Starting 11 vs West Brom

Caesium137 said:
Need some better cover across the back 5 (especially wingback). I strongly doubt we’d get all three (four?) of those forwards too, to be honest the more I see of the rumoured price for Gyokeres the more I think steer clear, we rarely do well spending big on strikers. Maybe Riis or Twine instead? Wonder if there's anything in the Aji Alese links too? Possible starter or just cover/experience?
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First XI

-----------------------Steffen-----------------------

-------------McNair-----Lenihan-----Davies-------

----------Crooks-----Howson-------McGree------

Jones -----------------------------------------Giles

---------------McGoldrick----Gayle----------------



Second XI

------------------------Roberts---------------------

-----------Dijksteel----Fry----Branthwaite--------

-------Tavernier------Payero------Boyd-Munce--

Gibson-----------------------------------------Bola

----------------Coburn-----Watmore--------------


We're getting closer to the final picture at least!
 
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Dijksteel may well be unfortunate but in our best team Lenihan will probably take his spot now. McNair has the left-side sewn up unless we sign a left-footer and Fry will be in the middle.

I also don't think we have re-signed club captain Howson, presumably on very good terms to sit on the bench
 
Caesium137 said:
Didn't someone who'd seen a bit of Blackburn last year (or had seen on their forum maybe?) say he played RCB for a chunk of last season?
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I believe he generally played RCB when playing in a 3 and also played right back a few times. Basically plays on the right of a two or the right or centre of a three. If we get a high quality left-footed centre-back in then that means we have Dijksteel, Lenihan and McNair who can play RCB, Fry and Lenihan who can play CB and a new LCB plus McNair or someone else to play LCB. Makes for good competition for Dijksteel and Fry.
 
Connor_loft said:
Darlow

Dijksteel
Lenihan
Fry

Jones
Crooks
Howson
McGree
Giles

Armstrong
Gyökeres

Personally I believe this is an automatic promotion winning team, focus now should be on bringing them strikers in, alongside Gayle on the bench. I think Tav will and should be sold, good player but poor in numbers (5 goals, 5 assists I believe last season, 18 goals in his career at the club) for 15 million we could bring in an excellent replacement, take O’Hare or Twine behind the front 2?👍
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Gayle won't come to sit on the bench.

I'd have Tav ahead of McGree, for now, but would also take 15m, if it meant getting big name striker targets.

Tav does a hell of a lot, box to box, to allow us to play with freedom elsewhere, he's one of the players most won't really miss until he's gone, or when he's gone they won't realise why we're struggling.

He has to sacrifice himself a lot, when we attack down the right, to keep balance on the left of midfield, as the LWB was tucking in, and dropping back, allowing the CB's to shift right, and Dijksteele to get up behind and even overlap Jones. If the LWB went high, when the ball was on the right, then Tav had to drop in even further.

I think if we had more attacking competence on the left, it would free up Tav no end, like how Crooks gets freed up when Jones is attacking. Also gives us two options, so we're less predictable.

Look at Tav's stats/ performances since Wilder/ compared to before, he's a different player in this system, to how he used to be, and his performances improved markedly since Wilder came in.
 
Leinehan takes Paddy's spot as LCB for me, to either free up him for being sold, or to offer some competition at the back/ in midfield. Him being quite versatile is ideal for that def/ mid cover, and he'd still end up playing 30 games plus as we get inevitable injuries/ suspensions etc.
 
Andy_W said:
Gayle won't come to sit on the bench.
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Been his full time job for the last couple of years hasn't it?

🤪

Whilst I get what you're saying I think Wilder would carry on as last season, with one preferred 'main man' type forward who gets more of a run out and 'rotatable runners' to bring in and out depending on form, fitness and opposition.

I can't see Gayle with his recent and fitness and appearance record coming in to smash in 40 plus games leading the line in the champo for us.

I hope he's utilised as a 'Clinical Watmore' .
 
Caesium137 said:
Been his full time job for the last couple of years hasn't it?

🤪

Whilst I get what you're saying I think Wilder would carry on as last season, with one preferred 'main man' type forward who gets more of a run out and 'rotatable runners' to bring in and out depending on form, fitness and opposition.

