Interesting comment, coming a week after we beat the league leaders.
Something's going on here.
That is EXACTLY what Oscar is saying. Well sort, of. That if we hadn't been so ridiculously unlucky with injuries this season, then we should/would already be sitting pretty in the top 6.
And I think he's right.
It's slightly disappointing that, on the eve of our biggest game of the season, this headline/article combo has been published. It's a time for all associated with the club to pull together. We need the fans to be backing Oscar and the team, not thinking "If Oscar doesn't like what he's got, he can do one..." or similar.
Get the Amex properly rocking tomorrow, be the 12th man and show that we are a top 6 team.
Well if it's a "ceiling" statement he's going about it in quite a classy way, don't you think?
Have to confess I am a little concerned about where the managerial/coaching situation may be heading. I REALLY REALLY want Oscar here next season.
*thinksaboutwettingthebed*
Well if it's a "ceiling" statement he's going about it in quite a classy way, don't you think?
Have to confess I am a little concerned about where the managerial/coaching situation may be heading. I REALLY REALLY want Oscar here next season.
*thinksaboutwettingthebed*
They'll get the biggest fine in FFP history ( along with Forest and QPR ).
Oh, maybe the FL will roll over and not fine anyone afterall.
That is EXACTLY what Oscar is saying. Well sort, of. That if we hadn't been so ridiculously unlucky with injuries this season, then we should/would already be sitting pretty in the top 6.
And I think he's right.
It's slightly disappointing that, on the eve of our biggest game of the season, this headline/article combo has been published. It's a time for all associated with the club to pull together. We need the fans to be backing Oscar and the team, not thinking "If Oscar doesn't like what he's got, he can do one..." or similar.
Get the Amex properly rocking tomorrow, be the 12th man and show that we are a top 6 team.
They'll get the biggest fine in FFP history ( along with Forest and QPR ).
Oh, maybe the FL will roll over and not fine anyone afterall.
The Argus have changed the headline on the article to:
"Oscar: Injury-hit Albion squad has not been deep enough to be in top six"
I wonder why that is...
What did the headline say before?
No. It is "squad has not been deep enough to be in top six" not get in the top six. All it is saying is the squad is not deep enough to be in the top six, now. It says nothing about if he he thinks it is deep enough to get into the play-offs come the end of the season.
As much as I agree we've been EXTREMELY unlucky with injuries this season, and that Oscar has done an impressive job to get us into play-off contention, i'd disagree with any comments about our depth.
Granted the main 3 have been injured for a lot of this season (if not all of it), we've at most points of the season had 4/5 strikers for whom we are paying wages. Ulloa, CMS, Hoskins, Rodriguez and Barnes, who was replaced by Lita/Obika (as poor as they were) still meant we technically had 4 strikers, and yes I know 2 haven't played, but that's down to us being extremely unfortunate with injuries rather than a lack of depth.
In midfield, we've got 4 wingers, of whom 3 when fit/on form would walk into pretty much every Championship squad in Buckley, Lua Lua and Orlandi. They are backed up by the likes of March, Lopez, Lingaard, and Rodriguez who can play in that position. Obviously the 3 first choice wingers have again been injured for large parts, but we still have 3 or 4 VERY good Championship wingers on our books. We then have Agustein, Andrews, Crofts, Ince, Forster Caskey, and Stephens in the middle of the park.
In fact i'd say it's only the back 4 where we are a bit more limited in terms of cover, and we've been lucky in that that's where we've been least affected by injury this season.
We've got strength in depth, it's just extremely unfortunate that this season the injuries have been f*cking relentless. Although with 3 or 4 of these players we knew fitness was an issue before we signed them. Still, to be seventh all things considered is pretty good going.
I Notice that your strength in depth list includes two development players that never played a first team game before this season and another who has only done so a handful of times, players we have only had since January and players we lost in January, and of the 2 strikers that haven't played, CMS was expected out till Christmas and Hoskins for the whole season.
If you compare ours to the squads of others, it is pretty slim.