Midfield Selection

[AucklandRover]

Right, assuming Mulgrew is still with us, it looks as if he's going to be used as a centre-back. If no-one else comes in or leaves, that gives us the following options in midfield:
Feeney (Wide Right)
Bennett (Wide Right)
Smallwood (Holding Midfield)
Evans (Holding Midfield)
Whittingham (Creative Midfield)
Tomlinson (Creative Midfield)
Dack (Attacking Midfield)
Gladwin (Attacking Midfield/Wide Left)
Conway (Wide Left)

[Some of the players are versatile enough to switch].

In the games where we go 4-4-2, which four would you pick?

In the first game, Craig Conway will probably be unavailable, and it looks as if Dack might be at the front (unless Samuels has impressed in training), so I would probably pick the following (lots of guesswork!):

Raya
Caddis/Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Williams
BENNETT SMALLWOOD WHITTINGHAM GLADWIN
Dack Graham

(Caddis and Nyambe: too close to call).

[robinrover]

Yes I agree with that formation
Maybe nyambe just to get the nod but I also agree its a close call.

[Bobcrompton1896]

Yes thats o.k. Maybe have Chapman on the bench to come on and shovel Bennett further forward if required late on,with Samuel the other bench option. So agree with starting line-up and substitutes: Leutwiler,Caddis,Ward,Evans,Chapman,Feeney,and Samuels.

[robinrover]

I would be tempted to start Chapman because of the recent knock gladwin picked up
The main worry is at the back
If mulgrew,lenihan and Wharton are still out we face nyambe and ward at the back and even though it was only a friendly Carlisle had fun against those 2.

[AucklandRover]

I would be tempted to start Chapman because of the recent knock gladwin picked up
The main worry is at the back
If mulgrew,lenihan and Wharton are still out we face nyambe and ward at the back and even though it was only a friendly Carlisle had fun against those 2.

Reading between the lines, Robin, it sounds as if only Conway will be unavailable. TM seems to be saying that Chapman will have to train and watch for a couple of weeks before he gets a chance, which is fair enough. I was interested by what Chapman had to say about the five style-points Mowbray has briefed him on. In particular, I like the sound of "pressing high" when the ball is lost. Too often, in recent years, we have had this tendency to defend too deep. It appears that TM wants quicker intervention. I assume he has been insisting on very high fitness levels to make this possible.