19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:07 pm  

James Clare
Jay Pitts
Adrian Purtell
Richie Mathers
Epalahame Lauaki
Kris Welham
Lee Gaskell
Adam O’Brien
Adam Sidlow
Omari Caro
Ben Kavanagh
Matty Blythe
Danny Addy
Tom Olbison
Alex Mellor
Kurt Haggerty
Dale Ferguson
Oscar Thomas
Johnny Walker

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:15 pm  

Should have posted this here:
Given the squad announced my team would be:
1. Thomas
2. Clare
3. Purtell
4. Welham
5. Caro
6. Gaskell
7. Addy
8. Kavanagh
9. O'Brien
10. Sidlow
11. Olbison
12. Ferguson
13. Pitts

14. Blythe
15. Walker
16. Haggerty
17. Mellor

The two to miss out- Lauaki and Mathers.
However I expect Jimmy to play Mathers at full back instead of Thomas and Lauaki as sub instead
of Haggerty.
I am surprised not to see Williams name in the 19.

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:26 pm  

Bullnorthern wrote:

Should have posted this here:
Given the squad announced my team would be:
1. Thomas
2. Clare
3. Purtell
4. Welham
5. Caro
6. Gaskell
7. Addy
8. Kavanagh
9. O'Brien
10. Sidlow
11. Olbison
12. Ferguson
13. Pitts

14. Blythe
15. Walker
16. Haggerty
17. Mellor

The two to miss out- Lauaki and Mathers.
However I expect Jimmy to play Mathers at full back instead of Thomas and Lauaki as sub instead
of Haggerty.
I am surprised not to see Williams name in the 19.

I'd agree with that line up, certainly the backs seem to pretty much pick themselves. It would seem, however, a case of mixed signals to give Thomas the 1 shirt then drop him in favour of Mathers. Maybe we'll see both with Thomas given a run at 7 next to Gaskell with Addy at 13, but I doubt that

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 4:53 pm  

I'd go with the following 17:

1. Mathers
2. Clare
3. Purtell
4. Welham
5. Caro
6. Gaskell
7. Addy
8. Kavanagh
9. O'Brien
10. Sidlow
11. Olbison
12. Ferguson
13. Pitts

14. Blythe
15. Lauaki
16. Haggerty
17. Mellor

I've not been overly impressed or disappointed with Thomas to make a decision. However, Fev will be a top half side despite the loss of personnel so I'd go with Mathers from a purely defensive organisation point of view.

Think Lauaki has something to prove and has looked fitter and more of a handful in the friendlies than last season so i'd go with him over Walker.

Haggerty and Kavannah both looked handfuls so I'd give them the nod too.

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:37 pm  

I expect we'll start with Mathers (why else would he be in the squad?) and have Thomas on the bench, so that he can cover in case Mathers runs out of steam - which is almost inevitable, given that he had no pre-season and hasn't played for ages.

Basically, waste a bench spot to shoehorn Mathers into the team.

I'm not saying this because I agree with it, but that's what I think will happen.

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:47 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

I expect we'll start with Mathers (why else would he be in the squad?) and have Thomas on the bench, so that he can cover in case Mathers runs out of steam - which is almost inevitable, given that he had no pre-season and hasn't played for ages.

Basically, waste a bench spot to shoehorn Mathers into the team.

I'm not saying this because I agree with it, but that's what I think will happen.

I fully expect Mathers to be first choice for bigger games especially in first half of season. Hopefully Thomas will get a shot in some of easier games and force his way into contention.

Other reason for thomas in squad could be Gaskell isn't fully fit, given he picked up a knock to his hand in Leeds friendly. If his injury flares up we could bring Thomas on there too. We have a bit of flexibility to do that given Jimmy prefers an 80 minute 9 so we effectively have a bench spot free for a back. Be interesting to see IF we give O'brien a total break in some games this yr or if we revert to 2 hookers in those games with O'brien on bench.

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 6:05 pm  

I'd expect Mathers to play given the way they've been bigging him up

Re: 19 man squad : Fri Feb 05, 2016 8:45 pm  

I think Mathers needs to hit the ground running otherwise he will quickly become a scapegoat.

The fans won't have the patience with Jimmy if he keeps picking his favourites despite playing poorly like Lauaki last year.

[Bulliac]

Re: 19 man squad : Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:24 am  

Can't see Mathers doing much charging about, he's had virtually no pre-season after all. To be honest, bringing in a guy who hasn't been involved and who isn't exactly universally popular on the terraces to start with, seems a bit like setting him up for a fall and more than a little unfair on the bloke, so I guess he's OK with it.

That said, I'm sure he'll drop into the organising role and if he's successful in that I'm sure he'll be well worth his place.