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I see from the Brighton thread a lot of people can see Amankwaah sitting on the bench going into the start of this season.

I think that would be a shame and it would be harsh on him given how well he did for us last season.

Thoughts?

I think he'll start on Saturday. Can see JPM playing LM at times this season with Caddis at RM. Only thing that worries me about that is that KA and JPM do link up really well and we'd lose that on the right hand side.

He barely put a foot wrong last season. RB should be his to lose.

He'll start saturday.

Title of his debut solo hip-hop album?

The fact Wilson rated Darby but Kev still displaced him towards the end of last season says a lot. He was superb at times and should start Sat.

The link up play between JPM and Manky is thing of beauty, but I think Caddis, once settled, will overlap and link-up just as well, should he play at RB. Dare I say it, but his crossing will also be of a JPM quality as well.

The idea of JPM being over lapped by a player with more pace and crossing of a similar standard is pretty dreamy. :)

 :D


On a serious note, its his position to lose.  I dont see any of the 3 new signings starting on saturday

No one has a position that is their's to lose after a pre-season.  Last year's form is out the window now and players should be picked on the merit of their pre-season performances and the hard work they put in to earn the shirt.

I would be surprised if Caddis wasnt going to be the first choice RB after such a long pursuit to bring him in.  As much as I like Amankwaah I wouldn't mind him warming the bench if Caddis proves he can strike up a good working relationship with JPM.  Maybe the first game might be too soon so Amankwaah may get the nod, but I wouldn't imagine it will be for long.

The reality is it should not be about having a first choice and a back up RB, it should be about having different options for different games.  What Amankwaah brings is that sheer pace and ability to drive through when needed, I expect Caddis to bring a much more rounded game, perhaps with a better delivery.  Both are equally vital to success, but against different styles of opposition.  How many times did we come unstuck last year against 'tougher' teams? Perhaps having these different options in each position is the added extra we lacked last year but I think we may now have - especially with the addition of Prutton in the middle.

I am very optimistic for this season but like last year I will just be happy if we are challenging the top 6 at year end, we have no devine right for a top 2 finish.

Caddis will almost certainly be a get to the byline and cross type player whereas Kev's game isn't suited to this so we have options certainly.

deffo one of the players who could find themself on the bench.darby was preferred to him which tells me another could too.shame, as we played our best football down that flank last year with him playing

In the long run I agree.  In the short term, dont think Caddis is going to go straight into the team after 4 days training when Amankwaah is well established and has a strong understanding with the likes of JPM.

I have a feeling that for the first game he wont play Ball as left winger but will play JPM on the left with Caddis on the right wing with Manks and right back.

Ultimately i think he'll be second choice right back, assuming caddis is the player people say he is. Can't see caddis getting a wing role myself, unless injuries play a part. But manks will start saturday!

I can't see Ferry or Caddis starting. Ball is very very highly thought of so i am sure he will start. I also think Wilson might go with Austin and Dossevi up front... i predict

Lucas
Manks, Scotty, Lecs, Rose
JP, Dougie, Prutton, Ball
Austin, Dossevi

Bench: Smith, Morrison, Caddis, Ferry, O'Brien, Pericard, Timlin.

I also think Kev will start Saturday but ultimately Caddis will get the spot in the long term, hoping for a couple of his long striding runs to the byline on Saturday.

Amankwaah will start on saturday. Nothing to do with Caddis's fitness, he's had a healthy pre-season with Celtic, just unsure of whether he has "clicked" or "gelled" with our team and style of play after less than a week of training with them. Caddis will, however, be our long-term right back. He has youth on his side, and will only develop over time and grow into an even better play than the Celtic fans seem to think he is.

Ferry will be harder to not include, but i think Prutton will start. Definately more of an offensive threat, and i'd love to see a few more long range efforts this year.

Lucas

Amankwaah
Cuthbert
Lescinel
Rose

McGovern
Prutton
Douglas
Ball

Austin
Dossevi/Pericard

Great post, I agree

I think this is a great post as well, the whole argument based on last seasons form is rubbish as then any new player would be at a disadvantage.  If people said Kev should start as he did well last year and had good link up with JPM then surely Ferry should start as he linked up well with Douglas then you leave Prutton on the bench as well.  When you start any new season anyone has a clean slate and the team will be picked on whoever has been best in training.  I think the fact Darby was brought in last season suggest Danny isnt entirely happy with big Kev so I too feel that Caddis will go on to be first choice right back.

