Starting line-ups

[Wooderson]

With a few squads (not ours!) beginning to take shape now, what is your starting XI shaping up like? What holes need to be filled? We currently only have about 17 players, and I expect some to leave before the start too. We HAVE to sign some players, especially defenders (we currently only have one CB and two RBs), but with our alleged takeover dragging on I don’t see how we can, other than loans.

Anyway, if it kicked off tomorrow, I guess we would go:

GK: Ross Fitzsimons

RB: Matt Tootle
CB: Pierce Bird
CB: No-one
LB: Andy Kellett (midfielder but can play LB)

RM: Sam Osbourne (youngster)
CM: Michael Doyle
CM: Mitch Rose
LM: Enzio Boldewijn

CF: Kane Hemmings
CF: Kristian Dennis

Subs with first team experience:

Tom Crawford (CM)
Will Patching (CM)
Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain (RB)
Then two or three kids

So we need a GK, couple of CBs, at least one LB, a winger or two, couple of strikers. And that’s if we don’t lose anyone (wouldn’t be surprised if Hemmings, Boldewijn and Dennis aren’t here come Aug 3).

 

[jacobncfc]

Unpopular opinion, but if they all happened to stay (they won’t) and obviously if we sign some defenders, that’s an excellent starting xi for this level on paper. With the obvious caveat that it was for the league above a year ago and we managed to get relegated.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

So far we’re looking at..

GK: Rob Lainton

RB: Need Óne (Armand’s Brother)
CB: Jake Lawlor
CB: Shaun Pearson
LB: James Jennings

DMF: Need Óne (Armand’s other brother)
MF: Luke Young
MF: Devonte Redmond

RW: Leighton McIntosh
ST: JJ Hooper
LW: Mark Harris

Then there’s the players that will be pushing for a starting place:

Akil Wright - For some reason not liked by a lot of Wrexham fans, he’s very raw for sure, but we wouldn’t have finished 4th without some of his goals. Hughes got the best out of him by pushing him further forward.

Luke Summerfield - Needs to prove his fitness over pre-season and if he does, could well be a starter.

Bobby Grant - Already written off by a select few (what else is new?), but I think with a good pre-season behind him, we could have a key player on our hands. Might even take McIntosh’s place if this happens.

Paul Rutherford - He’ll be around the first team. Always brings energy, so could be handy for later in the game for the wing. I like him as a midfield hassler though, especially if you have a pressing style.

Jason Oswell - Been confirmed that he’s had an op, so just shows that we didn’t see the best of him last season. He showed flashes of promise, which isn't bad when you’re not fully fit. A good pre-season and he could well start. Offers something different to the forward line.

Mark Carrington - See him as no more than cover for both full back positions, but it’s good to have a professional like him in the squad.

Then there’s outsiders that will have to wait for possible injuries (or loss of form) such as GK Christian Dibble, Doug Tharme and Manny Smith (not even sure he’s going to recover though) and the young lads Matty Sargeant & Jack Thorn.

So we definitely need a new RB and DMF and if Manny doesn’t recover, I think another CB wouldn’t be a bad idea too, because I’m not sure Tharme is quite ready to be first replacement yet. Things are looking good so far though.

EDIT: Forgot Fondop, that’s bad. It’s hard to know where he fits in right now though. Think he was already at Maidenhead by the time Hughes arrived, so he never got to see him. If he doesn’t hit the ground running in pre-season, I think the chances are he’ll find himself back out on loan again. I do like him though, there’s something about him, but with the quality brought in so far, it will be difficult for a raw striker to find his feet and force his way into the side.

 

[Soup Ladle]

4231 is Hignett's modus operandi...

Killip

RB Kioso
CB Kerr
CB Raynes
LB Kitching (badly need a new LB)

CM Holohan (but it'll be Featherstone)
CM Noble

LW Molyneux
AM Hawkes
RW James

SC Kabamba

 

[Monkey Tennis]

GK: Joel Dixon

RB: Brad Barry
CB: Josh Granite
CB: Sam Hird
LB: Patrick Brough

CM: Lewis Hardcastle
CM: Jason Taylor
CM: John Rooney

RF: Jack Hindle
CF: Scott Quigley
LF: Dior Angus

This is the most likely strongest XI so far, though we're due to sign a Sheff Utd youth player on loan - I suspect as a back-up midfielder. I (and I reckon the manager does too) have doubts over Jack Hindle as a starter as he always gets hauled off after an hour - Josh Kay may be first choice in that position instead. Probably short of a defender, a midfielder and a forward, and they'll come from triallists and loanees.

