I've just done a quick comparison of where we stand today with where we were 365 days ago, in regards to recognised first-team players. Italicised players are/were expected to leave before the start of the season.
20th June 2018:
Simon Eastwood
Scott Shearer
Canice Carroll
Fiacre Kelleher
Robert Dickie
Charlie Raglan
Sam Long
Josh Ruffels
Cameron Norman
John Mousinho
Curtis Nelson
Shandon Baptiste
Cameron Brannagan
Robert Hall
James Henry
Malachi Napa
Ivo Pękalski
Joe Rothwell
Jonathan Obika
20th June 2019:
Simon Eastwood
Jack Stevens
Robert Dickie
Sam Long
Josh Ruffels
Kevin Berkoe
Tony McMahon
John Mousinho ???
Curtis Nelson
Nico Jones
Jamie Hanson
Shandon Baptiste
Cameron Brannagan
Mark Sykes
Robert Hall
James Henry
Malachi Napa
Gavin Whyte
Jamie Mackie
Baptiste and Long are more established in the first team now (though Napa less so)
This time round, Whyte, Sykes, Mackie and Hanson get the benefit of a full pre-season with us.
That doesn't look too threadbare compared to last season. Even just 4/5 loans will give us a good first team.