OK, we all have our own opinions, so I thought this might make an interesting thread. Based on 4-3-3, because GM sometimes plays that, and it's simple to list, I'd go for this;Good choice.
Lawlor
Sterry
Wood
Anderson
Senior
Biggins
Broadbent
Bailey
Roberts
Ironside
Miller
I’d swap Anderson for Olowu and Rowe for Biggins
Lawlor
Sterry
Wood
Anderson
Senior
Biggins
Broadbent
Bailey
Roberts
Ironside
Miller
I don’t think he’ll start Rowe,Close is awful , got the heart the size of a pea , will go down in history as one of our worst ever signings
I reckon close will surprise us next season and mccann will get lots more out of him, maybe play him deeper like he did with whiteman
I don’t think he’ll start Rowe,Close is awful , got the heart the size of a pea , will go down in history as one of our worst ever signings
I reckon close will surprise us next season and mccann will get lots more out of him, maybe play him deeper like he did with whiteman
I don’t think he’ll start Rowe,Close is awful , got the heart the size of a pea , will go down in history as one of our worst ever signings
I reckon close will surprise us next season and mccann will get lots more out of him, maybe play him deeper like he did with whiteman
Like I said I think he will surprise us next season, with the ball he’s our best player
I don’t think he’ll start Rowe,Close is awful , got the heart the size of a pea , will go down in history as one of our worst ever signings
I reckon close will surprise us next season and mccann will get lots more out of him, maybe play him deeper like he did with whiteman
Like I said I think he will surprise us next season, with the ball he’s our best player
He certainly isn’t awful. If Close was a bad signing what was Molyneux. Close was on a different level to him last season.
I hope your right , just because I think he's overated doesn't mean I want him to fail and I'll be more than happy to eat my words. I've said it before on previous threads that apart from a few fancy passes now and then what he stands and admires he offers nothing else. He had about 3/4 good games last year where the opposition stood off him and let him play that was it. Maybe saying he's awful is a bit strong but nobody can deny he's been a very underwhelming signing up to now.I don’t think he’ll start Rowe,Close is awful , got the heart the size of a pea , will go down in history as one of our worst ever signings
I reckon close will surprise us next season and mccann will get lots more out of him, maybe play him deeper like he did with whiteman
Like I said I think he will surprise us next season, with the ball he’s our best player
All these sides sadly lack any pace whatsoever, unless people assume the new Wolves lad is going to play a lot. We are now a much more robust and solid side, but extremely one paced. Taylor could play a role, the Wolves lad, and maybe another wide signing, loan or permanent.
All these sides sadly lack any pace whatsoever, unless people assume the new Wolves lad is going to play a lot. We are now a much more robust and solid side, but extremely one paced. Taylor could play a role, the Wolves lad, and maybe another wide signing, loan or permanent.
At the moment it looks like Grant's team will physically hammer other sides into submission.
Jones
Sterry Faulkner Wood Maxwell
Close Bailey Rowe
Molyneux Ironside Roberts
LJ is a way better keeper than Lawlor ever will be.
BF needs to stay in the team to learn from Wood. Anderson benched. The other center backs can all go for me.
Has anyone seen Senior play? Maxwell was largely decent and deserves to start.
Same with Broadbent, why pick him ahead of TR I don't know.
Close needs to deliver pretty sharpish or else will be chopped but will benefit from Bailey covering up his weaknesses and letting him concentrate on his strengths.
LM will be better with a overlapping full back behind him and Ironside ahead.
Hurst will come into the side if Roberts fails. 1st time loans are a risk and I expect big things from Hurst this year. Could also replace Rowe if he struggles.
Excited to see Sterry and Bailey and expect them two to make a big difference this year.
With Wood, Bailey and Ironside we look to have a spine of a team that will allow us to compete. The other ball players will then come into their own.
Jones
Sterry Faulkner Wood Maxwell
Close Bailey Rowe
Molyneux Ironside Roberts
LJ is a way better keeper than Lawlor ever will be.
BF needs to stay in the team to learn from Wood. Anderson benched. The other center backs can all go for me.
