Wednesday, July 20, 2005
So, now most (but maybe not all) of the transfer activity has died down this pre-season, what will the first team be on the opening day and afterwards?
The squad is certainly much larger than we are used to -
- Goalies - Anderson, Kiely, Randolph, Elliott
- Full backs - Young, Powell, Youga, Fuller, Hreidersson, Sankofa
- Centre backs - Spector, Perry, Fortune, El Karkouri, Sorondo
- Midfield - Murphy, Holland, Kishishev, Euell, Smertin, Hughes
- Wingers/Widemen - Ambrose, Rommerdahl, Sam, Thomas
- Forwards - Bartlett, Bent, Johansson, Lisbie, Jeffers
- Plus youngsters - Walker, Ashton etc.
Based on the facts we know, ie that El Kak is injured and probably not going to be fit till October at the earliest, and that Sorondo is suspended for the first three games, here's my guess at the first eleven versus Sunderland on August 13th.
- Anderson
- Young
- Hreidersson
- Smertin
- Spector
- Fortune
- Ambrose
- Holland
- Bartlett
- Murphy
- Bent
Subs: Keily, Powell, Thomas, Jeffers, Kishishev
The team above allows Curbs to go in with the favoured 4-5-1 with Bent withdrawn to the right (where he usually played for Ipswich), and Ambrose on the left but able to switch to 4-4-2 (with Bent up front and Holland moving to the right) if necessary.
The side picked is experienced, but has youth, it's solid at the back (or as best we can until Sorondo and El Kak are back), stronger than last year in midfield but still allowing Murphy to pull strings and support the frontmen, plus has greater attacking options and better workrate out wide.
Of course, if Euell, Lisbie and Jeffers are not sold, and have good pre-seasons, or if anyone gets injured (or Holland's knees don't get better), it could all change. And then again, we could sign Bowyer and Corradi and AN Other and improve the team even further. Then who gets dropped?
Strange, but Euell and Jeffers are the two who are getting the most plaudits in pre-season so far - is it because they both want out and need to impress suitors?
I guess at this stage it's all still up for grabs, though Curbs does have a habit of following the Clive Woodward line and going for players who have done well in the past but may not necessarily be the best option at that time...
