We've been hearing a lot about how we'll be depeleted during AFCON but looking at our squad I actually feel okay about the team we could put out, have a look at this: please log in to view this image You can obviously swap Mukiele and Geertruid around, put Le Fee at LWB, Rigg on the right etc The likes of Brian Brobbey, Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin and Luke O'Nien on the bench. This team is perfectly capable of getting results against a lot of teams in the Premier League.
Also bear in mind that not all the players will be away for the full tournament and could be back after a couple of weeks eg Reinaldo
Will diarra be going, I know we can’t stop them but I wouldn’t want him away after being out for a few months.
He will be. Maybe he can run back from Morocco, play for us in between games over there, and then run back? Shouldn't be a problem to him!
I don’t know the time frame but maybe Diarra might be able to use some afcon game time to get up to match fitness. I don’t want him playing every minute of every game but 20/ 30 minutes off the bench could help. If he’s not match fit to play he shouldn’t go.
If injuries go our way, that's not a bad side at all. I also expect to see a couple in and a couple out in January. No chance they stand still when things have gone as well as they have and we supposedly still have PSR room
We should also have Mundle, Alese and even Hjelde back by then. I can't see Hjelde getting many minutes though.
AFCON caused quite some concern at first but I don’t think that's the case any longer. Ironically our form during the injury to Diarra has probably helped as has the emergence of players like Geertruida, Brobbey, Nordi, etc. It might even be entertaining seeing how our players perform. Plus they can spread the word while they’re out there and boost our support in Africa, perhaps even attract some new signings … … I’m certain the marketing teams and scouts will maximise our presence and opportunities.
Gone Fishing: Chemsdine Talbi Reinildo Habib Diarra Simon Adingra Bertrand Traore Arthur Masuaku Noah Sadiki Keepers: Robin Roefs Anthony Patterson Defenders: Trai Hume Nordi Mukiele Lutsharel Geetruida Dan Ballard Omar Alderete Dennis Cirkin Luke O'Nien Leo Hjelde (due back this week) Aji Alese (due back this week) Midfielders: Granit Xhaka Enzo Le Fee Chris Rigg Dan Neil Wingers/Strikers: Wilson Isidor Brian Brobbey Eliezer Mayenda Romain Mundle (due back this week) I think we can put together a few different options from this lot. Worth noting that the final takes place of Jan 18th so conceivably we could have already recruited some reinforcements more than two weeks before the tournament ends.
