Starting XI

[TheDoncasterRover]

Who do we think will be the starting XI at the start of the season? There’s a lot of competition for places.

I think the below looks good, what does everyone else think?

TLT

Maxwell
McGrath
Pearson
Sterry

Bailey
Broadbent
Clifton

Middleton
Hanlan
Mols

[dknward2]

Think it's going to be very difficult for any of us to pick a starting 11.

The team above looks good but then you think about the players left out.

At the minute only three players are probably guaranteed a start for me that's, TLT, Bailey and Mols.

[Smyth]

Surely won't be McGrath,  Grant says he's a bit behind the rest due to recovering from injury.

[Ian Nimmo]

When you start considering the starting 11, on the face of it we have a good squad.
Would expect jay wont start first game, but still 2/3 weeks away so lots of things could happen before then.
Just wonder if all the centre backs perform well, at Grant will consider playing a three at the back given how good sterry and maxwell are when they get more involved in midfield and going forward.

[karldew]

TLT

Maxwell
Grehan
O’Riordan
Sterry

Bailey
Broadbent
Gotts

Ajayi
Hanlan
Mols

[Alan Southstand]

Surely won't be McGrath,  Grant says he's a bit behind the rest due to recovering from injury.

However, if you listen to McGrath’s interview,  he’s ahead of schedule and hopes to get minutes in pre-season. (Only 2 games left for that to happen.)

[NickDRFC]

Who do we think will be the starting XI at the start of the season? There’s a lot of competition for places.

I think the below looks good, what does everyone else think?

TLT

Maxwell
McGrath
Pearson
Sterry

Bailey
Broadbent
Clifton

Middleton
Hanlan
Mols

That midfield struggled for large parts of last season and looks the weakest area for me, I’m sure that Gotts will come in though. I’d agree with the rest of the team other than possibly the centre halves, could be any permutation really.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Difficult at this stage to fathom which areas our attacking new boys will fit in.

I thought Middleton was a left sided attacker and would challenge Gibson for his spot? Not sure now as he mainly appeared to be right side v Gatedhead? I really think he'll add alot of value to our set pieces and could be a better finisher.

Ajayi mainly right side, but can he play the no 10 role? Again looks a decent finisher but competition from Clifton and Sbarra. Clifton was very effective in that more advanced midfield role, leading the press and contributing some vital goals.

Gotts. Not sure what his strengths are but is he a more workmanlike player similar to Clifton or Bailey?

Hanlan, likely to be our starting no 9?

Looks like we've got some exciting options so I guess, similar to last season, it might take sometime before we find the right blends.

[Chris Black come back]

Pretty clear he is going to pick the follow XI for Exeter. Assume if Grehan isn’t absolutely nailing it then McGrath comes back in when he is back fit.

TLT

Maxwell
Grehan
Pearson
Sterry

Bailey
Broadbent
Gotts

Gibson
Hanlan
Molyneux

[philsky]

Think it's going to be very difficult for any of us to pick a starting 11.

The team above looks good but then you think about the players left out.

At the minute only three players are probably guaranteed a start for me that's, TLT, Bailey and Mols.

Isn't Sterry more or less guaranteed a spot

[RoversInSpain]

Think it's going to be very difficult for any of us to pick a starting 11.

The team above looks good but then you think about the players left out.

At the minute only three players are probably guaranteed a start for me that's, TLT, Bailey and Mols.

Isn't Sterry more or less guaranteed a spot

Definitely

[Usher wide.]

Pretty clear he is going to pick the follow XI for Exeter. Assume if Grehan isn’t absolutely nailing it then McGrath comes back in when he is back fit.

TLT

Maxwell
Grehan
Pearson
Sterry

Bailey
Broadbent
Gotts

Gibson
Hanlan
Molyneux

That looks a likely line up for me too CB.

5 ‘newbies’ in with a strong 6 from last season.

Gibbo is having a good close season to date, so I feel Middleton may have to wait for a place in the starting line up, but what a strong bench we’ll have to ‘mix things up’ if & when necessary.

[Barmby Rover]

Do you have Hanlan or Ajayi up front? Or both? The young lad seems to be ready for a start.

[drfchound]

I have only seen a few clips of Ajayi playing but I have a feeling that he will be sensational in L1.

[graingrover]

                          TLT
Sterry   O’Riordan    Declan.    Maxwell
                     Broadbent
         Bailey                      Ayjai
Molyneux       Hanlan      Gibson
Subs L , MP, HC, GM , BS , JS

[RobTheRover]

                          TLT
Sterry   O’Riordan    Declan.    Maxwell
                     Broadbent
         Bailey                      Ayjai
Molyneux       Hanlan      Gibson
Subs L , MP, HC, GM , BS , JS

Declan, Brian? Do you mean Grehan?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I'm going to stick my neck out and go with the following, as I think it'll be touch and go for McGrath.

