Your starting eleven

Long term I suspect that is exactly what East was recruited for, no question( Watt’s replacement) . Perhaps Gilly short term, depending on the opposition, otherwise it will be East .

 

A boring answer but I’ll go with more or less the team that started against Sunderland, maybe one or two tweaks. Hendrie and Ridehalgh won’t be starting they’ve not really had a pre season. It reminds me of Darby in 2016/17 when he missed it and never got his place back from McMahon. If Foulds and Halliday perform well then I’d expect other than cups their game time maybe limited although the 5 sub rule will help. Similar situation with Timi at CB, think Hughes will want a settled back 4.

 

I was joking...

 

Watch it folks @Rcbantam will be calling you out for saying you can pick a starting 11 before you've seen five games.

 

Where did Osadebe play against Sunderland - right wing????

 

Mainly yeah, but he scored from the left. Think Hughes probably wants that 3 behind the striker to be interchangeable which will suit some but I don’t think it helped Angol who’s probably better playing a fixed position off the left.

 

He wasn’t right wing in the traditional sense, but operated right side of the three with Halliday as support ( Who was quite good considering it was his first game) . Wilsden is right he did interchange to the left. It certainly confuses the defence as they become short handed on one side as his marking back didn’t cross over with him allowing him lots of room to break into the box , get to the byeline and score. He going to become one effective player imho, which will surprise many I believe?

 

According to todays T&A Sparkie thinks the new 5 subs rule will benefit us : https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/20291250.hughes-extra-subs-will-advantage-bradford-city/
not that making the right call on the starting 11 isn't important but as he says in the article it's a potential plus for his team with the strength in depth he has looked to build up through a busy summer window.

 

Something a few have been saying on here for at least a couple of weeks. Parker clearly read it!


Hughes: Extra subs will be an advantage for Bradford City
thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/20291250.hughes-extra-subs-will-advantage-bradford-city/

Simon Parker

MARK Hughes reckons the five-sub rule for the new season can play into City’s hands.

The Bantams will still choose from a seven-man bench but no longer be restricted to just three replacements in games.

The EFL have expanded the number available to clubs – who will be able to make their changes across three opportunities, not including half-time.

Hughes views that as a potential plus for his team with the strength in depth he has looked to build up through a busy summer window.



“We think it will be an advantage,” said the City boss. “We’ve got good options obviously whoever starts or comes off the bench.

“My options to change things are a lot better than they were last year, I would suggest. That’s what we wanted to create.

“We’ve got the opportunity to make more changes later in games to try and change the flow at that point.

“You’ve still got to have the right quality to go on. When you make substitutions, they have to make an impact.

“If they are of the right quality technically, in terms of their ability to make an impact, hopefully they are going to affect the opposition markedly.

“You’ve got to have depth. It’s going to be a long hard season and we’re going to have to have any number of players to come in and do a job in the short term or more if we lose anyone for longer.

“Everybody has got to be ready and know what’s expected of them.”

Hughes fielded a strong starting line-up against Sunderland but switched all 10 outfield players during the game as he continues to build up minutes throughout the squad.

Even with a number of absentees, headed by the luckless Abo Eisa, there is competition for places going into the final first-team friendly at Chesterfield this weekend.

Hughes added: “I went strong against Sunderland because we were up against higher opposition.

“I’ve got great options on the bench and, unfortunately, in the treatment room at the moment as well who will play a huge part as the season progresses.

“We’re okay, we’ve got good depth. When I look round at who we can bring on I’m really encouraged by that.

“When players are given a role, they are expected to execute that and I’m more than confident whoever comes in, plays or starts will understand what’s required.

“We’re in decent shape. We’ve gone into the market and got players over the line very quickly.

“As I’ve said before, I didn’t think we’d be at this point in terms of acquisition of players so readily. We are and we’re benefitting from it.”

 

I’m not so sure this Hughes fella knows what he’s talking about. Every City knows the way to handle recruitment is to wait until the deadline and get whatever’s left.

 

I'm going for Doncaster:
Lewis
Foulds
Platt
Crichlow
Halliday
East
Smallwood
Angol
Walker
Chapman
Oliver

 

Harry Lewis

Brad Halliday
Matty Platt
Romoney Critchlow
Marty Foulds

Ritchie Smallwood
Ryan East

Emmanuel Osadebe
Jamie Walker
Lee Angol

Andy Cook

 

In a 4-2-3-1 I think we’ll see Lewis
Halliday. Platt. Crichlow. Foulds
Smallwood. East
Osademe. Walker. Angol
Cook

 

this is my line up, think he deserved a start after that performance against Sunderland!

 

Just beat me to it ,I’ve picked same team as you.

 

Is that inside information?.

 

Has to be that unless chapman is fully fit if he is I would have him before Osadebe

 

Just my prediction,@Bronco!

 

Yes happy with that . The one unknown is for me… Is Chapman fully match fit or has he been deliberately been kept in the background?

 

Never thought I’d say this but gilliard will be a miss , does a lot of work and we look a bit weak in back 6 , no strong players to win ball back , team on paper looks similar to one of mccalls , nice footballers but where’s the muscle , hope I’m wrong .On the plus side if we can get a early goal I can see us keeping ball well and frustrating teams , who knows it’s going to be intresting