Starting XI v Blackburn

[Bob Fossil]

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.

As it stands Bany, Dike and Maja are unavailable and therefore are massive losses. This is about Saturday.

[Josh1873]

Sorry Bob, I was talking about the season, not a one off game.

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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.

I was referring to the season as a whole, not a one off game, apologies. Dike is not out for the season, and we know what a player he can be. Can he play a big part this season? History suggests not, but you have to be hopeful. 

Bartley is absolutely fine as a back up centre half, he's not a starter, but he's as good as we could hope for as back up. Ditto Wallace, you wouldn't want to rely on him regularly as a starter, but as a squad option, he's fine. 

Maybe Fabrotta could come good, I'm not so sure. He's pretty much been frozen out under two managers, so something isn't right there. Maybe it has taken him a year to settle into the country and home life and we'll see more of him this season. I'll admit that's clutching at straws. 

The squad right now, has two players for every position as far as I can tell. I think that's as good as you can ask for given our circumstances with PSR, and where we are as a play-off contending Championship club. We're not Man City FFS, so don't expect 2 top end Championship players in every position.

I'm not saying we don't need to improve, but as it stands that squad has enough quality and depth to challenge for the play-offs. 

Of course when the games come thick and fast when Christmas roles around, we'll be stretched to the limit, but we won't be alone in that - every Championship club, bar a few recent Prem exceptions, will be in the exact same boat.

[AnelkasBeard]

Still half expecting to see Bartley, but...

Griffiths
Furlong Phillips Heggem Styles
Fellows Molumby Mowatt Grant
Price
Heggebø

Think this is what I'd go with as well.

---

Sorry Bob, I was talking about the season, not a one off game.

---

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.

I was referring to the season as a whole, not a one off game, apologies. Dike is not out for the season, and we know what a player he can be. Can he play a big part this season? History suggests not, but you have to be hopeful. 

Bartley is absolutely fine as a back up centre half, he's not a starter, but he's as good as we could hope for as back up. Ditto Wallace, you wouldn't want to rely on him regularly as a starter, but as a squad option, he's fine. 

Maybe Fabrotta could come good, I'm not so sure. He's pretty much been frozen out under two managers, so something isn't right there. Maybe it has taken him a year to settle into the country and home life and we'll see more of him this season. I'll admit that's clutching at straws. 

The squad right now, has two players for every position as far as I can tell. I think that's as good as you can ask for given our circumstances with PSR, and where we are as a play-off contending Championship club. We're not Man City FFS, so don't expect 2 top end Championship players in every position.

I'm not saying we don't need to improve, but as it stands that squad has enough quality and depth to challenge for the play-offs. 

Of course when the games come thick and fast when Christmas roles around, we'll be stretched to the limit, but we won't be alone in that - every Championship club, bar a few recent Prem exceptions, will be in the exact same boat.

I'd largely agree with this. We will be in the mix for the playoffs, but without the strong expectation we've had in recent years to actually make them.