Has anyone seen Senior play? Maxwell was largely decent and deserves to start.
Same with Broadbent, why pick him ahead of TR I don't know.
Close needs to deliver pretty sharpish or else will be chopped but will benefit from Bailey covering up his weaknesses and letting him concentrate on his strengths.
LM will be better with a overlapping full back behind him and Ironside ahead.
Hurst will come into the side if Roberts fails. 1st time loans are a risk and I expect big things from Hurst this year. Could also replace Rowe if he struggles.
Excited to see Sterry and Bailey and expect them two to make a big difference this year.
With Wood, Bailey and Ironside we look to have a spine of a team that will allow us to compete. The other ball players will then come into their own.
Good grief I bet you’re as barrel of laughs , talk about looking on the bright side of life
I think it fair to make constructive observations even if they sound critical.
We’ve done what looks like some very good business. Some observations though:
1. It is fair to say Lawlor is not the strongest keeper in League Two.
2. The defence looks like it is Anderson aside, an entirely new unit including the keeper. We have obviously needed this but so much change will take time to bed in.
3. Very little creativity in midfield.
4. Very little pace in the side.
5. Probably enough with two central strikers, assuming he plays just one up or one in a front three. If Goodman goes on loan as expected that is a bit thin.
Still time to do some further business and we don’t know how McCann will set his side up of course.
I think the best XI players in the longer run will end up proving to be…Gaz, you seem a fairly knowledgeable fella when it comes to footie.
Jones
Maxwell
Olowu
Wood
Sterry
Biggins
Broadbent
Close
(not sure ATM)
Ironside
Roberts
Very difficult for me to see Wood and Anderson playing as a pair, I think it is one of them alongside Olowu.Agree with this, I think Wood will either partner Olowu or Faulkner if the latter impresses GM enough preseason. If Faulkner's not starting he needs to go to another L2 club on loan for his development.
We don't know if Tom is fully recovered from his injuries from last season, which is why I was surprised we gave the contract extension before GM was appointed.
I think the best XI players in the longer run will end up proving to be…
Jones
Maxwell
Olowu
Wood
Sterry
Biggins
Broadbent
Close
(not sure ATM)
Ironside
Roberts
Jones
Sterry Faulkner Wood Maxwell
Close Bailey Rowe
Molyneux Ironside Roberts
LJ is a way better keeper than Lawlor ever will be.
BF needs to stay in the team to learn from Wood. Anderson benched. The other center backs can all go for me.
Has anyone seen Senior play? Maxwell was largely decent and deserves to start.
Same with Broadbent, why pick him ahead of TR I don't know.
Close needs to deliver pretty sharpish or else will be chopped but will benefit from Bailey covering up his weaknesses and letting him concentrate on his strengths.
LM will be better with a overlapping full back behind him and Ironside ahead.
Hurst will come into the side if Roberts fails. 1st time loans are a risk and I expect big things from Hurst this year. Could also replace Rowe if he struggles.
Excited to see Sterry and Bailey and expect them two to make a big difference this year.
With Wood, Bailey and Ironside we look to have a spine of a team that will allow us to compete. The other ball players will then come into their own.
Jones
Sterry Faulkner Wood Maxwell
Close Bailey Rowe
Molyneux Ironside Roberts
LJ is a way better keeper than Lawlor ever will be.
BF needs to stay in the team to learn from Wood. Anderson benched. The other center backs can all go for me.
Has anyone seen Senior play? Maxwell was largely decent and deserves to start.
Same with Broadbent, why pick him ahead of TR I don't know.
Close needs to deliver pretty sharpish or else will be chopped but will benefit from Bailey covering up his weaknesses and letting him concentrate on his strengths.
LM will be better with a overlapping full back behind him and Ironside ahead.
Hurst will come into the side if Roberts fails. 1st time loans are a risk and I expect big things from Hurst this year. Could also replace Rowe if he struggles.
Excited to see Sterry and Bailey and expect them two to make a big difference this year.
With Wood, Bailey and Ironside we look to have a spine of a team that will allow us to compete. The other ball players will then come into their own.
