(Potential) Starting XI’s

[Bottega Don]

Oldham


3-4-3

GK Jayson LEUTWILER

CB Harrison McGAHEY
CB Carl PIERGIANNI
CB Jordan CLARKE

WB Sam HART
CM Callum WHELAN
CM (Raphael Diarra)*
WB Nicky ADAMS

LW Davis KEILLOR-DUNN
ST Hallam HOPE
RW Dylan BAHAMBOULA


Only one proper centre mid is on the books at the moment. I expect a couple to come in soon.

If Bahamboula goes, slot Dearnley in up top and Hope shifts to the right.

On paper that looks a really good team to be fair, will be interesting to see how many games McGahey or Clarke play. Knowing our injury history they'll probably be fine for you all season.

 

[shoddycollins]

Oldham


3-4-3

GK Jayson LEUTWILER

CB Harrison McGAHEY
CB Carl PIERGIANNI
CB Jordan CLARKE

WB Sam HART
CM Callum WHELAN
CM (Raphael Diarra)*
WB Nicky ADAMS

LW Davis KEILLOR-DUNN
ST Hallam HOPE
RW Dylan BAHAMBOULA


Only one proper centre mid is on the books at the moment. I expect a couple to come in soon.

If Bahamboula goes, slot Dearnley in up top and Hope shifts to the right.

Classic Keith Curle that team... even if Hallam Hope wasn't in it

 

[hellogregory]

I think Zach Clough will start as our striker.
No idea why anyone thinks we’ll play a back 3, Beech always plays 4-3-3, always.

This is how I think we’ll lineup, based on what we’ve currently got.

Norman
Tanner Hayden Feeney Armer
Riley Guy Mellish
Toure Clough Dickenson
​

The question marks might be Feeney or whether he’ll opt for more experience in McDonald or Corey Whelan, although om the latter I’m still not 100% on where his best position actually is. Also if another winger comes in he’ll likely be brought in as a starter.

 

[shoddycollins]

I think Zach Clough will start as our striker.
No idea why anyone thinks we’ll play a back 3, Beech always plays 4-3-3, always.

This is how I think we’ll lineup, based on what we’ve currently got.

Norman
Tanner Hayden Feeney Armer
Riley Guy Mellish
Toure Clough Dickenson​

He's used Alessandra as a RW before, so possible he will do again in that formation.

I feel like McDonald might be ahead of Feeney in Beech's thinking based on experience but it's certainly a slot in the starting line-up that's open for a few players to challenge.

P.S. I've a feeling that Clough's struggle with expectations at Notts Forest was partly down to the transfer fee but also partly down to a number of their fans assuming he is related to Brian Clough. When I was looking up opinions on him I found this one expressed a fair bit on their forums.

 

[hellogregory]

He's used Alessandra as a RW before, so possible he will do again in that formation.

I feel like McDonald might be ahead of Feeney in Beech's thinking based on experience but it's certainly a slot in the starting line-up that's open for a few players to challenge.

Yeah I think whoever plays winger, the two will swap sides regularly during games as they did last season, particularly when gime plays

 

[Northenblues]

Oldham


3-4-3

GK Jayson LEUTWILER

CB Harrison McGAHEY
CB Carl PIERGIANNI
CB Jordan CLARKE

WB Sam HART
CM Callum WHELAN
CM (Raphael Diarra)*
WB Nicky ADAMS

LW Davis KEILLOR-DUNN
ST Hallam HOPE
RW Dylan BAHAMBOULA


Only one proper centre mid is on the books at the moment. I expect a couple to come in soon.

If Bahamboula goes, slot Dearnley in up top and Hope shifts to the right.

Hope’s best wide on the left, struggled when he played as a 9 for us.

 

[Simpo]

On paper that looks a really good team to be fair, will be interesting to see how many games McGahey or Clarke play. Knowing our injury history they'll probably be fine for you all season.

Right on cue, Clarke missing today against Wigan!

The team is looking like that one I posted though, including the DKD-Hope-Bahamboula front 3, could be tasty.

