Looking at the Championship table, Blackburn are 14th, while Wigan are 19th, and both were near the 100 point mark last season. That suggests it's quite a big jump from L1 to the Championship now, with all the money being spent
Both Blackburn and Wigan were much higher placed earlier this season.
As injuries and the season's grind takes its toll, maybe they've fallen away as quality of squad depth isn't as good as many other Championship clubs?
Looking at the Championship table, Blackburn are 14th, while Wigan are 19th, and both were near the 100 point mark last season. That suggests it's quite a big jump from L1 to the Championship now, with all the money being spent
Both Blackburn and Wigan were much higher placed earlier this season.
As injuries and the season's grind takes its toll, maybe they've fallen away as quality of squad depth isn't as good as many other Championship clubs?
Ah we’ll be fine the - we never suffer with injury issues!
Looking at the Championship table, Blackburn are 14th, while Wigan are 19th, and both were near the 100 point mark last season. That suggests it's quite a big jump from L1 to the Championship now, with all the money being spent
Both Blackburn and Wigan were much higher placed earlier this season.
As injuries and the season's grind takes its toll, maybe they've fallen away as quality of squad depth isn't as good as many other Championship clubs?
But then you look at the likes of Will Grigg, who's a top L1 player, but not done it in the Championship, there's a quality gap now as well.
Looking at the Championship table, Blackburn are 14th, while Wigan are 19th, and both were near the 100 point mark last season. That suggests it's quite a big jump from L1 to the Championship now, with all the money being spent
Both Blackburn and Wigan were much higher placed earlier this season.
As injuries and the season's grind takes its toll, maybe they've fallen away as quality of squad depth isn't as good as many other Championship clubs?
But then you look at the likes of Will Grigg, who's a top L1 player, but not done it in the Championship, there's a quality gap now as well.
Maybe. But if international player like Will Grigg was playing in the Championship in a different team, he may do well. Different combinations, winning runs, confidence, etc .... too many imponderables for it to be considered otherwise.
Not really, it's a starting formation for possession, if the other team exploits your flanks push Sarr to Left back and Bielik to right back until you win the ball back. We don't have very good modern day full backs, we have 3 good centre backs, I've gone for the best formation with what we have. By your logic you could also just say 'team is too wide, the other team are gonna run through the middle'
As for who will cut it in the championship when we get promoted. Aribo, Bauer, Naby, Pearce, JFC, Taylor, Grant, Williams and Fosu on his day. Question marks for everyone else, haven't included loans
Not sure that JFC has enough mobility/defensive quality to cut it the Championship.
He done alright for Brighton when he played apparently. Either way when everyone is fit he is the best centre mid we have I would say
Not really, it's a starting formation for possession, if the other team exploits your flanks push Sarr to Left back and Bielik to right back until you win the ball back. We don't have very good modern day full backs, we have 3 good centre backs, I've gone for the best formation with what we have. By your logic you could also just say 'team is too wide, the other team are gonna run through the middle'
As for who will cut it in the championship when we get promoted. Aribo, Bauer, Naby, Pearce, JFC, Taylor, Grant, Williams and Fosu on his day. Question marks for everyone else, haven't included loans
Not sure that JFC has enough mobility/defensive quality to cut it the Championship.
He done alright for Brighton when he played apparently. Either way when everyone is fit he is the best centre mid we have I would say
I'm not intending this to be provocative, but I'm genuinely interested to find out more about people's thoughts on JFC and why he's often considered by many fans to be our 'stand out' midfielder when fit.
Personally I'd take Cullen, Aribo, Bielik and Williams (early days still) over JFC and consider them to be more accomplished midfielders (albeit different in style/position).
I don't consider him to be a poor midfielder by any stretch of the imagination and feel with the right players around him he could do a job in the Championship, just that we have other options in midfield that I consider to be stronger at the moment.
Not really, it's a starting formation for possession, if the other team exploits your flanks push Sarr to Left back and Bielik to right back until you win the ball back. We don't have very good modern day full backs, we have 3 good centre backs, I've gone for the best formation with what we have. By your logic you could also just say 'team is too wide, the other team are gonna run through the middle'
As for who will cut it in the championship when we get promoted. Aribo, Bauer, Naby, Pearce, JFC, Taylor, Grant, Williams and Fosu on his day. Question marks for everyone else, haven't included loans
The team would be wide if you included 4 full backs and 4 wingers. Personally just feel having a 3412, with the 4 all being centre midfielders wouldn’t work.
