Watson is a step up on Dobson, and Arter is a step up on Watson. You then got Forster-Caskey to add in too when he’s back. I don’t see how Dobson plays.
I really love Leko and think he’s going to be fantastic this season. Similarly, I think Lee is going to be a top player for us too.
However, we are a better team when Washington is playing closer to Stockley and it would be foolish to take that away from the team.
It’s definitely a headache for Adkins going forward of our attacking options now, but it’s one I am certain he’d prefer in comparison to the headache he had when we had no options.
Mac Matthews Innis Famewo Purrington Albie Arter DJ Lee Kirk/Leko Stockley
innis can’t be dropped but I expect Lavelle to be our main centre back at some point, Innis will be very hard to dislodge if he stays fit though, don’t think I’ve seen him lose a header, rarely makes a big mistake.
DJ and Matthews link up has been our best play this season, we genuinely look good down that side, question marks on Kirk that I’m sure will be answered once Purrington is back, if he can link with him then he stays if not I trust Leko more as he’s a bit more explosive and we have the creativity in Lee. The rest is self explanatory
squad looks very promising though. Lavelle, Gunter, Dobson, Washington, CBT, Clare and Davison is an extremely strong bench for league 1 football
According to another thread Inniss is not even training properly this week. I think Lavelle will slot in to his place next week I also don't think Famewo and Inniss have worked that well together this season. Great to have another option (2 if you include Elerewe).
I really love Leko and think he’s going to be fantastic this season. Similarly, I think Lee is going to be a top player for us too.
However, we are a better team when Washington is playing closer to Stockley and it would be foolish to take that away from the team.
It’s definitely a headache for Adkins going forward of our attacking options now, but it’s one I am certain he’d prefer in comparison to the headache he had when we had no options.
Start the game with DJ and Kirk, then if its not working or they need resting bring on Leko and CBT, or the other way round. These are great options to have available.
I really love Leko and think he’s going to be fantastic this season. Similarly, I think Lee is going to be a top player for us too.
However, we are a better team when Washington is playing closer to Stockley and it would be foolish to take that away from the team.
It’s definitely a headache for Adkins going forward of our attacking options now, but it’s one I am certain he’d prefer in comparison to the headache he had when we had no options.
The question is can Lee offer that movement and energy that Washington does? If so will that make us a stronger team?
It’s going to be a case of trying it out and seeing how it does. 4-4-2 worked against Crewe but it could leave us too open in the middle against stronger opposition.
Watson is a step up on Dobson, and Arter is a step up on Watson. You then got Forster-Caskey to add in too when he’s back. I don’t see how Dobson plays.
Dobson is a real head scratcher for me. He looked very good in the preseason games I watched. He looked good against Wednesday. He looked alright at MK Dons until he made a massive mistake that lead to their equaliser. Then he fell to pieces.
He has played over 100 games at this level, which is a lot for his age. He was generally impressive at Walsall and Wimbledon, at this level. I was surprised that Sunderland binned him so easily, especially with Power and Leadbitter going.
I can't put my finger on it really because he isn't just "dog shit" but it's going to be very hard for him to get back in the team. I can see a loan out coming in January.
Watson is a step up on Dobson, and Arter is a step up on Watson. You then got Forster-Caskey to add in too when he’s back. I don’t see how Dobson plays.
Dobson is a real head scratcher for me. He looked very good in the preseason games I watched. He looked good against Wednesday. He looked alright at MK Dons until he made a massive mistake that lead to their equaliser. Then he fell to pieces.
He has played over 100 games at this level, which is a lot for his age. He was generally impressive at Walsall and Wimbledon, at this level. I was surprised that Sunderland binned him so easily, especially with Power and Leadbitter going.
I can't put my finger on it really because he isn't just "dog shit" but it's going to be very hard for him to get back in the team. I can see a loan out coming in January.
I agree I can see him going out on loan in January. I also agree he has fallen to pieces, but don’t think he was that good at the start of the season, but that’s my opinion.
Have no idea where he fits in if everyone is fit, big if I know.
Watson keeps things simple and allows us to play, Arter is a class above really. I think it’s telling that Adkins took off Dobson for Watson when we needed a change.
I also think with all that experience at this level, if he was that good he should probably have been getting championship interest but hasn’t.
Watson is a step up on Dobson, and Arter is a step up on Watson. You then got Forster-Caskey to add in too when he’s back. I don’t see how Dobson plays.
Dobson is a real head scratcher for me. He looked very good in the preseason games I watched. He looked good against Wednesday. He looked alright at MK Dons until he made a massive mistake that lead to their equaliser. Then he fell to pieces.
