Ramsay - one of our best players Jones - as above Gillesphey - Wembley goal hero
Coventry - we've not signed a new DM, he keeps his place Docherty - can't drop the captain Berry - our goal threat from midfield last season and a favourite of NJs, got to keep him in the 11 Edwards - so reliable and we've not signed a LWB, so he stays in
Godden - can't drop your top goalscorer TC - can't drop our YPOTY and international
Maybe bring back Asiimwe, put him at RWB, and then the 9 signings nicely fit on the bench together as decent squad players.
Kaminski,Apter,Kelman for sure , rest will be bench. JRC could start depending on the midfield situation , don't expect to see Knibbs for a couple of weeks
Coin flip for me between Miles and Tanto to partner Kelman.
I couldn’t even begin to guess what NJ’s starting line up will be against Watford but Godden and Berry won’t feature, Burke neither and Knibbs will get a bench place at best. I’d start with
Kam Apter Ramsay Jones Gilly Edwards Coventry Rankin-Costello. Docherty Tanto Kelman
Kaminski,Apter,Kelman for sure , rest will be bench. JRC could start depending on the midfield situation , don't expect to see Knibbs for a couple of weeks
Coin flip for me between Miles and Tanto to partner Kelman.
I’d be amazed Leaburn is anywhere near it . Has to be Kelman, with no Godden, with Tanto or TC- favour the former
I couldn’t even begin to guess what NJ’s starting line up will be against Watford but Godden and Berry won’t feature, Burke neither and Knibbs will get a bench place at best. I’d start with
Kam Apter Ramsay Jones Gilly Edwards Coventry Rankin-Costello. Docherty Tanto Kelman
Agree mostly but I'd have Anderson for Doc, despite his passing and control issues, purely because Watford are a very athletic and physical side. Knibbs at half time, maybe subbed before the end.
I’ve been impressed with the players we’ve brought in but I’ve also been impressed with the players we had which is more important because they are the guys that really know the gameplan. Nathan will have to pick a starting eleven that’s going to keep its shape and deal with a team that doesn’t seem to have had many pre-season minutes against an opposition team and also has potentially 6 overseas players being introduced to the English game.
I couldn’t even begin to guess what NJ’s starting line up will be against Watford but Godden and Berry won’t feature, Burke neither and Knibbs will get a bench place at best. I’d start with
Kam Apter Ramsay Jones Gilly Edwards Coventry Rankin-Costello. Docherty Tanto Kelman
Swap Costello for Carey I think... Especially with the latter getting a few goals, think JRC will be battling with Docherty for the starting spot.
I’ve been impressed with the players we’ve brought in but I’ve also been impressed with the players we had which is more important because they are the guys that really know the gameplan. Nathan will have to pick a starting eleven that’s going to keep its shape and deal with a team that doesn’t seem to have had many pre-season minutes against an opposition team and also has potentially 6 overseas players being introduced to the English game.
Seeing all those players from Italian clubs it reminds me of when Watford had a tie in with another Italian team and we played them one evening match where they had a player who embarrassingly fell over in the box, claimed a penalty and got hooked for it by the referee…then did it again a bit later and got booked again and sent off 🤣
I’ve been impressed with the players we’ve brought in but I’ve also been impressed with the players we had which is more important because they are the guys that really know the gameplan. Nathan will have to pick a starting eleven that’s going to keep its shape and deal with a team that doesn’t seem to have had many pre-season minutes against an opposition team and also has potentially 6 overseas players being introduced to the English game.
Seeing all those players from Italian clubs it reminds me of when Watford had a tie in with another Italian team and we played them one evening match where they had a player who embarrassingly fell over in the box, claimed a penalty and got hooked for it by the referee…then did it again a bit later and got booked again and sent off 🤣
I’ve been impressed with the players we’ve brought in but I’ve also been impressed with the players we had which is more important because they are the guys that really know the gameplan. Nathan will have to pick a starting eleven that’s going to keep its shape and deal with a team that doesn’t seem to have had many pre-season minutes against an opposition team and also has potentially 6 overseas players being introduced to the English game.
