Squad Numbers 2013-14 (#19 retired for the season)

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I am actually gutted about Charlie. I felt he was starting to come good towards the end of last season.

He certainly looked a bit more interested by since he joined us you can count his good games on your thumbs.

[Saunders9]

I wonder if Benteke prefers number 20 or if this is a very mild punishment?

Assuming he still has the fans backing the club will undoubtedly make more money from selling name sets of players with 2 numbers on the shirt as opposed to those with single digits, if numbers cost £3 each there's a lot of money to be made

[N'ZMAV]

35 Shay Given
36 Charles N'Zogbia
37 Enda Stevens
38 Nathan Delfouneso
39 Darren Bent
40 Stephen Ireland
41 Alan Hutton
42 Barry Bannan

Pretty clear who is off then?

Think of the money saved...

[PeterWithesShin]

I wonder if Benteke prefers number 20 or if this is a very mild punishment?

Assuming he still has the fans backing the club will undoubtedly make more money from selling name sets of players with 2 numbers on the shirt as opposed to those with single digits, if numbers cost £3 each there's a lot of money to be made

Or maybe Benteke just prefers the number 20 shirt.

[Legion]

It is his goals scored target for next season.

[Matt Collins]

I was surprised on the n'zogbia move too. It must indicate he's not favoured.

He's not been great at all, but he did contribute last season. And most of all lambert specifically said how well he'd been playing as recently as march:

Holman started 15 of 20 Premier League games in 2012 but has since been on the pitch only five times, with just one starting appearance.

"He [Holman] couldn't get in because Charles was playing extremely well," Lambert said.

[bobdylan]

Albrighton, Bowery and Carruthers appear to be in favour over N'Zog, I guess they will provide competition for Helenius, Weimann, Gabby and Tonev for the 2/3 supporting roles to Benteke.  Injuries permitting we could probably allow Bowery, Carruthers, Gardner etc out on loan.  Also Robinson, Johnson, Burke and Drennan all signed new deals so perhaps Lambert thinks there is enough there for his disposal now with promising youngsters coming through to enable him to ditch Zoggy.  I tend to agree.

[Matt Collins]

When we're 1-1 at home to a mid table side and there's a choice between albrighton and n'zogbia to come on, I know who I'll be calling for. And he doesn't have a massive nose

[OCD]

So, all £60,000/week wages get you these days is someone who can only be used for the last few minutes of a game. Not sure what message that sends out to the rest of the squad either. Maybe 'we're prepared to pay that player 3x as much as we're paying you even though he's only doing one fifth of the work you're doing.'

[Matt Collins]

I agree that I'd like someone better. But I'd like someone better in before we ditch him. Perhaps this is a sign we are indeed intent on signing a proper number 10?

[Matt Collins]

And by the way n'zogbia contributed more in the run of games from January to April than albrighton has done in about two and a half years.

[bobdylan]

I'd expect Gabby and Weimann to start with Helenius and Tonev as back up.  Bacuna and Luna can also play wide so Albrighton/N'Zog could be well down the pecking order regardless so it's not a case of who we'd prefer to come off the bench rather if we have a horrific injury crisis who we would then prefer to come off the bench.  N'Zog's wages mean it is difficult to argue he should be that man given our current status, rather the likes of Albrighton or younger players like Carruthers are surely much more appropriate as back ups to the back ups for the wide forward roles.

[olaftab]

Its good to see Helenius, Weimann and Gabby at 9, 10 & 11, a tad more traditional for strikers.

I've always thought of number eight as being a striker and ten midfield - it's the legacy of Messrs Little, Shaw & Cowans. 

I always think of 10 as striker (inside forward) and 8 as attacking midfielder. It's a legacy of Messrs Vowden, McMahon and Deehan!

[bobdylan]

11 is a left winger surely.

[olaftab]

When we're 1-1 at home to a mid table side and there's a choice between albrighton and n'zogbia to come on, I know who I'll be calling for. And he doesn't have a massive nose

N'Zog every time over Albrighton.