I don't expect to see Tootle, unfortunately.
My choice:
Collin (if fit)
Tootle (if fit) Duffy Brisley Jones
Hawkridge Noble Hewitt Grant
Stead Forte
I don't expect to see Tootle, unfortunately.
Or Forte
What's Rob Milsom's current status? If he's no longer injured I would pick him over Noble.
I'd expect 4-5-1. This is the type of game we'll play as the away team and pack the midfield. Hard to name a team with quite a few uncertainties.
I think he's got a pretty bad injury, Nolan said he wouldn't be leaving anywhere in January as he wouldn't be fit and was going to see a specialist in one of his pre or post match press conferences.
Collin (if fit, as others have said, if not then obviously Pindroch)
Hunt ---- Duffy ---- Brisley ---- Jones
---------- Hewit ----- Noble
---- Grant --- Stead ---Allessandra
-------------- Ameobi
Personally I'm not sure he'll use the game against Premiership opposition to go back to 4-4-2 and I'm not really sure he should do, if ever there was a game for a 5 man midfield or two holding midfielders this is probably it. That selection easily changes to 4-4-2 though and minus Tootle I think it's the strongest 11 players we can put out, Hawkridge runs Lewis close occasionally but I just think Allessandra is a better footballer.
I think Hawk plays best when linking up with Toots down the right flank, their overlap play has been a highlight this season and sorely missed whilst Toots has been out of the team.
If Collin is anywhere fit he will play him, likewise Toots.
Team I would like to see:
Collin
Tootle Brisley Duffy Dicko
Hawk Noble Hewitt Alessandra
Grant
Shola or Stead (I’m torn)
More likely be:
Collin
Hunt Brisley Duffy Jones
Hewitt Husin
Alessandra Noble Grant
Stead
Hunt up against Jordan Ayew is a scary thought.
I think he'll start Shola today and go 4-4-2. We might as well bypass midfield and get the ball forward early rather than playing triangles for a couple of minutes and then smashing it long to an isolated Stead. But then again Shola might not be fully fit (still), so we may well end up playing 4-5-1 anyway.
I expect this as well. Moving to a 4-5-1 has been a disaster since Lincoln but I can understand it getting another outing today. I wouldn't like to see both strikers struggling with prem-standard markers while we get overrun in midfield. But as always 5 mids doesn't mean one or two of them can drift out of the game or not get forward to offer support and try to play in their half. All 5 will have to be on top of their games
Swans have Arsenal on Tuesday doubt his better players will start although they should have enough to turn us over if we continue our recent form/formation.