Seeing all those players from Italian clubs it reminds me of when Watford had a tie in with another Italian team and we played them one evening match where they had a player who embarrassingly fell over in the box, claimed a penalty and got hooked for it by the referee…then did it again a bit later and got booked again and sent off 🤣
Remember that. Think it was forestieri?
Absolutely was. One of the most embarrassing sending offs I've seen.
Wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same starting XI as yesterday at Southend all depending on JRC fitness. I think Tanto will be really unfortunate not to start as well. Will also be a shame for Gillesphey as think he deserves a crack at it but just feel Bell has the edge currently.
Can see the 20 being the below with something like:
Kaminski Ramsay - Jones - Bell Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards Carey Kelman - TC
Think Sage is bang on. Agree Tanto would be unlucky but can see why NJ would want to go with TC due to his familiarity with the team. Tanto could then be very dangerous for half an hour off the bench
I’ve been impressed with the players we’ve brought in but I’ve also been impressed with the players we had which is more important because they are the guys that really know the gameplan. Nathan will have to pick a starting eleven that’s going to keep its shape and deal with a team that doesn’t seem to have had many pre-season minutes against an opposition team and also has potentially 6 overseas players being introduced to the English game.
Seeing all those players from Italian clubs it reminds me of when Watford had a tie in with another Italian team and we played them one evening match where they had a player who embarrassingly fell over in the box, claimed a penalty and got hooked for it by the referee…then did it again a bit later and got booked again and sent off 🤣
Forestieri - and he's Argentinian. Absolute shithouse of a player.
Wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same starting XI as yesterday at Southend all depending on JRC fitness. I think Tanto will be really unfortunate not to start as well. Will also be a shame for Gillesphey as think he deserves a crack at it but just feel Bell has the edge currently.
Can see the 20 being the below with something like:
Kaminski Ramsay - Jones - Bell Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards Carey Kelman - TC
Wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same starting XI as yesterday at Southend all depending on JRC fitness. I think Tanto will be really unfortunate not to start as well. Will also be a shame for Gillesphey as think he deserves a crack at it but just feel Bell has the edge currently.
Can see the 20 being the below with something like:
Kaminski Ramsay - Jones - Bell Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards Carey Kelman - TC
Kelman and TC for the home games, Olaofe and Leaburn for when we're away and wont see as much of the ball?
Think Kelman and TC is the obvious choice ahead of Watford.
One for continuity and familiarity with TC, he’s also deserved the chance to start. And two, Kelman is the obvious Godden replacement and getting 45 minutes yesterday says to me he’ll get around 60-70 minutes next week with Leaburn and Tanto coming on.
That will bring real physicality and height and strength off the bench which could prove crucial. I’m excited either way.
Again, no one seems to consider Watford's strengths. Did we/anyone watch their win against Deportivo on Wednesday? Is that not the done thing anymore, or we happy winging it as its 'early in the season'. Hopefully those 9 new signings they have up the page are all of Abankwah' s quality.
One thing they won't have had time to develop is a hatred of ex-lutonite Nathan Jones and our motley collection of Luton has-beens which should be to our favour. Unless there is a fast track to instilling that?
The expectations of our 9 signings are overblown imo. I like who we’ve signed and I’m excited for the season ahead but when you look at the other squads we’ll be up against, it’s going to be tough.
I ask Lifers to be objective. Look at who Watford have signed:
We’re asking which of our 9 will start. Imagine that we also had Watford’s nine. How many of our nine would start and how many of their nine?
Can you honestly be sure that Oloafe and Kelman are better than Kjerrumgaard or Semedo, for example?
Would you prefer Burke or Abankwah?
These are just two or three examples, but there are nine comparisons to be made.
Then you have their players from last season against ours? Do we really think ours are better?
And please don’t give me all this adjusting to English football bullshit. What is English football now anyway because it isn’t kick and run, fash the bash type stuff. If it were so good, how comes our international team still wins f-all and our top teams have mostly overseas players.
We have a manager who can make a good team from our squad, and finally a club that’s well run, that’s true and I’m very pleased. However, the same is true of the other clubs (except Sheffield Wednesday).
So really, get real, look at the opposition players too and be objective.
