Squad size and numbers

[McGruber]

Too much time on my hands:-

64 players between 1st team and Development/under 18s

28 first team

13 signed by LJ
7 signed by JR
3 signed by SM
5 youth graduates

4 out of 13 summer LJ signings play 1st eleven (Boyle/McGeady would make 6 bar injuries)

Massive squad, LJ signings not up to it.

[1875Sean]

Too much time on my hands:-

64 players between 1st team and Development/under 18s

28 first team

13 signed by LJ
7 signed by JR
3 signed by SM
5 youth graduates

4 out of 13 summer LJ signings play 1st eleven (Boyle/McGeady would make 6 bar injuries)

Massive squad, LJ signings not up to it.

Pretty sure all 13 were not LJ signings

[Carheenlea]

While we are all hoping to see a lot of outs and maybe a few ins, the 2023 club calendar won’t have been anyones best buy.

[wookie70]

Our first team squad is too big and even worse if you consider we have 4 players who could be argued to be part of that squad out on loan. Looking at it compared to Hearts though we have 27 with 4 on loan and they have 28 with one out on loan. We have 5 loan players in our squad they only have one. So Hearts have 27 to our 26 net when you are talking about Parent Clubs.

The bigger difference is the make up of the squads in terms of nationality. Hearts have 23 out of 28(15 Scots) who are from the Home Nations including Ireland and Hibs have 18 with only 10 Scottish. I'm including those with Dual Nationalities as from the Home Nations. Hibs average age is 25 and Hearts 26.6. I think the strong contingent of Scottish players and that slightly older grouping is important imo.

We carry much larger numbers of Dev and U18 players than the teams around us but that would flow with the strategy and also it may not be hugely expensive to do so.

I have always thought LDs model of two players for each position in teh first team and then another player from teh Dev Squad to cover was the correct way to do it. Back that up with both teams playing the same formation and style and having players bought to play that style. It is not as easy as it sounds but that seems to make sense and nothing stops you having a punt on a few young players within that model or trying to resurrect some careers, which Stubbs did really well.

I think the biggest problem with our squad is not numbers but identity, familiarity with the Scottish game and above everything quality. Settling in to a new country, the language and the fact we are hugely underperforming and have been for a while will also contribute. Look at the pressure that was being put on Hibs in the media when we were actually above Hearts and they were losing most weeks.

We desperately need a strategy for recruitment with Scottish players at the base, and first teams signings either ready to play or having shown they were a success at the level below. Show reels should hold absolutely no value whatsoever and stats only looked at in combination with eyes on a player from trusted scouts. If Ian Gordon is good at negotiating he can do that but he has nowhere near the football knowledge to have any part in the actual sourcing and deciding on players.