Starting Line Up

[AshfordGill]

So assuming our business has been completed (still think that there could be a couple of loan signings) what will be our starting XI? I am going for a 4-3-2-1 formation

Flitney (GK)
Fish (RB)
Martin (LB)
Lawrence (CB)
Frampton (CB)
Lee (CM) Capt
Montrose (CM)
Payne-J (CM)
Whelpdale (AM)
Weston (AM)
Kedwell (S)
Subs
Hawkes
Payne-S
Rooney
Fuller/Jackman
Oli
Richards/King
Spiller

 

[Harrygillz]

Interesting you would put fish in ahead of fuller? I maybe would change that but otherwise i'd agree with this. Also i like your formation as we don't have much in terms of strikers but i can see whelpdale and hopefully weston getting a few this season.

I'd love to see stefan payne at least get a foot in during pre season games though so i'd stick with a 442 for them to give him a chance to shine and go for

Flitney
Fuller Lawrence Frampton Martin
Whelpdale (LM) Lee(CM) Montrose(CM) Weston(RM)
S.payne Kedwell

I'd have weston and whelpdale attacking down the sides and possibly cutting in providing the attacking creative presence and lee and montrose sitting behind them backing them up/defending against counter attacks and supporting the back 4. Stefan payne is pacey and can provide that upfront playing off kedwell

If that fails though id go back to your formation and team.

 

[Tom-Tom-Sat-Nav]

I still think if we play either of the two above formations, we will be far too narrow in the midfield. Whelps seems comfortable playing on either wing but without a wide threat down the other side it is somewhat imbalanced. I think however we will start with:-

Flitney

Fuller
Lawrence (C)
Frampton
Martin

Spiller
Lee
Weston
Montrose
Whelpdale

Kedwell

SUBS
Hawkes
Fish
Richards
J Payne
Jackman
S Payne
Rooney

 

[Gills-Prog-seller]

Frampton can play LB so i would have KIngy at CB if hes fit (hopeing he is)

 

[GillinghamLAD]

As some of the others I would go for a 4-5-1 based formation.

Flitney (GK)

Fuller (DR)
Lawrence (DCR)
Frampton (DCL)
Martin (DL)

J.Payne (DM)
Lee (DM)

Spiller (RM)
Weston (CM)
Whelpdale (LM)

Kedwell (ST)

From pals at Millwall it seems we have an absolute steal with Frampton and that he should be considered for our captaincy, so my captain would be whoever is at centre back. That includes King hoping he'd get fit. In that case Martin would drop out, Frampton to LB and Kingy at CB.

I just can't leave J.Payne out of the team becasue I think he has the ability and needs the opportunities to shine in a team suited to him. I only haven't included Montrose as I've never seen him play. Close between Fish and Fuller too but I can't see Hessy simply dropping the captain for the last few years.

 

[Harrygillz]

To be fair Fuller had some awful games last season so i think he'll choose it primarily based on pre-season. I agree with j.payne being our young promising player but montrose is a young player to, i'm sure they'll both have stints in the team though. We always manage to pick u numerous injuries during a season!

 

[jokeykid(606)]

Given Flitney's well documented kicking-ability I doubt Hessenthaler would put Kedwell on his own up front. If no further additions to the squad are made then Stefan Payne is likely to be starting games. Hopefully he learned some tricks from Cody & Bayo!

good or bad kicking abilities? its that well documented that i havent seen it

 

[itstimupnorth]

Julian's kicking was horrendous last year!

And his positional play and anticipation.

Any (actual, proper, not speculation) news about Simon King? I'm beginning to fear the worst.

 

[superbluearmy]

Me too itstimupnorth. For me he looked about 50% fit when he played last year which is a real shame and wether or not he can actually get back to the standards he set himself in his first season seems unlikely. I still believe though if he has a good pre season and can stay clear of injury he's our best centre back, if not in the entire division.