It will be interesting to see it play out. I hope that we give these teams problems and are successful but we have signed mostly English division 3 players and they’re simply up against players with experience at a higher level. I know you may argue that some of our players also have such experience but they all, except Rankin Costello, then went down to our division 3, whereas as many of the oppositions’ players didn’t.
The expectations of our 9 signings are overblown imo. I like who we’ve signed and I’m excited for the season ahead but when you look at the other squads we’ll be up against, it’s going to be tough.
I ask Lifers to be objective. Look at who Watford have signed:
We’re asking which of our 9 will start. Imagine that we also had Watford’s nine. How many of our nine would start and how many of their nine?
Can you honestly be sure that Oloafe and Kelman are better than Kjerrumgaard or Semedo, for example?
Would you prefer Burke or Abankwah?
These are just two or three examples, but there are nine comparisons to be made.
Then you have their players from last season against ours? Do we really think ours are better?
And please don’t give me all this adjusting to English football bullshit. What is English football now anyway because it isn’t kick and run, fash the bash type stuff. If it were so good, how comes our international team still wins f-all and our top teams have mostly overseas players.
We have a manager who can make a good team from our squad, and finally a club that’s well run, that’s true and I’m very pleased. However, the same is true of the other clubs (except Sheffield Wednesday).
So really, get real, look at the opposition players too and be objective.
It will be interesting to see it play out. I hope that we give these teams problems and are successful but we have signed mostly English division 3 players and they’re simply up against players with experience at a higher level. I know you may argue that some of our players also have such experience but they all, except Rankin Costello, then went down to our division 3, whereas as many of the oppositions’ players didn’t.
Well put. It's what I have been trying to say or insinuate for a couple of months now. A stark awakening against Watford, and we sneak a win maybe by October.
The expectations of our 9 signings are overblown imo. I like who we’ve signed and I’m excited for the season ahead but when you look at the other squads we’ll be up against, it’s going to be tough.
I ask Lifers to be objective. Look at who Watford have signed:
We’re asking which of our 9 will start. Imagine that we also had Watford’s nine. How many of our nine would start and how many of their nine?
Can you honestly be sure that Oloafe and Kelman are better than Kjerrumgaard or Semedo, for example?
Would you prefer Burke or Abankwah?
These are just two or three examples, but there are nine comparisons to be made.
Then you have their players from last season against ours? Do we really think ours are better?
And please don’t give me all this adjusting to English football bullshit. What is English football now anyway because it isn’t kick and run, fash the bash type stuff. If it were so good, how comes our international team still wins f-all and our top teams have mostly overseas players.
We have a manager who can make a good team from our squad, and finally a club that’s well run, that’s true and I’m very pleased. However, the same is true of the other clubs (except Sheffield Wednesday).
So really, get real, look at the opposition players too and be objective.
It will be interesting to see it play out. I hope that we give these teams problems and are successful but we have signed mostly English division 3 players and they’re simply up against players with experience at a higher level. I know you may argue that some of our players also have such experience but they all, except Rankin Costello, then went down to our division 3, whereas as many of the oppositions’ players didn’t.
Well put. It's what I have been trying to say or insinuate for a couple of months now. A stark awakening against Watford, and we sneak a win maybe by October.
It’s all part of being a football fan that you look at other teams and rate their players with an element of fear. The season hasn’t started yet and nobody knows how any team is going to perform. Personally I like the business we have done but time will tell
The expectations of our 9 signings are overblown imo. I like who we’ve signed and I’m excited for the season ahead but when you look at the other squads we’ll be up against, it’s going to be tough.
I ask Lifers to be objective. Look at who Watford have signed:
We’re asking which of our 9 will start. Imagine that we also had Watford’s nine. How many of our nine would start and how many of their nine?
Can you honestly be sure that Oloafe and Kelman are better than Kjerrumgaard or Semedo, for example?
Would you prefer Burke or Abankwah?
These are just two or three examples, but there are nine comparisons to be made.
Then you have their players from last season against ours? Do we really think ours are better?
And please don’t give me all this adjusting to English football bullshit. What is English football now anyway because it isn’t kick and run, fash the bash type stuff. If it were so good, how comes our international team still wins f-all and our top teams have mostly overseas players.
