Ok I know it's still early doors but as PT has nearly finished his business now I thought it would be good to see people's thoughts on the potential starting XI for MK Dons. I'm going to go with this: Nelson Fish Legge Egan Martin Pritchard Loft McGlashan Kedwell Dickenson Mcdonald. Not how I would want to play it as I want to see Dack in that CAM role but still looks a decent prospect. Still wouldn't surprise me if we play 3-5-2 this year.
Well done Gills PegLeg I was hoping some one would do this. It would ideal if some one could do us a full squad list including preferred positions and details of previous clubs, contract lengths etc, I can't keep up with all the in's and outs.
I'd like to see us play a 4 1 3 2 formation primarily next season, I feel it would get the best out of our most technically gifted players which I think are Hessenthaler, Dack and Cody. For the MK Dons game I'd like to see this team personally: Nelson Fish Egan Legge Martin Hessenthaler Dack Loft McGlashan Kedwell McDonald Subs: G.Morris A. Morris L.Norris Barrett Davies Pritchard Dickinson
Brb, your wish is my command! GK: Stuart Nelson (32), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Previous clubs: Doncaster, Brentford, Leyton Orient, Norwich, Aberdeen, Notts County. Glenn Morris (30) , Contract expiry: 06/2015. Previous clubs: Leyton Orient, Southend, Aldershot Town. Tom Hadler, Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). - DF: Matt Fish (25), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: RB, CB. Previous clubs: Dover, Crystal Palace. Adam Barrett (34), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: CB. Previous clubs: Southend, Leyton Orient, Plymouth, Gas, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth. Leon Legge (29), Contract expiry: Either 01/2015 or 06/2015 (2 year deal signed on 31/01/2013). Playable positions: CB. Previous clubs: Lewes, Tonbridge Angels, Brentford. Callum Davies (21), Contract expiry: U/K signed "Long term deal" in 2012. Playable positions: CB, DM. Previous clubs: Thurrock, Dover. Devante Mckain (20), Contract expiry: 06/2015 Playable positions: CB. Previous clubs: Maidenhead John Egan (21), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Playable positions: CB. Previous clubs: Sunderland, Southend (loan). Joe Martin (25), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: LB. Previous clubs: Blackpool, Tottenham (youth). Michael Freiter (18) , Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). Playable positions: DF. Josh Staunton (18), Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). Playable positions: DF. - MF: Bradley Dack (20), Contract expiry: 06/2018. Playable positions: CAM. Previous clubs: Loans (I don't really care) Jake Hessenthaler (20), Contract expiry: 06/2019. Playable positions: CM. Previous clubs: Loans (I don't really care) Josh Pritchard (21), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Playable positions: CM, DM. Previous clubs: Manchester United, Fulham, Tromso (loan), FC Honka (loan). Jermaine McGlashan (26), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Playable positions: RM/W, LM/W, AM. Previous clubs: Cheltenham Town, Aldershot Town, Staines. Amine Linganzi (24), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: CM, DM. Previous clubs: Accrington Stanley, Blackburn, St Etienne. Doug Loft (27), Contract expiry: 06/2016 (option to extend to 06/2017). Playable positions: CM, LM, LB. Previous clubs: Port Vale, Brighton. Brennan Dickenson (21), Contract expiry:06/2016. Playable positions: LW, RW, FW. Previous clubs: Southampton, Dorchester, Brighton. Aaron Morris (24), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Playable positions: CDM, RB, CB, LB. Previous clubs: Cardiff, Aldershot, AFC Wimbledon. Josh Hare (19), Contract expiry: 06/2015 Playable positions: CDM, CB. Previous clubs: Loans (I don't really care) Mahlon Romeo (18), Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). Playable positions: RM, RB. Charlie Webster (18), Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). Playable positions: MF. Aiden Blanchard (18), Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). Playable positions: MF. Kane Haysman (18), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: MF. - FW: Danny Kedwell (30), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Playable positions: GK, CB, CM, ST. Previous clubs: AFC Wimbledon, Chatham etc. Cody Macdonald (28), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: ST. Previous clubs: Dartford, Norwich, Coventry. Antonio German (22), Contract expiry: 06/2015 (Believed). Playable positions: ST, RW, LW. Previous clubs: Brentford, Northampton, QPR + many more. Luke Norris (21), Contract expiry: 06/2016. Playable positions: ST. Previous clubs: Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge (loan), Northampton (loan). Aaron Millbank (18 assumed), Contract expiry: 06/2015. Playable positions: ST, LW. Jack Sellens (18 assumed), Contract expiry: 06/2015 (1st year scholar). Playable positions: ST. There are probably some youth that I have missed out here but I think that as an overall guide this gives a relative overview of the squad as it currently stands.
Also my preferred starting XI: Nelson - Fish, Egan, A Morris, Martin - Hessenthaler, Pritchard, Loft - McGlashan, Mcdonald, Dickenson
Thank You...i struggle to keep up sometimes and I like to base my knowledge/opinions on full facts. Which leads to two questions; 1. is Matt Fish fit enough now to return 2. will we go in for Inniss
I don't think Taylor would rush Fish back to playing without being sure that he will be okay, his comeback against Shrewsbury in May was likely psychological rebuilding as much as a confirmation of his physical recovery. Once we are at the latter stages of pre-season we will be able to tell if Fish is as quick as he was prior to the rupture. By the first game I would hope that he will be match fit. Inniss has started gym training with Palace and whilst I rate him I don't think we will sign him. He's a position that we have adequate cover for, if PT still has another defender in his sights I think we will have an out and out full back. PT has emphasised on a squad rather than a starting 11 this summer and I feel that if we pick up injuries in either LB or RB we will have only Loft or A Morris to slot in.