As I said in the OP, it's all about opinions, but I have to admit, I find some of those selections a bit strange. Close and Molyneux were both bloody awful last season, and Jones and Faulkner are both young and still learning.
Regarding Senior, those that have seen him play reckon he's a very good left back. Maxwell looked promising last season, but wasn't always consistent.
We'll just have to wait and see. However, I reckon GM will be going for a lot of high pressing, energetic physicality this coming season.
Faulkner is probably ahead of along but behind Wood, Anderson and Olowu. If everyone is fit and we are playing 2 centre backs then it might at least initially be a struggle to make the bench.
Jones
Sterry Faulkner Wood Maxwell
Close Bailey Rowe
Molyneux Ironside Roberts
LJ is a way better keeper than Lawlor ever will be.
BF needs to stay in the team to learn from Wood. Anderson benched. The other center backs can all go for me.
Has anyone seen Senior play? Maxwell was largely decent and deserves to start.
Same with Broadbent, why pick him ahead of TR I don't know.
Close needs to deliver pretty sharpish or else will be chopped but will benefit from Bailey covering up his weaknesses and letting him concentrate on his strengths.
LM will be better with a overlapping full back behind him and Ironside ahead.
Hurst will come into the side if Roberts fails. 1st time loans are a risk and I expect big things from Hurst this year. Could also replace Rowe if he struggles.
Excited to see Sterry and Bailey and expect them two to make a big difference this year.
With Wood, Bailey and Ironside we look to have a spine of a team that will allow us to compete. The other ball players will then come into their own.
As I said in the OP, it's all about opinions, but I have to admit, I find some of those selections a bit strange. Close and Molyneux were both bloody awful last season, and Jones and Faulkner are both young and still learning.
Regarding Senior, those that have seen him play reckon he's a very good left back. Maxwell looked promising last season, but wasn't always consistent.
We'll just have to wait and see. However, I reckon GM will be going for a lot of high pressing, energetic physicality this coming season.
I thought some of your selections were strange too ;)
Why pick a keeper who spent last year sitting on the bench in the Scottish Championship (Championship not Premiership). He was hardly a fans favorite in his first spell here. Jones was MOTM in his last two games.
Wood has been brought in to do the job that Anderson was supposed to do but failed. Anderson's backs gone and he's fallen behind in the pecking order. Now its all about getting the right partner for Wood. I think Bobby has all the attributes to compliment him, plus we need to have one eye on the future and continue Faulkner's development.
You are right about Close and Moly being crap last season, even Tommy Rowe. But they were all proven players before they were plunged into the cesspit of the "process". I'm expecting them to rediscover their true form with a better framework and better players around them.
If Senior turns out to be better than Maxwell then great, I've not seen him play. Maxwell did ok and was badly missed when he got injured.
As you say its all about opinions.
I still have the feeling that we havn’t got a No1 keeper. We have two lads that ‘will do a job’ but neither are outstanding for either L2, or L1. Similarly, we havn’t got the big physical presence in centre mid., but Bailey, perhaps gives us more ‘bite’ in there. Maybe these are the signings that will come later in GM’s reign, who knows.
I still have the feeling that we havn’t got a No1 keeper. We have two lads that ‘will do a job’ but neither are outstanding for either L2, or L1. Similarly, we havn’t got the big physical presence in centre mid., but Bailey, perhaps gives us more ‘bite’ in there. Maybe these are the signings that will come later in GM’s reign, who knows.I cannot see Jones singing a new contract if he is going to be third chose keeper
I still have the feeling that we havn’t got a No1 keeper. We have two lads that ‘will do a job’ but neither are outstanding for either L2, or L1. Similarly, we havn’t got the big physical presence in centre mid., but Bailey, perhaps gives us more ‘bite’ in there. Maybe these are the signings that will come later in GM’s reign, who knows.
I still have the feeling that we havn’t got a No1 keeper. We have two lads that ‘will do a job’ but neither are outstanding for either L2, or L1. Similarly, we havn’t got the big physical presence in centre mid., but Bailey, perhaps gives us more ‘bite’ in there. Maybe these are the signings that will come later in GM’s reign, who knows.