TLT

Sterry
O'Riordon
Bailey
Maxwell

Broadbent
Gotts
Clifton

Molyneux
Hanlan
Middleton

Our strong North East right flank, to be balanced by our Flying Scotsmen left flank.

[dknward2]

Anyone else noticed on the Gateshead video how tall O'Riordan is could be a threat from corners

[graingrover]

Thanks Rob .. Grehan yes !

[Ryaldinhio]

Read something from Spurs earlier about Ajayi and how they expect big things from him.

There was a quote that said, not verbatim, the loan was selected as he is expected to start all or most games.

I think it may be him and Middleton as front runners at the minute given Molys lack of pre season minutes and Gibsons Gibson-isms.

That said - look at last preseason, Hurst ripped it up, then didn't seem to get the chance to carry it on, starting 1 league game from memory then dropped?

I'm a bit worried over Moly and Sterrys minutes (more so sterry) so hopefully they will get out next couple friendlies.

[Forkbeard]

                 TLT
Sterry     Pearson   Grehan   Maxwell
 
          Bailey    Broadbent

Molyneux      Ajayi       Gibson

                  Hamlin

[GazLaz]

                 TLT
Sterry     Pearson   Grehan   Maxwell
 
          Bailey    Broadbent

Molyneux      Ajayi       Gibson

                  Hamlin

*Hanlan

That’s something like the team I would start.

[5minstogo]

Am I right in thinking that Ajayi has shone when playing on the right? I know Grant says he can play across the front but is he as impactive? I think the 10 will likely be one of Clifton, Gotts or Sbarra. Moly and Damola sharing the right and Gibson and Middleton battling out for the left.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Am I right in thinking that Ajayi has shone when playing on the right? I know Grant says he can play across the front but is he as impactive? I think the 10 will likely be one of Clifton, Gotts or Sbarra. Moly and Damola sharing the right and Gibson and Middleton battling out for the left.

Yes, I'm thinking the same, Ajayi seems predominantly right sided and also wondered whether the no 10 role would suit him. He's not an out and out striker but difficult to assess his full range this early. I remember being quite excited about Yeboah this time last pre season.

On Middleton, he looks like he can cross and finish equally well with left or right foot as well as set piece delivery, which I think will give him the nod over Gibson. Either that, or yet another contender for No 10

[5minstogo]

I just think we'll see a less technical player as the 10. Hounding players down and pressing, arriving late into the box. If we have 4 good wingers as well the opposition doesn't get any rest.

[GazLaz]

Am I right in thinking that Ajayi has shone when playing on the right? I know Grant says he can play across the front but is he as impactive? I think the 10 will likely be one of Clifton, Gotts or Sbarra. Moly and Damola sharing the right and Gibson and Middleton battling out for the left.

Yes, I'm thinking the same, Ajayi seems predominantly right sided and also wondered whether the no 10 role would suit him. He's not an out and out striker but difficult to assess his full range this early. I remember being quite excited about Yeboah this time last pre season.

On Middleton, he looks like he can cross and finish equally well with left or right foot as well as set piece delivery, which I think will give him the nod over Gibson. Either that, or yet another contender for No 10

Grant prefers a grafter in that advanced midfield role doesn’t he, realistically Clifton likely to play there but I would say, a lot of the young Prem attacking players are very good at pressing. Maybe Ajayi could offer that pressing intensity and add more quality in that area. He is really a right winger though.

[Cramby10]

Am I right in thinking that Ajayi has shone when playing on the right? I know Grant says he can play across the front but is he as impactive? I think the 10 will likely be one of Clifton, Gotts or Sbarra. Moly and Damola sharing the right and Gibson and Middleton battling out for the left.

if we’re reduced to starting Clifton or Sbarra in League 1 then we’re in bother from the off. Nowhere near good enough.

[Ian Nimmo]

                 TLT
Sterry     Pearson   Grehan   Maxwell
 
          Bailey    Broadbent

Molyneux      Ajayi       Gibson

                  Hamlin

This is 11 is not strong enough in the middle, either Ajayi or Gibson will not be in there.
Still a couple of weeks away, so still too early to predict who will have come through preseason well, but would think Gotts, Middleton, Clifton would be the options with Gotts being favoured.




*Hanlan

That’s something like the team I would start.

[selby]

  Five new players in that team that have only been watched playing against non league sides who play two, three, and four levels below the level we are at this season.
  The next two games starting with todays match should give a better idea of where we are at, and if the new lads are all that.
  When you look at Peterborough's result at Peterborough Sport compared with ours it's not good optics to get carried away with.
We have lost Street, Anderson, Olowu, and a keeper who were four of our stand out players over last season plus Crew who finished the season well, only time will tell if we are as strong as we were at the end of last season which is the standard we will have to match to be even safe at this higher standard.
  Only in the last period of last season did some of the players we signed last season such as Sbarra and Gibson start to become the players we hoped they were when we signed them,  the same with the keeper who improved dramatically and Crew who took time to settle in.

[roversdaft]

Surely we cant be considering Gibson for a start?