 

[Master D]

We could start the season tomorrow and have a very decent lineup. Even if we don't sign another player we would still be good enough for being in the top 7. We will still sign a RB and another midfielder though.

Hughes is the biggest worry, he's unproven and could easily be gone by Christmas if we start poorly and the fans get on one. Grace periods with managers are long gone at the Racecourse, even if they are former players.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

We could start the season tomorrow and have a very decent lineup. Even if we don't sign another player we would still be good enough for being in the top 7. We will still sign a RB and another midfielder though.

Hughes is the biggest worry, he's unproven and could easily be gone by Christmas if we start poorly and the fans get on one. Grace periods with managers are long gone at the Racecourse, even if they are former players.

Alternatively, if you're top of the league he could also leave!

 

[OneDecentLester]

Not sure if I’m allowed to write too much about our players otherwise I might get told off for being a ‘sad fan boy’ again but here it goes Anyway...

I reckon we’re still in for another striker but if the season was to start tomorrow we’d probably line up something like this:

GK: Shwan Jalal / Luke Coddington

RWB: Jonathon Smith
CB: Hayden Hollis
CB: Anthony Gerrard (C)
CB: Will Evans
LWB: David Buchanan

CDM: Sam Wedgebury / Robbie Weir
RCM: Charlie Carter
LCM: Liam Mandeville

ST: Scott Boden
ST: Tom Denton

Subs:
Whichever GK doesn’t start
Laurence Maguire (Younger brother of Sir Slabhead)
Joe Rowley
Curtis Weston
Josef Yarney

At the moment we’ve got a nice blend of experience players mixed in with talented youngsters. On paper, that defence looks solid, and up top we have Boden who bagged 21 goals last season, and Tom Denton who is more than a handful for any defence. The main worry is the lack of pace in the team... could definitely do with addressing that ahead of the season with a couple more signings

Won’t make any predictions at all this year though, what will be will be.... I’ve learnt my lesson(s)

 

[chipmunx]

GK: Joel Dixon

RB: Brad Barry
CB: Josh Granite
CB: Sam Hird
LB: Patrick Brough

CM: Lewis Hardcastle
CM: Jason Taylor
CM: John Rooney

RF: Jack Hindle
CF: Scott Quigley
LF: Dior Angus

This is the most likely strongest XI so far, though we're due to sign a Sheff Utd youth player on loan - I suspect as a back-up midfielder. I (and I reckon the manager does too) have doubts over Jack Hindle as a starter as he always gets hauled off after an hour - Josh Kay may be first choice in that position instead. Probably short of a defender, a midfielder and a forward, and they'll come from triallists and loanees.

with Turner likely to stay if he can prove his fitness and "Danger Mouse" also a forward I don't think we'll be after another striker.
I'm thinking 4 more (3 if Wilson proves his fitness) 2 defenders and 2 midfield including the Sheff Utd player.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

with Turner likely to stay if he can prove his fitness and "Danger Mouse" also a forward I don't think we'll be after another striker.
I'm thinking 4 more (3 if Wilson proves his fitness) 2 defenders and 2 midfield including the Sheff Utd player.

I'm counting Turner as the possible forward to join the squad, but there's every chance a triallists or a loanee could snatch that space from him.

 

[chipmunx]

I'm counting Turner as the possible forward to join the squad, but there's every chance a triallists or a loanee could snatch that space from him.

from what i've seen of Penfold's highlights he's got a lot of potential too

 

[Chief Rocka]

4231 is Hignett's modus operandi...

Killip

RB Kioso
CB Kerr
CB Raynes
LB Kitching (badly need a new LB)

CM Holohan (but it'll be Featherstone)
CM Noble

LW Molyneux
AM Hawkes
RW James

SC Kabamba

Fullbacks scare the life out of me to be honest, Kitching is a midfielder playing left back and going by what Hignett said he's not immediately looking for a new one, Kioso might be better at right back were the focus is mostly defence but as a wingback last season he struggled badly going forward.

I can see Hignett switching between this and 532/352 again, how is he gonna fit in all these midfielders, there's Donaldson who had a steady away season and Williams who must be chomping at the bit to play.

I still reckon Hawkes is gonna get sold before kick off like.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Fullbacks scare the life out of me to be honest, Kitching is a midfielder playing left back and going by what Hignett said he's not immediately looking for a new one, Kioso might be better at right back were the focus is mostly defence but as a wingback last season he struggled badly going forward.

