Presumably one of Keane, Holgate and Mina is to be classed as a back up. I'm very happy with that and I'm pretty sure most on here are too. Gbamin will be classed as a back up. It would be very unfair on him to say that most on here think he's not good enough. Bernard is somebody else you can say is good as back up. Very skillfull player who I believe will impress more with players around him on the same wavelength. Sigurdsson get's a lot of stick on here, but played in the right position (centrally further forward) he'd be a very good option to bring on in games we're controlling and we want to rest, say James. There's not many teams outside the top 6 that can call on a replacement with so much experience and ability.
You've described our back up (part from the 6 in the 18-20 category) as incredibly weak. I would say that none of those I've just mentioned are incredibly weak. I think we need to improve our right back, notwithstanding Seamus's fantastic start to the season. He just doesn't have it in his legs to do it all the time. And I also would like another winger for games when we may want to play James in a more withdrawn role. Somebody with pace and a good end product in terms of goals and assists. Gordon may become that player.
So I reckon we are 2 players short of a good squad that can challenge top 4 this year, provided we stay relatively injury free and continue to get the run of the decisions we've received in the first few games.
If you look at other teams benches, even the top clubs, they aren't scaring me too much at the moment. City had no striker last night and a 17 yo on the bench. Liverpool played a midfielder at centre back, and have no cover at right back if Gomez is injured. Spurs bench didn't scare me when we played them.
