Current squad starting 11

Verdad

Verdad

Well-known member
C’mon then - with the current squad what would people’s starting 11 be ? - and where do we need significant investment ?

5DA9E7DF-8CBB-4D03-A881-1B21B70C94ED.jpeg
GK: Maxwell

LWB: Callum Macdonald

LCB: James husband (played well in LCB)
CB: Needs strengthening
RCB: As above

RWB: Liam Feeney ( not seen enough of Howe ?)

CM: Virtue
CM: Majorly needs strengthening

CAM: KaiKai

FW: Madine
FW: Hardie ( looking forward to see him get a proper opportunity in a new style of play )

Subs to keep around:
nuttall (may divide opinion but I don’t think he is a total lost cause at the moment - type of player that could thrive under critch)
Fonz
Edwards
Howe (most potential - again could step up under critch)
sims?

Not arsed if they leave:
Turton
Ward
Nottingham

Haven’t seen enough off to provide an opinion:
Bange
Devitt
Garrity
Yusuff
Weston
Shaw

Though I would be surprised if any were good enough to step up to the starting 11 this season for the promotion push.

- In my opinion we need to Strengthen all over the pitch / not enough depth upfront - severely lacking in midfield as not a massive fan of virtue, though he is good enough for a squad player and we need centre backs.
 
GK: Maxwell

RB: Turton CB: Husband CB: Edwards LB: MacDonald

CM: Virtue CM: X

RM: Feeney LM: Kaikai

ST: Madine ST: Hardie

SUBS:
Nuttall, Delefounso, Howe, Sims, Weston

That was actually quite difficult, so shows the challenge the recruitment team/Critchley have in store this transfer window. I felt like I was just filling the positions with what we have rather than that is actually who I ideally want in that position.

We are in desperate need of a defensive/holding midfielder now Spearing has gone. Rather than picking out every position I think it'd be less time consuming to just say each area needs strengthening (if we are looking to get promoted). Not in the sense we need an entirely new starting XI, but we're desperate for some real quality additions to the back four, midfield and even a striker.. The only striker I'd have any faith to be prolific next season is Hardie, and even that'd be a bit of a gamble.

Looking at that squad in the Oyston era, I'd be sweating. But I believe Sadler is going to back Critchley quite heavily this window. Should be an interesting summer!
 
Totally agree mate - half of mine seemed to be position filling, 5 signings or so to me plus a couple quality loans in..

the whole board is a different place now with optimism as you say - imagine this in the oystain era!
 
Can Grant Ward become a player again?
Looked poor last season but was out a long time injured before joining us. I’ll take some convincing but you never know?
Fonz for me is a lost cause.
Nuttall probably the same.
 
Gk: Maxwell
RB: Turton/Howe
LB: Husband
LCB: Thorniley
RCB: Edwards
RW: Feeney
LW: Sullay
LCM:Virtue
RCM: Ward/Garrity
CF: Madine
CF: Hardie

I did 442 as that's my default setting for my brain. It's not a promotion winning side for sure! The real weakest point is centre mid + Sullay isn't really a 'winger' but neither is Macdonald.

However you set them out, there's a real lack of central midfielders.
 
Maxwell
Turton Thornley Edwards Husband
Feeney Virtue Mcdonald
Fonz Madine Kaikai

That's from what is available today and no way we are pushing for promotion despite how good a coach we have with that team.
 
TangerinePeel said:
GK: Maxwell

RB: Turton CB: Husband CB: Edwards LB: MacDonald

CM: Virtue CM: X

RM: Feeney LM: Kaikai

ST: Madine ST: Hardie

SUBS:
Nuttall, Delefounso, Howe, Sims, Weston

That was actually quite difficult, so shows the challenge the recruitment team/Critchley have in store this transfer window. I felt like I was just filling the positions with what we have rather than that is actually who I ideally want in that position.

We are in desperate need of a defensive/holding midfielder now Spearing has gone. Rather than picking out every position I think it'd be less time consuming to just say each area needs strengthening (if we are looking to get promoted). Not in the sense we need an entirely new starting XI, but we're desperate for some real quality additions to the back four, midfield and even a striker.. The only striker I'd have any faith to be prolific next season is Hardie, and even that'd be a bit of a gamble.