Tricky now with the loan players and injuries healing what we look like full strength, here’s how I make it;
Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington Green, Cullen, Davis, Doughty Williams Taylor
Harsh on Pearce, Pratley, Field and Bonne perhaps.
At full strength I don’t see Forster-Caskey, Oztumer or Hemed making the bench. Also see McGeady being key coming off the bench to make something happen when we can’t nick a goal.
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Agreed with regards to Pearce/Sarr, I think there’s probably more games which I’d prefer Sarr though.
Slightly tangential but I’m intrigued to hear views on how many of those would cut it in the Championship if we did sneak up.
Including loanees
Goalkeepers: Maxwell
Defence: Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Sarr | Bielik ... (Question mark over Page | Purrington)
Midfield: Forster-Caskey | Cullen | Aribo | Williams ... (Question mark over Lapslie | Fosu | Dijksteel | Reeves)
Strikers: Taylor | Grant
Pratley I think is too old for that level now
Morgan would benefit a loan deal to League One yet will be good enough for the Championship one day
Edit: Of course when I raise question marks about Lasplie | Dijksteel etc. they're again both players that'll maybe struggle to begin with, I dont think a loan deal will be beneficial to them by going back to League One yet will have decent games in the Championship but will lack consistency at times
Slightly tangential but I’m intrigued to hear views on how many of those would cut it in the Championship if we did sneak up.
Including loanees
Goalkeepers: Maxwell
Defence: Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Sarr | Bielik ... (Question mark over Page | Purrington)
Midfield: Forster-Caskey | Cullen | Aribo | Williams ... (Question mark over Lapslie | Fosu | Dijksteel | Reeves)
Strikers: Taylor | Grant
Pratley I think is too old for that level now
Morgan would benefit a loan deal to League One yet will be good enough for the Championship one day
Edit: Of course when I raise question marks about Lasplie | Dijksteel etc. they're again both players that'll maybe struggle to begin with, I dont think a loan deal will be beneficial to them by going back to League One yet will have decent games in the Championship but will lack consistency at times
Nice to see Pratley proving you and us lot wrong hey mate 🖒
Slightly tangential but I’m intrigued to hear views on how many of those would cut it in the Championship if we did sneak up.
Including loanees
Goalkeepers: Maxwell
Defence: Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Sarr | Bielik ... (Question mark over Page | Purrington)
Midfield: Forster-Caskey | Cullen | Aribo | Williams ... (Question mark over Lapslie | Fosu | Dijksteel | Reeves)
Strikers: Taylor | Grant
Pratley I think is too old for that level now
Morgan would benefit a loan deal to League One yet will be good enough for the Championship one day
Edit: Of course when I raise question marks about Lasplie | Dijksteel etc. they're again both players that'll maybe struggle to begin with, I dont think a loan deal will be beneficial to them by going back to League One yet will have decent games in the Championship but will lack consistency at times
Slightly tangential but I’m intrigued to hear views on how many of those would cut it in the Championship if we did sneak up.
Including loanees
Goalkeepers: Maxwell
Defence: Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Sarr | Bielik ... (Question mark over Page | Purrington)
Midfield: Forster-Caskey | Cullen | Aribo | Williams ... (Question mark over Lapslie | Fosu | Dijksteel | Reeves)
Strikers: Taylor | Grant
Pratley I think is too old for that level now
Morgan would benefit a loan deal to League One yet will be good enough for the Championship one day
Edit: Of course when I raise question marks about Lasplie | Dijksteel etc. they're again both players that'll maybe struggle to begin with, I dont think a loan deal will be beneficial to them by going back to League One yet will have decent games in the Championship but will lack consistency at times
Nice to see Pratley proving you and us lot wrong hey mate 🖒
Yeah he's really made a lot of us look like mugs!! - Just relieved I didnt post that original comment much latter than January last year
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Would be happy with that though I'd still like to try Doughty at left back. Think he's improving defensively and obviously offers so much going forward. Would be a risk though I guess so couldn't see Bowyer doing it.
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Would be happy with that though I'd still like to try Doughty at left back. Think he's improving defensively and obviously offers so much going forward. Would be a risk though I guess so couldn't see Bowyer doing it.
