Nolan’s starting eleven

[Notts78]

I can not honestly believe some of the opinions on here. Tootle had a tough game on Saturday, he was definitely playing with fatigue, blowing out of his backside after about half an hour.
Hewitt was one of our best players last season, and looked very good on Saturday. Breaking play up and passing with composure.
Dongde He certainly looks a good prospect. However, I saw no evidence of a final ball, whether a pass, cross or shot on Saturday. He certainly plays with confidence. Is he ready? For me not yet.
4th August line up..
Fitz
Toots
Hall
Duffy
Jones

Kellett
Vaughan
Hewitt
Boldewijn

Stead
Hemmings

[ncfcog]

4th August line up..
Fitz
Toots
Hall
Duffy
Jones

Kellett
Vaughan
Hewitt
Boldewijn

Stead
Hemmings

If I had to pick the team now then yes, this would be it.

[Elite_Pie]

I can not honestly believe some of the opinions on here. Tootle had a tough game on Saturday, he was definitely playing with fatigue, blowing out of his backside after about half an hour.
Hewitt was one of our best players last season, and looked very good on Saturday. Breaking play up and passing with composure.
Dongde He certainly looks a good prospect. However, I saw no evidence of a final ball, whether a pass, cross or shot on Saturday. He certainly plays with confidence. Is he ready? For me not yet.
4th August line up..
Fitz
Toots
Hall
Duffy
Jones

Kellett
Vaughan
Hewitt
Boldewijn

Stead
Hemmings

Wow, what's that strange noise I hear? Could it be a sense of reality kicking in? The only position I find open to question in your starting XI is Kellett. I think Nolan may stick with Thomas, but I'm 50/50 on that and wouldn't be disappointed with either. Those calling for youth team players to start on the opening day really do make me wonder. I can't wait to see more of Dongda He but he is nowhere near a starting place. I remember a bloke a couple of rows behind on Saturday me saying "who's the number 20, he's useless" just before he went on that amazing run! He's far from useless, but he is still just raw material and has an awful lot to learn. I'm still waiting for Mr Balti Pie to give his reasons as to why Alex Howes merits a starting place, but I suspect I may be in for a long wait.

[Bohinen]

Those calling for youth team players to start on the opening day really do make me wonder. I can't wait to see more of Dongda He but he is nowhere near a starting place.

That's not the attitude that got Draper, Yates and Johnson into the team. Look, it's Division 4 and if he doesn't shine then we have 3 subs.

[Elite_Pie]

That's not the attitude that got Draper, Yates and Johnson into the team. Look, it's Division 4 and if he doesn't shine then we have 3 subs.

That reply assumes that the likes of Dongda He and Howes are of similar calibre to the likes of Draper, Yates and Johnson. I really, really hope that they are, but that's an extremely high bar to set. To suggest that either are ready to make the starting XI reminds me of a post made by someone last season when we were in a bad spell. Their suggestion was that we drop the entire first team and play the youth team instead on the basis that "they can't be any worse". Of course they could have been worse, and without doubt they would have been worse. I think I much prefer to leave it to Kevin Nolan.

[Bohinen]

That reply assumes that the likes of Dongda He and Howes are of similar calibre to the likes of Draper, Yates and Johnson. I really, really hope that they are, but that's an extremely high bar to set. To suggest that either are ready to make the starting XI reminds me of a post made by someone last season when we were in a bad spell. Their suggestion was that we drop the entire first team and play the youth team instead on the basis that "they can't be any worse". Of course they could have been worse, and without doubt they would have been worse. I think I much prefer to leave it to Kevin Nolan.

Well, we could all leave it to Kevin Nolan and then we wouldn't need threads like this. I deliberately put forward a team to cause discussion, that's all. I didn't think it would cause outrage. I wouldn't necessary pick that team, I said I liked the anticlough 4-3-3 one with Kellett. But then where does Husin play, or any of the other midfielders we've brought in like Crawford, Patching, Ox.

I sometimes worry if KN is brave enough to pick these lads. I know he's a safe pair of hands, but he has to be more adventurous. I don't want him sacked, before further outrage ensues, I just want him to learn from last season and progress. It has to be a little different this year else the end result will be the same. He'll go 4-4-2 with Stead, btw.

[Elite_Pie]

He'll go 4-4-2 with Stead, btw.

I agree, and judging from what I've seen pre-season (all 4 games) that has to be the sensible option. I really hope Nolan does all he can to bring the young players forward this season, but to suggest they merit a starting place on the first day is lunacy in my opinion*.

* That opinion is based on discussion rather than outrage. I'm basically a logical sort of person, I leave outrage to the drama queens.