Looking at that squad in the Oyston era, I'd be sweating. But I believe Sadler is going to back Critchley quite heavily this window. Should be an interesting summer!
Click to expand...
Might be tough going with that ten.
 
If Husband has to play centre back then surely, as a left footer, he must play on the left and Edwards on the right. Just makes sense to me! Same goes for Thorniley who I thought was left sided.
 
The transfer window isn t open yet I would expect another eight new faces joining the club it is pointless speculating upon team selection at this time.
 
AndrewDuncanSmith said:
The transfer window isn t open yet I would expect another eight new faces joining the club it is pointless speculating upon team selection at this time.
Click to expand...
It's just a bit of fun with the players currently on the books. I think we all know the manager has a big rebuilding job ahead. If the new season started with any of the teams suggested I would seriously fear for our Division One survival!
 
I thought Turton was comfortably one of our worst performers last season. Although I haven't seen much of him, out of the current options Howe would get the nod from me.
 
Leccy said:
I thought Turton was comfortably one of our worst performers last season. Although I haven't seen much of him, out of the current options Howe would get the nod from me.
Click to expand...

Has howe actually got on the pitch at any point for us?
 
td53 said:
Has howe actually got on the pitch at any point for us?
Click to expand...
No.

Makes me laugh all these posts putting players in the team who have hardly played/never for us or those who have been shite.
Hardie case in point does well in Div 4 playing up top with another striker and is useless in a 3 so lets pick him not a chance Critch will play 4-4-2.
 
poolseasider said:
No.

Makes me laugh all these posts putting players in the team who have hardly played/never for us or those who have been shite.
Hardie case in point does well in Div 4 playing up top with another striker and is useless in a 3 so lets pick him not a chance Critch will play 4-4-2.
Click to expand...

I don't think the game is to guess what critch will do though. It's just saying 'what would you do with these players'

I just think in 4-4-2 as a default cos that's all anyone played for years. However you lay them out, no one is saying 'that's the team' - it is interesting game though, cos I think you could put a mid table defense out but the midfield looks awful and no squad depth there at all.
 
td53 said:
I don't think the game is to guess what critch will do though. It's just saying 'what would you do with these players'

I just think in 4-4-2 as a default cos that's all anyone played for years. However you lay them out, no one is saying 'that's the team' - it is interesting game though, cos I think you could put a mid table defense out but the midfield looks awful and no squad depth there at all.
Click to expand...
We are basically the same crap team that the Oystons had as proven last season with our poor summer transfer window and near enough the same team starting every week.
I picked what's available but apart from Maxwell,Husband,Mcdonald,Virtue,Feeney and glimpses of Kaikai this is a mid table team Critch is going to have to work his magic. 👍
 
poolseasider said:
We are basically the same crap team that the Oystons had as proven last season with our poor summer transfer window and near enough the same team starting every week.
I picked what's available but apart from Maxwell,Husband,Mcdonald,Virtue,Feeney and glimpses of Kaikai this is a mid table team Critch is going to have to work his magic. 👍
Click to expand...

I agree. I think Madine could be useful if he's bothered. He's not crap. He was either injured or not interested. If it's the later, he can go. If he can get fit he could be a good player. I don't really see how he fits into the way critch would play. I could see Gnando more than him tbh.

There could be a player in Howe or Thorniley and maybe Hardie. I don't want to 100% write of Ward either. None of them would I want to be relying on as first choice though. The rest are just squad filler or we're stuck with them.

And then there's Fonz. Who has been 'maybe going to come good' since he was at Villa.
 
Thorniley is an interesting one, the SW forum was in meltdown when he left and they shouldn't have let him go he's that good but we will see same as Howe and Madine.
Our squad from all the games I've seen is an OK team but get 3 to 4 decent in and we could push for promotion no team needs 11 stars.
 
poolseasider said:
Thorniley is an interesting one, the SW forum was in meltdown when he left and they shouldn't have let him go he's that good but we will see same as Howe and Madine.
Our squad from all the games I've seen is an OK team but get 3 to 4 decent in and we could push for promotion no team needs 11 stars.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd agree. A few decent players and some consistent coaching and a desire to take games by the scruff of the neck. I'm fine with some of the squad as cover, but we're short of nailed on first team players.
 
