Is The Squad Stronger Than this time a Fortnight Ago?

[bellwhiff]

For me, no.

[yorkshire stag]

wow i agree !!

[Fitzy499]

No it’s not, however we have to trust GC a judgement he is the manager he knows what he’s got to play with. Don’t forget we can still sign free agents.

[STAGS FOR LIFE]

wow i agree !!

For me, no.

Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we?

[georgefostersbeard]

No, the squad is emphatically weaker than it was 2 weeks ago but the team is only affected by Cook's departure.
We have lost high earners at a time when it is strongly rumoured from within the club that our last three managers were paying over the odds.
The manager can only be judged on the window by whether anyone else comes in and how we play.
This squad has failed us and taken the mickey in terms of performances and fitness for more than 13 months so I will not be mourning any departures unless this is now our squad settled until season end.
Let's wait for the manager to explain it and watch his new squad and then decide

[EdwinstoweStag]

No, the squad is emphatically weaker than it was 2 weeks ago but the team is only affected by Cook's departure.
We have lost high earners at a time when it is strongly rumoured from within the club that our last three managers were paying over the odds.
The manager can only be judged on the window by whether anyone else comes in and how we play.
This squad has failed us and taken the mickey in terms of performances and fitness for more than 13 months so I will not be mourning any departures unless this is now our squad settled until season end.
Let's wait for the manager to explain it and watch his new squad and then decide

He’s (GC) is weeding, that’s all.

[part time pete]

Squad is fitter, if that means stronger, it is.

[James]

How do we know until we‘ve seen all the signings play?

[BH_Stag]

Huge risk replacing Mellis & Khan who both have ability with 2 lads who have barely played a competitive game of men’s football between them.

Riley made sense with Whites injury problems.

Cook should never have been let go, we’re now light up top.

On the face of it I’d say our options feel weaker, but we’ll see how it materialise’s and hope GC’s judgement is correct.. we need it to be!

[gazza1988]

On paper we have weakened but all great players started out without a league game under their belt. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

[georgefostersbeard]

No, the squad is emphatically weaker than it was 2 weeks ago but the team is only affected by Cook's departure.
We have lost high earners at a time when it is strongly rumoured from within the club that our last three managers were paying over the odds.
The manager can only be judged on the window by whether anyone else comes in and how we play.
This squad has failed us and taken the mickey in terms of performances and fitness for more than 13 months so I will not be mourning any departures unless this is now our squad settled until season end.
Let's wait for the manager to explain it and watch his new squad and then decide

He’s (GC) is weeding, that’s all.

Absolutely agree.
If this had been last Monday (before the Oldham debacle) we would have not questioned it as much

[Amber Andy]

No, the squad is emphatically weaker than it was 2 weeks ago but the team is only affected by Cook's departure.
We have lost high earners at a time when it is strongly rumoured from within the club that our last three managers were paying over the odds.
The manager can only be judged on the window by whether anyone else comes in and how we play.
This squad has failed us and taken the mickey in terms of performances and fitness for more than 13 months so I will not be mourning any departures unless this is now our squad settled until season end.
Let's wait for the manager to explain it and watch his new squad and then decide

He’s (GC) is weeding, that’s all.

Is that another name for cost cutting ?

[bobbystagsfan]

No, the squad is emphatically weaker than it was 2 weeks ago but the team is only affected by Cook's departure.
We have lost high earners at a time when it is strongly rumoured from within the club that our last three managers were paying over the odds.
The manager can only be judged on the window by whether anyone else comes in and how we play.
This squad has failed us and taken the mickey in terms of performances and fitness for more than 13 months so I will not be mourning any departures unless this is now our squad settled until season end.
Let's wait for the manager to explain it and watch his new squad and then decide

He’s (GC) is weeding, that’s all.

Is that another name for cost cutting ?

It is cost cutting, but in a good way imo. Mellis and Khan weren't playing under GC and didn't look like they were gonna burst onto the scene under him either. They won't have been on small wages either I don't think. We are still light in midfield but if they weren't playing for us it's no big loss really

[cassellswasmagic]

Stronger in skill....NO. Stronger in all players pulling in the same direction as the manager wants....Possibly. Only Cook worth his subs place out the three that have gone imo.

[Jimstag]

A bit conflicted but I was happier when another midfielder arrived late on as I was concerned about squad depth more than anything, I still am a little. 1 or 2 injuries and the bench could look very young?

I think the first team is about the same strength when I’d have really liked to see strengthening. The benefit I see is a few younger and fitter player that can play the GC way but can any of them pick a pass like mellis and Khan or impact a game like cook off the bench?

I generally agree with the weeding comment it was players GC had decided weren’t going to start that has left. Are we stronger for it? Not so sure but he had to change something to improve.

[lifestags]

It's hard to say because we have essentially signed 3 going lads who haven't kicked a ball between them, they may turn out to be gems however.

[Sneag]

It's hard to say because we have essentially signed 3 going lads who haven't kicked a ball between them, they may turn out to be gems however.

I'm pretty sure they've all kicked a ball before.

[Berryhillstagno1]

No, the squad is emphatically weaker than it was 2 weeks ago but the team is only affected by Cook's departure.
We have lost high earners at a time when it is strongly rumoured from within the club that our last three managers were paying over the odds.
The manager can only be judged on the window by whether anyone else comes in and how we play.
This squad has failed us and taken the mickey in terms of performances and fitness for more than 13 months so I will not be mourning any departures unless this is now our squad settled until season end.
Let's wait for the manager to explain it and watch his new squad and then decide

He’s (GC) is weeding, that’s all.

Absolutely agree.
If this had been last Monday (before the Oldham debacle) we would have not questioned it as much

Gfb is absolutely spot on, for those that travel to the away games, energy and effort is required from all the players not one or two. Now makes sense why Cook didn't celebrate his goal last week. .

[stagmanrob]

As stated elsewhere, our conference squads under Cox were far, far stronger in depth than what we have now.

Worrying.

[stagsfan6493]

Yes. We have removed 3 players who didn’t want to play for us and were probably on big wages.

[gavinbrookes]

We obviously arent stronger. I'm hoping that GC can galvanise this smaller group but let's be honest the window has been pretty disastrous. The owner, manager and majority of the fans have spent the last couple of months panning this group of players and now we need them to keep us in the league. Okay, the maths are on our side points-wise but if Stevenage can do a Macclesfield from last season then it becomes nervous.

[1970Stag]

You're saying Logan Khan and cook didn't want to play for us, how do you know that, maybe the manager froze them out, which then makes you feel like that. There is very little skill or creativity left, and if the manager wants a fight I'd have thought Cook was that sort of player!
So for me no, we are weaker, Riley looked good on Saturday, the other three are untried at this level and should only be back ups, who's the competition for their places? Saying that I hope we stuff Carlisle, but I can't see it.

[EdwinstoweStag]

For me, no.

Stronger? - time will tell.
Weaker? - No

[Beano]

Bad apples gone

The rest have a third of a season to prove they are worth a contract next season.

Are we weaker? individually yes, but as a team? watch this space I suppose.

[Vice President]

In my opinion the squad is significantly weaker now.
Even if the likes of Mellis, Cook & Khan don't start games, they offered some attacking intent as impact subs - and they haven't been replaced.
The loss of Cook has definitely weakened our attack.

I am concerned that GC has told too many players that they can look for another club. That is a massive risk when he needs players to raise their game in a relegation battle and they are going to be out of contract in a few months. I mentioned this a few weeks ago - and we are sliding ever nearer the bottom of the table.