Team for Saturday

[AucklandRover]

I'm pretty sure we won't see much in the way of experiment (although TM has caught me out several times before now!).
I see that lots of people elsewhere are predicting a start for Bell and a back three.
I suspect we will go with a back four and the two "holding" midfielders, with Bennett, Dack, Graham and Samuel in front of Smallwood and Evans.
How about this as a slightly adjusted alternative:
Raya
Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Willams
Bennett Smallwood Evans Conway
Dack
Graham
?

Given that Bennett and Conway are both a-bob-each-way players, in terms of attack and defence, I reckon that line-up could work, with the relevant full-back moving up to fill the gap for whichever winger has gone into the area as an extra attacker.
Any thoughts?

[robinrover]

I think a back 3 of lenihan mulgrew Williams
2 wing backs Nyambe and bell
2 holding midfielders Evans and Smallwood
Finally a 3 prong attack of Samuel dack and Graham

With a strong bench as well
Leutwiller
Travis
Downing
Bennett
Davenport
Palmer
Nuttall/New city lad

[AucklandRover]

I think a back 3 of lenihan mulgrew Williams
2 wing backs Nyambe and bell
2 holding midfielders Evans and Smallwood
Finally a 3 prong attack of Samuel dack and Graham

With a strong bench as well
Leutwiller
Travis
Downing
Bennett
Davenport
Palmer
Nuttall/New city lad

I see what you're saying, Robin, but it would be tough to drop one of our most consistent players, Bennett.

[champs95]

We wont start with 3 at the back away from home on opening day playing a side who will come out and attack, certainly because they are at home, and also because they are playing in front of their home crowd withy their new manager.

4 at the back
Nyambe - Lenihan - Mulgrew - Williams
2 holding
Smallwood Evans
in front of them
RM - Bennett LM - Palmer
Dack
Graham

[AucklandRover]

We wont start with 3 at the back away from home on opening day playing a side who will come out and attack, certainly because they are at home, and also because they are playing in front of their home crowd withy their new manager.

4 at the back
Nyambe - Lenihan - Mulgrew - Williams
2 holding
Smallwood Evans
in front of them
RM - Bennett LM - Palmer
Dack
Graham

I was wondering if he might throw Palmer straight in too. I doubt it, because TM seems to be a great believer in players fully understanding his style and team-systems. On the other hand, this is not a signing like Harper or Hart. Palmer already has more Championship experience than most of our players!
Mowbray does seem quite intent on giving Samuel a chance to prove himself - possibly because it has been such a struggle to sign a new centre-forward. It would be excellent if he suddenly found form. A lot of fans have put him down, but I thought he was still good in spells last year, even when things weren't going his way. All through my football-watching life, I have seen strikers go through bad patches and then suddenly come to life. There aren't many Shearers in terms of consistency. As I've said before, Samuel would probably do best in an old-fashioned 4-4-2 with twin strikers, but with TM favouring roaming No.10s like Dack (and Palmer?), we are not going to see that set-up. This is an issue for Nuttall in the same way. If we do get another proven striker in, it will be interesting to see if the pattern changes. More likely is that the new player would be cover for Graham, to begin with, perhaps getting the final half-hour in each game.

[champs95]

I was wondering if he might throw Palmer straight in too. I doubt it, because TM seems to be a great believer in players fully understanding his style and team-systems. On the other hand, this is not a signing like Harper or Hart. Palmer already has more Championship experience than most of our players!
Mowbray does seem quite intent on giving Samuel a chance to prove himself - possibly because it has been such a struggle to sign a new centre-forward. It would be excellent if he suddenly found form. A lot of fans have put him down, but I thought he was still good in spells last year, even when things weren't going his way. All through my football-watching life, I have seen strikers go through bad patches and then suddenly come to life. There aren't many Shearers in terms of consistency. As I've said before, Samuel would probably do best in an old-fashioned 4-4-2 with twin strikers, but with TM favouring roaming No.10s like Dack (and Palmer?), we are not going to see that set-up. This is an issue for Nuttall in the same way. If we do get another proven striker in, it will be interesting to see if the pattern changes. More likely is that the new player would be cover for Graham, to begin with, perhaps getting the final half-hour in each game.

It's unlikely Palmer plays. As TM has said he isn't fit yet. Check his comments about the new Chelsea managers training regime!! Funny. Not so much for us, we need him.
Davenport will be missing. He picked up an injury last week at Accy.

[champs95]

I think tomorrow it will be

Raya
Back 4
Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Williams
Holding
Smallwood Evans
Bennett right of them
Samuel and Dack just behind Graham.

[AucklandRover]

I think tomorrow it will be

Raya
Back 4
Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Williams
Holding
Smallwood Evans
Bennett right of them
Samuel and Dack just behind Graham.

Very probable.
Palmer for the last half-hour?

[champs95]

I think they will try not to play him as he hasn't played over summer. If it looks like we are going to get a decent result he may not feature

[AucklandRover]

Just watched to the end of that brilliant test-match. Off to bed now, and the up early to watch the iFollow replay of the Rovers game.
I might get up early a few times this season and watch live, but busy day tomorrow, so just the replay.
Here's hoping!
My friends in Ipswich will be unbearable if we lose, so, until I know the result, it's phones off as well!