Just a few corrections if I may. Josh Hare is a CDM who can play CB. Callum Davies can also play CDM. Aaron Morris is a CDM and secondary is CB. Mahlon Romeo is a RM who also plays RB. Aaron Millbank can also play LW. Dack is also an out and out CAM who is frustratingly regularly played out of position
This is a potential starting 11 in my eyes. Formation 4-1-3-2. I think that this formation would suit us however I am not sure if Hessenthaler will play a holding role or if we may move Loft next to him. Will have to see what Taylor wants to do and how he wants to set up the team as we do have some great options in midfield for the first time in a while. Nelson Fish Legge Egan Martin Hessenthaler McGlashan Dack Loft McDonald Kedwell Subs G.Morris Barrett A.Morris Pritchard Dickenson Linganzi Norris This looks like a pretty decent team to me. The bench has some good players on it as well. I expect that we will bring in one more defender which will be cover for full back. Also during the season I wouldn't be surprised if we bring in an attacking player on loan because if Cody or Kedwell need a rest or get injured then all we have is Norris and German so I think we may see a striker come in on loan at some point during the early part of the season if needed.
I got to say, I think this is one of the best pre season threads. Excellent stuff and great contributions, sometimes i do just like reading lol
With so many young players that I know nothing about (matches my football knowledge in general then ) I haven't got a clue who will play or how we will do, strangely this makes the start of the season quite exciting. I hope that supporters give the team a chance before getting on their backs as we can expect moments of youthful flair but also youthful mistakes, moments of brilliance and moments of frustration, roll on the first game. I'm going to say Josh Pritchard will be a star, never seen him play, know nothing about him, but hey at least one of the youngsters will be a star so why not him. pre-season has started yessssssssssssssss.
All updated PegLeg, cheers for the feedback. I don't really know the youth all that well so had to base it off the info I could find on the academy page.
I have to say I think the same about Pritchard. He is a player I was very excited about when I heard that he had joined as I had heard a lot about him and also see him in Fulham under 21 games as well as in the Europa league and playing for Wales Under 21's and he is a very good midfield. He is very good playing the ball on the ground and looks pretty composed. I think him and Hessenthaler would work really well in the team together but also I hope some of our own youth players get the chance to come through as I rate the likes of Hare and Haysman highly. I think Haysman would really fit into the style that Taylor will want to play as he looks like he will be an attacking midfielder who will thrive under passing football. I think his best style would be high intensity passing football as he has a good turn of pace and is a very good passer which is exciting to see at a young age so I hope we see him a lot in pre-season and then he gets the chance to break into the team as well as Joshua Hare who I feel is a very strong midfielder. If they don't get to break into the team then they need to go out on loan to get some more experience so that they come back ready as the coming season is important for them two. I think it is very exciting especially the midfield as I think that this the strongest part of our team and we all know that Cody can score a good amount of goals as well as Kedwell who I feel if he has a good run this season will score around 15 so with a better midfield I think this will make the team much better and therefore will mean that we will create more chances that the strikers can put away. I also think now that we have better wide players this will cut the amount of teams playing against us who send their players to break down the wings so we will concede less as a large amount of the goals we conceded last season were from crosses and set pieces. Therefore if we have better wide players they will track back and will stop this happening therefore we will hopefully concede less (well that is what I hope).
fair point about the youthful mistakes and not getting on their backs. Sadly Callum Davies is still fresh in my mind from last season, where i honestly clasped my head in my hands and knew everyone would bury him...and they did. I felt it was quite a disgraceful backlash on the lad. I know my opinion can be controversial sometimes and rather ranting and passionate but it can't be said i don't stick by our youth...and i will this forthcoming season. PT will get the same reaction from me as MA if he dares undermines our youth but so far things are looking pretty good. I would love to know what influence Hessy is having in all this. The season ahead looks promising but that is something unmeasurable until at least the first ball is kicked.
I really agree with you about the excitement of this squad Grumpy. There's always something so interesting when there is this much of an overhaul, admittedly when Taylor first came in I had my concerns that he could have a repeat of Stevenage. I imagined Junior Lewis to be announced the following day and for us to tumble. I am so happy to see such an exciting transition involving players that could bring energy and youth to a squad. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself as the majority of these players are unknown quantities to me, I saw Norris play when I went to the Dagenham vs Southend match where he scored a fantastic goal but I wouldn't be able to say how good he is after that single game. We have a good spine of experience, Nelson and Morris, Barrett and Legge, Loft, Keds and Cody. I wouldn't play Barrett but as a club captain he still has something to offer to this squad, Taylor stated Loft was a leader in the first interview re his signing and I think he may be our playing captain. He's local and knows what the club is about. I can't wait for the first friendly!
I can't remember this much excitement about pre-season signings and the season ahead since we announced 6 players together (inc Whelps & Lee) that had us all in raptures. It certainly will be an exciting start as a lot of our starting X1 in the first game will be unknown quantities, not only to us, but to League 1 in general.Whatever happens to us this season, it will not be same old, same old. It will be refreshing I reckon
I just hope it isn't like when we signed 7 or 8 players at once under Jepson. Craig Armstrong, Lomas, Graham and Co. This time it's a nice mix of youth and experience that will hopefully have us progress.