A tough first away fixture in the league. They are no mugs and are hotly tipped to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. On the flip side we made a decent start to our league campaign and sit on the top of the league. We also have a decent record there and they probably think of us as their bogey team so they will be trying extra hard to get three points on Saturday. They only lost narrowly to Boro last weekend and they are another highly fancied side to be in the top six come the end of the season.
Following Tuesday‘s debacle at Cambridge I can confidently predict changes. Bradshaw is crocked but there has been nothing on the OS to say how long he will be out for. Forgive me for being a cynic but how can you train all week, go through copious stretching exercises in training and pre match, have one shot in the first minute and be crocked for weeks. It beggars belief! Add to that Honeyman got his first red card of the season so he is suspended and the Flying Dutchman is crocked for 3/4 weeks so we have less options than we did seven days ago.
I confidently predict that Bart will wear the gloves. Long is a decent keeper but there was no blame on conceding once at Cambridge. It was as far into the corner of the net as it could be and he stood no chance. The first big issue is whether Danny starts or Leonard takes his place. There is little on the OS to say that Danny has signed his new contract and I think he is playing a waiting game to see if somebody comes up with big bucks to sign him before the end of the transfer window. He has nothing to lose. Our decent offer is on the table but if somebody else comes in then he can say that we have offered him £x and to sign him he wants £y. If that doesn’t happen then he just signs for us in September. Many on here say that as a Millwall lad from a Millwall family then he should sign for a club where his heart is. It is not quite as simple as that as it is a short career and you play for whoever pays the most. We shall see! The next debate is whether Cresswell plays or not. Hutch is back, Cooper is nailed on with his shooting boots already packed and Murray can play in the back three. But do you play Molly? If you do then Cresswell has to be benched but if not play Murray at LWB and start Cresswell.
Midfield has issues too. If you play two holding midfielders and a ten you need a partner for Billy who must be nailed on. Sav would fit the bill as his partner but then who do you play as a ten? GR probably thinks that Burey could fit that role but I am not entirely convinced. He spends too much time in a free role and the ball goes over his head too much. He needs to be driving the play, not watching it. We have Leonard as an option as long as he doesn’t play him at RWB. The obvious replacement is Shack but whether he can play as a ten is a good question.
Up front has few options. Benik must start but Bradshaw can’t partner him. I am not sure you would chance Olaofe following Tuesday when he should have got a hat trick. He will be pleading for another start but GR will put him on the bench and use him as an impact sub. Bennett is the answer and his aggressive play can be a bonus as the second striker.
My thoughts are,
Bart
Danny Cresswell Hutch Cooper Murray
Billy Sav Shack
Benik Bennett
Subs Long Leonard Molly Muller Evans Burey Olaofe
Following Tuesday‘s debacle at Cambridge I can confidently predict changes. Bradshaw is crocked but there has been nothing on the OS to say how long he will be out for. Forgive me for being a cynic but how can you train all week, go through copious stretching exercises in training and pre match, have one shot in the first minute and be crocked for weeks. It beggars belief! Add to that Honeyman got his first red card of the season so he is suspended and the Flying Dutchman is crocked for 3/4 weeks so we have less options than we did seven days ago.
I confidently predict that Bart will wear the gloves. Long is a decent keeper but there was no blame on conceding once at Cambridge. It was as far into the corner of the net as it could be and he stood no chance. The first big issue is whether Danny starts or Leonard takes his place. There is little on the OS to say that Danny has signed his new contract and I think he is playing a waiting game to see if somebody comes up with big bucks to sign him before the end of the transfer window. He has nothing to lose. Our decent offer is on the table but if somebody else comes in then he can say that we have offered him £x and to sign him he wants £y. If that doesn’t happen then he just signs for us in September. Many on here say that as a Millwall lad from a Millwall family then he should sign for a club where his heart is. It is not quite as simple as that as it is a short career and you play for whoever pays the most. We shall see! The next debate is whether Cresswell plays or not. Hutch is back, Cooper is nailed on with his shooting boots already packed and Murray can play in the back three. But do you play Molly? If you do then Cresswell has to be benched but if not play Murray at LWB and start Cresswell.
Midfield has issues too. If you play two holding midfielders and a ten you need a partner for Billy who must be nailed on. Sav would fit the bill as his partner but then who do you play as a ten? GR probably thinks that Burey could fit that role but I am not entirely convinced. He spends too much time in a free role and the ball goes over his head too much. He needs to be driving the play, not watching it. We have Leonard as an option as long as he doesn’t play him at RWB. The obvious replacement is Shack but whether he can play as a ten is a good question.
Up front has few options. Benik must start but Bradshaw can’t partner him. I am not sure you would chance Olaofe following Tuesday when he should have got a hat trick. He will be pleading for another start but GR will put him on the bench and use him as an impact sub. Bennett is the answer and his aggressive play can be a bonus as the second striker.
My thoughts are,
Bart
Danny Cresswell Hutch Cooper Murray
Billy Sav Shack
Benik Bennett
Subs Long Leonard Molly Muller Evans Burey Olaofe