The Poolie Bunker

OK I know we haven't a clue how the new signings are going to fit in, but I'm going to try to guess Wilson's current thoughts on his main starting XI (assuming 442).
It's no reflection of my own preference and takes account of Wilson's history of not being frightened to drop (or release!) players. The goalie choice is based solely on Budtz's greater experience.

Budtz
Barron Nelson Antwi Elliott
Brown McCunnie Liddle Monkhouse (short term replacement: Humps)
Moore Barker (short term replacement: Porter)

Notable absentees: Sweeney, Boland, Clark, Humps, Porter

Now if that is Wilson's team and it clicks, that leaves us with some amazing strength in depth.

..............................Lee-Barrett....................................

Barron..........Nelson..................Clark................Humphreys

Brown...........Liddle..................Sweeney*.............Monkhouse

......................Porter............Barker................................


*Sweeney or Boland or McCunnie (but Sweens gets the nod)

Subs
Budtz
McCunnie
Boland
Foley
Moore

I think Lee-Barrett will start in front of Budtz, purely because Lee-Barrett wore the number 1 shirt in training.

Can't see him dropping Clark. We seen under Scott that it doesn't do to stick two similar centre halves in the same team when we had that plank Collins from up the road. Nelson and Clark are pretty sacrosanct as far as I'm concerned and the new lads should only come in as replacements.

I agree that Elliott is a given and McCunnie has been signed as a defender.
So in defence I reckon Elliott-Nelson-Clark-McCunnie

Midfield is tricky: Liddle, Brown and Monkhouse are definites I reckon so we have a whole host of people fighting for two spots. I reckon that Boland will get the nod in the defensive midfield berth. Up front I agree with the two you mentioned. So...


Moore Barker
Monkhouse Liddle- Boland -Brown (Humphreys while Monkhouse is suspended)
McCunnie-Nelson-Clark-Elliott
GK - no idea

edit: forgot the bench:

The other keeper
Sweeney
Barron
Humphreys
Porter
McKay

No defensive cover on the bench then, no Moore or Godwin in the 16

Mine is

Budtz

McCunnie Nelson Godwin Humphs
Brown Sweeney Liddle Monkhouse
Barker Porter

Lee Barret
Elliot
Clark
Moore
McKay

Don't think there's much debate on McCunnies position. Take a look at the official site, they don't seem to be in much doubt.

Well it says McCunnie defender but it also says Humphreys midfield, Brown striker, and Provett goalie

But they've just transfered that from the Dunfermline site. According to Dunfermline fans, he was poor at right back but then got moved to a holding midfield role and was great there so became a central midfielder and he never played right back since.

moore and Barker upfront together? Nice and pacy and mobile then?

No way will Wilson split Clark and Nelson up. Only way I can see Antwi starting is either a change to 3 at back or injury to either.

Barret
Barron Clark Nelson Elliott
Brown Boland Liddle Monkhouse (Humps when Monk is suspended)
Barker Porter

Budtz
Antwi
Moore
Foley
Sweeney

I think we are in for a fair amount of squad rotation with some of the more defensive midfielders playing when we are away from home with Brown and Monkhouse not starting those games, or even a cahnge in formation. If DW can get this to work we should see a lot of fresher legs and a much stronger bench. I would expect DW to change things around up front over the first couple of months unless one combination really clicks. My starting XI for Luton what its worth

Budzt
Barron Nelson Antwi Elliott
McCunnie Liddle Boland Humphries
Moore Barker

Subs
Lee-Barrett Clark Sweeney Porter Brown

I cant believe how many peopel we should drop Clark. The last 2 or 3 months of the season he was carrying Nelson.

GK (no idea)
McCunnie - Nelson - Clark - Elliott
Liddle - Sweeney - Boland - Monkhouse
Barker - Brown

Subs; GK, Moore, Porter, Humphreys, Antwi.

Oh for God's sake man stop reading the whole thread; nobody else does!

Wilson and Turner said he played great in Cup Final.

Looking at the bbc site where Dunferline fans gave player ratings, he came out with the lowest score of all their players for that game.

..................Budtz...........

Barron.....Clark......Nelson.......Elliott

Brown.....Boland....Liddle........Monkhouse

..............Barker......Porter................


Subs

Lee-Barrett
McCunnie
Foley
Antwi
Moore

The keeper is a tough one to call as we have seen neither but Lee-Barratt looks like he's been given the number one jersey, the pictures from the first day of training seemed to indicate that anyway. It obviously could be just because he signed first.

.................Lee-Barratt..................

McCunnie...Clark...Nelson...Humphreys

Brown...Liddle...Sweeney...Monkhouse

..............Barker.....Moore................

Subs;Porter, Foley, Boland, Antwi, Budtz

Trying to put that team together it shows we have real strength in depth this year, and Wilsons signings squad wise have been very good. In my 16 there I can't find a place for Barron, Elliott, Bullock, Gibb, Mackay and Robson all first team players. We have genuine cover for every single position at least once.

Might be wrong but kind of get the feeling that he's gonna start 3-5-2 as can't see Liverpool letting God come on loan to warm the bench

Throws a whole host of different dilemma's into the equation.

