starting 11 (1 Viewer)

When we were allowed to play football last season, as the better teams tended to let us do as they wanted to play themselves, we looked as good as anyone. Our big problem was in breaking down teams that didn't want to let us play and when we did putting those chances away. I really think last year the thing that stopped us going up was a lack of clinical finishing. Yes, we made some calamitous defensive errors but if we'd put even a fraction of our chances away those would've been largely irrelevant.

Jcap said:

Was it though? Did a rough calculation and if there was a mini league of just the top 8 teams, the points totals were -
1. Cov 22pts
2=. Sunderland/Portsmouth 20pts
4=. Barnsley/Charlton 19pts
6. Luton 17pts
7. Doncaster 15pts
8. Peterborough 14pts

Don't think we were so far off quality wise. Consistency and scoring were our downfall last season.

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Thanks for making the mini top 8 table. I knew we would be up there but top says a great deal. Sadly if we did a CCFC vs the bottom 8 we might be bottom or very close to it and ultimately that's what cost us.

Sign bright and a top class finisher and we will be top 6, pushing top 2

I think added height will help us score more from set pieces as well. A few of the new signings look useful at corners.

If Hiwula and the French guy are on the flanks, it implies the dutch guy is in the hole like Bright. (I will have their names by Christmas)

skyblue93 said:

What I'd like to see come Southend (H):

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That’s a dangerous team there.

Maverick said:

That’s a dangerous team there.

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Agree with both Maverick/Sky Blue93 - exciting team.

I would say though that '10 bags' Bayliss is really best used as a pure attacking midfielder (effectively in the position that Bright occupies in the formation shown). Not entirely sure that Bright and Bayliss both can fit into the same team but very happy to be proven wrong as I rate both players very highly. Theoretical of course right now as Bright is not with us.

And Hiwula improved a lot in the left role as the season progressed but I'm not convinced it's his natural/best position. We've just signed two exciting wingers so let's play them left and right in their natural positions and see what happens.

Would he be tempted to play 4-4-2 with both wingers and Hiwula up front?

Nick said:

Would he be tempted to play 4-4-2 with both wingers and Hiwula up front?

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Hiwula and who? Biamou maybe? And would you have Bayliss with Kelly?

skybluegod said:

Hiwula and who? Biamou maybe? And would you have Bayliss with Kelly?

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I personally think that Bayliss is not suited to a midfield 2 with defensive duties. Takes away from his true talents as an attacking midfielder.

Marosi
Dabo McFaz Hyam Mason
Kelly Shipley
Jobello Bayliss Kastaneer
Hiwula

fatso said:

There’s a lot of raw talent coming in, some totally untested in English first team action, and 2 keepers who on paper look no more convincing than the ones we’ve let go.
Have we really replaced, our loans from last year with better players?

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I’d much rather have Marosi than the dross from last season, thanks.

DannyThomas_1981 said:

I personally think that Bayliss is not suited to a midfield 2 with defensive duties. Takes away from his true talents as an attacking midfielder.

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I think it was Oxford away in the cup he got absolutely hammered all game when he had to defend.