Who will play at the back on Sunday? Sonko: Looks likely has been playing recently and would be a bit daft to drop him given the lack of alternatives. Who will partner the Big Unit? Ingimarson: Probably the obvious choice, but he's made of glass and hasn't inspired in his recent spell of matches, not quick (no one at the club is) but may be a bit of an injury risk throwing him in. Delaney: only just back from injury, not likely to be thrown in to the deep end. Smith: Jewell has come out and siad how hard he works in training etc. and I imagine he's not far off the starting place (if by default) Ainsley: New contract although an outside shout given his lack of experience Personally I would go with Sonko and Smith (Queue the anti smith comments) but honestly I think the lad deserves another chance, at 21 and having played alongside Delaney I don't think we can be too harsh on him, We all know Delaney gives his all but he isn't exactly tutor material in teaching youngsters as he isn't great positionally Ingi will (probably?) get the nod although the lad Smith could well turn out to be decent for us. Forgetting the Peterborough debacle he looked tidy for us when we started well last season and scored a few goals too. He's clearly a confidence player and playing next to Del boy doesn't give anyone much confidence, Not that I think Sonks is the Messiah but I'd rather us give Smith another chance than rolling out an old boy who hasn't played much due to him being constantly injured.
I tend to agree about Smith he needs an older head next to him giving him directions(like Nelson in the world cup) but i think he can be a decent defender. People call for the youth to be given a chance then slate the lad not really Cricket is it.
Tommy Smith has a career, in demolition. Sorry he is nowhere near up to this level of football, he has two speeds, slow and dead slow. People must have very short memories, when he was loaned out to Colchester he was appalling. Believe there was one match where they conceded a lot of goals in a home match, which lead to an astonishing attack on his ability, by the Colchester manager, which is very unusual in itself. I do not want to hear all this claptrap of being young, or lacking in confidence either.
Tommy Smith everytime for me. At one point he played regularly for us and never looked out of place. Failing that Ingi, failing that the u18 central defender, followed by the u17, u16 - u9 team followed by the physio, followed by the club chef, followed by anyone who turns up at PR in time before the match, no matter how old, how mobile, how athletic or any senile, followed by their pets in order from dog and cat through to mice, rats and fish and if all these options fail then we could play Delaney (im now off to shoot myself for suggesting he is that high up the list)
Start with Smith, deserves another chance, have Ingi on the bench just in case it all starts going wrong
if we are planning on playing sonko and any out of them then it really shows how desperately we need a relatively experienced (25/26, fit centre back) player in on a permanent deal. not sure if we will get collins, my gut instinct says no. who would people be looking at as a replacement?
Kilgallon would be first choice without doubt, then perhaps Lowton from sheff utd for Right Back/Centre back cover.