More holes in that squad than a Swiss cheese!

Maxwell, Husband, McDonald, Kaikai, Feeney, Virtue and Hardie (with a cameo from Fonz) is about it for me at the moment and even that 7 has massive flaws.
 
bfc1993 said:
Based on what? The few games he managed for us at the end of the season or the fact that Klopp plays 433?
Click to expand...
Or how many teams play 4-4-2 now not that many even in league 1 just a guess could be wrong but just don't see him playing that system you can get over run in midfield.
 
Maxwell

Howe Notthingham Thorniley Husband

Virtue
Ward Kaikai

Hardie Madine MacDonald


some players in there who we've barely seen anything of, but that's because i've left out some players who we've definitely seen enough of to know they probably aren't going to get us out of this division. need a few players to come straight into the starting xi, i think
 
I can see us signing one for each position at least except maybe left back...

Desperate for at least two creative midfielders, and would like to see us with some out and out gas on the wings... I expect Kaikai to show up with a better brand of football this season
 
Big investment needed. We need a second choice keeper, at least one striker, a couple midfielders, and some defenders.
 
bfc1993 said:
Maxwell

Howe Notthingham Thorniley Husband

Virtue
Ward Kaikai

Hardie Madine MacDonald


some players in there who we've barely seen anything of, but that's because i've left out some players who we've definitely seen enough of to know they probably aren't going to get us out of this division. need a few players to come straight into the starting xi, i think
Click to expand...
I would almost agree with that, but I would swap Kaikai’s position with Mcdonald.
 
What a waste of a thread, it won’t be anything like this when the season starts it will be unrecognisable as we will have a load of new players, We have taken the option on Nottingham to command a fee from Crewe, the rest were contracted pre Critchley so maybe 4 or 5 from that lot at most the rest all new signing. So all the doom and gloom is just hot air.
 
Last edited:
It’s obvious that most of, if not all Oyston/interim board era players are going to be history very soon.
But it will be interesting to see if some of the Grayson era signings, Howe, Thornily, Nuttall and MacDonald will also be shown the door in a total revamp.
 
I think Howe and Thorniley will play a major part next season. I'd love us to get Taylor Moore back in some form. Those as a back 3/5 would be good.
 
hertfordseasider said:
What a waste of a thread, it won’t be anything like this when the season starts it will be unrecognisabl as we will have a load of new players, We have taken the option on ottingham to coma d a fee from Crewe, the rest were contracted pre Critchley so maybe 4 or 5 from that lot at most the rest all new signing. So all the doom and gloom is just hot air.
Click to expand...
Why is it a waste of a thread the o/p asks you pick an 11 from what is available today from the squad not who we sign it at least is more interesting than the political bores arguing with themselves.

And repeat here is my 11. 😂
4-3-3
Maxwell
Turton Thornley Edwards Husband
Feeney Virtue Mcdonald
Fonz Madine Kaikai
 
poolseasider said:
Why is it a waste of a thread the o/p asks you pick an 11 from what is available today from the squad not who we sign it at least is more interesting than the political bores arguing with themselves.

And repeat here is my 11. 😂
4-3-3
Maxwell
Turton Thornley Edwards Husband
Feeney Virtue Mcdonald
Fonz Madine Kaikai
Click to expand...
Haven't got a problem with that, it's those who are getting all hot under the collar saying we will be a mid table team, wouldn't go and watch that type nonsense, like that is all we are going to have.
 
Maxwell
Thorniley Edwards
Howe Husband
Virtue
Feeney McDonald
Kaikai
Hardie Nuttall

Subs:
Sims
Madine
Fonz ( or if insider reckons Weston is ready for it, then him instead of Fonz )
Turton
Garrity ( albeit an unknown quantity )

Howe and Husband to push up a little,Virtue sitting in front of back four driving forward, Kaikai given a free role to roam, but sitting behind the front two delivering defence splitting passes to two quick strikers rather than relying on a big man upfront to supply the knockdowns.
 
Agreed it is too early to make a judgement. The next couple of months will be very different to previous years with many players in the lower leagues released, budgets tight and some clubs struggling to survive. We are lumbered with some on contracts that need moving on, and Nuttall would be top of my list.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top