamouchi's 23+3 logic to that and you assume that Mighten and Mbe Soh would be considered U21s

We're really after a list of 20 outfield players.

 

[Redemption]

Here's a table of probable options

1	Samba
2	Diallo
3	Smith
4	Figuereido
5	Worrall
6	Christie
7	Blackett
8	Ribeiro
9	Jenkinson
10	Mckenna
11	Yates
12	Bachirou
13	Sow
14	Arter
15	Colback
16	Lolley
17	Freeman
18	Ameobi
19	Da Costa
20	Grabban
21	Taylor
22	Guerrero
23	Ioannou
24	A Winger
25	Mighten
26	Mbe Soh

 

[GreeksBearingGifts]

I didn't know the 25-squad restriction applied to the Championship too. Given that you only have two U21s (Mighten, Mbe Soh), you will end up with a squad of up to 27 players. This is precisely the number I considered rational without having the restrictions in mind:

Let me see if I understand correctly. I'll assume that you're buying McKenna and Ioannou, and I will not bother with the official bomb squad (Adomah, Hefele, Clough, Bong).

GK:Samba / Smith, Diallo [3]
RB / LB: Christie, Ribeiro / Gabriel, Jenkinson, Darikwa (Blackett, Ioannou) [5]
CB: Worrall, McKenna / Figueireido, Mbe Soh, Dawson, Blackett, Ioannou, Benalouane [8]
Midfield: Colback, Arter, Freeman / Yates, Bachirou, Sow, Carvalho, Johnson, Silva [9]
Wings: Ameobi, Lolley / Da Costa, Mighten (Taylor, Guerrero) [4]
Strikers: Grabban, Taylor, Guerrero (Da Costa, Mighten) [3]

That's 32 players without the bomb squad. Long and weird season and all that, but that's still ridiculous, especially in defence and midfield.

Defence [3]: Jenkinson or Darikwa has to go. With Blackett and Ioannou also covering LB and LCB, you can afford 6 CBs to be ready for three at the back. Therefore, two have to go: preferably Benalouane and Figueireido.
Midfield [2-3]: With Sow's fitness in doubt, you can perhaps afford as many as 7, although 6 would be preferable. Silva and Carvalho? Perhaps even Johnson on loan?
Forwards [+1]: The numbers are OK, but perhaps you could add another quality winger, especially since Lolley's form seems poor.

That would bring you to 24-25 without the goalkeepers, which is decent, and with quality depth.

 

[Redemption]

I didn't know the 25-squad restriction applied to the Championship too. Given that you only have two U21s (Mighten, Mbe Soh), you will end up with a squad of up to 27 players. This is precisely the number I considered rational without having the restrictions in mind:

It's a new rule, introduced for this season.

 

[Ashley]

At least one of Figueiredo or Worrall will be sold IMO (hopefully the former but it'll probably be the latter).

I don't see Silva or Carvalho being here after the window closes.

Gabriel, Johnson and Smith will go out on loan.

One of either Darikwa or Jenkinson will probably be left out. Probably depends on whether Jenkinson picks up his annual long term injury before 5th October.

Obviously the bomb squad will be excluded.


I expect the 25 man squad to look something like this:

Goalkeepers: Samba, Diallo
Right backs: Christie, Jenkinson/Darikwa
Left backs: Ribeiro, Ioannou
Centre backs: Worrall/Figueiredo, McKenna, Soh, Blackett, Dawson
Midfielders: Colback, Freeman, Arter, Sow, Yates, Bachirou
Wingers: Lolley, Ameobi, Mighten and a new winger
Strikers: Grabban, Taylor, Guerrero, Da Costa

Plus any other u23s we choose to involve.

 

[Redemption]

There's no benefit to registering Mighten or Mbe Soh as you get them for free.

 

[It's Baggio]

From the 'state of the squad' thread. Slightly amended as Gabriel is classed as over-21...

---

With the new 25 man squad rules, I reckon we have 8 to get rid of or be 'bomb-squadded' for the season (assuming Ioannou signs). u21's are excluded from the squad so Mbe Soh, Mighten, Richardson and Johnson don't need to be registered but can still be picked.

GK - Samba / Smith / Diallo - (3)
RB - Christie / Jenkinson / Darikwa / Gabriel - (4)
LB - Ribeiro / Blackett / Ioannou / Bong - (4)
CB - Worrall / McKenna / Figueireido / Dawson / Hefele / Benalouane - (6)
CM - Arter / Colback / Yates / Sow / Bachirou - (5)
AM - Freeman / Silva / Carvalho / Clough - (4)
WI - Lolley / Ameobi / Da Costa / Adomah - (4)
CF - Grabban / Taylor / Guerrero - (3)

= 33

Four are obvious; Bong, Hefele, Clough & Adomah.

So it's 4 more from; Jenkinson, Darikwa, Gabriel, Ribeiro, Worrall, Figueireido, Dawson, Benalouane, Yates, Sow, Silva, Carvalho, Lolley, Ameobi & Da Costa. Assuming all the new signings are included and Sabri wants 3 senior 'keepers.

If we're still after a winger then another one would need dropping.

 

[congo_red_49]

From the 'state of the squad' thread. Slightly amended as Gabriel is classed as over-21...

I thought Gabriel still counted as under 21 because his birthday fell after the start of the season?
Probably wrong - it's difficult to make sense of all these new rules.

