Starting XI v Blackburn

[SW4Baggie]

Not what I’d pick, but I want to be right:

Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Price, Grant; Heggebo (4-2-3-1)

I’m inspired.

Were you inspired by post #5? 

Inspired enough to copy and paste it

[Ted Maul]

Not what I’d pick, but I want to be right:

Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Price, Grant; Heggebo (4-2-3-1)

I’m inspired.

Were you inspired by post #5? 

Inspired enough to copy and paste it

I know my stuff, what can I say. Although I think I should have swapped Johnston for Grant in that lineup.

[SW4Baggie]

Not what I’d pick, but I want to be right:

Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Price, Grant; Heggebo (4-2-3-1)

I’m inspired.

Were you inspired by post #5? 

Inspired enough to copy and paste it

I know my stuff, what can I say. Although I think I should have swapped Johnston for Grant in that lineup.

Probably right - but I think we'll be quite cautious

[ElbowGrease1973 II]

I think SW4, Ted Maul and others have called it right. Price should start in the 10 role on the back of his substitute appearance on Saturday. Grant is a wide player, and doesn't have the attributes to play 10, so needs to stay on the wing.

It's very early days, but I think the new signings all improve us. Phillips reminds me of GMac, Campbell will push Furlong, and Heggebo has a bit of everything, and I think will be a handful.

However it's not enough for us to be pushing for the play-offs. The starting 11's everyone has picked are predominantly players that weren't good enough to get us in the top 6 last season.

I know we have to reserve judgement until the window closes, but as it stands, I'm struggling to see how play-offs are achievable this season.

[Shabby Russian]

I have absolutely no idea where we are with Maja.

But if he is fit, surely he plays?

[Wednesburybaggie]

I think SW4, Ted Maul and others have called it right. Price should start in the 10 role on the back of his substitute appearance on Saturday. Grant is a wide player, and doesn't have the attributes to play 10, so needs to stay on the wing.

It's very early days, but I think the new signings all improve us. Phillips reminds me of GMac, Campbell will push Furlong, and Heggebo has a bit of everything, and I think will be a handful.

However it's not enough for us to be pushing for the play-offs. The starting 11's everyone has picked are predominantly players that weren't good enough to get us in the top 6 last season.

I know we have to reserve judgement until the window closes, but as it stands, I'm struggling to see how play-offs are achievable this season.

Maybe with Mason changing how we play will suit our players more? Maja could be a revelation in the 10 roll. Would allow Price to play a deeper box to box roll, with Mulumby or Diakite as the anchor. Saturday will tell us a lot.

[SW4Baggie]

I think SW4, Ted Maul and others have called it right. Price should start in the 10 role on the back of his substitute appearance on Saturday. Grant is a wide player, and doesn't have the attributes to play 10, so needs to stay on the wing.

It's very early days, but I think the new signings all improve us. Phillips reminds me of GMac, Campbell will push Furlong, and Heggebo has a bit of everything, and I think will be a handful.

However it's not enough for us to be pushing for the play-offs. The starting 11's everyone has picked are predominantly players that weren't good enough to get us in the top 6 last season.

I know we have to reserve judgement until the window closes, but as it stands, I'm struggling to see how play-offs are achievable this season.

In fairness though, we did have Mowbray in charge during the run in, a half competent coach would have made the top 6… we just have to hope Mason has more about him than Mowbray.

We have to get a dynamic, ball carrying, creative central midfielder who can contribute 5-10 goals and we need a pacy inside forward who can also play as a 9. It’s why I’d have given Brewster a go, but he’s done to Derby.

If we can get those two over the line, and hold onto what we have, the top 6 is a real possibility.

[Cheshire East Baggie]

Some interesting ideas on this fred. I can't see Furlong being dropped, or Campbell breaking into the starting XI, nor will we see a sudden change to a back three. No sense in dropping Grant, he seems to have carried on where he left off in terms of work-rate at least, gives Styles plenty of support. And there's no chance of Maja being involved. What's wrong with the guy this time?

I reckon it will be:

Griffiths
Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles
Fellows, Mowatt, Molumby, Grant
Price
Heggebo

Campbell, Johnston, Diakite will likely break into the side at some point, plus Maja and Dike if they are ever fit, but we'll carry on as we've gone in pre-season at Blackburn IMO.

[Josh1873]

Grant was arguably player of the season last year, I'd go off that rather than meaningless friendlies.

I'd be happy with either, they're both great options. But if it's a choice, Grant starts untill if/when MJ earns a starting place.

For all the negativity and doom & gloom, I do feel like we have reasonable depth. I'm aware that may not last #FireSale.

Campbell and Taylor mean the back 4 are covered. After that, there's not much Josh, with likely only Diakite + kids to cover Midfield and Wallace and Johnston covering wide areas and CF!!

Dike, Maja and Bany are massive losses and pretty much eradicates our forward depth. If Heggebo gets a knock Jed will likely be our striker   Is Cleary still around?

Dike, Maja, Bany are still Albion players as far as I'm aware. I am sure that could change, but until it does 

GK's
Griffiths 
Wildsmith

CB's 
Bartley
Nat Phillips 
Taylor 
George Campbell
Heggem 

LB
Heggem
Styles
Fabrotta - if he's still with us! 

RB
Furlong
Could one of either Taylor, Phillips, Campbell or Fellows fill in as RB if needed? 

CDM/CM/CAM's 
Mowatt 
Price
Diakite 
Bany
Molumby
Styles (he played CM for Barnsley, didn't he?)


Wingers
Fellows 
MJ
Grant 
Wallace
Styles (possibly?)

Strikers
Dike
Maja
Heggebo
Grant
Wallace (not ideal!)

As it stands that's a decent amount of depth. As it stands being the key - I'm sure that can and probably will change.

[CA Baggie]

22 players Josh. 20 outfield players, which includes:

Bartley - ffs
Frabotta - not been fancied by 3 managers now
Bany - out until Mid/late September
Dike - out for the season
Maja - who knows
Wallace - I hope RM has a magic potion to bring him back to life.

That's down to 14 with Heggem and Diakite in the frame for moves. That's 12 plus the kids and whoever comes in.

Some strength in depth that is.