Originally Posted by
AucklandRover
Champs - I think you're confusing two things with your comments about Buckley. In the second half against WBA, he looked our best player. Against Millwall, he was OK, but no more. Those are comments on specific performances. I don't KNOW yet if he is ready to be a regular starter. What I'm saying is that with the arrival of Holtby, he's much less likely to get that starting-place, anyway.
Incidentally, I still reckon you're being excessively lukewarm about Downing. I really don't think you can classify him as just another Travis/Johnson. He is a far better passer than either of them, for a start. Unless he shows signs of weariness when we get into the three-matches-a-week periods, I imagine he will always be among the first names on the Mowbray team-sheet.
That being the case, and with Holtby presumably destined to be selected after about a fortnight or so, I just can't see that Buckley and R-C will get much of a look-in as starters.
It strikes me (as Robin implies) that TM has decided experience gives us the best shot of a play-off spot this season, and (whether we like them all or not!), the following look to be automatic choices:
Walton, Lenihan, Williams, Cunningham, Bennett, Downing, Holtby, Dack and one from Travis/Johnson.
That probably leaves only two places (one, if LT and BJ both play). One of those will go to either Gallagher or Graham.
At most, therefore, we have one vacancy! TM seems to favour three forwards, so we are probably also looking at either Armstrong or Rothwell in the starting XI. (And, obviously, we also have Chapman and Tosin to be considered!)
Of course, he may decide to play Holtby centrally, between a front two and a midfield three.
Whatever, the formation, I'm simply saying that it is much more likely now that Buckley and R-C will only be on the bench, and that is probably the case, even if we go for 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.
I don't think Cunningham looks much like a wing-back personally, but I can't see him being dropped very easily. Even if he was, I'd guess that Bell or Downing would be selected as the left wing-back ahead of R-C. If Bennett gets hurt, I imagine Nyambe would be first replacement on the other side as the wing-back. (Tosin??).
As you say, injuries will play a part at some point, and the likes of R-C, Buckley, Davenport, Chapman, Samuel, Hart, (etc.) provide us with far better options to draft in than we've had for years.
All the same, my guess (and that's all it is) would be that R-C and Buckley will not become regulars until next season.
(I am leaving Brereton out of all equations at the moment).