Team for the opening day of the new League One season

[SaintJames]

If Key gets sold, would you think we have that position already covered with Caprice?

That's what the gaffar himself said in his last interview. He did say we need an additional left sided player as he expected Jake to move over to the right (clear hint that Key is 99% likely to be soldeither in August or in January). Regards the left side not sure if Matt isn't confident that Jacko is L1 level or if he is looking for someone to share the load with him?

 

[Rosencrantz]

If Key leaves then we need another RB as well as LB as Jake and Jack will need competition.

 

[ryancooper327]

If Key leaves then we need another RB as well as LB as Jake and Jack will need competition.

Is the right answer.

 

[IndoMike]

With Sunderland being promoted to the Championship I'm not sure if that makes them more likely or less likely to take Key..
Allegedly Blackburn was the other suitor.

 

[grecIAN Harris]

With Sunderland being promoted to the Championship I'm not sure if that makes them more likely or less likely to take Key..
Allegedly Blackburn was the other suitor.

What it makes it is more likely if they do as they are now in The Championship and is a better standard than League 1. Although the step up is only one division it is a far greater step (ie step between League 1 and The Championship being bigger than the step between League 2 and League 1) than if he had gone there last summer so therefore is more attractive.

 

[andrew p long]

at the risk of turning this into the Josh key thread, since their respective bids, both Sunderland and Blackburn have got rid of the managers who made the bids for Josh.

 

[IndoMike]

at the risk of turning this into the Josh key thread, since their respective bids, both Sunderland and Blackburn have got rid of the managers who made the bids for Josh.

But it's very relevant since it is a key (excuse the pun) to naming the starting XI for the first day of next season.

 

[andrew p long]

This seems like a good time to start my favourite summer thread. As Red Bill has commented on the retained list thread, this must be the strongest squad in years we've had in place for a following season. Normally at this stage we are scrabbling around trying to put an 11 together; this year we already have enough players under contract to make up a very decent looking bench.

...in the six weeks since the start of this thread, the number of changes to the squad is...erm...zero?

So instead until some signings/movement here's a pre season practice match line up - ECFC Academy graduates -v- The rest. Who would win?

Academy graduates

Lee
Pond Diabate Hartridge
Key Kite Collins Sparkes
Jay
Cox Iseguan

The Rest

Brown
Sweeney Stubbs Ray Grounds
Caprice Dieng Taylor* Coley
Brown Nombe

(*yes, I know Taylor is injured; this is just pretend!)

 

[IndoMike]

Are Grounds and Ray still at City?

 

[SEA Grecian]

Are Grounds and Ray still at City?

Ray is still contracted to City for next season but Grounds, as yet isn't. Paradoxically Grounds is probably more likely to play for City next season than Ray.