Interesting selection. Pat Moran has been around for quite a while and has not been given the nod for a debut as yet. This year he has been a regular for Rochdale from the bench, and if he plays, it could be simply to give one of the regulars a little bit of R & R. At the other end of the spectrum though are players that will want to catch the eye. Patton (23 next month) for obvious reasons, but also Johnson, who hasn't really stood out in the warm up games or in the U19's this year. He has a bit more time to kick on than perhaps Patton, but by the end of the year needs to be challenging for a squad place. Doro has plenty of time. As previously mentioned he is only just 17. He is an England youth player, not particularly tall but very muscular, and couldn't take the grin off his face last night at the last U16 game of the season at Crosfields.
I suppose whoever gets picked from the fringes of our squad it will be a balancing act between ensuring we win the game, resting some tired bodies, and giving a bit of development time to others. You would have to guess that Livett, Patton, Mitch Brown, King and Smith will all play. Then in decreasing likelihood; Moran, Luis Brown, Doro. Having said that I would love to see Doro come off the bench on Saturday, not just because he looks a great prospect but also because it will send a positive message to the other Academy players.
