Guest Bushel o' Bricks Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 With the new league campaign just over a week away and a fair amount of transfer business done and dusted, how's your team shaping up for the new season?There has been quite a turnover of players this summer at Fir Park as 16 left the club in the aftermath of the play-off victory; however, most of these were fringe/squad players and didn't really weaken the team in that regard. The loss of John Sutton and Lee Erwin was a blow as it initially left us short in the attacking department, but we've filled those gaps with David Clarkson and Scott McDonald - our striking partnership from ten years ago - returning to the club. The team therefore has an 'old school' feel with these two likely to start up front along with Lasley and Pearson as our midfield partnership:------------------Twardzik------------------Law-----Laing-----McManus-----HammellAinsworth---Lasley---Pearson---Johnson-----------Clarkson---McDonald-----------On paper this looks like a decent starting eleven. It's the formation that was used to such devastating effect in the play-off as Ainsworth and Johnson tore their defence to shreds with fast-paced counter attacks. Granted, the standard of opposition we'll face in the Premiership on a weekly basis is considerably higher than that offered by Sevco, but I feel these two have the potential to unlock defences and created chances for the new (old) striking partnership. In defence, McManus was a weak link for much of last season before going some way to redeem himself with an outstanding performance at Ibrox; we've signed Kieran Kennedy as a backup option in case he's not up to the mark again. Twardzik is a much better option in goals than George Long who was directly responsible for giving away several cheap goals in his short loan spell.The team looks decent enough, but it's very difficult to make any predictions about how well we'll do as all the teams outwith Celtic can beat each other on their day. Certainly, I can't imagine anyone would have predicted us going from 2nd to 11th in the space of a year. Hopefully it won't come to that this time - although if it means another demolition of Sevco in the play-off, I won't be complaining!What's your team's strongest/most likely starting eleven for the new campaign? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebonce Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 In the opener at Celtic, I expect: Scott Fox Marcus Fraser | Scott Boyd | Andrew Davies | Jamie Reckord Michael Gardyne | Stewart Murdoch | Ian McShane | Raffa De Vita Jon Franks Craig Curran That's the first choice back 9, plus two grafters up front to hound the Celtic defence. I'm guessing that purely on a hunch because it was the strarting XI in a recent friendly. Tony Dingwall didn't play in that friendly due to shin splints but I have also have a hunch that the team was built for him in behind Curran and perhaps Jim was thinking of Dingwall for the Celtic game. Jim tends to go for an extra central midfielder in a 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 shape against Celtic, but there's been no hint of that formation in pre-season so far. Maybe this Saturday's friendly will tell us more. By fixture #2, I expect Brian Graham or Liam Boyce to be starting instead of Franks. Boyce and Graham are on paper the best forwards, so you would expect them to play together, yet Curran's workrate tends to be the glue that keeps the 4-4-2 system together. Fox Fraser Boyd Davies Reckord Gardyne Murdoch McShane De Vita Graham Boyce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estragon Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 ------------------------------MacDonald------------------------------- Westlake------ Connolly---------- Zaliukas ---------------Smith -----------------Slater ------------------Robinson-------------------- McKenzie----------------------------------------------------Obadeyi ----------------Higginbotham------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------Boyd------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Tough for us as, unlike last season, we actually have options all over the park. I'd also argue that we could easily line up either 4-4-2 or 4-5-1/4-3-3 without too many issues. I'd personally like to see us go 4-3-3, in a similar fashion to the year Lomas took us to third with the following; Mannus Mackay Anderson Wright Easton Davidson Millar Craig Wotherspoon Sutton O'Halloran Millar sitting in, with Craig and Davidson allowed a little more freedom to push forward. I'd ask Craig to help cover the left back and allow O'Halloran to attack more than defend - his pace is incredibly dangerous, particularly on the break. That solid base also allows Wotherspoon and O'Halloran to drift, which has caused teams a lot of trouble in the past. If we want to go 4-4-2, move Craig to the left, Spoony back a bit and O'Halloran through the middle beside Sutton. We've got so many players missing out with that line up though - Clark, Shaughnessy, McKay, Scobbie, Caddis, Brown, Lappin, Cummins, Kane and Maclean will all fancy their chances of getting into the team and staying there. We still have a winger to bring in too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeboy Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Scott Bain, 9 Kevin Thomson's and one Luka Tankulic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mik Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Probably.... GordonLustig Boyata VVD Izzy Brown BittonGMS Armstrong JohansenGriffiths* *Until biteys ban is lifted most likely Hopefully Deila favours GMS over the utterly overrated James Forrest. Still need a decent LB. Izzy is alright on the overlap but absolutely sh*te at being a defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 "Twardzik is a much better option in goals than George Long who was directly responsible for giving away several cheap goals in his short loan spell." Because Dan didn't/doesn't give away cheap goals? We picked up more points and conceded less with Long in goals. There's a reason we're looking for another goalkeeper and it's not as a backup to Dan. We've apparently got at least another two signings to go, a goalkeeper and a centre midfielder assuming we get those deals done then it's doubtful Twardzik will be in goals for the first game of the season. I doubt Clarkson will start either it'll be one of either Moult or Fletcher. I don't see much of a change in the back as those 4 have played together and the midfield picks itself at the moment. GK TBC (Twardzik if we haven't brought anyone in) Law Laing McManus Hammell Ainsworth Lasley Pearson Johnson McDonald Moult Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Cerny Miller-Frans-Seaborne-Booth Osman - Bannigan Lawless - Stevenson - Amoo Doolan I would expect that with what we have just now. Even with new signings which there hopefully will be, the only change I can see is Doolan dropping out for a new striker, and maybe Amoo and Lawless switching wings since I'm not sure what side Amoo actually plays on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuctifano Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Cerny