The Summer Evolution: Your CURRENT best XI

[CapeTownRams]

Tbh I’m worried about the real lack of creativity in midfield …don’t see any of our current players playing those defence-splitting passes…

[Norman]

5 minutes ago, caymanram said:

Tbh I’m worried about the real lack of creativity in midfield …don’t see any of our current players playing those defence-splitting passes…

Most of our goals are going to come from crosses and the rest mainly from a high press and capitalising on mistakes it creates - as well as from set pieces we win.

I don't think defence-splitting passes will be much of a feature, imo.

[Caerphilly Ram]

44 minutes ago, trekkie_ram said:

So what do we need to get to where we were last season (as a minimum)?

I’m feeling forgetful in my old age, so what have we lost (or didn’t have) that we haven’t replaced yet?

A right back - we didn’t have one

A midfielder (replacing White and/or Knight)

Wingers?

is that it? And everything else is gravy?

Given the fact we still have a full loan allowance, and that window doesn’t get busy until later on, we’re in a good place.

In terms of who we’ve lost from the squad that finished last season and who has replaced them I think it’s as follows (and I know Washington isn’t the goals of McGoldrick but he’s a player in a shirt);

GK - McGee replaced by Vickers

CB - Davies, Chester and Stearman replaced by Bradley and Nelson so could argue for one more here or hope the lad from the academy or a switch to 4 at the back would cover injuries/suspension, though we do have Foz and Rooney.

LB/LWB - Roberts replaced by Elder, Foz/Sibley and Barks can cover but arguably we’d want specialist cover.

RB/RWB - played Smith, Knight and NML there out of position, we’ve signed Ward. Again need cover (ideally someone who could play left or right side?) but there’s options within the squad if desperate.

CM - White and probably Knight gone, not signed anyone new, but Smith not being needed at rb almost adds another body in there. Would like to see us add another option if/when Knight goes.

AM/WF - Dobbin and Springett gone, not replaced yet, though arguably we won’t play with typical wingers/wide forwards due to the wing backs so if Warne did want to/realises he can change the formation we do still have NML/Ward and Barkhuizen/Sibley for the right and left sides.

CF - McGoldrick gone with Washington coming in. We were short up front at the end of the season so ideally this is where we’ll spend what we can and/or pick up one of the few other free strikers left out there to add 1 or 2 more options up top.

Looks like we need 1 or 2 more strikers, 1 or 2 more wing backs, and another in midfield. 3 more players as a bare minimum, ideally 5 more? And hopefully some more options added to the u21s to step up in the pizza cup etc. And there’s always the potential for further outgoings. We’ve got a solid core to the squad but there’s still work to do. 

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Caerphilly Ram

[Ram1988]

Hard to call if we are going to play a 352, 3412 or a 343 (with inside fowards or number 10's). 

Either way our our back 3 looks solid now.

[dcfcreece1601]

2 minutes ago, Ram1988 said:

Hard to call if we are going to play a 352, 3412 or a 343 (with inside fowards or number 10's). 

Either way our our back 3 looks solid now.

Don't see where they all fit in, elder and ward are clearly wing backs in a 5 man Defence but if we are playing 2 strikers which I think he will , then where do NML and barkhuizen go? Confused 😂

[Caerphilly Ram]

2 minutes ago, Ram1988 said:

Hard to call if we are going to play a 352, 3412 or a 343 (with inside fowards or number 10's). 

Either way our our back 3 looks solid now.

What I do like (and there’s the obvious questions as to whether Warne will realise it himself….personal view is that he will but I know some have doubts) is that there is that flexibility in the squad. We could arguably play any of the formations you mention and a number of formations with a back 4. 
As you say, we seem to have solid defensive options plus 2 good keepers for this level who’ll push each other. 

[Caerphilly Ram]

2 minutes ago, dcfcreece1601 said:

Don't see where they all fit in, elder and ward are clearly wing backs in a 5 man Defence but if we are playing 2 strikers which I think he will , then where do NML and barkhuizen go? Confused 😂

If we went 3-4-3 they’d possibly be the two wide forwards with Collins or Washington from our current options through the middle. 3-4-2-1 like we ended the season they could play as the two behind the central striker, both capable of doing so in my own limited view.
Elder and Ward would then play either side of the “midfield” 4 in either of those formations, essentially still the wingback role, overlapping and creating space/crosses/passes for the 3 forwards. It’s got some real potential if the players buy into it and can make it work on the pitch.

[dcfcreece1601]

2 minutes ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

If we went 3-4-3 they’d possibly be the two wide forwards with Collins or Washington from our current options through the middle. 3-4-2-1 like we ended the season they could play as the two behind the central striker, both capable of doing so in my own limited view.
Elder and Ward would then play either side of the “midfield” 4 in either of those formations, essentially still the wingback role, overlapping and creating space/crosses/passes for the 3 forwards. It’s got some real potential if the players buy into it and can make it work on the pitch.

So 3 centre backs with 2 centre mids and 2 wing backs and 2 centre attacking midfielders behind 1 striker? Sounds tasty but think he'll want 2 strikers 

[Caerphilly Ram]

2 minutes ago, dcfcreece1601 said:

So 3 centre backs with 2 centre mids and 2 wing backs and 2 centre attacking midfielders behind 1 striker? Sounds tasty but think he'll want 2 strikers 

That’s how we ended last season. Back 3 of Cashin, Davies and Forsyth with Knight and Roberts at wing back, Bird and Hourihane in midfield and Sibley/NML playing behind McGoldrick. I think with a pressing cf like Washington and actual wingbacks in the squad, plus a solid and slightly more athletic back 3 of Nelson, Bradley and Cashin it could work really well. But we still need more signings. 
And yeah I think you’re right, it’ll be a front 2, so more a 3-5-2, but good to see we have options. 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Caerphilly Ram

[Old Spalding Ram]

The story so far.

