My PL-like 25 man squad for this season

[MadAmster]

My take on last night's performance is this:


It gave Cocu the chance to rule the roost over the "2nd XI" in a "proper" setting. IMO we saw why most of them are 2nd XI players. Not that they aren't more than capable of slotting in to the 1st XI as and when needed but that, as a whole, we have a better first XI in the main.


Mitchell, Didn't have a lot to do except pick the ball out of the net twice. Not a lot he could do with the first due to the deflection. For the second he was where he should have been and got done by a very good strike.
Shinnie, Decent on the ball and not afraid to get physical when necessary. Match day 18 spot for him.
Dowell, Well in contention for a start
Martin, Isolated for much of the game until Sibley came on and got closer to him. As I mused earlier this pre season, he doesn't have the pace to play the Cocu game. Loaned out or watching from the stands I fear.
Lowe, had a good game and showed he has learned a lot about the defensive side of the game in his time at Aberdeen. His one major error was not covering Bird for their 2nd. he won't make that mistake again. Match day squad?
Anya, looked busy, did his defensive work but too limited in an attacking sense. 2nd XI.
Davies (C), I forecast he will need most of this season to get properly fit. When fit he moves gracefully. He looked ungainly at times. It will be several months before we see him in the first XI
Bird, unlucky with the deflection for the first goal and misjudged a header to let their striker in for their 2nd. Apart from that a good game.
Bateman, looked steady at right back and I wouldn't worry if he got game time (cover) in the first XI
Buchanan, Good cover and I wouldn't worry if he got in if Keogh or Evans was injured
Whittaker. Will push FloJo for a start IMO


That gives us, IMO, the following serious contenders for a match day XVIII place
Keeper - Roos, Mitchell
RB - Bogle, Bateman, Wisdom
CD - Keogh, Evans, Buchanan, Davies
LB - Malone, Lowe, Forsyth
MF - Dowell, Shinnie, Sibley, Holmes, Bird, Knight, Huddlestone
Forwards - Waghorn, Marriott, Bennett, Whittaker, Jozefzoon, Lawrence


Those would be my 25 names for the squad if limited to that number as the PL clubs are.

[Manofpride]

My take on last night's performance is this:


It gave Cocu the chance to rule the roost over the "2nd XI" in a "proper" setting. IMO we saw why most of them are 2nd XI players. Not that they aren't more than capable of slotting in to the 1st XI as and when needed but that, as a whole, we have a better first XI in the main.


Mitchell, Didn't have a lot to do except pick the ball out of the net twice. Not a lot he could do with the first due to the deflection. For the second he was where he should have been and got done by a very good strike.
Shinnie, Decent on the ball and not afraid to get physical when necessary. Match day 18 spot for him.
Dowell, Well in contention for a start
Martin, Isolated for much of the game until Sibley came on and got closer to him. As I mused earlier this pre season, he doesn't have the pace to play the Cocu game. Loaned out or watching from the stands I fear.
Lowe, had a good game and showed he has learned a lot about the defensive side of the game in his time at Aberdeen. His one major error was not covering Bird for their 2nd. he won't make that mistake again. Match day squad?
Anya, looked busy, did his defensive work but too limited in an attacking sense. 2nd XI.
Davies (C), I forecast he will need most of this season to get properly fit. When fit he moves gracefully. He looked ungainly at times. It will be several months before we see him in the first XI
Bird, unlucky with the deflection for the first goal and misjudged a header to let their striker in for their 2nd. Apart from that a good game.
Bateman, looked steady at right back and I wouldn't worry if he got game time (cover) in the first XI
Buchanan, Good cover and I wouldn't worry if he got in if Keogh or Evans was injured
Whittaker. Will push FloJo for a start IMO


That gives us, IMO, the following serious contenders for a match day XVIII place
Keeper - Roos, Mitchell
RB - Bogle, Bateman, Wisdom
CD - Keogh, Evans, Buchanan, Davies
LB - Malone, Lowe, Forsyth
MF - Dowell, Shinnie, Sibley, Holmes, Bird, Knight, Huddlestone
Forwards - Waghorn, Marriott, Bennett, Whittaker, Jozefzoon, Lawrence


Those would be my 25 names for the squad if limited to that number as the PL clubs are.