He has played over 100 games at this level, which is a lot for his age. He was generally impressive at Walsall and Wimbledon, at this level. I was surprised that Sunderland binned him so easily, especially with Power and Leadbitter going.
I can't put my finger on it really because he isn't just "dog shit" but it's going to be very hard for him to get back in the team. I can see a loan out coming in January.
I agree I can see him going out on loan in January. I also agree he has fallen to pieces, but don’t think he was that good at the start of the season, but that’s my opinion.
Have no idea where he fits in if everyone is fit, big if I know.
Watson keeps things simple and allows us to play, Arter is a class above really. I think it’s telling that Adkins took off Dobson for Watson when we needed a change.
I also think with all that experience at this level, if he was that good he should probably have been getting championship interest but hasn’t.
I think that is a hard stick to beat him with. He is a similar age to Hollands, Wiggins, Stephens etc. Also as a league 1 player he has attracted a firm contract from both us and Sunderland, which I would consider the next best thing.
I have seen dozens of fence post turtles over the last 30 odd years, unfortunately more for us than against us, but he does not look like one to me. If he is good enough for a promotion winning team, I don't know, but he is certainly a league 1 footballer.
I also think he has been unlucky in the fact that not many teams in league 1 (less than half) have midfields as good as MK, Oxford, Wednesday and Wigan. The trio he played in didn't help either.
I am 100% there is a player there, he has quite a high floor, but I don't think he has that a high ceiling.
i feel like Washington might go on a bit of streak and be hard to drop but as everyone else has said - I really like the look Lee. He reminds me a lot of his dad. Yes we have a lot of players but they’ll be plenty of injuries. I also think Leko and Arter will need to prove their still up to it and won’t be initial starters. Kirk may also come under pressure to be productive quite quickly:
mac
matthews lavelle famewo purrington
Dobson Morgan
DJ. Lee. Kirk
Stockley
Yep this is, I feel, a realistic team NA could well put out. Agree that Arter & Leco have to prove their match fitness. As does Gilbey
JFC - remembering the struggle he had with the first ACL, I'm estimating he won't be match fit till April.
Something from left field, an injury replacement for Stockley. It's just possible ( in a few months) Leco or DJ could handle the job.
My guess is this squad will finish fifth to eighth come May.
i just don't see that formation working with stockley -p he needs to play up top with somebody - that can be washington, leko,lee or kirk but i would definitely start with Lee in the team - mac - purrer innis/lavelle famewho matthews - kirk arter lee leko - wash stock
i like my cdm's to have nouse, touch and vision rather than legs and running power - thats for up top and out wide - get the brains and craft in the middle and let them orchestrate the rest
i like my cdm's to have nouse, touch and vision rather than legs and running power - thats for up top and out wide - get the brains and craft in the middle and let them orchestrate the rest
That’s all very well, but if your central midfielder has no defensive awareness or positional understanding then teams will walk through the middle of you. Play players in their best position and keep your team as balanced as possible.
We have a squad now. Reminds me of kids football, when you had to give minutes to every players in League matches but have your strongest team on the pitch in the last third of the match.
We did this with Aneke, last season for a different reason than his dad would beat up Bowyer or Adkins !
We need a stable in form and If Inniss or anyone isn't fit they don't play. This includes Jayden.
Fortunately we have options with the 4 wide men/wingers in the 3 up front. Also Davidson and Washington can go central or play just off Stockley in a 2 as against the weaker teams like Crewe ( since losing players) 4-4-2 really isn't archaic.
The 11 on the pitch from 65 minutes on could end up being more important than the 11 that start or as important. Football stopped being only about the 11 that starts last century when it went up to 3 subs.
i just don't see that formation working with stockley -p he needs to play up top with somebody - that can be washington, leko,lee or kirk but i would definitely start with Lee in the team - mac - purrer innis/lavelle famewho matthews - kirk arter lee leko - wash stock
Playing Lee in a number 10 role is essentially putting him up top with Stockley.
What a lovely problem to have trying to get all these players into a starting 11. Will give Adkins the opportunity to rotate, although won’t tweak it as much as Bowyer did… to be honest I never thought we would have this quality at our disposal 2 weeks ago
What a lovely problem to have trying to get all these players into a starting 11. Will give Adkins the opportunity to rotate, although won’t tweak it as much as Bowyer did… to be honest I never thought we would have this quality at our disposal 2 weeks ago
Bowyer only rotated because he was left with a load of players that couldn’t play 2 games in 4 days . The bankers like Bauer, Cullen, the guy with pink hair, Lockyer always played when fit
What a lovely problem to have trying to get all these players into a starting 11. Will give Adkins the opportunity to rotate, although won’t tweak it as much as Bowyer did… to be honest I never thought we would have this quality at our disposal 2 weeks ago
Bowyer only rotated because he was left with a load of players that couldn’t play 2 games in 4 days . The bankers like Bauer, Cullen, the guy with pink hair, Lockyer always played when fit
Lee would almost have to play that 10 as a second striker though, Stockley needs someone in and around him. It’s a tough one for NA as we’ve got pretty good depth now which is great but Lee is a starter for me.