The Prutton point is a good one. For everyone saying that Kev starts because of last year and his relationship with JPM, then surely Ferry starts ahaed of DP? Not the way I'd go but interesting none the less.

You're completely ignoring the fact that Prutton has been here for a while and played a whole pre-season with Douglas, whilst Caddis might not even remember everybody's name yet. Prutton has been able to build a relationship with Douglas (and actually knew him before), whilst Caddis and JPM hasn't even been tried in a friendly or a meaningless cup game. Which is why I'd wait until Orient to try it, using the proven relationship between JPM and Manks against Brighton.

Caddis is a better player than Amankwaah.

I also thought Amankwaah's form dipped in the latter part of last season (that is comparing it though to the great start he had).

Apart from the strikers, the team that started against Forest will be the team that starts against Brighton. It'll be Austin and Pericard up front.

Is austin a first team player what about JPM? nobody knows, DW has said that they will all be fighting for a place. It will be a great season for us that is for sure. :D

Darby wasnt reallt preferred to Manks. Amankwaah was injured - thats why we bought Darby here in the first place, he did a good job and kept his place and Amankwaah still got back in towards the end of the season.


Where as, I think he has been bought in to play a wing role. At the moment we have JPM and O'Brien and thats it for wingers. Obviously he's used Ball there to but he's still a striker by trade.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Don't forget his superb sub appearance at Charlton, in which he played as a full back and a wide midfielder at the same time, meaning we didn't really seem to be down to 10 men.  He was awesome that night and full of running.

I wasn't ignoring any fact, which is why I said it's not the way I would play it. I was just intrigued, but you raise a good point about Prutton.

Both he and Amankwaah were amazing that night.

I meant Amankwaah, but, yes I agree.

Ah yes, my mistake. Forgot who started that one!

I think it'd be harsh on Kev if Caddis walked straight into the team not having been involved in pre-season here at all. As others have said, RB should be his to lose.

I agree with that line up and I think we will start with big Vince. VP really needs to contribute though or Dossevi will be on in his place before he knows it.

I think the signings of Caddis and Ferry indicates that Wilson wants a squad that can easily switch from 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1 and still have the quality throughout. Playing an out and out 4-4-2 can make you very predicable as a team (England in the World Cup for example) and with the success of last season, teams will come to us expecting to face a team playing 4-4-2 every week.

I'm backing Amankwaah to start on Saturday, with Caddis and Ferry on the bench. But it's a squad game and I feel this season will see more tatical changes from game to game, rather than like last season where we got by with trying to field the same 11 every week and playing the same formation.

Also I think we were lucky that we didn't pick up many injuries during the campaign last year. If that does happen this season we can bring in the quality as well. Being able to rest up players will mean hopefully we wont lose our legs towards the end of the season again.

We've also got great versatility amongst the players in the squad. I'm pretty confident that we're in for a good season, but Sat may not be so straight forward.

Didn't go to the Forest game as I was on a stag doo....But has anyone seen a Michael Rose's free kick yet? Spoke to a Stockport fan at the weekend who was telling me he's a bit of a specialist.

Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaaAT4JXaHo

Bloody one trick pony.

Nice trick though ;)

Ah, that rather beautiful piece of music again. That music makes me feel old, because I have to comment on it as modern rubbish and wonder how any one can listen to that racket.

Amankwaah and Smith in goal, the only two players that scare the shit out of me. Sitting in the stands I feel a sense of relief every time Amankwaah has control of the ball or Smith has caught it.

Amankwaah's anticipation and reading of the game is terrible at times, it is like watching a kid who is new to the game and cant quite make up his mind if the ball should bounce before he moves towards it or if he should go and meet it on the full. Then he goes on one of those tremendous runs down the line and links with the midfield and forwards brilliantly.

Sure he will start on Saturday, he has the edge on match fitness over Caddis.

I think Smith is greatly improved and heh as been helped by having a decent GK coach and the experienxce of Lucas, I wouldn't have any worries if smith had to come in.

It is nice to see we have a strong squad, I think we are 2 players short of a promotion charging squad and that is a comanding central defender and cover for the right wing if JPM got injured

Caddis and Dossevi spring to mind.

That's the good thing about our squad at the moment, we have almost 2 for every position and even them some can play in more than one themselves.

