Pretty much as the title, perhaps a bit of (much needed) business needs to happen before the window shuts, but the squad we have now is likely what we'll start the season with, give or take perhaps Brady and McCormack. So, how do you see us lining up? For me: McGovern Pinto Klose Bennett Olsson Dorrans Tettey Howson Wessi Murphy McCormack (or Jerome if he's not signed/ready). Bench: Ruddy, Bassong, Maddison, Murphy, Canos, Lafferty, Mulumbu The wide role occupied by a Murphy is probably most open to debate. Josh, Jacob or Canos could well get the nod there. Surprised at how weak the bench looks really. Not hugely enamoured with Mulumbu as the only central midfield cover, and striking options are poor too.
Interesting to note there's no Naismith in the team, on the bench, anywhere in sight. Maybe the club have a matchday catering vacancy he could help out with?
For me, in the attacking midfield trio he'd be behind Maddison and the Murphy's in each position, so doesn't get a place on the bench on the basis of that. If we haven't signed a striker then perhaps I'd rather have him on the bench than Lafferty, but Jerome would still be ahead of him in the pecking order for a place there.
Interesting quote from AN post match today: "Robbie Brady was a notable absentee against Hannover after prolonged speculation over his club future following an impressive Euro 2016 but Neil revealed the Dubliner has picked up a calf injury. “He has got an issue with his calf. It happened at the end of last season,” he said. “We were hoping it had resolved itself but unfortunately in training it tightened up again.” Oh dear, that's bad news. Thank god it held up for the 'shop window' that was the Euros, then, hey chaps
I never ever make any decisions based on pre-season games, they are for manager information only. I'll reserve judgement on ALL our players until next week, if you have any sense, you will all do the same! KIO, I have a bet on that you will bump the "How long do we give him" thread by half-time at Blackburn! Don't let me down now!
For sure the games aren't played at full intensity and the manager may trial systems and tactics we'll never see again, the result is irrelevant. But Whittaker still needing a telescope to spot his man, Ruddy's determination to clear the City stand at any opportunity, and Naismith proving he couldn't hit a barn door with a machine gun, aren't in the managers control and nor are they likely to change dramatically in a week. I'd love Ruddy to keep a clean sheet and Naismith to bag a hat-trick, happy to be proved wrong. But individual performances today by players supposedly playing for their places were not universally positive.
I would have gone for the first corner against us, but that could be after half time! Either way, it won't be long.
Sadly I can see Ruddy and Whittaker getting the nod. If so we'll have fewer clean sheets than an Ipswich knocking shop.
I am pretty sure that Whittaker will not start. From all reports Pinto was far superior in his display when he came on. Last season Pinto was preferred over Whits, and I can see no reason for that to change.
Sadly, it's looking increasingly likely that that is indeed what will happen and if that is the case, I can see - a. Dave's bet will come good b. We'll be lucky to end up mid table at the end of the season unless our new CEO sacks AN no later than Xmas and then we should make the play offs. I hope you're right GE and certainly from the evidence of Tuesday, Pinto was far better defensively.
The fact that McGovern never got on the pitch yesterday tells me that Ruddless is sure to start next week
Well, I know it was a friendly, but on the strength of yesterday's endeavours, neither should be anywhere near the first team for a while. Ruddy needs to learn to kick a dead ball and Whittaker needs to learn a little about the basic art of defending That Hannover second goal, was he even in the same half of the field as the left winger when the killer pass was played
If Whittaker isn't starting next week then why play him in the last friendly? I don't know how many balls Ruddy has to kick directly to touch or how many crosses he needs to flap at and miss before he is benched but surely he must be on borrowed time. Even after all our previous season games I am little the wiser as to what our starting XI or preferred formation will be. I still see no evidence of a plan B when we are struggling
I know what you mean. It's as if AN feels duty-bound to persevere with both Ruddy and Whittaker on the proviso that 'surely they can't be this gash the whole time'?
Slightly different as there were precious few viable alternatives. That's no longer the case in Ruddy and Whittaker's positions on the field?
