Our best 11 ?

[stokearab]

As a matter of interest could anyone post here the starting eleven for our league cup games and today's friendly?

I'd be interested to see if he started the same 11 more than once.

[Chick A Saw]

As a matter of interest could anyone post here the starting eleven for our league cup games and today's friendly?

I'd be interested to see if he started the same 11 more than once.

Short answer, no to both! But give the teams a go off the top of me head.

Benji, Benji, Deniz, Benji, Deniz.
Smith, Watson, Smith, Smith, Watson.
Connolly, Connolly, Connolly, Watson, Butcher.
Reynolds, Reynolds, Reynolds, Reynolds, Frans.
Sporle, Robson, Sporle, Sporle, Robson.
Bouhenna, Butcher, Butcher, Butcher, King.
Stanton, Harkes, Stanton, Stanton, Harkes.
McMullan all?
Shankland, Shankland, Shankland, Shankland, Appere.
Robson, Chalmers, Banks, Banks, Chalmers.
Not sure about Clark and Appere starts, but C Smith was in today.

Watson got his LC chances for injury and suspension, Bouhenna disappeared and anything else looks like giving game time.

[stokearab]

Thanks Chick. Cyber pint on it's way to you!

Not sure if it confirms my thinking or not, ie a lot of chopping and changing in the run up to ICT in the league.

The back 5 will be predictable as will the front (ish) 2 of Clark and Shankland unless Banks or Appere is edging Clark out.... Butcher you would imagine will start at DM. McMullan will be played out of position (?) as a winger. That's 9, so leaves 2 for Robbie to fill. The creative midfielders that we haven't got? Unless King is regal in possession of course.
Be interesting to see what happens. We need to win!

[GUNBOAT]

The East Fife result has put the team under pressure before a ball has been kicked in anger in the league.It was self inflicted of course by the players and management.There must have been a decent bonus on offer to qualify into the knockout round's of the League Cup so i cannot understand why the players could not pass the ball to each other or deliver crosses into the box.
Why can Forfar Athletic qualify from a harder group than we had?,did their American owner put in more money than our's?.

[Mecca_Sheikh]

The East Fife result has put the team under pressure before a ball has been kicked in anger in the league.It was self inflicted of course by the players and management.There must have been a decent bonus on offer to qualify into the knockout round's of the League Cup so i cannot understand why the players could not pass the ball to each other or deliver crosses into the box.
Why can Forfar Athletic qualify from a harder group than we had?,did their American owner put in more money than our's?.

Money does not win games, GB.

Desire, skill and grit does. Money can enhance these, but it does not win games.

[RAM1971]

I am beginning to wonder if we over prepare for games, mentally and physically. I have no information to back this up but there are a lot more expectations on DUFC than any other team in our league. Is there a common denominator over the last 3-4 seasons? Why do we have less gas in the tank than not only our league competitors, but those from lower divisions? Either we are soft as the stuff you don't want to stand in, or we're drained?

Are we overdoing the 'getting fit' preparations?

[TerryTheTerror]

Short answer, no to both! But give the teams a go off the top of me head.

Benji, Benji, Deniz, Benji, Deniz.
Smith, Watson, Smith, Smith, Watson.
Connolly, Connolly, Connolly, Watson, Butcher.
Reynolds, Reynolds, Reynolds, Reynolds, Frans.
Sporle, Robson, Sporle, Sporle, Robson.
Bouhenna, Butcher, Butcher, Butcher, King.
Stanton, Harkes, Stanton, Stanton, Harkes.
McMullan all?
Shankland, Shankland, Shankland, Shankland, Appere.
Robson, Chalmers, Banks, Banks, Chalmers.
Not sure about Clark and Appere starts, but C Smith was in today.

Watson got his LC chances for injury and suspension, Bouhenna disappeared and anything else looks like giving game time.

Pretty clear evidence that Robbie was treating the competition as pre-season IMHO.

[tHeArAb]

Pretty clear evidence that Robbie was treating the competition as pre-season IMHO.

Does he have a choice tho, really? We'd have to start pre-season games mid June if we were to go into the Betfred with a settled, match fit starting 11. It's ridiculous the timing of this competition.

[TerryTheTerror]

I totally agree, no he doesn't. The whole structure of the League Cup group stages is a farce because of this.

[shedka]

In a 4231

Benji
Smith Connelly Reynolds Sporle
Butcher Harkes
Mcmullan C. Smith Pawlett
Shankland


In a 433 (good option to go from defence to attack and be solid)

Benji
Smith Connelly Reynolds Sporle
King Butcher Harkes
Mcmullan Shankland Pawlett