Your team vs QPR?
After some of the utter lethargy in the first half today, I'd go for your suggested line up. Horgan and Burke made a big difference in the second half.
Swap Rudd for Maxwell and I agree
It seems pretty clear that the team that started today will be the team for QPR. Only shout i'd give for otherwise is the fact that burke will be much sharper than the opposition for the opening couple of weeks with him being midseason in terms of fitness. Otherwise our strongest side for the competition we are up against is the side that started today.
Rudd
Fisher
Hunts
Davies
Hughes
Pearson
Browne
Barky
Harrop
Robinson
Maguire
Rudd
Fisher
Hunts
Davies
Hughes
Pearson
Browne
Barky
Harrop
Robinson
Maguire
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Pearson plus 10 others.Way too much competition for all the other places and AN has his work cut out just deciding who doesnt make the matchday squad apart from Bodin who is suspended.
Can't wait for it to start for real.
Can't wait for it to start for real.
You see I don't think that it is that clear cut and to me, it certainly isn't obvious that today's starting XI will be the starters for me.
Obviously it is all about opinion and I don't think Harrop has done enough to start...I think Burke deserves the nod. I don't know if i'd play Browne in the deep role as I think Gallagher is missed when he doesn't play as he makes things tick and is fantastic at set-pieces, but I also wouldn't rule out Ledson as he has looked good in pre-season.
Great headache for AN to have.
This is what I'm expecting. The only way I think it would have been different is if Bodin hadn't been suspended he would have started on the right.
Its whether neil wants to gamble. We've seen 60 minutes from most so far and normally against different levels of sides. QPR are coming full strength and i fully expect us to go with what we know and players who we know are comfortable at the level, especially in the opening weeks to get the best start we can. Like you say interesting to see if he goes with the unknowns in Burke and Ledson and throws them in or takes the approach i expect him too and eases them into Championship football over the month. Think Hughes is a different matter.
Fair post to be honest and it wouldn't surprise me nor would it bother me if Neil took this approach. As you say, Hughes is a different matter - I think the lb spot is defo his as he looks far better than Earl at the moment - as Earl is still developing.
Can anyone else see earl being used as a left winger at some point in his career ala bale? I think he's got a fantastic future ahead but at LB i think he gets caught out positionally fairly often and also lacks concentration/tracking a man. Eg Brentford at home last season. He's tall, comfortable on the ball and not exactly slow with the bonus of being around 6ft so maybe he could develop this way?? I do think he is better going forward than defensively. Just a thought.
If we do start with the same eleven as today then I hope we will switch Barkhuizen and Robinson around. Yes I know Robinson is better on the left than on the right but he can still be effective on the right. In contrast Barkhuizen changes from being a very ordinary player when on the right to one who can be almost unplayable when on the left. Otherwise I think I would still give the nod to Harrop - Burke has looked good I admit but I have a feeling that he will still need a few appearances from the bench just to get a feel for the pace of the Championship. I just wonder if the slight sloppiness in our defence on occasion might make AN think that Clarke's leadership might be better for the team overall than Huntington's long legs. Definite starters you imagine are Fisher, Hughes, Pearson, Browne and Maguire. Otherwise probably Davies unless AN decides to prefer Clarke over him and one or other of Robinson and Barkhuizen though it will probably be both. The posers for AN are: Maxwell or Rudd; which two of Huntington, Clarke and Davies; which one of Harrop, Gallagher and Burke; and whether to persist with Robinson and Barkhuizen or give Horgan a start at the expense of one of them.
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Interesting post match interview with Neil on the website. Said today’s performances have given him some second thoughts on his plans for next sat.
https://www.pnefc.net/news/2018/july/alexneiloldham/
https://www.pnefc.net/news/2018/july/alexneiloldham/
Think he is quite poor going forward, tbh. If anything, I can see him being used as a centre back - has all the ingredients of a modern centre back.
If I was the gaffer, I’d do...
Rudd
Fisher
Hunts
Davies
Hughes
Pearson
Ledson
Horgan
Burke
Robinson
Maguire
Rudd
Fisher
Hunts
Davies
Hughes
Pearson
Ledson
Horgan
Burke
Robinson
Maguire
I think it will be today's team except Burke for Harrop.
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I will go with that except Browne for Ledson
Interesting that Earl sees himself more as an attacker than defender.....not really played as a LB for more than the odd season...... though I think the coaches saw him as a defender too.
today he never really got out of his trackies so clearly isnt feeling fully fit yet - which means Hughes is certain to start as LB..
not sure the 'multiple player of the year' would be left out of the first game !.....
Time will tell if Maguire is fit as it looks like the same injury that kept him out of the Irish friendly this summer....
Neil was very loyal to Barky last season - will he drop that loyalty in game 1 ?? on form I can agree with you about Horgan,,,,