Starting 11 v Port vale

Having brought in a few new faces.. what do you reckon the starting line up will be.. or what would you like to see it be? This is mine but don’t hate on me, it’s for a few reasons.

…………..…Roberts…………

…McCarthy..Lopata..Kitching..

Williams……………………..Cadden

…..Kane…Connell…Styles….

….Norwood………….Iseka….

Subs
Killip
Cotter
Cundy
Benson
Russell
Watters
Cole


• if Williams is still here he’s a better option than Cotter
•Styles in as Phillips is banned, also he has something to prove if he wants to be here or wants to put his sen in shop window.
•Iseka, I just think if he gets his head darn he could do a good job at this level, but again like Styles, shop window if not.

Styles also brings cover at left wing back if needed.
Would bring Watters and Cole on second half. Not seen owt of Dallas so can’t comment on whether he will make the cut at L1.
Definitely still need at least 1 more defender imo. McCarthy still trying to get to full fitness, don’t think Cundy is up to the challenge.

 

There is definitely doubts about Iseka, it’s probably more than likely he will be heading for the exit door. Not too sure about Benson

 

I think Benson and Phillips will get their own back this season.

 

Iseka hasn't played a single minute of pre-season and I doubt he will make another appearance for the club. Styles maybe, I thought when he signed the contract last year it was done so we would allow him to go on loan and in return we wouldn't lose him for a free at the end of the season, but basically with a view that he wouldn't play another game for us. Perhaps the expected move hasn't materiaised? I've not really heard him linked with anywhere and if Millwall wanted him you'd assume they would have had it done by now.

 

No chance Iseka will be anywhere near the squad. I don't think Williams or McCarthy will be either, as neither have played any pre-season yet. I'm also not convinced Styles will be here by then, or at least he'll have moved on by the end of the window. So for me, based on the players who are currently at the club, Cotter, Phillips and maybe Cole start. That right CB slot is a mystery though. We've tried a few young lads there so far, so either James or Shepherd as it stands.

 

That’s the reason we definitely need more defensive recruitments. Phillips is banned for start of season. I don’t think for a minute that Iseka will actually start, but there is a good chance Styles will for reasons I stated. I think we are 3 signings short of a good team.

 

Re. Styles. Win if he stays, win if he goes. It will be a tidy profit. Personally I would like him to rip up League One and earn his move (he has the talent AND the experience).

Re. Iseka. What a dilemma. Looked great and scored a few in a short period. Then looked like he didn't want to be here. Another man who could rip up League One and gets paid handsomely to do so. But as Gally says, he has barely figured. I can't see him wanting to put himself in the shop window as that would mean having to put in the effort elsewhere. I can't see anyone buying him, and I don't see a case where any club is going to take him on loan unless we are paying his wages. Let me be clear, I loved what I saw in his cameo couple of months, and would love to see him do his stuff for us this year. Sadly I can't see it happening.

Re. The OP. Is McCarthy even ready yet? Same re Benson for your bench.

 

Iseka won't get in the squad ,isn't it clear he doesn't want to play for BFC .
As much annoying as it is he should be sacked.

 

Good summary of Styles and Iseka, basically similar as to what I was thinking. It sounds like McCarthy is close but not sure if he is ready to play come 5th of August, I’m just a bit worried about our defence all round really. I’ve no clue about Benson tbh

 

Yeah, I think I saw September for Benson back in training.
Defence is a worry, I agree, but after yesterday's business, I am hopeful we could sort it before the end of the week. Then they just need to bed in quickly.

 

Benson and Wolfe injured

if we sign O'Keef then Williams needs moving on plus we need to consider getting Styles and Iseka off the wage bill.

If we manage that then we need a cb a lwb and an attacking midfielder in to complete the squad.

 

Collins confirmed on RS last night that Adam Phillips is banned for three games. I can't believe that we didn't appeal such a shockingly wrong decision. Other clubs would have.

 

Midfield too static. All comfortable on the ball. Philipps and Connell get in shooting positions now and again. Connell likes to play deep though. Phillips does get in the box but he's more like a number 10. Floats about the pitch and gets stuck in at the wrong times. We need a box to box midfielder. Benson is closest we have but he's always injured. Russell is too much like Connell and Kane. We need someone who gets the ball and drives forward. Not a winger as we don't play with them but someone who can break lines.

 

I can't see why anyone would start Iseka over Watters or Cole.
McCarthy won't be ready.
If Styles and Williams fit and still here they will play if not Russell and Cotter.
Cundy should start over McCarthy or Lopata or any of the young lads but I'm sure we will see a couple of new faces in defence before the Port Vale game and they are going to have to learn quickly on the job.

 

Roberts.

Cundy, Lopata, Kitching

O'Keefe? Connell, Kane, Russell, Cadden.

Norwood, Cole.

 

Of course, I forgot.

We did didn't we? Khaled said in an interview (the one he gave shortly before the news came out about Duff) that we'd appealed, but hadn't heard back.

Personally I didn't see any point in appealing it as it would never have been overturned. But I guess it's a game of opinions.

 

I don’t recall seeing that. I would hope that we had good grounds to overturn the decision but maybe the opinions of plenty of others in the football world were not enough to sway these clowns at EFL Central.

 

We’ve signed two new forwards to add to our two top scorers from last season. Iseka isn’t getting a look in. He’ll be gone by 31st August.

I doubt McCarthy will be ready by then either. He’s not played in a pre-season game yet, I don’t think?

 

I’d guess this, but a new defender in for Cundy.