Well the back 6 is sorted

Gotta play two up front in this league, so that’s Collins and Washington.

Then perm any three from Smith, Bird, Hourihane, Sibley, Knight, Barkhuizen, Thomson & Mendez-Laing.

Personally, Smith in front the back three, Sibley & Hourihane behind the front two.

                                                       Wildsmith.

                            Nelson.                 Bradley.               Cashin.

          Ward.                                       Smith                                  Elder.

                               Sibley                                           Hourihane

                                          Collins           Washington 

 

…………………….enough to get out of this league already. 😃👍

[De22Ram]

5 hours ago, Norman said:

Most of our goals are going to come from crosses and the rest mainly from a high press and capitalising on mistakes it creates - as well as from set pieces we win.

I don't think defence-splitting passes will be much of a feature, imo.

Yeah that was visible last season! Cant remember what game it was but every ball went out wide from the back! The opposition worked us out, thats my worry next season! Could do with a plan b to play through the middle aswell imo, specially against the better teams! If we really want to challenge this season i dont think we can just rely on whipping in the crosses and hoping our wide men and forwards are better than the oppositions defence!

[sage]

               Wildsmith

       Nelson Bradley  Cashin

Ward            Bird              Elder

          Knight        Hourihane 

          Collins       Washington 

[NottsRam77]

6 hours ago, Old Spalding Ram said:

The story so far.

Well the back 6 is sorted

Gotta play two up front in this league, so that’s Collins and Washington.

Then perm any three from Smith, Bird, Hourihane, Sibley, Knight, Barkhuizen, Thomson & Mendez-Laing.

Personally, Smith in front the back three, Sibley & Hourihane behind the front two.

                                                       Wildsmith.

                            Nelson.                 Bradley.               Cashin.

          Ward.                                       Smith                                  Elder.

                               Sibley                                           Hourihane

                                          Collins           Washington 

 

…………………….enough to get out of this league already. 😃👍

If uv just seen his post matlock interview

4-5 away apparently 

exciting times ahead 

[Sussex Ram]

Paul Warne has made a few comments along the lines of “it’s not the best eleven that wins the league, it’s the best squad”. He’s also repeatedly said that 22 is the number he wants in that squad. Going back to front, right to left, and listing players in what I expect most people would say is their favoured position:

Wildsmith

Vickers

Loach

Ward

Nelson

Cashin

Bradley

Fozzy

Rooney

Elder

Mendez-Laing

Hourihane

Smith

Bird

Thomson

Sibley

Barkhuizen

Collins

Washington

I’ve excluded knight on the basis he is almost certainly out the door. I’ve included Rooney, even though some might say he will feature mostly for the 21s. I’ve included Thomson, even though he could well be out on loan again.

Who have I forgotten? That list comes to 19. I would personally hope that Loach would not count towards the 22- so it implies 4 more in? Warne said in interview he wants one to cover full back; I’d expect two strikers; and then a creative midfielder. 

Bearing in mind we have not loaned anyone yet, it looks promising.

 

[Caerphilly Ram]

15 minutes ago, Sussex Ram said:

Paul Warne has made a few comments along the lines of “it’s not the best eleven that wins the league, it’s the best squad”. He’s also repeatedly said that 22 is the number he wants in that squad. Going back to front, right to left, and listing players in what I expect most people would say is their favoured position:

Wildsmith

Vickers

Loach

Ward

Nelson

Cashin

Bradley

Fozzy

Rooney

Elder

Mendez-Laing

Hourihane

Smith

Bird

Thomson

Sibley

Barkhuizen

Collins

Washington

I’ve excluded knight on the basis he is almost certainly out the door. I’ve included Rooney, even though some might say he will feature mostly for the 21s. I’ve included Thomson, even though he could well be out on loan again.

Who have I forgotten? That list comes to 19. I would personally hope that Loach would not count towards the 22- so it implies 4 more in? Warne said in interview he wants one to cover full back; I’d expect two strikers; and then a creative midfielder. 

Bearing in mind we have not loaned anyone yet, it looks promising.

 

He said post match yesterday that we’re still 4 or 5 players short of where he wants, so still some business (possibly in and out) to be done.

[Srg]

Wildsmith, Nelson, Bradley, Cashin, Ward, Bird, Hourihane, Elder, NML, Sibley, Washington

This is assuming Knight is gone.

[Ram1988]

Another full back and another foward has to be the priority. Our full backs will need keeping fresh and will need reinforcing as it will be the most physically demanding role in our side. Then we clearly lack goals and goal scorers.

[May Contain Nuts]

On 08/07/2023 at 13:18, De22Ram said:

Yeah that was visible last season! Cant remember what game it was but every ball went out wide from the back! The opposition worked us out, thats my worry next season! Could do with a plan b to play through the middle aswell imo, specially against the better teams! If we really want to challenge this season i dont think we can just rely on whipping in the crosses and hoping our wide men and forwards are better than the oppositions defence!

Threat not, we've got a plan B - looping the ball over the top and hoping our wide men and forwards are quicker than the opposition's defence.

It's a proven recipe for success in getting out of this league.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Kokosnuss

[Animal is a Ram]

                           Wildsmith
Ward     Nelson    Bradley     Cashin       Elder
         Smith            Bird         Sibley 
              Collins             Washington

[Magicman]

Wildsmith 

Ward Nelson Bradley Cashin Elder 

Bird Smith Hourihane 

NML Washington.