I can see Hignett switching between this and 532/352 again, how is he gonna fit in all these midfielders, there's Donaldson who had a steady away season and Williams who must be chomping at the bit to play.

I still reckon Hawkes is gonna get sold before kick off like.

Might be in a minority but I won't be too fussed if Hawkes goes. Holohan is a ready made replacement.

Obvious we're gonna get raped down the flanks next season. Unbelievable Hignett says he's not looking at left backs. He still wants a midfielder but how's he gonna fit them all in? The mistake was made by keeping on Featherstone and other underachievers instead of focusing on what we really needed. He's gone for depth over quality.

Plenty going forward but weak at the back. Shaping into a typical Hignett side really.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Holohan looks like a decent find and would be a good replacement if Hawkes was sold but for me Hawkes just makes things happen, was a breath of fresh air last season on the ball, not afraid to take people on and have a dig from outside the box instead of having 50 ping pong passes in and around the box and trying to walk the fucker in.

Featherstone and Williams should've been given the chop last season, to give them both new deals and increase the amount of midfielders we have was mental and he's still on the lookout for another one, gonna have to play an 8 man midfield next year or hope Wrexham come and buy some off us.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Currently..
Gk: Loach
LB: Johnson
CB: Sweeney
CB: Reynolds
RB: Alexander/Vilhete
DCM: Boucaud
DCM: Harry Taylor/Vilhete/Adams
LM: Akinola/Tutonda/Vilhete
AM: Jack Taylor
RM: Mason-Clarke
ST: Coulthirst

We have only signed up Scott Loach and a promising youth team midfielder, Vasiliou so far. Whether we sign anyone else depends on our ability to offload a few..

 

[#Beebot]

Currently..
Gk: Loach
LB: Johnson
CB: Sweeney
CB: Reynolds
RB: Alexander/Vilhete
DCM: Boucaud
DCM: Harry Taylor/Vilhete/Adams
LM: Akinola/Tutonda/Vilhete
AM: Jack Taylor
RM: Mason-Clarke
ST: Coulthirst

We have only signed up Scott Loach and a promising youth team midfielder, Vasiliou so far. Whether we sign anyone else depends on our ability to offload a few..

I think Tarpey's departure means there is enough slack in the budget for a new forward. The big question is who and how much they would cost. New LM and RB if we can offload two from Alexander, Sparkes, Bettamer, Robson.

I would start Santos over Reynolds if fit.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I think Tarpey's departure means there is enough slack in the budget for a new forward. The big question is who and how much they would cost. New LM and RB if we can offload two from Alexander, Sparkes, Bettamer, Robson.

I would start Santos over Reynolds if fit.

I knew I’d forgotten about someone, so big is our squad! Yep, Santos over Reynolds every day for me.

 

[simsini]

GK: Mark Cousins

RB: Joe Kizzi
CB: Marc-Anthony Okoye
CB: Jack Holland
LB: Sam Wood

RM: Adam Mekki
CM: Billy Bingham
CM: Frankie Raymond
LM: Luke Coulson

CF: Michael Cheek
CF: Adrian Clifton

Subs: Jake Goodman, Chris Bush, George Porter, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, Korrey Henry

We're not done yet, but looks better than ever at this level for me. After two top half finishes in the last two seasons, we should be looking to kick on with this team.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Assumed a 5-3-2 as that is the only formation that works at the moment

GK: Mitch Walker

RWB: Robbie Tinkler
CB: Kodi Lyons Foster
CB: Oliver O'Dwyer
CB: Alex Finney
LWB: Lewis Kinsella

CM: Dean Rance
CM: Ethan Chislett
CM: James Rowe

CF: Connor Shields
CF: TBA

 

[wrexham]

GK: Rob Lainton

RB: Mark Carrington (new one signing)
CB: Shaun Pearson
CB: Jake Lawlor
LB: James Jennings

DM:
CM: Devante Redmond
CM: Luke Young

ST: Bobby Grant (The Fleetwood one, not last season's one)
ST: JJ Hooper
ST: Mark Harris

Fill the two blanks in and perhaps bring another pacey winger/wide forward in and I think we can compete at the top.

 

[EnglishRed]

GK: Rob Lainton

RB: Mark Carrington (new one signing)
CB: Shaun Pearson
CB: Jake Lawlor
LB: James Jennings

DM:
CM: Devante Redmond
CM: Luke Young

ST: Bobby Grant (The Fleetwood one, not last season's one)
ST: JJ Hooper
ST: Mark Harris

Fill the two blanks in and perhaps bring another pacey winger/wide forward in and I think we can compete at the top.

