Interesting to see Millwall have had 2 friendlies and most of our fans had a hissy fit when we arranged to have one friendly game.
The opposition was irrelevant to me, we had a warm weather training camp and played a local team just like Stoke City did. Plenty of fans were also moaning that playing a friendly was too risky incase we picked up any injuries aswell, nothing to do with the opposition.
So, assume none of Stewart, Ballard or Michut will feature on Sat which is disappointing, but assume they might come into contention for a place on the bench v WBA? Assuming all others are fit, there are some interesting selection dilemmas ahead. I'd go: Patterson Huggins Batth Alese Cirkin Evans Neil Diallo Pritchard Clarke Simms Subs: Gooch, O'Nien, Ba, Roberts, Embleton, Bass, Hume Wright & Bennette probably back in the squad for WBA game assuming Australia and Costa Rica don't make the group stages
I cant believe we are playing this Saturday mind. World cup only just getting going. At least sky have done the decent thing and brought our game forward so we still get to watch the world cup games.
Correct mate, it was always 12.30 and originally picked for international broadcast. Sky have jumped in today and announced it as a normal broadcast game
The really interesting one is when Ballard, Stewart and Michut are fit and we have a full squad to pick from. Options all over then and some difficult decisions for TM, including who misses out altogether
Ballard and Stewart come straight into the team IMHO, regardless of the form of others, which seems harsh but it's a case of picking your best team now. Haven't seen enough of Michut but I think it's clear that Ba and Bennette aren't ready yet, so cameos from the bench are probably the order of the day for now. There are going to be some real issues fitting Cirkin/Alese and Roberts/Diallo in the same team. There will be some who are close to teh XI but then miss out on the squad all together due to more versatile options on the bench. From what I've seen so far, this is our strongest XI (IMHO) Patterson Huggins Ballard Batth Cirkin Evans Neil Diallo Pritchard Clarke Stewart Subs: Bass, Alese, Ba/Michut, Roberts, Simms, Embleton, Gooch The bench might be controversial - have gone for Gooch over O'Nien to provide cover at RB, because he can also offer a threat on the wings. Alese covers all the other positions in the back 4, Ba or Michut can cover Evans, then you have Roberts and Embo as options across the attacking 3 and Simms as the obvious backup for Stewart. You could maybe argue Bennette for Embleton Harsh on O'Nien, Wright, Hume and Matete,, but I'd say that 18 gives us our best chance of finishing top half
Been trying to work out if we could possibly swap to 3 at the back with Cirkin and Huggins / Gooch as wing backs and try to overload in wide areas to create havoc but can't without losing Pritchard behind Stewart. Can't really argue with that 11, as much as I'd like to see Alese start, I can't fit everyone in
Mine would be slightly different, I think Hume deserves a start - he was class against Birmingham and is strong in the air which we need against Millwall. I also wouldnt be surprised if he starts Amad as a no10 - i know it didnt work before but Mowbray seems keen to get him and Roberts both on the pitch
Okay you stato's... Does anyone happen to know how many times we've been live on Sky TV this season please?
Coventry Sheff wed Sheff utd Blackburn Norwich Birmingham Boro Reading does Huddersfield count? Was on red button rather than main game. Have i missed any?