Starting XI’s - Current Squad (keep updating) 24/25

[クレイグ]

I think we're good enough to claim a playoff place but no more than that. Strong in midfield and attack but the defence worries me.

 

[Scum.]

Milton Keynes Dons

Goalkeepers
Craig MacGillivray
Nathan Harness
Ronnie Sandford
Seb Stacey

Defenders
Dean Lewington
Jack Tucker
Luke Offord
Laurence Maguire
Sam Sherring
Joe Tomlinson
Phoenix Scholtz
Albert Wood
Brooklyn Ilunga
Charlie Waller
Charlie Stirland

Midfielders
MJ Williams
Alex Gilbey
Stephen Wearne
Tommy Leigh
Joe Pritchard
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Liam Kelly
Tom Carroll
Callum Tripp
Conor Grant
Joel Anker

Strikers
Callum Hendry
Ellis Harrison
Matt Dennis
Jonathan Leko

Updated following Max Dean and Dawson Devoy departures, and Callum Hendry and Tom Carroll signings.

Can add Tom McGill to this in the keepers section.

 

[Son of Cod]

Can add Tom McGill to this in the keepers section.

Just what your squad was lacking.

 

[joethegill]

Updated list for us, inclusive of the youth team players who have made appearances so far this pre-season. Hawkins has made the move to centre back for us now if pre-season is anything to go by, but still on the transfer list. Still need a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder for me, otherwise we're more or less good to go. Big issue at the moment is the amount of first teamers missing games through knocks, although hopefully we're just being cautious with those rather than there being serious problems.

Goalkeepers:
Jake Turner
Glenn Morris

Defenders:
Connor Masterson
Max Ehmer
Shad Ogie
Max Clark
Robbie McKenzie
Remeao Hutton
Sam Gale (youth)
Harry Webster (youth)
Oli Hawkins (listed)

Midfielders:
Ethan Coleman
Tim Dieng
Jonny Williams
George Lapslie (listed)
Armani Little
Harry Waldock (youth)
Stan Skipper (youth)

Wingers:
Aaron Rowe
Jack Nolan
Jayden Clarke

Forwards:
Ashley Nadesan (Listed)
Josh Andrews
Elliot Nevitt
Joe Gbode (youth)
Harry Bridle (youth)
Marcus Wyllie

 

[Scum.]

Just what your squad was lacking.

Tbf Stacey and Sandford are youth players and Harness will likely end up on loan. Will be between MacGillivray and McGill for the number 1 spot.

 

[DippyDon]

MacGillivray won't be here come September, if he is I'd be extremely surprised.

 

[FiRTHYY]

We’ve brought a couple in since the last update.

Here goes:

Goalkeepers:
Sam Walker
Colin Doyle
Zac Hadi

Defenders:
Sam Stubbs
Neil Byrne
Callum Johnson
Brad Halliday
Cieran Kelly
Lewis Richards
Jack Shepherd

Midfielders:
Ritchie Smallwood
Jamie Walker
Antoni Sarcevic
Alex Pattison
Bobby Pointon
Alex Gillead
Kevin McDonald
Clarke Oduor
Tyreik Wright

Strikers:
Andy Cook
Jake Young
Calum Kavanagh
Tyler Smith
Vadaine Oliver
Harry Ibbitson

Starting XI:

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Callum Johnson
CB: Sam Stubbs
CB: Cieran Kelly

RWB: Brad Halliday
CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Antoni Sarcevic
LWB: Tyreik Wright

AM: Alex Pattison/Jamie Walker

ST: Andy Cook
ST: Calum Kavanagh

Subs:
Aden Baldwin
Lewis Richards
Bobby Pointon
Alex Gilliead
Jake Young
Tyler Smith

 

[JJ1990]

Goalkeepers
Tom Booth
Filip Marschall

Defenders
Ryan Cooney(RB)
Lewis Billington(RB/CB)
Mickey Demetriou(LCB)
Zac Williams(LCB)
James Connolly(RCB)
Jamie Knight-Lebel(CB)(Loaned in)
Nathan Robinson(CB)(FYP)
Charlie Finney(LB/CM)
Lucas Sant(LB)(FYP)

Midfielders
Jack Powell(CM)
Conor Thomas(CDM)
Joel Tabiner(CM)
Max Sanders(CM)
Matus Holicek(CAM)
Owen Lunt(CM)
Callum Agius(CAM)(FYP)

Attackers
Jack Lankester(RW)
Chris Long(LW/ST)
Shilow Tracey(RW)
Fin Roberts(RW)(FYP)
Kane Hemmings(ST)
Omar Bogle(ST)

Updated ours once more. Squad of 24. The manager has said we have room for 1 more permanent signing, but hard to know which position that will be in, as arguments could be made for LB, LW, CM and ST.