I'd agree with that, interesting now to see who comes in and what players from that 25 gets dropped?

[mistaram]

[QUOTE=MadAmster;39279041]My take on last night's performance is this:


It gave Cocu the chance to rule the roost over the "2nd XI" in a "proper" setting. IMO we saw why most of them are 2nd XI players. Not that they aren't more than capable of slotting in to the 1st XI as and when needed but that, as a whole, we have a better first XI in the main.


Mitchell, Didn't have a lot to do except pick the ball out of the net twice. Not a lot he could do with the first due to the deflection. For the second he was where he should have been and got done by a very good strike.
Shinnie, Decent on the ball and not afraid to get physical when necessary. Match day 18 spot for him.
Dowell, Well in contention for a start
Martin, Isolated for much of the game until Sibley came on and got closer to him. As I mused earlier this pre season, he doesn't have the pace to play the Cocu game. Loaned out or watching from the stands I fear.
Lowe, had a good game and showed he has learned a lot about the defensive side of the game in his time at Aberdeen. His one major error was not covering Bird for their 2nd. he won't make that mistake again. Match day squad?
Anya, looked busy, did his defensive work but too limited in an attacking sense. 2nd XI.
Davies (C), I forecast he will need most of this season to get properly fit. When fit he moves gracefully. He looked ungainly at times. It will be several months before we see him in the first XI
Bird, unlucky with the deflection for the first goal and misjudged a header to let their striker in for their 2nd. Apart from that a good game.
Bateman, looked steady at right back and I wouldn't worry if he got game time (cover) in the first XI
Buchanan, Good cover and I wouldn't worry if he got in if Keogh or Evans was injured
Whittaker. Will push FloJo for a start IMO


That gives us, IMO, the following serious contenders for a match day XVIII place
Keeper - Roos, Mitchell
RB - Bogle, Bateman, Wisdom
CD - Keogh, Evans, Buchanan, Davies
LB - Malone, Lowe, Forsyth
MF - Dowell, Shinnie, Sibley, Holmes, Bird, Knight, Huddlestone
Forwards - Waghorn, Marriott, Bennett, Whittaker, Jozefzoon, Lawrence


Those would be my 25 names for the squad if limited to that number as the PL clubs are.[/Q

MA that's a fair assessment but I could be surprised if four or five of them make a start What I find worrying though is the leaking of money still with players who will not be involved . Like Davies, Forsyth,Martin ,Wisdom, Anya, Thorne that's in the region of £150,000 a week dead money because nobody are likely to want them on loan at least not in the money they get here

[Geoff Parkstone]

But there is f*** all you can do about that wasted salary Mista, short of accidents and insurance claims!!

Every club has their own "bete noire(s)", its just that we have a few too many "projects" Forsyth must still be on insurance company books - although he has to be largely uninsurable from now on? The others might get a look in, except, presumably Martin?

[mistaram]

But there is f*** all you can do about that wasted salary Mista, short of accidents and insurance claims!!

Every club has their own "bete noire(s)", its just that we have a few too many "projects" Forsyth must still be on insurance company books - although he has to be largely uninsurable from now on? The others might get a look in, except, presumably Martin?

Geoff I was just pointing out MM was saying 20% of the wage bill last season was taken by players who contributed nothing . Well they are still here apart from 30% Hull contributed to Martin's wages nothing has changed

[Geoff Parkstone]

.......nothing has changed apart from whatever amount of net wage we were liable for on Buttercup and Blackman, who have now gone, and some of the non productive labour costs like Martin may go completely, please God. Bryson and Johnson's heavy labour costs also gone, although they did contribute last year

[mistaram]

.......nothing has changed apart from whatever amount of net wage we were liable for on Buttercup and Blackman, who have now gone, and some of the non productive labour costs like Martin may go completely, please God. Bryson and Johnson's heavy labour costs also gone, although they did contribute last year

Be surprised if Martin goes he's not going to get the wage he's on anywhere else Can imagine him sitting it out till his contract expires next June . Picking up another £1.2million not bad when you have not played a league game for the club for over two years . Wonder who gave him that contract

[Geoff Parkstone]

DCFC Army I suspect 😁