If the league was to start tomorrow I suspect the midfield would be Redmond, Young and Summerfield. Otherwise I think you've got it spot on.

Subs: Dibble, Tharme, Wright (or Rutherford) Oswell and Mcintosh.

As you say we need a RB and a defensive Midfielder.

 

[Jerry]

GK: Shaun MacDonald

RB: Ben Wynter
CB: Jean-Yves Koue Niate
CB: Kyle Cameron
LB: Liam Davis

RM: Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala
CM: Asa Hall
CM: Armani Little
LM: Jake Andrews

CF: Jamie Reid
CF: Manny Duku

Subs:

GK: Lucas Covolan
LM: Ryan Dickson
RM: Ruairi Keating
CF: Olaf Koszela

Back four picks itself as they are the only defenders we have and we can't fill a bench yet!

Johnson likes to run with a small squad though and I would expect 4 or 5 loanees to come in closer to the season to supplement what we have.

 

[MrGloverLover]

No idea what Sarll's preferred formation is but at the moment this is possible our staring XI:

GK Nelson
LB Dickinson
CB Collins
CB Wilkinson
RB Alcock
LW ?
CM Worthington
CM ?
RW ?
CF Seager
CF Murphy

You can see where our problems lie. We've got 4 academy players who have signed pro contracts in the last few months but we can't rely on them.

 

[dobbo]

GK: Paul Rutherford

LB: Paul Rutherford
CB: Paul Rutherford
CB: Paul Rutherford
RB: Paul Rutherford

CM: Paul Rutherford
CM: Paul Rutherford
CM: Paul Rutherford

LW: Paul Rutherford
ST: Paul Rutherford
RW: Paul Rutherford

Can honestly see us finishing in the top 3 with that team, especially with Paul Rutherford as our 20-goal a season striker, and a quality RB in Paul Rutherford which is what we've been missing since we've been down here. Think Paul Rutherford can chip in with a few assists too

 

[Fyldefan]

Wrexham's team and bromleys look very strong to me. If this striker they've signed scores goals for Wrexham they're going to be right at the top.

 

[Solihull Mooron]

Kou-niate is a liability

 

[#Beebot]

Wrexham's team and bromleys look very strong to me. If this striker they've signed scores goals for Wrexham they're going to be right at the top.

Bromley's summer business has been so shrewd. Adrian Clifton and Korrey Henry are great low cost, high impact signings.

 

[Jerry]

Kou-niate is a liability

Liability might be a bit strong but I would hope he's not a starter by the time the season starts.

We've been linked with Aden Baldwin and Robbie Cundy from Bristol City but I wouldn't expect any movement on that until closer to the season.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

GK: Paul Rutherford

LB: Paul Rutherford
CB: Paul Rutherford
CB: Paul Rutherford
RB: Paul Rutherford

CM: Paul Rutherford
CM: Paul Rutherford
CM: Paul Rutherford

LW: Paul Rutherford
ST: Paul Rutherford
RW: Paul Rutherford

Can honestly see us finishing in the top 3 with that team, especially with Paul Rutherford as our 20-goal a season striker, and a quality RB in Paul Rutherford which is what we've been missing since we've been down here. Think Paul Rutherford can chip in with a few assists too

Now I understand why Rutherford gets mentioned on every single Red Passion thread..

Also, I’ve read the name Rutherford consecutively so many times that it doesn’t even look like a real name to me anymore.

 

[Gavin85]

For Cardiff City:

GK: Etheridge (if he stays - Bournemouth & West Ham United have been linked with him)

DL: Joe Bennett
DR: Lee Peltier
DC: Sean Morrison (Capt.)
DC: Bruno Ecuele Manga

ML: Josh Murphy
MR: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
MC: Leandro Bacuna
MC: Will Vaulks

ST: Kenneth Zohore
ST: Bobby Reid

Substitutes: Curtis Nelson, Alex Smithies (GK), Sol Bamba, Joe Ralls, Junior Hoilett, Callum Paterson, Danny Ward

Expecting Matthew Connolly, Rhys Healey, Brian Murphy, Omar Bogle, Lee Tomlin and Gary Madine to move on soon.

Hopefully, a few youngsters like Jay Bowen, Ben Margetson, Sion Spence and Cameron Coxe will also get some game time this season.