 

[Scum.]

Can add Tom McGill to this in the keepers section.

And now Nico Lawrence in the defenders section.

 

[Scum.]

Goalkeepers
Tom McGill
Craig MacGillivray
Nathan Harness
Ronnie Sandford
Seb Stacey

Defenders
Dean Lewington
Jack Tucker
Luke Offord
Laurence Maguire
Sam Sherring
Nico Lawrence
Joe Tomlinson
Phoenix Scholtz
Albert Wood
Brooklyn Ilunga
Charlie Stirland

Midfielders
MJ Williams
Alex Gilbey
Stephen Wearne
Tommy Leigh
Joe Pritchard
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Liam Kelly
Tom Carroll
Callum Tripp
Conor Grant
Joel Anker

Strikers
Callum Hendry
Ellis Harrison
Matt Dennis
Jonathan Leko

In terms of starting line up, hard to tell but probably 3-4-2-1:

McGill

Offord
Sherring
Maguire

Tomlinson
Kelly
Carroll
Tripp

Gilbey
Wearne

Hendry

 

[JJ1990]

That squad depth is disgusting. No starting place for Tucker, Leigh, Pritchard or Lemonheigh-Evans, who would all get into a lot of L2 teams.

 

[DippyDon]

Pritchard could be put in place of Tripp given that he has the No. 2 shirt so should be our starting RWB based on that, but Tripp has once again had an excellent pre season.

 

[Dan Phillips]

That squad depth is disgusting. No starting place for Tucker, Leigh, Pritchard or Lemonheigh-Evans, who would all get into a lot of L2 teams.

Forward line looks bang average though.

 

[LS Bantam]

Obviously Port Vale have chucked the cash around but I don’t think anyone gets close to the MK squad, pleased to be playing them away first up when those first game results can be a bit of a lottery.

 

[valefan16]

Obviously Port Vale have chucked the cash around but I don’t think anyone gets close to the MK squad, pleased to be playing them away first up when those first game results can be a bit of a lottery.

5 Goalkeepers is mental, we have 2 usually!

We are a bit lob sided, we've get ridiculous options in midfield, decent ones up front but defensively, especially at full back we don't have the depth which considering Mitch Clark looks to be out for a while is a massive blow (rumours that he has broken a bone in his neck or something which is bad luck if true considering he is coming back from a broken ankle).

Its an area we have really struggled to sort wing back/full back since promotion! I miss Dave Worrall.

We have a lad on trial ex Everton right back Kyle John so has looked decent I think in Pre Season but we've not taken up yet, thats still a gamble though as he hasn't played senior football yet (at 23 years old).

 

[kieran_vale]

Be amazed if MK don’t cruise it to the title in all honesty. Defence and midfield has some serious depth. Hendry coming off a good season up top for Salford so assuming he doesn’t get injured etc it’s hard to see past them. Suppose only question mark is the manager but that’s true of many clubs including us.

 

[Scum.]

Forward line looks bang average though.

TBF the way we play with the 3-4-2-1, we got goals from all over the place last season vs relying on an out and out striker.

Granted we have lost Max Dean who scored 19, but I think Hendry who scored a goal every 3 games roughly for Salford in a better team (sorry Salford fans) might come up very good and Dennis has had a very good pre-season after scoring 5 last year. Harrison and Leko grabbed 12 goals for us last season too between them.

In terms of other scorers, Gilbey got 14 last year, Tomlinson got 7, Wearne got 4 and MJ Williams got 1, so those plus the many new additions should see us through I think (hope).

 

[valefan16]

Be amazed if MK don’t cruise it to the title in all honesty. Defence and midfield has some serious depth. Hendry coming off a good season up top for Salford so assuming he doesn’t get injured etc it’s hard to see past them. Suppose only question mark is the manager but that’s true of many clubs including us.

If their manager and Moore get the boot our fans will be clamoring for him being a big Vale fan!

 

[AR27]

Walker
Baldwin Byrne Kelly
Halliday Smallwood Sarcevic Pattison Wright
Cook Kavanagh

I think this is how we'll start. We're yet to see which combination of Sarcevic, Pattison, Walker or Pointon works best but all are good options. Cook and Kavanagh will get goals if given service.

Defence is the main concern. Looks a car crash waiting to happen and a significant downgrade on what we had last season. Wright is another issue. I liked him as a winger but he's been useless as a wingback and hasn't impressed in pre season either.

 

[Optipez]

Walker
Baldwin Byrne Kelly
Halliday Smallwood Sarcevic Pattison Wright
Cook Kavanagh

I think this is how we'll start. We're yet to see which combination of Sarcevic, Pattison, Walker or Pointon works best but all are good options. Cook and Kavanagh will get goals if given service.