I agree. Not been impressed with Purrington this season and Doughty would give us some decent width going forward which is lacking with a diamond. Purrington just for me though, he’s still a decent player.
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Same as me. Only concern with that team is the huge reliance on the front two for goals. Stick Gallagher in for Davis and I genuinely believe it would finish top 10.
That team would be difficult to break down and would be reliant on a chunk of clean sheets. I would love JFC to find some form as he is capable of popping up with a goal
Looking at the Championship table, Blackburn are 14th, while Wigan are 19th, and both were near the 100 point mark last season. That suggests it's quite a big jump from L1 to the Championship now, with all the money being spent
The current league table a year later rather backs up that comment. All 3 promoted sides currently in the bottom 6
Of our team from last year (ignoring youngsters)
Dillon and Lyle have really stepped up to the extent that a move to the PL isn't off the radar Pratley has shown why he's played most of his career at Championship level Williams has looked very comfortable as he too has played most of his career at Championship level Cullen (loanee) has stepped up to look very comfortable Pearce and Sarr look reasonable at this level Solly and Purrington have been adequate but not brilliant JFC hasn't played enough to establish himself
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Would be happy with that though I'd still like to try Doughty at left back. Think he's improving defensively and obviously offers so much going forward. Would be a risk though I guess so couldn't see Bowyer doing it.
I agree. Not been impressed with Purrington this season and Doughty would give us some decent width going forward which is lacking with a diamond. Purrington just for me though, he’s still a decent player.
Thing with Ben Purrington ........ he played well enough as a conventional flat back four LB in our 'great start' games before the injury curse struck - then playing despite carrying an injury himself and plainly struggling, before missing games as a result.
When he was just about fit enough to be picked again, we ended up playing 3 CBs and wingbacks, key players were missing and he was getting exposed and doubled up on. Our results were on the floor and so was his confidence.
"Purrington is crap", shouted everybody. Even his manager thought so during the QPR game and hooked him after just 28 minutes. It's a funny thing that there's a saying in football, "You're only as good as your last game" ...... totally forgetting that Steady Eddie was a cornerstone of our promotion team, scored our equaliser at Wembley and started the new season where he'd left off.
After his QPR nadir, our Ben came back into the side away at Swansea - and must have been close to MoM. That showed resolve and a good attitude. He's been solid enough in other appearances since - although with the emergence of Doughty, no longer has to fear the wingback role.
Purrington isn't a wing back, is he? But he's a decent enough LB in a '4 at the back' team and with a proper strength midfield in front of him. We can also see that most footballer's are confidence players. And without it they are a shadow of the player they were.
I think we've still to see plenty of Ben Purrington this season.
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Would be happy with that though I'd still like to try Doughty at left back. Think he's improving defensively and obviously offers so much going forward. Would be a risk though I guess so couldn't see Bowyer doing it.
I agree. Not been impressed with Purrington this season and Doughty would give us some decent width going forward which is lacking with a diamond. Purrington just for me though, he’s still a decent player.
Thing with Ben Purrington ........ he played well enough as a conventional flat back four LB in our 'great start' games before the injury curse struck - then playing despite carrying an injury himself and plainly struggling, before missing games as a result.
When he was just about fit enough to be picked again, we ended up playing 3 CBs and wingbacks, key players were missing and he was getting exposed and doubled up on. Our results were on the floor and so was his confidence.
"Purrington is crap", shouted everybody. Even his manager thought so during the QPR game and hooked him after just 28 minutes. It's a funny thing that there's a saying in football, "You're only as good as your last game" ...... totally forgetting that Steady Eddie was a cornerstone of our promotion team, scored our equaliser at Wembley and started the new season where he'd left off.
After his QPR nadir, our Ben came back into the side away at Swansea - and must have been close to MoM. That showed resolve and a good attitude. He's been solid enough in other appearances since - although with the emergence of Doughty, no longer has to fear the wingback role.
Purrington isn't a wing back, is he? But he's a decent enough LB in a '4 at the back' team and with a proper strength midfield in front of him. We can also see that most footballer's are confidence players. And without it they are a shadow of the player they were.
I think we've still to see plenty of Ben Purrington this season.
It’s a numbers thing with full backs, anyone who’s played the game will particularly in that position will tell you.