 

[It's Baggio]

I thought Gabriel still counted as under 21 because his birthday fell after the start of the season?
Probably wrong - it's difficult to make sense of all these new rules.

I initially wasn't sure, however I found the below definition on the EFL site.

" 'Under 21 Player’ means a Player under the age of 21 as at the 1 January in the year in which the Season concerned commences (e.g. for Season 2020/21, born on or after 1 January 1999)."

https://www.efl.com/-more/governance/efl-rules--regulations/section-1----general/

Gabriel is 22 tomorrow, DOB - 25/09/1998.

 

[congo_red_49]

Gabriel is 22 tomorrow, DOB - 25/09/1998.

D'oh. That's where my mistake was - I thought saw was 21 and though his birthday had already passed - i.e. he was 20 and had turned 21 earlier this month.

And now I can't remember if 21s count as 'Under 21's' - logic says not, but the EFL and logic aren't normally compatible.

 

[Otis Redding]

From my back-of-a-fagpacket reckoning, the choice is from:

GK...Samba, Smith, Diallo (3)
RB...Christie, Jenkinson, Darikwa (3)
LB...Ribeiro, Ioannou(?) (2)
CB...Worrall, Figueiredo, Dawson, McKenna, Blackett, Mbe Soh (6)
MF...Colback, Arter, Freeman, Sow, Bachirou, Yates, Silva, Carvalho [8]
WF...Lolley, Ameobi, Mighten, new winger(?) (4)
ST...Grabban, Taylor, Da Costa, Guerrero (4)

With Johnson's imminent loan and assuming Lawrence-Gabriel is loaned out too(?), and if a new (over-19) wideman is signed, that's a potential squad of 30. Presumably, Mighten and Mbe Soh can be discounted by way of their ages, meaning that three others need to be discarded and/or sold.
My take, Jenkinson or Darikwa; Carvalho or Silver. Other than possibly Figs, unless Ioannou proves to be the final signing, I can't even guess who the third might be.

 

[Steve B]

From the 'state of the squad' thread. Slightly amended as Gabriel is classed as over-21...

---

With the new 25 man squad rules, I reckon we have 8 to get rid of or be 'bomb-squadded' for the season (assuming Ioannou signs). u21's are excluded from the squad so Mbe Soh, Mighten, Richardson and Johnson don't need to be registered but can still be picked.

GK - Samba / Smith / Diallo - (3)
RB - Christie / Jenkinson / Darikwa / Gabriel - (4)
LB - Ribeiro / Blackett / Ioannou / Bong - (4)
CB - Worrall / McKenna / Figueireido / Dawson / Hefele / Benalouane - (6)
CM - Arter / Colback / Yates / Sow / Bachirou - (5)
AM - Freeman / Silva / Carvalho / Clough - (4)
WI - Lolley / Ameobi / Da Costa / Adomah - (4)
CF - Grabban / Taylor / Guerrero - (3)

= 33

Four are obvious; Bong, Hefele, Clough & Adomah.

So it's 4 more from; Jenkinson, Darikwa, Gabriel, Ribeiro, Worrall, Figueireido, Dawson, Benalouane, Yates, Sow, Silva, Carvalho, Lolley, Ameobi & Da Costa. Assuming all the new signings are included and Sabri wants 3 senior 'keepers.

If we're still after a winger then another one would need dropping.

My 4 are Jenks/Darikwa (whoever’s less likely to collapse again), Gabriel (loan), Benalouane (bit of a shame but prob too long out) and Da Costa

 

[It's Baggio]

So, we have 25.

Samba, Smith, Diallo (3)
Christie, Darikwa, Jenkinson (3)
Ioannou, Blackett, Ribeiro (3)
Worrall, McKenna, Dawson, Figueiredo (4) + Mbe Soh (u21)
Colback, Arter, Sow, Yates, Bachirou, Cafu (6)
Freeman, Lolley, Ameobi (3) + Mighten (u21)
Grabban, Taylor, Guerrero (3)

= 25

Bomb squad - Bong, Hefele, Clough


Balanced, it aint. Could do with a winger & a Freeman alternative before the 16th.

I read today the window in Portugal closes on October 25th, so possibly still time to move Figueireido / Ribeiro over there. We could also do with one of Darikwa / Jenkinson going out to another League club, to make room for the above.

 

[Otis Redding]

So, we have 25.

Samba, Smith, Diallo (3)
Christie, Darikwa, Jenkinson (3)
Ioannou, Blackett, Ribeiro (3)
Worrall, McKenna, Dawson, Figueiredo (4) + Mbe Soh (u21)
Colback, Arter, Sow, Yates, Bachirou, Cafu (6)
Freeman, Lolley, Ameobi (3) + Mighten (u21)
Grabban, Taylor, Guerrero (3)

= 25

Bomb squad - Bong, Hefele, Clough


Balanced, it aint. Could do with a winger & a Freeman alternative before the 16th.

I read today the window in Portugal closes on October 25th, so possibly still time to move Figueireido / Ribeiro over there. We could also do with one of Darikwa / Jenkinson going out to another League club, to make room for the above.

We could potentially address gaps with a couple U-21 PL loans. I'd expect the British managers we're linked with would have decent contacts with upper-end PL clubs, particularly someone like Chris Hughton.