Defence is the main concern. Looks a car crash waiting to happen and a significant downgrade on what we had last season. Wright is another issue. I liked him as a winger but he's been useless as a wingback and hasn't impressed in pre season either.

Different team, different set up and coach but Baldwin on the right of a back three had some shockers for us, much happier in the middle.
Having seen Matt Platt a couple of times in friendlies I'd definitely say we've got a steadier more defensively minded defender but you've got a better footballer and arguably more potential in Baldwin.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Walker
Baldwin Byrne Kelly
Halliday Smallwood Sarcevic Pattison Wright
Cook Kavanagh

I think this is how we'll start. We're yet to see which combination of Sarcevic, Pattison, Walker or Pointon works best but all are good options. Cook and Kavanagh will get goals if given service.

Defence is the main concern. Looks a car crash waiting to happen and a significant downgrade on what we had last season. Wright is another issue. I liked him as a winger but he's been useless as a wingback and hasn't impressed in pre season either.

A significant downgrade - ‘bit strong that?!

Who are we missing apart from Matty Platt. MP was steady enough, but let’s not forget that he has the turning circle of a bus.

Jon Tomkinson - don’t get me wrong, I’d have had him back but he barely started during our purple patch at the back end of the season.

Dan Oyegoke - came good right at the very end, but was criticised by the majority for the large part of the season.

Liam Ridehalgh - he never played

Meanwhile, we still have the best RB in the league. Cieran Kelly, who was the main stay at LCB last season and Tyreik Wright, who like it or lump it, was a key player in those final seven games - W6 - GF15 - GA6.

It’s a big season for Sam Stubbs, too. When he’s on it, he’s a very capable CB at this level.

If you look at our defensive record these past couple of seasons (especially), it hasn’t really been a concern. All this doesn’t just undo itself because Matty Platt has departed.

 

[LS Bantam]

The squad is more than capable of Play Off’s which is where I’m convinced we’ll finish, as ever there’s four or five bigger spenders with bigger names and better depth, which is why auto’s feel beyond reach.
My main worry is balance, we’ve got an abundance of very good CAM players, the worrying of fitting them all in is reduced given their injury records meaning two or three will likely be unavailable at any one time.
In central defence we’re also high on numbers but the quality is significantly less, ‘good L2 defenders’ but little more.
The main areas of concern are lack of numbers in central midfield, it’s Smallwood plus makeshift and it’s poor that this hasn’t been addressed sooner. Left back/lwb, again, for two years this has been an issue, Wright feels makeshift there because he’s naturally more attacking, Richards isn’t the best but that’s it, a priority position but instead we’ve signed 48 centre halves.
So much has been limited by not being able to move players on, Vadaine Oliver I’m less fussed for as he’s a capable replacement if Cook misses out but he’s no Charlie Wyke who could’ve been Plan B if we’d moved the dead wood on, Kevin McDonald another, sympathy for him because he did a job as caretaker last year but very much past it and far from offering us anything on the pitch. An injured loanee lined up but no doubt a young player looking for experience rather than the established talent signed by others.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Okay, barring another keeper coming in to play second fiddle to Boot (who has more than earnt the #1 shirt during pre season), I think we’re pretty much there barring potentially one or two leaving on loan.

So this is us:

GK:
Ryan Boot
+1 more incoming before Swindon on Friday I’d have thought (Likely Harry Tyrer or Jamal Blackman)

RB:
Ryheem Sheckleford
Vontae Daley-Campbell (New signing - Peterborough)
Devan Tanton U21 (New signing - On loan from Fulham)

CB:
Chey Dunkley (New signing - Shrewsbury)
Jamie Grimes
Ash Palmer
Tyrone Williams

LB:
Lewis Gordon (New signing - Bristol Rovers)
Brandon Horton

CM:
Tom Naylor
Darren Oldaker
Ollie Banks
Tim Akinola (New signing - Al-Bidda Qatar)
Mike Jones

Wingers/CAM:
Armando Dobra
Ryan Colclough
Liam Mandeville
Michael Jacobs
James Berry
Bailey Hobson

ST:
Will Grigg
Paddy Madden (New signing - Stockport)
Joe Quigley
Kane Drummond (New signing - Macclesfield)

That gives us an outfield squad of 23 so obviously 1 over, but I expect Bailey Hobson to go out on loan to a top end National League club.

More than happy with that squad, and I’m intrigued to see how we get on.

 

[AR27]

A significant downgrade - ‘bit strong that?!

Who are we missing apart from Matty Platt. MP was steady enough, but let’s not forget that he has the turning circle of a bus.

Jon Tomkinson - don’t get me wrong, I’d have had him back but he barely started during our purple patch at the back end of the season.

Dan Oyegoke - came good right at the very end, but was criticised by the majority for the large part of the season.