 

[Northenblues]

Our two lineups at Hebburn and Workington today:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1416382176866693120

https://twitter.com/x/status/1416382183044964352

 

[Northenblues]

Two wins on the same day for the mighty Carlisle, beat that!

3-0 vs Workington Clough, Mampala (trialist) and Charters

2-0 vs Hebburn Abrahams x2

Looks like we’ve picked up some injuries though.

 

[shoddycollins]

Hope’s best wide on the left, struggled when he played as a 9 for us.

Problem with hope is when played down the middle he looks like he'd be best wide left, but when played wide left he looks like he'd be best down the middle.

In reality he'd be best playing somewhere between the two in a team that play inside forwards. Something nobody has done since the 1930s.

 

[Northenblues]

Problem with hope is when played down the middle he looks like he'd be best wide left, but when played wide left he looks like he'd be best down the middle.

In reality he'd be best playing somewhere between the two in a team that play inside forwards. Something nobody has done since the 1930s.

Aye he's got very little pace but quite skilful and a very good finisher, but can't head a ball.

 

[Myblueheaven04]

Aye he's got very little pace but quite skilful and a very good finisher, but can't head a ball.

Well he definately headed a ball today, right in the back of the net marra

 

[shoddycollins]

Well he definately headed a ball today, right in the back of the net marra

Be wary how much you read into friendlies where Bob is concerned. Probably the best goal I've ever witnessed being scored in person (and I've been to quite a lot of Premier League matches in my time) was scored by Hallam Hope in a friendly.

Not something most players would attempt in a competitive game but also not exactly representative of anything he did on the pitch for us in competitive fixtures. Can't really remember him being one for shooting from range at all. He often did look a class above in these games when the pressure was off... he did manage to get himself sent off the same pre-season though and angered the Chester manager to the point that he wanted the EFL to apply his ban in the league season.

 

[Northenblues]

Well he definately headed a ball today, right in the back of the net marra

Did he? A collectors item! I’m more going off hold up play and winning flick ons.

 

[Myblueheaven04]

Did he? A collectors item! I’m more going off hold up play and winning flick ons.

Yeh he scored a cracker, but like has been said, its a friendly and we'll see after 10 games how he is doing.

 

[Indian Dan]

I realise it’s major league shit for us at the moment, but we’ve actually still got the rump of our title winning team of the year before last.

Hunt, Baudry, Conroy, Iandolo
Lyden, Payne(?),
Pitman(?)

What we haven’t got is Doyle and Yates.

 

[Agombar stool]

I realise it’s major league shit for us at the moment, but we’ve actually still got the rump of our title winning team of the year before last.

Hunt, Baudry, Conroy, Iandolo
Lyden, Payne(?),
Pitman(?)

What we haven’t got is Doyle and Yates.

I don't think Pitman is reliable. You may have to swap Parsons for him.

 

[shoddycollins]

What we haven’t got is Doyle and Yates.

and probably more importantly, Wellens... but hey, at least Sheridan has gone.

 

[Chief Rocka]

I think we have our starting eleven, we now have a squad of 16 (17 not counting Cullen) DC wants 22 players so another 5 to come in, one of which will be a keeper.

GK Ben Killip

CB Gary Liddle
CB Neill Byrne
CB Timi Odusina

RWB David Ferguson
LWB Jamie Sterry

MC Nicky Featherstone
MC Gavan Holohan
MC Mark Shelton

ST Olufela Olomola
ST XXXXXXXXXXX (Mark Cullen when he is officially announced)


Ogle, ZFA (still waiting confirmation but certain), Crawford, Smith, Molyneux, Grey

 

[The Terminator]

We're now virtually done I think we will bring in one more striker, winger and maybe a younger central midfielder. I'd imagine it will be something like this:

GK: Lawrence Vigouroux

RB: Tom James
CB: Adam Thompson
CB: Omar Beckles
LB: Conor Wood

CM: Hector Kyprianou
CDM: Darren Pratley
CM: Craig Clay

AMR: Paul Smyth
AML: Dan Kemp

ST: Harry Smith

Subs:
GK: Sam Sargeant
DF: Shadrach Ogie
DF: Dan Happe
MF: Mat Young
MF: Ouss Cisse
ST: Ruel Sotirou
ST: Aaron Drinan

Basically a 4-3-3 with Harry Smith the target man. Although Harry Smith hasn't featured yet due to isolation and Adam Thompson is still a month away from fitness - but the above is right now our strongest and likely starting XI come 7th August.