If you’ve a decent midfield/attack that retains the ball it’s ten times easier. If you’re attacked as a fullback 5 times in a game chances are you’ll do your job fairly well, if you’re attacked 50 times in a game you’re gonna get caught a few times/beaten/lapse in concentration and do something irrational.
Purrington’s form dipped when the injuries crisis was at its peak, he’s really not that bad at all.
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington Cullen Pratley/Davis/Field Williams McGeady Bonne Taylor
Away
Phillips Lockyer Pearce Naby
Matthews Davis Cullen Field Doughty Taylor Bonne
Quite difficult really, I still don't really know what formation Bowyer likes, last season it was the diamond, this season has been wing backs in a back 5.
All I know is right now, Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Williams, Taylor and based on previous form Bonne are all undroppable
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington Cullen Pratley/Davis/Field Williams McGeady Bonne Taylor
Away
Phillips Lockyer Pearce Naby
Matthews Davis Cullen Field Doughty Taylor Bonne
Quite difficult really, I still don't really know what formation Bowyer likes, last season it was the diamond, this season has been wing backs in a back 5.
All I know is right now, Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Williams, Taylor and based on previous form Bonne are all undroppable
Williams undroppable, but you drop him when we are away??
Phillips Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington Cullen | Pratley | Davis Williams Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Would be happy with that though I'd still like to try Doughty at left back. Think he's improving defensively and obviously offers so much going forward. Would be a risk though I guess so couldn't see Bowyer doing it.
I agree. Not been impressed with Purrington this season and Doughty would give us some decent width going forward which is lacking with a diamond. Purrington just for me though, he’s still a decent player.
Thing with Ben Purrington ........ he played well enough as a conventional flat back four LB in our 'great start' games before the injury curse struck - then playing despite carrying an injury himself and plainly struggling, before missing games as a result.
When he was just about fit enough to be picked again, we ended up playing 3 CBs and wingbacks, key players were missing and he was getting exposed and doubled up on. Our results were on the floor and so was his confidence.
"Purrington is crap", shouted everybody. Even his manager thought so during the QPR game and hooked him after just 28 minutes. It's a funny thing that there's a saying in football, "You're only as good as your last game" ...... totally forgetting that Steady Eddie was a cornerstone of our promotion team, scored our equaliser at Wembley and started the new season where he'd left off.
After his QPR nadir, our Ben came back into the side away at Swansea - and must have been close to MoM. That showed resolve and a good attitude. He's been solid enough in other appearances since - although with the emergence of Doughty, no longer has to fear the wingback role.
Purrington isn't a wing back, is he? But he's a decent enough LB in a '4 at the back' team and with a proper strength midfield in front of him. We can also see that most footballer's are confidence players. And without it they are a shadow of the player they were.
I think we've still to see plenty of Ben Purrington this season.
It’s a numbers thing with full backs, anyone who’s played the game will particularly in that position will tell you.
If you’ve a decent midfield/attack that retains the ball it’s ten times easier. If you’re attacked as a fullback 5 times in a game chances are you’ll do your job fairly well, if you’re attacked 50 times in a game you’re gonna get caught a few times/beaten/lapse in concentration and do something irrational.
Purrington’s form dipped when the injuries crisis was at its peak, he’s really not that bad at all.
BR7_addick ....... towards the end of my own playing days, I went from midfielder to full back, which gave me a new lease of life and plenty of defensive experience.
As you were saying, the more pressure you're under, especially when opponents are running through your midfield, the more chance of error - or sometimes just plain misfortune, ricochet, etc.
But the biggest problem is when your team is caught on the turnover, with no cover you're exposed and doubled up on, teams can pass around you. And that's been half of Purrington's problem this season.
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington Cullen Pratley/Davis/Field Williams McGeady Bonne Taylor
Away
Phillips Lockyer Pearce Naby
Matthews Davis Cullen Field Doughty Taylor Bonne
Quite difficult really, I still don't really know what formation Bowyer likes, last season it was the diamond, this season has been wing backs in a back 5.
All I know is right now, Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Williams, Taylor and based on previous form Bonne are all undroppable
Williams undroppable, but you drop him when we are away??
Yeah, probs should have said starting at home, considering we are in survival mode and so many teams are better than us we can't over use him
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington Cullen Pratley/Davis/Field Williams McGeady Bonne Taylor
Away
Phillips Lockyer Pearce Naby
Matthews Davis Cullen Field Doughty Taylor Bonne
Quite difficult really, I still don't really know what formation Bowyer likes, last season it was the diamond, this season has been wing backs in a back 5.