Liam Ridehalgh - he never played

Meanwhile, we still have the best RB in the league. Cieran Kelly, who was the main stay at LCB last season and Tyreik Wright, who like it or lump it, was a key player in those final seven games - W6 - GF15 - GA6.

It’s a big season for Sam Stubbs, too. When he’s on it, he’s a very capable CB at this level.

If you look at our defensive record these past couple of seasons (especially), it hasn’t really been a concern. All this doesn’t just undo itself because Matty Platt has departed.

For me, Tomkinson and Platt are better individual players than Byrne and Baldwin. Baldwin was a part of the worst defence in the country and Byrne was a bit part player for Stockport. I like Stubbs but he wasn't great last year and I don't think Alexander rates him.

 

[FiRTHYY]

For me, Tomkinson and Platt are better individual players than Byrne and Baldwin. Baldwin was a part of the worst defence in the country and Byrne was a bit part player for Stockport. I like Stubbs but he wasn't great last year and I don't think Alexander rates him.

It’s only your opinion mate, so won’t be too harsh. But it’s comments like these that make fans sound utterly thick.

I’m not sure how you can compare Tomkinson and Platt to two players you’ve probably never seen play. You’re basing your opinions on what other fans say, and we know more than most how damaging that can be when City rejects leave only to flourish elsewhere. It happens.

No career is defined by any players’ success or failings at one club - unless you’re Ryan Giggs.

 

[jacobncfc]

Different team, different set up and coach but Baldwin on the right of a back three had some shockers for us, much happier in the middle.
Having seen Matt Platt a couple of times in friendlies I'd definitely say we've got a steadier more defensively minded defender but you've got a better footballer and arguably more potential in Baldwin.

I’d have played Baldwin on the right more. He’s a fantastic one-on-one defender so can do that bit of the wide role really well, and it means there should be someone behind him when he does inevitably fall over the ball/try and nutmeg someone.

It got to the point he was an embarrassment last season, but I still think he could have a good career. Huge season for him.

 

[Si Robin]

Final update on this then:

Goalkeepers:
Max Harris (Transfer Listed)
Owen Evans
Joe Day

Defenders:
Tom Bradbury
Scot Bennett
Ryan Haynes
Arkell Jude-Boyd
Ibrahim Bakare
Lewis Payne (loan)
Levi Laing (loan)

Midfielders:
Tom Pett
Liam Kinsella
Jordan Thomas
Harry Pell
Luke Young
Joel Colwill
Brandon Liggett
Freddie WIlcox

Forwards:
Matty Taylor
Ryan Bowman
Liam Dulson
Tom King
Sopuruchukwu Obieri

Not including the first year pros, only 5 players remain from last season

 

[EnglishRed]

Okay, barring another keeper coming in to play second fiddle to Boot (who has more than earnt the #1 shirt during pre season), I think we’re pretty much there barring potentially one or two leaving on loan.

So this is us:

GK:
Ryan Boot
+1 more incoming before Swindon on Friday I’d have thought (Likely Harry Tyrer or Jamal Blackman)

RB:
Ryheem Sheckleford
Vontae Daley-Campbell (New signing - Peterborough)
Devan Tanton U21 (New signing - On loan from Fulham)

CB:
Chey Dunkley (New signing - Shrewsbury)
Jamie Grimes
Ash Palmer
Tyrone Williams

LB:
Lewis Gordon (New signing - Bristol Rovers)
Brandon Horton

CM:
Tom Naylor
Darren Oldaker
Ollie Banks
Tim Akinola (New signing - Al-Bidda Qatar)
Mike Jones

Wingers/CAM:
Armando Dobra
Ryan Colclough
Liam Mandeville
Michael Jacobs
James Berry
Bailey Hobson

ST:
Will Grigg
Paddy Madden (New signing - Stockport)
Joe Quigley
Kane Drummond (New signing - Macclesfield)

That gives us an outfield squad of 23 so obviously 1 over, but I expect Bailey Hobson to go out on loan to a top end National League club.

More than happy with that squad, and I’m intrigued to see how we get on.

Still can't quite get over the fact Joe Quigley will be playing L2 football this year.

Squad looks pretty solid. You should do well imo.

 

[AR27]

It’s only your opinion mate, so won’t be too harsh. But it’s comments like these that make fans sound utterly thick.

I’m not sure how you can compare Tomkinson and Platt to two players you’ve probably never seen play. You’re basing your opinions on what other fans say, and we know more than most how damaging that can be when City rejects leave only to flourish elsewhere. It happens.

No career is defined by any players’ success or failings at one club - unless you’re Ryan Giggs.

No offence mate but you're an apologist for the Sparks/Rupp regime so I wouldn't be calling other fans thick.

 

[Posh Harry]

Some lovely Bradford on Bradford Beef starting here.