 

[F!RTHY]

Orient look sound defensively, but I’m not sure about their attacking threat.

 

[Bottega Don]

GK: Rory Watson

RB: Jai Rowe
CB: Manny Onaraise
CB: George Taft
LB: Mason O'Malley

RM: Devarn Green
CM: Alex Kenyon
CM: Alfie Beestin
LM: Harry Bunn

ST: Tyrone O'Neill
ST: Ryan Loft

Christ we need some more players

 

[Soup Ladle]

I think we have our starting eleven, we now have a squad of 16 (17 not counting Cullen) DC wants 22 players so another 5 to come in, one of which will be a keeper.

GK Ben Killip

CB Gary Liddle
CB Neill Byrne
CB Timi Odusina

RWB David Ferguson
LWB Jamie Sterry

MC Nicky Featherstone
MC Gavan Holohan
MC Mark Shelton

ST Olufela Olomola
ST XXXXXXXXXXX (Mark Cullen when he is officially announced)


Ogle, ZFA (still waiting confirmation but certain), Crawford, Smith, Molyneux, Grey

We've got 18 if you include Josh Mcdonald?

Certainly a lot of question marks over the side. Will the likes of Featherstone and Liddle have the same influence they did down there? You can really look at all of them and have doubts. The keeper will be busier, the forward line are gonna be strangers. We haven't had much of a pre season either.

 

[kieran_vale]

Does appear based on the fact all our pre-season games so far we’ve gone with three centre backs that the 4-2-3-1 I initially thought isn’t going to happen so based on that would update ours to:

GK: Lucas Covolan

RCB: Nathan Smith
CB: Aaron Martin
LCB: Dan Jones

RWB: David Worrall
LWB: Mal Benning

CM: Brad Walker
CM: Tom Pett

CAM: Tom Conlon

ST: Devante Rodney
ST: James Wilson

Subs:
GK: Aiden Stone
DF: Lewis Cass
DF: Ryan Johnson
CM: Jake Taylor
CM: Ben Garrity
FW: David Amoo
FW: Jamie Procter

Personally I don’t think this gets the best out of Worrall and will be interested in what we do once Gibbons is fit to play but it’s what we are trending to right now. Other question mark is at LCB but Jones initially gets the nod over Johnson due to his long throw. There are still a couple of additions to be made though

 

[Chief Rocka]

We've got 18 if you include Josh Mcdonald?

Certainly a lot of question marks over the side. Will the likes of Featherstone and Liddle have the same influence they did down there? You can really look at all of them and have doubts. The keeper will be busier, the forward line are gonna be strangers. We haven't had much of a pre season either.

Aye much like DC last season I'd forgot all about Josh.

Killip is the biggest worry for me, a shockingly bad first season, actually rotten, to be fair he had an improved second season but he's gonna be up against forwards that actually do their job and score for a living.

I'm glad we're back in the EFL even though it's been rushed through no fault of our own, hoping DC can mash a squad together, finish 3rd bottom, then build ourselves up again season after, going back down would be a fucking disaster.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

GK: Liam Roberts

RB: Aaron McGowan
CB: Fraser Horsfall
CB: Jon Guthrie
LB: Joseph Mills

CM: Shaun McWilliams
CM: Paul Lewis

RM: Sam Hoskins/Dylan Connolly
AM: Jordan Flores/Scott Pollock
LM: Mitch Pinnock

ST: Nicke Kabamba

It wasn't until I tried doing an XI that I realised how many options we potentially could have. Brady played with Ryan Watson just behind the striker last season, so could potentially do that with either Flores or Pollock (who is looking strong after spending all of last season injured)

Michael Harriman at RB, Jack Sowerby in CM with Danny Rose and Caleb Chukwuemeka up front if we decide against just one up top, could all be in the starting line-up.