Could go with the diamond that Bowyer used a lot but would lose DJ and Kirk from the starting line up so not ideal:
Mac
Matthews Inniss Famewo Purrington
Arter
Morgan Gilbey
Lee
Washington Stockley
I think the best option is 433 or 4411 which is the formation NA used against Crewe.
Was at the Northern Ireland game vs Lithuania a few days back - Washington looked a much better player in a central striking position than when stuck out wide (and slotted home a great penalty). I think Leko and Lee, as well as Davison, will be deployed up top at various points through the season, either in a 442 or 433. It’s a good headache for NA to have!
The team we played in the final game of last season:
Despite having some real quality, we lacked the depth to compete over a 46 game season. We relied heavily on Millar and Aneke, with the latter only fit enough to play 45 minutes a game.
Now we’ve gotten through the Summer window that separated these two seasons, this is the squad Adkins gets to pick from:
There will be dud signings, as well as injuries, mistakes, red cards and own goals - but I’m much more excited about this seasons squad compared to the last one. The recruitment team got a lot of abuse but I think they deserve credit for getting this over the line.
Comments
However, we are a better team when Washington is playing closer to Stockley and it would be foolish to take that away from the team.
It’s definitely a headache for Adkins going forward of our attacking options now, but it’s one I am certain he’d prefer in comparison to the headache he had when we had no options.
I also don't think Famewo and Inniss have worked that well together this season. Great to have another option (2 if you include Elerewe).
It’s going to be a case of trying it out and seeing how it does. 4-4-2 worked against Crewe but it could leave us too open in the middle against stronger opposition.
He has played over 100 games at this level, which is a lot for his age. He was generally impressive at Walsall and Wimbledon, at this level. I was surprised that Sunderland binned him so easily, especially with Power and Leadbitter going.
I can't put my finger on it really because he isn't just "dog shit" but it's going to be very hard for him to get back in the team. I can see a loan out coming in January.
Have no idea where he fits in if everyone is fit, big if I know.
Watson keeps things simple and allows us to play, Arter is a class above really. I think it’s telling that Adkins took off Dobson for Watson when we needed a change.
I also think with all that experience at this level, if he was that good he should probably have been getting championship interest but hasn’t.
I have seen dozens of fence post turtles over the last 30 odd years, unfortunately more for us than against us, but he does not look like one to me. If he is good enough for a promotion winning team, I don't know, but he is certainly a league 1 footballer.
I also think he has been unlucky in the fact that not many teams in league 1 (less than half) have midfields as good as MK, Oxford, Wednesday and Wigan. The trio he played in didn't help either.
I am 100% there is a player there, he has quite a high floor, but I don't think he has that a high ceiling.
Agree that Arter & Leco have to prove their match fitness.
As does Gilbey
Something from left field, an injury replacement for Stockley.
It's just possible ( in a few months) Leco or DJ could handle the job.
My guess is this squad will finish fifth to eighth come May.
Reminds me of kids football, when you had to give minutes to every players in League matches but have your strongest team on the pitch in the last third of the match.
We did this with Aneke, last season for a different reason than his dad would beat up Bowyer or Adkins !
We need a stable in form and If Inniss or anyone isn't fit they don't play. This includes Jayden.
Fortunately we have options with the 4 wide men/wingers in the 3 up front. Also Davidson and Washington can go central or play just off Stockley in a 2 as against the weaker teams like Crewe ( since losing players) 4-4-2 really isn't archaic.
The 11 on the pitch from 65 minutes on could end up being more important than the 11 that start or as important. Football stopped being only about the 11 that starts last century when it went up to 3 subs.
Mac
Gilbey Arter
DJ Lee Kirk
Lee would almost have to play that 10 as a second striker though, Stockley needs someone in and around him. It’s a tough one for NA as we’ve got pretty good depth now which is great but Lee is a starter for me.
Could go with the diamond that Bowyer used a lot but would lose DJ and Kirk from the starting line up so not ideal:
Mac
Matthews Inniss Famewo Purrington
Morgan Gilbey
Lee
Washington Stockley
Now we’ve gotten through the Summer window that separated these two seasons, this is the squad Adkins gets to pick from: