...what are we looking at? I'm going to guess at as things stand this being the team: Jakupovic Rosenior, McShane, Chester, Faye, Dudgeon Evans, Cairney Koren Fryatt, Proschwitz Jakupovic has had time to get to know the defence where Amos hasn't yet. Rosenior and Dudgeon are the two with the pace to play as wing backs. Cooper shouldn't be loaded with pressure so I'd start the season with him on the bench. McShane (replaced by Hobbs when he's fit) and Faye also offer the height for us to use them as man markers on the opposition strikers, with Chester playing as the free man and sweeper. Chester's strengths are his reading of the game, and his ability to play the ball out so it should suit him to the ground. With the 3 centrehalves we definitely only need one tackling midfielder so Evans can take that role and have energy to get forward. In the absence of wide players we want 2 creative players in the middle so Cairney and Koren have to start. If Koren goes you throw Stewart into the free role (also thinking if you're a defensive midfielder you've had an hour man marking Koren, you see him going off, breathe a sigh of relief and then find you've got Stewart's pace coming at you right in front of your defence) Proschwitz is our new big striker and he's the only forward with any height so he has to play or we're in the same situation we've been the last few years. His partner could be any of the other 3, but Fryatt needs to start as he was our top scorer last season, and with only 2 weeks before the window closes we don't want to unsettle him by dropping him.
I'd say Amos will play as he has already trained with us for a week, and will resume training with us on July 28th, therefore giving him around 18-20 days of getting to know the team. So I'd go; Amos Rosenior Faye Chester Cooper Dudgeon Evans/McKenna/Oli Koren/Stewart Cairney/left-sided winger Proschwitz Fryatt
Genuine non WUM question - Where would you see that team realistically finishing, in your opinion would it be enough to press for an automatic all things considered with other teams looking to strengthen? Leeds haven't brought in half the amount of new players we need yet so I have no idea what strength we are going to have or not have. However I look around others who finished in the top half last season and they haven't strengthened their squads as much as I thought that they would.
I'd play: Amos Rosenior Faye Chester Cooper Dawson Olofinjana Cairney Koren Proschwitz Simpson Jakupkovic Mcshane Dudgeon Evans Stewart McLean Fryatt
All Bruce has done is publicly state that he will play with two strikers. That could simply mean 4-4-2.
Hardly anyone has mentioned McKenna, and he hasnt featured yet in preseason. Have I missed something?
We may line up 5-3-2 on the first day, but once we've got a winger or two in I fully expect us to play 4-4-2.
With the addition of Aluko, I think we will see a 4-4-2, possibly a diamond with Koren at the top and Evans at the bottom, with Stewart, Aluko, Cairney and Devitt playing the wide roles. If the latter two stay of course.
My gut feeling is that we're saying goodbye to Koren so without him: (as it stands) Jakupovic Rosie Chester Faye Dudgeon Aluko McKenna Cairney Stewart Proschwitz Fryatt Amos, Cooper, Evans, Olofinjana, Devitt, Simpson, McLean
I'd play, Amos Rosenoir - Chester - Hobbs - Dawson Stewart - Koren - Cairney - Aluko ------------ Fryatt -------------- ----------Proschwitz------------ 4-4-1-1 formation for me
If we keep Koren and Fryatt this could be a top Championship team when Hobbs gets back: Amos / Jakupovic Rosenior Chester Hobbs Dudgeon Aluko Mckenna Koren Stewart Proschwitz Fryatt
He means Fryatt playing in a Rooney-style hole behind the one striker, providing support for the midfield. Can't understand it myself, it'd completely oppose the utilisation of Fryatt's strengths.