I can't see Gayle with his recent and fitness and appearance record coming in to smash in 40 plus games leading the line in the champo for us.

I hope he's utilised as a 'Clinical Watmore' .
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Haha, sure has. Comfier seats in the Prem though!

Yeah, get what you're saying, he could be second fiddle to a main man, but I think he'd see himself above Watmore etc. I'd be hoping we bring at least two in, and he'll likely see himself as no 1 or no 2 in that.

I can't see us buying a big, tall lump just to hold the ball up and win headers for the likes of Gayle/ Watmore, I think they'd be expected to be a bit of a player first, and if they're also good in the air/ strong/ hold the ball up then even better.
 
It seems clear we will sign a high quality Goalkeeper, with Roberts as cover, plus a home grown young un?

Lenihan is a powerful dominant CB, Fry isn't. Lenihan will surely play at CB?
McNair would be better suited to playing RCB, but Dijksteel is our best defender and should stay in place?
We need - and will sign a damned good LCB, with Bola and McNair able to cover.

Howson has not been retained just as cover, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see us go for John Lundstram from Rangers. He was Wilder's man at Sheff U and he wanted him in January. Another captain/leader. Big fee, but massive driver. He can also drop to play RCB.

Jones and Giles seem nailed on starters at RWB and LWB. Bola offers cover at LWB, but we lack RWB cover?

Tavernier and McGree currently compete for a spot, Crooks and Payero for another? Boyd- Munce offers cover, Watmore too.

The crucial signings then up front. Gyokeres will offer pace, mobility, energy, control/technical ability, aerial threat, presence and goal scoring.
It seems clear that we will bring in Armstrong and Gayle on loan for goals and pace. I think Armstrong would be the likely starter. Gayle would be an excellent if expensive option from the bench. Watmore also offers cover here and potentially in midfield.
Greedily I'd love to bring in either Riis, (or Joao) to cover for Gyokeres (similar attributes) and the young lad Tyreece Simpson from Ipswich (even if to loan out), also allowing Coburn a season out on loan at perhaps Plymouth.

Gyokeres, Lundstram and Riis would cost more than the Spence fee obviously, so might one of Fry, McNair or Tavernier be sacrificed to cover the cost? I would.

New GK. (Roberts, Brynn/James)
Dijksteel, Lenihan, New LCB. (McNair, Fry, Bola)
Jones, Crooks, Lundstrom, Tavernier, Giles (Payero, Howson, McGree, Boyd Munce)
Gyokeres, Armstrong (Riis, Gayle, Watmore)
23 man squad right there, with plenty of match time for all.
Coburn and Simpson loaned out for a season to mature and be ready when Armstrong and Gayle loans end.

Assumes Daniels, Hall, Fisher, Ikpeazu, Akpom, Coulson and Spence all leave.

All IMHO, but hey if Newy can have 50 goes a day, surely I can have one a month?:)
 
Im dreaming of

Darlow

Dijksteel
Lenihan
Fry

Jones
Crooks
Choudrey
Tav
Giles

Armstrong
Gyökeres

with a bench of Roberts, McNair, Howson, McGree, Watmore 😍
 
For once, and it's a great problem to have, I can't quite put my finger on what our eleven is going to look like, specifically the back 5.

I think we'll look like this

Darlow
Jones Dijksteel Fry Leinhan Giles
Howson
Crooks Tav
Gayle Armstrong

Roberts Fisher Bola Mcgree (New CDM) Mcgoldrick Watmore
 
Morton94 said:
For once, and it's a great problem to have, I can't quite put my finger on what our eleven is going to look like, specifically the back 5.

I think we'll look like this

Darlow
Jones Dijksteel Fry Leinhan Giles
Howson
Crooks Tav
Gayle Armstrong

Roberts Fisher Bola Mcgree (New CDM) Mcgoldrick Watmore
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Wouldn’t shock me if that’s the exact starting 11
 
indeedido said:
It seems clear we will sign a high quality Goalkeeper, with Roberts as cover, plus a home grown young un?