We have a manager who can make a good team from our squad, and finally a club that’s well run, that’s true and I’m very pleased. However, the same is true of the other clubs (except Sheffield Wednesday).
So really, get real, look at the opposition players too and be objective.
It will be interesting to see it play out. I hope that we give these teams problems and are successful but we have signed mostly English division 3 players and they’re simply up against players with experience at a higher level. I know you may argue that some of our players also have such experience but they all, except Rankin Costello, then went down to our division 3, whereas as many of the oppositions’ players didn’t.
Well put. It's what I have been trying to say or insinuate for a couple of months now. A stark awakening against Watford, and we sneak a win maybe by October.
I don’t think that’s a balanced take on the Championship, no doubt it’s a big step up but we have our own strengths and have improved the squad across the pitch, with a focus on adding much needed attacking options.
It’s not like going up to the PL, all three promoted clubs stayed up last season.
Comments
Ramsay - one of our best players
Jones - as above
Gillesphey - Wembley goal hero
Coventry - we've not signed a new DM, he keeps his place
Docherty - can't drop the captain
Berry - our goal threat from midfield last season and a favourite of NJs, got to keep him in the 11
Edwards - so reliable and we've not signed a LWB, so he stays in
Godden - can't drop your top goalscorer
TC - can't drop our YPOTY and international
Maybe bring back Asiimwe, put him at RWB, and then the 9 signings nicely fit on the bench together as decent squad players.
Kaminski,Apter,Kelman for sure , rest will be bench. JRC could start depending on the midfield situation , don't expect to see Knibbs for a couple of weeks
Coin flip for me between Miles and Tanto to partner Kelman.
Kam
Apter Ramsay Jones Gilly Edwards
Coventry
Rankin-Costello. Docherty
Tanto Kelman
Kaminski, Rankin-Costello are shoe ins. Probably Apter and Olaofe too.
Can see the 20 being the below with something like:
Kaminski
Ramsay - Jones - Bell
Apter - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards
Carey
Kelman - TC
AMB, Gillesphey, A.Mitchell, Fullah, Anderson, JRC, Knibbs, Tanto, Leaburn
One for continuity and familiarity with TC, he’s also deserved the chance to start. And two, Kelman is the obvious Godden replacement and getting 45 minutes yesterday says to me he’ll get around 60-70 minutes next week with Leaburn and Tanto coming on.
That will bring real physicality and height and strength off the bench which could prove crucial. I’m excited either way.
Seems like only yesterday we were worried Josh Davison would be fit enough to play as the lone striker.
One thing they won't have had time to develop is a hatred of ex-lutonite Nathan Jones and our motley collection of Luton has-beens which should be to our favour. Unless there is a fast track to instilling that?
I ask Lifers to be objective. Look at who Watford have signed:
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/25327398.transfer-tracker-watfords-2025-summer-ins-outs/
We’re asking which of our 9 will start. Imagine that we also had Watford’s nine. How many of our nine would start and how many of their nine?
Can you honestly be sure that Oloafe and Kelman are better than Kjerrumgaard or Semedo, for example?
Would you prefer Burke or Abankwah?
These are just two or three examples, but there are nine comparisons to be made.
Then you have their players from last season against ours? Do we really think ours are better?
And please don’t give me all this adjusting to English football bullshit. What is English football now anyway because it isn’t kick and run, fash the bash type stuff. If it were so good, how comes our international team still wins f-all and our top teams have mostly overseas players.
We have a manager who can make a good team from our squad, and finally a club that’s well run, that’s true and I’m very pleased.
However, the same is true of the other clubs (except Sheffield Wednesday).
So really, get real, look at the opposition players too and be objective.
It will be interesting to see it play out. I hope that we give these teams problems and are successful but we have signed mostly English division 3 players and they’re simply up against players with experience at a higher level. I know you may argue that some of our players also have such experience but they all, except Rankin Costello, then went down to our division 3, whereas as many of the oppositions’ players didn’t.
It’s not like going up to the PL, all three promoted clubs stayed up last season.
Carey or Knibbs playing just behind 😍🔥