Agree with that, but don't let it distract you from the quality of the free kicks. :)

My confidence in Phil Smith is summed up by the second leg of the play off semi against Charlton. He was tremendous in that match and kept us in it several times. I think we're lucky to have a second choice keeper like Smith.

Indeed.

Cant agree with what was said about Amankwaah either.

I've never liked him, he's always made me nervous. But at Southampton was when he changed my opinion, and reassured me. When he came on at Charlton i wasn't at all worried, purely for what he had shown us all at St Marys.

Better than being a no trick pony....step forward Jason Drysdale!

Surely the whole point in Wilson buying players is to improve the side? He's been quoted in the past that he'll only bring in players he feels are better than we've already got.

If that means Manky finds himself on the bench, so be it. I don't really understand fans loyalty to players.

I have to agree with this, if everyone showed blind loyalty to players from the season before then you would never start with any new players.  Lets judge Cadis and Kev on performances this season before deciding who should be first choice right back.

Well, seen as this season hasnt started so neither have played a single first team game - and completely ignoring all of last season (!!) how do you pick?!?!

If you showed blind loyalty of course you'd still get new players, players would still leave the club and the manager would still want to bring in new players to improve the teanm

All of our players, played there part in a very good season last season. I dont see why all of a sudden it should be forgotten?

yep that's football herhab.sides will always try to improve on what they have.
doesn't matter what level of football it is.that is the harsh reality of the game for those who play it

Players should be picked on how they are performing in training and who is the better player in Wilson's eyes.  Yes we had a good season last year but if we signed better players in the summer and are looking to progress and push on for automatic this season then we shouldn't be concerned about dropping anyone just because they had a good year last year.

I think Kev is a good player who had a good season last year, hes better going forward than defending although he was one of the main players who got caught out at Wembley.  Alot of Celtic fans thought Cadis was very unlucky to not be there first choice right back last season and rate him higher than Ferry and Cuthbert so hes obviously a player with undoubted quality.  If Cadis is the better player (we don't know this at this stage) then I see no reason why Kev's form from last season should come into it.

because right now, we dont know at this stage if Caddis is better.

we know what Kev is capable of because we all saw it last season.

YOU don't know who is better. I bet Danny Wilson does.

So on that basis Ferry should start and Prutton should be on the bench right? because at this stage we don't know if Pruttons better.

We know what Ferry is capable of because we all saw it last season.

I think Prutton may have played a game or two in pre-season.

Big Kev is an important part of the squad - We are going to need to rotate a bit more this season and his versatility at right or left back is a key bit of that - I think he will start at the weekend - Caddis hasnt had time to gel with his new charges yet - unlike Ferry who played all last season and we know what he can offer ... Also expect Caddis to challenge JPM as much as Kev

I think Cadis may have played a game or two in pre-season for Celtic, don't think match fitness will be an issue.  Only thing would be how quickly he will gell with our players but that may have happened quicker than we know as he will have had almost a week training with the squad.

if a manager fancies a player,gelling,previous form,training,other players doing ok, etc etc doesn't mean fuck all.he'll play that player as he wants him in the side.

Smith is a great shot stopper not seen many better in the lower division, but a shocking flapper with crosses and very poor distribution. If you think back to great keepers like Banks, apart from the save against Brazil everything seemed easy for him his positioning was outstanding, nothing spectacular, not a born shot stopper; being a defender in my days, give me a steady eddy any time, not a shot stopper/flapper they do not give confident vibres through the team. Yes he was outstanding against Charlton, but that just concretes my point really.
Kevin couldn't read a game as long as he has a hole in is bottie.
We currently have the best midfield on paper we've had for many a season, I can see him as an attacking midfielder, but as a full back. its heart-attack time for me, its just my opinon, and if he plays on Saturday which I'm sure he will, then I will sit in my seat and be extremely nervous.

The point is we don't need to know. DW needs to know though and I think Caddis has come to be first choice, not bit part. Irrespective of whether Amankwah starts on Saturday, if Caddis shows in training what Wilson bought him for, he'll very quickly be in the starting 11.

All that wasn't really my initial point though, which was more to do with how fans latch on to players and become defensive if their position's under threat.

If Amankwah shows he is better than Caddis NOW, he'll play games, if not he won't. What he did last season has got fuck all to do with anything.

Caddis sounds like he is a very versatile player.

Caddis could end up taking McGovern's place, and Amankwaah keeping his. Tremendously competitive squad this season.