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Our best lineup

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bakajack

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We looked much much better against Charlton in the second half after changing our shape and bringing Naughton back into the sweeper position which also then allowed us to put another body into midfield taking control of the game a lot better.

This left me thinking about where our strongest lineup lies and how to get the most of the players that we have. We all know of the huge right wingback shaped hole in our squad right now and RM has said that he very much doubts that there will be any new additions before the Rotherham game.

Up top we absolutely have to accommodate Piroe, Obafemi and Congreve into our starting team. The first two have already shown that they will get us goals and Congreve has looked bright in preseason and can also help to offer another attacking spark.

In midfield whether you love him or hate him Grimes is almost certain to be the first name on the team sheet under RM.

It is at this point where we need to decide if we want five or four at the back. Five at the back will give us wingbacks, but that's only useful if we actually HAVE wingbacks. Four at the back gives us another body in the midfield which would allow us to field Paterson in what is probably his best position as an advanced midfield player while still having another defensive/box to box type midfielder in the form of Ntcham or Allen.

Four at the back also allows us to field Naughton or Sorinola as a conventional right back and then one of Manning or McFayden as a left back. This also gives us four centre halves to pick from in the form of Darling, Wood, Cabango and Latibeaudiere.

With that in mind I think our best lineup right now is:

------------------------------- Fisher ------------------------------------
Naughton ----- Darling ----------------- Wood ------------ Manning
------------------- Ntcham ------------ Grimes ------------------------
------------------------------ Paterson ----------------------------------
--------- Piroe --------------------------------- Congreve -------------
------------------------------ Obafemi ----------------------------------
 
bakajack said:
We looked much much better against Charlton in the second half after changing our shape and bringing Naughton back into the sweeper position which also then allowed us to put another body into midfield taking control of the game a lot better.

This left me thinking about where our strongest lineup lies and how to get the most of the players that we have. We all know of the huge right wingback shaped hole in our squad right now and RM has said that he very much doubts that there will be any new additions before the Rotherham game.

Up top we absolutely have to accommodate Piroe, Obafemi and Congreve into our starting team. The first two have already shown that they will get us goals and Congreve has looked bright in preseason and can also help to offer another attacking spark.

In midfield whether you love him or hate him Grimes is almost certain to be the first name on the team sheet under RM.

It is at this point where we need to decide if we want five or four at the back. Five at the back will give us wingbacks, but that's only useful if we actually HAVE wingbacks. Four at the back gives us another body in the midfield which would allow us to field Paterson in what is probably his best position as an advanced midfield player while still having another defensive/box to box type midfielder in the form of Ntcham or Allen.

Four at the back also allows us to field Naughton or Sorinola as a conventional right back and then one of Manning or McFayden as a left back. This also gives us four centre halves to pick from in the form of Darling, Wood, Cabango and Latibeaudiere.

With that in mind I think our best lineup right now is:

------------------------------- Fisher ------------------------------------
Naughton ----- Darling ----------------- Wood ------------ Manning
------------------- Ntcham ------------ Grimes ------------------------
------------------------------ Paterson ----------------------------------
--------- Piroe --------------------------------- Congreve -------------
------------------------------ Obafemi ----------------------------------

Would you bring Joey in when fit?
 
Think we will probably see this at Rotherham:

Fisher
Wood - Naughton - Darling
Latibeaudiere - Fulton - Grimes - Sorinola
Piroe - Obafemi - Paterson

Just based on pre season. Not sure it's what I'd preferred
 
A4Jack said:
Think we will probably see this at Rotherham:

Fisher
Wood - Naughton - Darling
Latibeaudiere - Fulton - Grimes - Sorinola
Piroe - Obafemi - Paterson

Just based on pre season. Not sure it's what I'd preferred

100% agree with that. Come the end of August though, I would like to think Wood will be replaced by Cabango, Latibeaudiere will be replaced by an actual Wing back, and Allen will replace Fulton, possibly 1 or 2 more additions on top of that as well, especially if Piroe does leave.
 