Agree that he'll keep Nelse & Clarky, and will bring in God

Right Wing Back McCunnie, Left Richie/Elliott

Central Midfield Lidds, Boland, Sweeney

Up Front; Moore, Barks

Bench from
Lee Barratt
Monks
Foley
Mackay
Porter
Brown
Barron

Not my choice as I prefer 4-4-2 but can't think of many times when we would have had a better bench to choose from

I've seen many people say that they can't see liverpool let a player come here to sit on the bench... but what choice do they have now he is here? The loan has been agreed for a year so it will be up to Danny Wilson to decie if he gets a game or not......

budtz
antwi
clark
nelson
elliott

sweeney
liddle
boland
humpty

barker
brown

subs
porter, moore, barron, mccunnie (poor bugga with a name like that) and other keeper

for 1st couple of games

foley, monkhouse, mackey all waiting in wings

Scanning quickly, through the thread, it's surprising how many teams have one or less of the new boys in
(excluding the keeper, of course)

This sort of echoes the earlier lack of enthusiasm, as the signings were being announced.
Personally I think this could be a very important pre-season, as DW sorts out the various options.

___________________Budtz___________________

Barron______Nelson______Clark________Elliott

Brown_______Liddle______Sweeney_____Humphreys

____________Barker____Moore_____________

Subs - Lee-Barrett, Porter, McCunnie, Antwi, Boland

I personally think that is what will play @ Luton, pending injuries or new signings although i do think certain players (Barron, Humphreys to name two) will once again be found out in this division and will struggle to hold down their place in the side, especially when Monkhouse returns.

it'll be

budtz
godwin
nelson
clark
humphries
brown
liddle
boland
monkhouse
barker
moore


porter
sweeney
barron
maccunnie
keeper

EDIT
forgot about elliot
bolloxed if I know then!!!

But isn't Barker suspended?

The starting X1 MUST be

Budtz (depending on pre-season, i really don't think we can judge that right now)

Barron
Nelson
Clark
Elliot

Humphreys
Liddle
Sweeney
Brown

Barker
Porter

Subs
Lee-Barratt
Antwi
Bolland
Foley
Moore

This is based on the fact that there are no more signings, although i do think he will sign another winger. Can't see McCunnie being in the squad unless he has a remarkable pre-season.

I suspect that Humphrey's days as an automatic choice are over. At left back we have a better option so he will be relegated to back up and in midfield we seem to have half of the country fighting for four places of which three of them look to be nailed on.

Judging by the fact peopel ae picking a back 4 of Clark, Nelson, Antwi and Elliott then im presuming Antwi can play right back? Or are people suggesting we start playing people out of position again which always results in us getting beat.

One or two seem to have but I think most are imagining a back three of Nelson Clark Antwi.

So then, if the newly released squad numbers are anything to go by it seems to be

Butz
McCunnie Nelson Clark Elliott
Sweeney Boland Liddle Monkhouse
Barker Porter

Although Humps has the 8 shirt it appears Sweeney has the 15 because he specifically asked for it.

There is of course a full pre-season for Wilson to change his mind.

The most interesting choice for me is the Club Captian getting the 12 shirt.

I've got a gut feeling that Wilson will give the team that got us promotion (give or take one or two injured/suspended players) the first couple of games to prove themselves. He knows he has the time initially to blend a winning formula at League One level, but he'll want an idea of which personnel will achieve this fairly early on. I agree that one or two of the old stagers (Humphreys, Barron etc) will have to prove their worth to be selected as DW will do whatever it takes to get the team winning regularly.
Quite often it's the less spectacular, effective team players who contribute more to victories than the likes of Brown - who may win one or two games with good pieces of skill - but the players who deny the opposition the chance to cross or make that killer pass against us, will play their part if the winning blend involves them. Who cares if it's not the most skilful eleven, if the team is winning?
Sometimes the whole really can be greater than the sum of its parts.
DW will get the right blend, and he has plenty of options to do it.

Lee Barratt

Baron
Nelson
Clark
Elliott

Brown
Boland
Liddle
Humphreys

Moore
Porter

Bench:
Barker
McCunnie
Antwi
Gibb
Budzt

Remember you heard it here first that Barker won't start.

And that Sweeney and Monkhouse won't even get a sniff!

Monkhouse is banned and Sweeney and Liddle can't play together in the same team, 'cos they cancel each other out.

right back position is worrying

So Gibb on the bench ahead of Sweeney, Mackay and Foley

We're supposed to be predicting what Wilson goes for, not what we'd want personally.

That's why the thread is called 'Your Gut Feeling XI,' Penfold. Game on, FFS!!!!!!

Wilson has always put Gibb ahead of Foley and Mackay in my experience so I'm predicting he will again. Sweeney is up against Liddle for attacking midfield but it's usually the wingers that tire earlier.

Sweeney played a fair few games on the wing last season, and for the Luton game he might get picked to cover that area again, that way one bench place and 3 positions covered

Back at ya

No, no, back at what I think Wilson might do.........

He rates Gibb. he rates Liddle and he rates Brown. That sort of squeezes Sweeney out. But I don't know, I'm trying to play the game is all.

Stop spoiling it

You said you aren't buying one you fat freak, so you have to throw last seasons away. That's what I did when we got relegated, it's much cheaper in the long run. Top tip there.

Right well anyway I only said I'd expect Wilson to put Gibb on the bench for Luton, so youse can all knob off and leave me in peace.