Lenihan is a powerful dominant CB, Fry isn't. Lenihan will surely play at CB?
McNair would be better suited to playing RCB, but Dijksteel is our best defender and should stay in place?
We need - and will sign a damned good LCB, with Bola and McNair able to cover.

Howson has not been retained just as cover, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see us go for John Lundstram from Rangers. He was Wilder's man at Sheff U and he wanted him in January. Another captain/leader. Big fee, but massive driver. He can also drop to play RCB.

Jones and Giles seem nailed on starters at RWB and LWB. Bola offers cover at LWB, but we lack RWB cover?

Tavernier and McGree currently compete for a spot, Crooks and Payero for another? Boyd- Munce offers cover, Watmore too.

The crucial signings then up front. Gyokeres will offer pace, mobility, energy, control/technical ability, aerial threat, presence and goal scoring.
It seems clear that we will bring in Armstrong and Gayle on loan for goals and pace. I think Armstrong would be the likely starter. Gayle would be an excellent if expensive option from the bench. Watmore also offers cover here and potentially in midfield.
Greedily I'd love to bring in either Riis, (or Joao) to cover for Gyokeres (similar attributes) and the young lad Tyreece Simpson from Ipswich (even if to loan out), also allowing Coburn a season out on loan at perhaps Plymouth.

Gyokeres, Lundstram and Riis would cost more than the Spence fee obviously, so might one of Fry, McNair or Tavernier be sacrificed to cover the cost? I would.

New GK. (Roberts, Brynn/James)
Dijksteel, Lenihan, New LCB. (McNair, Fry, Bola)
Jones, Crooks, Lundstrom, Tavernier, Giles (Payero, Howson, McGree, Boyd Munce)
Gyokeres, Armstrong (Riis, Gayle, Watmore)
23 man squad right there, with plenty of match time for all.
Coburn and Simpson loaned out for a season to mature and be ready when Armstrong and Gayle loans end.

Assumes Daniels, Hall, Fisher, Ikpeazu, Akpom, Coulson and Spence all leave.

All IMHO, but hey if Newy can have 50 goes a day, surely I can have one a month?:)
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I agree with most of that.

Fry may go LCB, I thought Leinihan was left footed, but it appears not.

I think the ship might have sailed on Gyokeres, I think he's the player we've "been quoted" 20-25m for, or was it even 25-30m? They aint getting that, and if they insist on it, then he'll end up leaving for nothing in a couple of years. Coventry don't have any money mind, and need a few players, so in this case, selling one for a realistic value (15-20m) and buying 3-5 players will see them being a stronger side next year.
 
Andy_W said:
I agree with most of that.

Fry may go LCB, I thought Leinihan was left footed, but it appears not.

I think the ship might have sailed on Gyokeres, I think he's the player we've "been quoted" 20-25m for, or was it even 25-30m? They aint getting that, and if they insist on it, then he'll end up leaving for nothing in a couple of years. Coventry don't have any money mind, and need a few players, so in this case, selling one for a realistic value (15-20m) and buying 3-5 players will see them being a stronger side next year.
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I genuinely don't see them getting more than £12m for Gyokeres. I think even at £10m, thats a good deal for coventry.
 
Still dunno, depends on signings.............

I don't really think of these as first or second string players, more played in the starting line up dependent on, form, fitness and opposition. Both sides look fairly balanced with a decent mix of attributes but obviously wanting in a few key areas.

LCB names linked anyone?

Gibson 2+2=5 early in the window, Sarr, Alese as a rotation option? Any others linked, or will we persevere with Paddy despite what Wilder seemed to hint at last season?

First XI

-------------------------Steffen------------------------

-------------Dijksteel-----Lenihan-----LCB------------

---------Crooks-----Choudhury-----Tavernier--------

---Jones ----------------------------------------Giles---

-------------------Gyokeres-----Archer-----------------



Second XI

---------------------------Roberts--------------------------

-----------------McNair----Fry----Alese--------------------

------------Payero------Howson------McGree----------

----Smith-----------------------------------------Coulson---

----------------------Gayle-----Watmore-------------------
 
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