I’m probably in the minority here but I’m m not keen on Naughton centrally. One of the biggest issues we have, which appears not to have been fixed, is pace. The quickest Naughton moved yesterday is when he made a sideways pass on the halfway line and then sprinted back towards our own keeper to receive the return. You can’t have that in a side with Grimes in the middle. Allen will improve maters as he will look to drive that quick one two, which is a trademark oh Grimes’s game, forward, but Kyle Naughton slows us down to walking pace whenever he plays inside.
 
Itchysphincter said:
I’m probably in the minority here but I’m m not keen on Naughton centrally. One of the biggest issues we have, which appears not to have been fixed, is pace. The quickest Naughton moved yesterday is when he made a sideways pass on the halfway line and then sprinted back towards our own keeper to receive the return. You can’t have that in a side with Grimes in the middle. Allen will improve maters as he will look to drive that quick one two, which is a trademark oh Grimes’s game, forward, but Kyle Naughton slows us down to walking pace whenever he plays inside.

A lot of the pre season moves in an attacking sense have been started by Naughton driving forward from the left side, but I do agree with you I think it would be better him being on the right of a back four.
 
FelindreJack said:
A4Jack said:
Think we will probably see this at Rotherham:

Fisher
Wood - Naughton - Darling
Latibeaudiere - Fulton - Grimes - Sorinola
Piroe - Obafemi - Paterson

Just based on pre season. Not sure it's what I'd preferred

100% agree with that. Come the end of August though, I would like to think Wood will be replaced by Cabango, Latibeaudiere will be replaced by an actual Wing back, and Allen will replace Fulton, possibly 1 or 2 more additions on top of that as well, especially if Piroe does leave.

Fully agree, Cabango, Naughton, Darling is what I'd imagine we will see although even without a right back our defence looks a bit too heavy at the moment.

Cabango, Bennett, Naughton, Manning, Wood, Latibeaudiere, Darling, Cooper, Sorinola, Ogbeta. Eight players which Martin generally utilises at centre half, a less than convincing left wing back and a full back which he doesn't seem to like - all looks a bit messy.

Can see Piroe leaving, Parrott coming in with another midfielder and a full back. But if Ogbeta leaves then it leaves us still woefully weak on either side
 
I know this won’t be the team. But from what I’ve seen so far in pre season, and assuming we see no further exits before season start.

…………………Fisher……………………
….Ben………Harry…….Wood…….
Naught………………………..Ogbeta
…………Grimes..Ntcham………….
………………..Pato……………………..
…………….Piroe…Oba……………….

Allen won’t be fit to start I don’t reckon, otherwise Pato would have been in danger with Ntcham pushing up. Short at RWB and don’t fancy Lati out of position against championship opposition for another season. Haven’t seen anything in Sorinola yet, early days granted but ogbeta did more in his cameo than his minutes combined
 
A4Jack said:
Think we will probably see this at Rotherham:

Fisher
Wood - Naughton - Darling
Latibeaudiere - Fulton - Grimes - Sorinola
Piroe - Obafemi - Paterson

Just based on pre season. Not sure it's what I'd preferred

Manning has to be in place of Sorinola, who has looked poor in pre season.
 
I think his starting X1 yesterday is what he may start with next week. Only change maybe Fulton not starting.
 
A4Jack said:
Itchysphincter said:
I’m probably in the minority here but I’m m not keen on Naughton centrally. One of the biggest issues we have, which appears not to have been fixed, is pace. The quickest Naughton moved yesterday is when he made a sideways pass on the halfway line and then sprinted back towards our own keeper to receive the return. You can’t have that in a side with Grimes in the middle. Allen will improve maters as he will look to drive that quick one two, which is a trademark oh Grimes’s game, forward, but Kyle Naughton slows us down to walking pace whenever he plays inside.

A lot of the pre season moves in an attacking sense have been started by Naughton driving forward from the left side, but I do agree with you I think it would be better him being on the right of a back four.

Naughton would be more effective on the right with a forward looking brief.
 

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