As we are two weeks away from the start of the '9 game season', we have lost three players.
Lee Bowyer has always stated that he likes to break the season into 9 game chunks.
This loss of players won't overly phase Lee Bowyer though as the two key players have been inconsistently available this season and as such Bowyer will know what his options are without them. The other one simply hasn't fit into our system since he joined.
We've had a number of loan players come and go this season, from the frighteningly effective teenager Conor Gallagher to the more seasoned yet somewhat ineffective David Davis or Beram Kayal. This ignores the completely ineffective man Joe Ledley.
(Short term contract - Not a loan)One thing is for sure, every player has put in a shift and this is a feature that only Powell has seemed to get out of our squad since Curbishley left the club.
The players we have fit going into the run in from the 'First Team Squad' on the O.S*:
Goalkeepers: Dillon Phillips
Ben Amos
Ashley Maynard-Brewer
Right Backs:Adam Matthews
Right Centre Backs:Tom Lockyer
Deji Oshilaja
Left Centre Backs:Naby Sarr
Jason Pearce
Left Backs:Ben Purrington
Lewis Page (may still be injured)
Central Defensive Midfielders:Darren Pratley
Sam Field
(L)George Lapslie
Right Midfielders: Aidan McGeady
(L)Brendan Wiredu
Central Midfielders:Josh Cullen
(L)Albie Morgan
Jake Forster-Caskey
Matt Smith
(L)
Left Midfielders:Alfie Doughty
Andre Green
(L)Central Attacking Midfielders:Johnny Williams
Erhun Oztumer
Forwards:Macaulay Bonne
Tomer Hemed
Chuks Aneke
Josh Davison
*Chris Solly, David Davis and Lyle Taylor have not been included for obvious reasons.
We have a couple of formation options, Bowyer's favourites are:
The 4-4-2 Diamond or 3-5-2 with wing backs, if Page is fit, the latter could be particularly effective in the run in.
We have an unusual situation for this 9 game block by being allowed 5 subs out of 9 to choose from.
For me, Lee Bowyer's best formation if ALL are fit would be:
First 11:
Phillips
Lockyer | Pearce | Sarr
Matthews | Cullen | Field | Williams | Page
Bonne | Hemed
Subs; Amos, Oshilaja, Purrington, Pratley, Morgan, Doughty, McGeady, Green, Aneke
It was a really tough decision to choose between Oztumer, Doughty and McGeady as to who to leave out of the squad.
I think Lee Bowyer's ability to get players to work together and to put themselves about will be really beneficial to our push for survival.
Be interested in other options that people think we may use.
Comments
Whether Bowyer decides to risk him or instead stick with Purrington / Doughty will remain to be seen I think I'd go with
Phillips
Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr | Purrington
Cullen | Pratley | Field
Williams
Bonne | Green
The five subs will certainly be interesting as we could make two at half time and still be able to have the three breaks in play to make the other changes
Depending how the game is going thats when I'd be inclined to bring on the likes of Forster-Caskey and McGeady to keep it nice and fresh in Midfield
He won't do that though, as he's a proper professional and knows that he wants to earn his next contract.
If he does play and plays well across these 9 games, I'd re-sign him as an average Page is better than Purrington.
An on fire Page is bloody decent to watch.
Wiredu, Field and AMB? Also Davison isn't on your list but far more likely to play over Wiredu IMO
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Cullen/Pratley/ JFC - Not really sure who to put Field in place of really depends on the game.
Green/Bonne/Doughty
Looks quite strong, could perhaps use JW on the left.
I prefer 4-5-1, here but will turn into a 4-3-3
Sounds like Page, Field and AMB may not be in his plans as yet.
Goalkeepers:
Dillon Phillips
Ben Amos
Ashley Maynard-Brewer
Right Backs:
Adam Matthews
Right Centre Backs:
Tom Lockyer
Deji Oshilaja
Left Centre Backs:
Naby Sarr
Jason Pearce
Left Backs:
Ben Purrington
Lewis Page (may still be injured)
Central Defensive Midfielders:
Darren Pratley
Sam Field (L)
George Lapslie
Right Midfielders:
Aidan McGeady (L)
Brendan Wiredu
Central Midfielders:
Josh Cullen (L)
Albie Morgan
Jake Forster-Caskey
Matt Smith (L)
Left Midfielders:
Alfie Doughty
Andre Green (L)
Central Attacking Midfielders:
Johnny Williams
Erhun Oztumer
Forwards:
Macaulay Bonne
Tomer Hemed
Chuks Aneke
Josh Davison
No new names of players not willing to play, this despite Bowyer stating he expected there could be more.
Special mention to Josh Cullen who has declared himself available for all 9 games. That little jack russell terrier is well up for the scrap.
I think a 4-2-4 formation will do
Go for as many goals as we can.
Just kidding of course. We'll likely see the usual from Bowyer... I'm excited and terrified...
One negative is that we've lost our captaincy structure with Solly & Taylor out of the picture and Sarr/Pearce fighting for the LCB position... We need a sturdy regular.
Is it Pratley or Phillips? No for me it is Cullen... A loanee as captain, but how important is he for us...
I imagine a few of the U23s have been asked to keep themselves fit, but aren't in his plans, e.g. AMB, Wiredu, Dempsey, Stephenson
Phillips
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Cullen, Pratley
Green, Aneke, Mc Geady
Bonne.
Definitely better with Williams in it. Options to replace as subs needed:
Williams - Oztumer/Doughty
Green - McGeady
Pratley - Field
Sarr - Pearce
Purrington - Page
Aneke - Hemed
Oztumer hasn't ever changed a game when coming on and McGeady hasn't yet shone or had a chance to change a game coming on really.
If we play Doughty wide left, I'd prefer Williams came on for the CAM anyway, which should be one of those two or Aneke.
Given his age, his ability to keep up must be taken into account. He'll always be in my squad, even if not starting.
I am just hoping that Aneke comes good.
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington
Cullen Pratley Williams
Green Bonne McGeady
Easily transferable to...
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington
Cullen Pratley
Green Williams McGeady
Bonne
This way allows us to be a little more disciplined whilst having more than enough creativity in the team to hurt opposition. It would mean Green and McGeady doing a lot of work to get in and support Bonne whilst also causing opposition full-backs trouble with their skill and pace. It allows Williams to float around and find spaces to pick up the ball and be dangerous. It allows Cullen to be the industrious midfielder that we know he is. Pratley to shield the defence and drop in if needed. It allows us to play football rather than going long or in behind all the time. Albeit, getting in behind with that personnel could be dangerous too.
As options for rotation and managing players fitness we have:
Pearce and Oshilaja in for Sarr or Lockyer
Page in place for Purrington
Field, Forster-Caskey, Smith, Lapslie and Morgan can come in for Cullen or Pratley
Aneke and Oztumer can come in for Williams
Doughty in for McGeady
Hemed in for Bonne
There is a lot we can do with the players with have, and I would personally really like to see us do something to surprise the opposition. We need to do something slightly different as we have lost so many goals from the team.
only joking, spot on as per Sage