All I know is right now, Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Williams, Taylor and based on previous form Bonne are all undroppable
Williams undroppable, but you drop him when we are away??
Yeah, probs should have said starting at home, considering we are in survival mode and so many teams are better than us we can't over use him
I guess that's why McGeady was brought in. Bow wants someone who can replace Williams when he gets hooked after 60 minutes or sometimes start for him and give him the chance to come on as an impact sub.
If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
Comments
As injuries and the season's grind takes its toll, maybe they've fallen away as quality of squad depth isn't as good as many other Championship clubs?
Different combinations, winning runs, confidence, etc .... too many imponderables for it to be considered otherwise.
Personally I'd take Cullen, Aribo, Bielik and Williams (early days still) over JFC and consider them to be more accomplished midfielders (albeit different in style/position).
I don't consider him to be a poor midfielder by any stretch of the imagination and feel with the right players around him he could do a job in the Championship, just that we have other options in midfield that I consider to be stronger at the moment.
phillips
solly bauer pearce page
cullen
morgan/reeves aribo
williams
taylor grant
subs
sarr
morgan/reeves
lapslie
bielik
fosu
a striker
maxwell
Phillips,
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Green, Cullen, Davis, Doughty
Williams
Taylor
Harsh on Pearce, Pratley, Field and Bonne perhaps.
Also see McGeady being key coming off the bench to make something happen when we can’t nick a goal.
Phillips
Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr or Pearce | Purrington
Cullen | Pratley | Davis
Williams
Bonne | Taylor
Bonne is still our joint top scorer so deserves to be starting
Williams of course wont play every game which is why its perfect to have McGeady and Oztumer
Sarr / Pearce alongside Lockyer depending on the type of team we're playing
Of our team from last year (ignoring youngsters)
Dillon and Lyle have really stepped up to the extent that a move to the PL isn't off the radar
Pratley has shown why he's played most of his career at Championship level
Williams has looked very comfortable as he too has played most of his career at Championship level
Cullen (loanee) has stepped up to look very comfortable
Pearce and Sarr look reasonable at this level
Solly and Purrington have been adequate but not brilliant
JFC hasn't played enough to establish himself
When he was just about fit enough to be picked again, we ended up playing 3 CBs and wingbacks, key players were missing and he was getting exposed and doubled up on. Our results were on the floor and so was his confidence.
"Purrington is crap", shouted everybody. Even his manager thought so during the QPR game and hooked him after just 28 minutes.
It's a funny thing that there's a saying in football, "You're only as good as your last game" ...... totally forgetting that Steady Eddie was a cornerstone of our promotion team, scored our equaliser at Wembley and started the new season where he'd left off.
After his QPR nadir, our Ben came back into the side away at Swansea - and must have been close to MoM. That showed resolve and a good attitude.
He's been solid enough in other appearances since - although with the emergence of Doughty, no longer has to fear the wingback role.
Purrington isn't a wing back, is he?
We can also see that most footballer's are confidence players. And without it they are a shadow of the player they were.
I think we've still to see plenty of Ben Purrington this season.
I think at home
Phillips
Cullen Pratley/Davis/Field Williams
McGeady
Bonne Taylor
Away
Phillips
Lockyer Pearce Naby
Taylor Bonne
Quite difficult really, I still don't really know what formation Bowyer likes, last season it was the diamond, this season has been wing backs in a back 5.
All I know is right now, Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Williams, Taylor and based on previous form Bonne are all undroppable
As you were saying, the more pressure you're under, especially when opponents are running through your midfield, the more chance of error - or sometimes just plain misfortune, ricochet, etc.
But the biggest problem is when your team is caught on the turnover, with no cover you're exposed and doubled up on, teams can pass around you. And that's been half of Purrington's problem this season.
He might this time and I don't think it's been mentioned yet.
GK: Maxwell
RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time)
CB: Bauer
CB: Sarr
LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk)
Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination
Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams
Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs:
Phillips
Dijksteel, Lockyer
Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play)
Fosu, Igor
If it's who we've got now:
Phillips
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Cullen, Williams, Pratley/Davis, Green
Taylor, Bonne
Subs:
Amos
Field, Hemed, McGeady, Oztumer, Davis/Pratley, Doughty