Starting X1

[rusty shackleford]

Looks close to what may actually start in the league

Starting XI: Lonergan, Richards, Hutchinson, Burn, Kavanagh, Christensen, O'Hara, Cairney, McCormack, Pringle, Smith.
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Bodurov, Kačaniklić, Voser, Tunnicliffe, Dembèlè.

[rusty shackleford]

That defence is scary though

[Mokes]

Still no Mitroglou, I guess it really is over.

[Bassey the warrior]

Betts should start.

[westcliff white]

Still no Mitroglou, I guess it really is over.

If that was the case he would have stayed in London, he only has 2 weeks of training from what I understand where as the others have had a month.

More will be known for Cardiff I reckon, if not on the bench at least then yes would seem over, as if he hasn't gone by then we should use him if he is fit.

[Black, White and Fred]

This is kind of our starting XI now isn't it? Maybe with the exception of Betts starting. That said Garbutt would likely be in for Kav and god willing Dunk in for Hutch.

[MJG]

Still no Mitroglou, I guess it really is over.

Hardly done any training so maybe not up to match fitness.

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[alexbishop]

Richards at RB still bothers me. Left back we have filled which is fine. We need two new CBs ideally.

[Rhys Lightning 63]

Richards at RB still bothers me. Left back we have filled which is fine. We need two new CBs ideally.

I reckon just the one CB. Dan Burn is fine at this level, just needs someone alongside him with experience and some proper coaching

[St Eve]

Where is Cauley?

[MJG]

Where is Cauley?

Played last game

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[FPT]

It's what I expected, and it probably is our best starting eleven. Betts played 90 minutes for the "B team" against Hertha Berlin, so no surprise that Andy Lonergan starts today - the interesting thing is the actual battle to be the first choice goalkeeper. Luke Garbutt will probably stay in London, as I'm sure we'll go back to Austria tomorrow or Monday and will take over from Sean Kavanagh for the Crystal Palace match. As I see it, it really is waiting for the quality centre back to come in and we can say we've done our needed business. Then it's looking at some players to give us more competition and options in different places - like Kevin McDonald to compete with Jamie O'Hara, maybe a right sided winger to be another 'guaranteed' option if need be rather than Larnell Cole. You could even argue that a striker is needed given three of our five are unproven and one of the other two is potentially best place as a plan B.

Our squad is in good shape given the amount of business we've had to do, and although the centre back situation is growing a little frustrating, I'm still happy with where we currently are and hope to watch another good, fluid performance this afternoon.

[Northern Cottager]

If we don' sign some CB's then the other recruitment would seem to be nullified. Kavanagh should also be nowhere near the starting 11, IMO.

[alexbishop]

Richards at RB still bothers me. Left back we have filled which is fine. We need two new CBs ideally.

I reckon just the one CB. Dan Burn is fine at this level, just needs someone alongside him with experience and some proper coaching

Yes but if Burn or new CB gets injured? Our cover is terrible. Need one new guaranteed starter and someone perhaps with experience for cover.

[Rhys Lightning 63]

Richards at RB still bothers me. Left back we have filled which is fine. We need two new CBs ideally.

I reckon just the one CB. Dan Burn is fine at this level, just needs someone alongside him with experience and some proper coaching

Yes but if Burn or new CB gets injured? Our cover is terrible. Need one new guaranteed starter and someone perhaps with experience for cover.

Now I see where you're coming from, yeah that makes sense. I thought you wanted two new starting CB's, which would mean an entirely new back 4 compared to last year (back 5 if Lonegran beats Betts out)

[Chesh]

Still no Mitroglou, I guess it really is over.

If that was the case he would have stayed in London, he only has 2 weeks of training from what I understand where as the others have had a month.

More will be known for Cardiff I reckon, if not on the bench at least then yes would seem over, as if he hasn't gone by then we should use him if he is fit.

I reckon he's being geared up to be involved against Palace.....

[Chesh]

Betts should start.

Why?

I thought all last season we could do with a stronger keeper,.

He might make the odd good save, but the Middlesbrough home game was the straw that broke the camels back for me in terms of needing stong competition for him.

Don't doubt he could be a good keeper in a few years, but at the moment, who's to say Lonergan doesn't show the better all round qualities at present?

[Ordar]

Poor goal to concede. We've been extremely poor first half. Offering nothing at all going forward.

[Northern Cottager]

This is dreadful to watch. I know it's a friendly but defensively we'd be better off with Zat Knight partnered by Mr Bean. Just looks shoddy and disorganised.

[Rhys Lightning 63]

Poor goal to concede. We've been extremely poor first half. Offering nothing at all going forward.

It was a nonsense decision though. No way shape or form was that a backpass