Miller Frans Seaborne Booth Osman Bannigan Amoo Stevenson Lawless Doolan (that won't be the line up on day 1 as Lawless is suspended and Stevenson / Seaborne may not be fit). As much as I love Dools, we need another striker to rotate with him but I think we'll probably end up getting someone in on loan on August 31st having persevered with Doolan or Stevenson up front for the first few games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slacker Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Correct. Although Amoo will be on the right. Lawless is suspended for the opener so his place will probably go to Elliott, maybe McDaid. Seaborne's not played a minute of pre-season yet so I'd imagine Lindsay will start if he's not fit yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Considering Reynolds is injured at the moment: Ward Logan - Considine - Taylor - Shinnie Pawlett - Jack - McLean - Hayes McGinn Rooney Goodwillie has quite a bit to prove this season but he was decent last Thursday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nizzy Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Seaborne's not played a minute of pre-season yet so I'd imagine Lindsay will start if he's not fit yet. He played against Dumbarton. Lindsay didn't make Saturday's squad because of injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphyscot Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Even though we lost a few of our key men over the summer. I still believe we have decent enough players to progress in europe and push for top 6, and retain te cup Strongest starting 11 would probably be --------------------------------------------------ESSON (Brill, when fit)------------------------------------------ -------------RAVEN----------------MEEKINGS------------WARREN-----------------TREMARCO---------- -----------------------------DRAPER----------------------------------------TANSEY-------------------------------- ------------DORAN------------------------------CHRISTIE-----------------------------ROBERTS----------- -------------------------------------------------FORAN/LOPEZ--------------------------------------------------------- And bench would be Ferguson, Brown, Devine, O.F.Williams/Esson, Vincent, Wedderburn, Lopez/Foran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P45 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Welsh will probably play somewhere if he's fit. He's still the club captain, and Archie has a massive boner for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teesside Accie Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 McGovern Gordon-Garcia Tena-Lucas-Kurakins Imrie-Gillespie-Mackinnon-Redmond Kurtaj Morris/Nade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Belt Caley Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Think ours will be along the lines of Fon Williams Raven Meekings Warren Tremarco(although I liked Williams playing there) Draper Tansey Christie Vincent Doran Lopez Brill could be back in goals once he's fit, Roberts will challenge Doran for a place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumigoo Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 I don't really know to be honest (and I don't know if JMc does either!). I've tried to start writing out a team but then keep on changing it. I suppose it depends on how good some of the new signings are but we also have a large number of still pretty unproven youngsters who will feature this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killienick Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 --------------------Macdonald------------------ Westlake----Findlay----Connolly-----Smith ----------O'Hara----------Robinson------------ Magennis----------Higgy------------Obidayi ----------------------Boyd--------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La_Leyenda Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Even with Reynolds fit, I think Considine might have nailed a centre-back position by then rather than being moved to accommodate him. He was outstanding in Croatia, and as good as he's been at LB he's not going to get up and down the pitch as well as Shinnie. I would actually like to see Pawlett being given a deeper role alongside Jack, with McLean playing off the striker, but it's unlikely to happen. Either Flood or Robson will partner Jack when Shinnie is in defence. Ward Logan Taylor Considine Shinnie Jack Flood McGinn Pawlett/McLean Hayes Rooney Brown, Quinn, Smith, Robson, Shankland, Goodwillie gives us a very strong bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deefiant Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 GK – Scott Bain RB – Paul McGinn CB – James McPake CB – Thomas Konrad LB – Kevin Holt CM – Paul McGowan CM – Kevin Thomson AM/LC – Greg Stewart AMC – Gary Harkins AM/RC – Nick Ross ST – Kane Hemmings Sorry for the champ man positions but we don't really have any width so I expect our "wide" midfield options to be quite narrow with full backs bombing on - we need to be careful leaving space behind as we suffered with this last season..... Holt is apparently dece at getting forward although McGinn could do some work on it - option of Gary Irvine / Cammy Kerr as cover - Irvine may even start.... CH is a conundrum. Konrad/McPake have their flaws but did ok last season and are solid enough if not amazing. Meggatt and Julen as cover although a lot of people expect Julen to start - I have seen 0 of him so far so don't feel comfortable replacing Konrad with him. We also have Gadzhalov who I would happily nevr se on the park. Thomson is different gravy on his day, McGowan IMO our most important player last season. When Thommo is broken and Gowser is in Bell Street nick we have Nicky Low and perma crock Simon Ferry as cover - IMO we could do with another player but Jimmy Mac knocked us back, as did S. McGinn. Gadzhalov can apparently play here - I'd rather play his Mrs. We also have Harkins who could drop back as well as could Ross. Greg Stewart was immense from the left last season and shite when up top - no brainer. Ross looks a good player and Caley fans have said he can play on the right in a pinch. Cover is non existent for either wing really - Phil fucking Roberts is our only natural width. Tankulic could probably be thrown in one of the gaps, same for Loy but no naturals. Hemmings is my pick of the forwards based on watching him against us. Loy as back up, Tankulic in the mix as well. The main difference from last season is that all 3 can move - worlds apart from Clarkson & Heffernan. I'd rather see the Tank deeper but, despite my adamant stance their is a player in there - I just don't think its gonna work out for him. My main concern is Scot Bain. Not his ability - I wouldn't swap him for anyone in the league bar Gordon, but the fact that he came to us injured, missed a few games mid season with injury, then finished the season injured. Our back up is no longer a proven premier league keeper, its a midget who I have seen ver little of and have no faith in based on reports from others and reports on his performance vs Brechin.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.