3 hours ago, JoeH said:

Data so far suggests we're holding shape more effectively without the ball and pressing less in the final 20% of the pitch. Allowing us to intercept and break up play more. Will suit playing Swansea who'll want a lot of ball. Got to be effective on the counter and take our chances but this is definitely a winnable game. Would potentially consider the 3-4-3 to match them a bit, but can see the value in sticking with the formula for now.

Kaminski

Brittain
Ayala
Wharton
Pickering

Travis
Buckley

Brereton Díaz
Szmodics
Hedges

Vale

To start for me. Get Dack & Dolan on around 60 mins and potentially move Szmod to RW.

Good team .

I would bring on Gallagher to see out the game in last 20 minutes if we are leading..

Dack if we are losing .

1 hour ago, Bethnal said:

With respect, I reserve the term “donkey” for the likes of Ashley Ward or Chris Brown. Really quite extreme for a player like Gallagher who appears to favour being played as a wide forward (mush as I disagree) and whose numbers aren’t as atrocious as the aforementioned.

Yeah, Gallagher puts in a massive amount of work and is good in the air defensively.

 Ideally he would be a great sub to see the game out when we are winning. 

3 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Hardly glowing.

At least he works his socks off. And think he'd do fine in our fluid 4 attackers. 

3 hours ago, JPTSwindon said:

Without the usual preseason to gel, I’d resist making any changes and keep the same starting XI. Plenty of options off the bench (inc any incomings) if we need to change things as the game develops.

Excited for this one.

100 percent. Not good to change a winning side. 

1 hour ago, Colt Seavers said:

                           Kaminski

          Brittain Ayala Wharton Edun

                Buckley Travis Morton

             Szmodics Gallagher Brereton

 

My team, not JDT 's

                          

3 changes from a winning side. The two new guys on the bench, and Edun is not good at left back 

12 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

well that's your opinion but mine is very different opinion and I posted my viewpoint on his performance against QPR in the QPR match day thread

I thought Vale had some very sublime touches and passes. Reminds me a little of Mark Hughes. 

Why are we and Blackpool not ahead of Burnley in the table. Surely alphabetical order dictates that. 

3 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Erm I didn't? I said styles is an upgrade on Edun who can cover both the roles mentioned

Better than Pickering I meant. 

24 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Like I said I see Styles as centre midfielder and not a left back/wing back. He played centre midfield yesterday for Barnsley

Exactly. The focus should always been on the team and not one player whoever that player is

Though Styles played wing back when Barnsley finished 5th, and central midfield when they were relegated. 

2 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

It's not about knocking him.  He made no impact against what I believe to be one of the divisions poorer sides.  Probably needs another loan but he does have so.e decent attributes....bit early for him that yesterday against a quality central defender in Jake Clarke Salter.

Boro will murder them in my opinion. 

How anyone can criticise Vale, when he played some lovely one touch football. While Gallagher was very poor imo. Only kept on for his Defensive heading ability imo..

2 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Vale didn't have a good game but there is something there to work with I think.

Needs games, I probably wouldn't start him next week but wouldn't have an issue if we did.

I thought he was our best attacker. Some sublime touches and held the ball up well.

3 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Basically Edun, but better

Played 2 good friendly games. Very premature to say Edun is better. 

1 hour ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Perhaps JRC is better as a wing back? JRC I’d say offers a better attacking threat

Yes, he has a lot of talent, but hasn't shown it in his last injury hit couple of years. 

The guy has an eye for goal also. 

Wing backs seems to be the way we are going. 

3 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I genuinely wouldn't start Lenihan over Ayala or Wharton.

Ayala has achieved a great deal more in his career. Wharton and some of our other CBs have a fantastic future ahead of them. 

Lenihan and Nyambe have hit their ceiling. 

2 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

JDT in the paper this morning saying we need Ayala on the pitch, not inside. I'd imagine he's saying that more in hope than expectation. 

I'd be very scared going into the season with just Ayala, Wharton and Carter.

With Barnes and Phillips looking so good I wouldn't. Though hopefully we sign JPVH. 

10 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Hoping you're right with the last paragraph.

I have to give you full marks for Chaddy style optimism as regards the rest of the post. Brittain might give us a bit more going forward than Nyambe but I would suggest won't be as good defensively. How on earth  have we replaced Rothwell with "better" I.e. Buckley when they both played in the same team together for most of last season?

Also disagree we're better off without players if they haven't been replaced at all, no matter how ordinary they are. Not particularly worse off maybe, but certainly not better off either.

The one "addition" I would concede is Markanday - if JDT sees him as an automatic starter that is.

Adam Wharton will be better than Rothwell imo. Rothwell looked flashy but achieved very little.

1 hour ago, rigger said:

Phillips may even be fifth choice, if Sam Barnes is ahead of him.

Yeah, definitely 5th choice imo. 

I do think a left wing back like Styles is a much more important buy atm..

14 minutes ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

I can't say I've noticed markanday to be that quick

He definitely is. Extremely quick feet. 

20 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He is our biggest goal threat whereas a lot of our other attackers have yet to prove that they can score regularly, maybe Brereton aside. We have 5 subs so we can take him off without bother after an hour but that way its less a case of him catching up from the start.

Point being that when Dolan played as a 9 and when Gallagher was wide, neither of which either player was stuck to rigidly, Mowbray was criticised. I was just wondering if people were worried that what they perceived as wrong tactical decisions could be repeated.

I do wonder if the main attacking target should be a striker even now with Brereton often playing to the left. And then when he goes, bring in another left sider.

Vale, Gallagher and BBD will likely be our front 3. Be very surprised if that wasn't the case.

1 minute ago, Galz said:

Again I ain’t seen enough of him. Don’t think he touched the ball at Celtic.  You might be right guys. I stand to be corrected if this is the case

He has definitely got quick feet and pace. I see him as quite similar to Khadra. Maybe similarly flattering to deceive. Hope he will have more end product. 

2 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Imagine that…we can only dream! Brittain looked class today…can’t wait to see him next Sat

Yeah, even better the pair as wing backs. 

9 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

Dolan and Vale have pace ?

And Markandy

17 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Yeah but we have a budget I'd rather 1 decent addition like a styles instead of 2 mediocre/poor signings.

It's not an insult ,it's a fact the management see them daily and may feel 1 or 2 of them can play a part and don't need to bring in the numbers you or I feel we need as they have more insight and expertise than we do.

We wouldn't be the only club in the country not buying a senior player for a certain position as the club feels a player is ready to step up and play senior football.

 

 

 

 

 

100 percent! Right back and central midfield were the two most important areas to improve, considering our young CBs have stepped up well. And we have some potential young left backs also. 

29 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Sharpe has a lot more confidence in Wharton / Garrett et al than I do. 

That said, if Buckley and Travis are the confirmed starters at CM you can probably only afford 1 more quality guy in there to rotate (which should be the aim) based on our wage structure / transfer budget. 

Adam Wharton is going to be an incredible footballer. Hopefully he'll play a good many games this year.