 

[F!RTHY]

Judging by pre-season fixtures thus far, this looks like Derek’s preferred starting XI:

GK: Richard O’Donnell

RB: Oscar Threlkeld
CB: Paudie O’Connor
CB: Niall Canavan
LB: Liam Ridehalgh

CM: Yann Songo’o
CM: Elliot Watt

RW: Alex Gilliead
CAM: Callum Cooke
LW: Abo Eisa

CF: Andy Cook

Fill a bench with some of these:

Sam Hornby
Lee Angol
Charles Vernam
Oli Crankshaw
Gareth Evans
Fiacre Kelleher
Matty Foulds
Levi Sutton
Reece Staunton
Kian Scales
Finn Cousin-Dawson

 

[Fedora Dale]

Now we have signed a centre-back, we have the basis of a team.

In 4-3-3 formation:

Lynch
*
Keohane (or new RB)
O'Connell
Graham
Keohane (or new LB)
*
Morley
Rathbone
Grant
*
Newby
Beesley
Odoh

Subs: Wade (GK), McNulty, Dunne, Brierley, Dooley, Done, ANO

You will notice Jimmy Keohane appearing in both full-back positions. This is because we don't have any full backs on our books, while JK over the last couple of seasons has filled most outfield positions pretty competently (and scored 10 goals last season from a nominal full back position). A right back is most urgent, nobody else on our books apart from JK can play there at all, whereas Done, Dunne, McNulty and a young lad Mlialkowski from our youth team have all appeared on the left.

We'll hopefully sign at least two more defenders, an experienced midfielder and and maybe an extra forward before the season starts.

Otherwise we may struggle (although we ought to be a good bet for both teams score coupons)...

 

[valefan16]

Does appear based on the fact all our pre-season games so far we’ve gone with three centre backs that the 4-2-3-1 I initially thought isn’t going to happen so based on that would update ours to:

GK: Lucas Covolan

RCB: Nathan Smith
CB: Aaron Martin
LCB: Dan Jones

RWB: David Worrall
LWB: Mal Benning

CM: Brad Walker
CM: Tom Pett

CAM: Tom Conlon

ST: Devante Rodney
ST: James Wilson

Subs:
GK: Aiden Stone
DF: Lewis Cass
DF: Ryan Johnson
CM: Jake Taylor
CM: Ben Garrity
FW: David Amoo
FW: Jamie Procter

Personally I don’t think this gets the best out of Worrall and will be interested in what we do once Gibbons is fit to play but it’s what we are trending to right now. Other question mark is at LCB but Jones initially gets the nod over Johnson due to his long throw. There are still a couple of additions to be made though

Johnson looked stand out the other night so be interesting to see how we line up at Cobblers.

That central midfield looks tasty, Pett and Conlon should be absolutely class at this level as a pair.

Gibbons and Benning looks decent as full backs but does raise the question of how do we get the best of Worrall. That said he has the engine I guess to play full back and still deliver crosses.

 

[kieran_vale]

Johnson looked stand out the other night so be interesting to see how we line up at Cobblers.

That central midfield looks tasty, Pett and Conlon should be absolutely class at this level as a pair.

Gibbons and Benning looks decent as full backs but does raise the question of how do we get the best of Worrall. That said he has the engine I guess to play full back and still deliver crosses.

Yeah seen a number of people say he looked very good. I think what we will see is a lot of this is going to be very matchup based which is how DC likes to approach things. Seems the long throw is going to be a weapon we use regularly this season so I’m initially putting Jones in for that reason. The one to watch medium term will be Cass if he is as good as advertised, in his case he can play multiple positions which DC loves.

Its because of Worrall which is why I advocated the 4-2-3-1 as he can focus on being advanced up the pitch and then have Rodney do what he loves cutting in on the left but will see how it plays out.

Completely agree on the midfield. Just a shame for Taylor he picked up that quad injury and stopped him participating this pre-season. Very unfortunate for the lad but hopefully he gets it right as he’ll be needed at some point with injuries and suspensions.