The New Boys – How Do they Fit In?

Tom Hopper could face stiff competition – Credit Graham Burrell

This is tough because it is unfair to judge players who have come in that we haven’t seen in action yet. Who knows, Lasse Sorensen might be the best right-back we have, Ted Bishop might be miles ahead of Conor McGrandles in terms of endeavour, but as I don’t know that I can only call the team as I would like to see it on the opening day. I haven’t seen any friendlies, I might watch the Stockport one next week, but it’s unlikely it will make a big difference to this shout. Michael and the staff see these players every day, so they may well have a different idea to me, and there’s would be right.

The main reason I’m doing this is to show the depth we have in the squad right now for those who have been fearful of us struggling again. I think there’s more to come in and a couple to leave before the season starts, but I don’t think any of those picked in the first team here will leave the club.

Josh Griffiths

The keeper spot is fairly obvious. Sam Long is a decent young keeper, and he might get a run out in the EFL Trophy, but Josh is our number one. If he’s at the same level as Alex Palmer, he’s going to be a big asset.

Regan Poole

I know we could play Lasse Sorensen here, but I think Regan Poole starts as our right back. I rated him last season, and with the benefit of a pre-season behind him, I think he could become our first-choice for the season, in the same way Tayo did on the other side last campaign. However, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised at us bringing in another face at the back, perhaps on loan.

Tayo Edun

Between him and Bramall, our left side looks strong. I think in games where we need to get at teams with pace and direct running, Cohen gets the nod, but right now, it’s Tayo. I really like this lad; he’s tenacious, good in possession and, for me, one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Joe Walsh

Here is my area of concern, the central defenders. If everyone is fit and ready, then I wouldn’t be as worried, but I’m not sure we’ve seen Walsh or Montsma kick a ball yet this summer. When he’s fit, Joe Walsh is a superb footballer and a natural fit for our left side, but is he going to be fit enough to start the season? If not, could we see Max Melbourne given a reprieve?

Credit Graham Burrell

Lewis Montsma

Again, there’s no doubt that Lewis is a great centre back on his day, and many outside the club named him one of the best in the division. The lay off around Christmas did a lot at his form though, and I think he only started to get back to his best as the season wound down. Again, I hope he’s fit for the start of the campaign, because otherwise we might be going into the season with a makeshift back four, which is not a good thing. What I would say is Norwich boss Daniel Farke described us as an organised defensive unit after our recent friendly, which is food for thought.

Liam Bridcutt

If he’s fit, he starts. The heartbeat of the team, we’re ten times better when Liam Bridcutt plays.

Conor McGrandles

He was your Player of the Year last season, and rightly so. Conor McGrandles is a great midfielder, box to box and so busy it’s untrue. I think he found his niche last season, certainly in the second period, and there’s nothing that suggests he won’t be a key part of our push for a top-six spot this season either. I’ve gone with him and Bridcutt side by side in a 4-3-3 in my formation, but it could just as easily be a 4-1-4-1 with him alongside whoever is deemed to be the attacking midfielder.

Credit Graham Burrell

Chris Maguire

I can see Chris Maguire being a key part of our side next season. He’s experienced, he chips in with plenty of goals and assists, and there’s no way he’s here to sit on the bench. Sunderland fans think he should have played more for them last campaign, and they’ll be repeating that when he gets to ten goals before Christmas! Seriously though, he’s going to be a key part of our team, much like Bridcutt.

Hakeeb Adelakun

He’s the newest recruit I think is a sure-fire starter. Yes, he has a point to prove, but he’s a natural right-winger with pace, skill, and proven at this level. If we get 2017/18 Hakeeb Adelakun rather than more recent versions, then big clubs will be sniffing come January. Seriously, that is the potential here.

Lewis Fiorini

Okay, so I’ve thrown this one out there more out of hype than anything. I just think the young, energetic drive of Rogers and Johnson helped spur us on last season, and Fiorini has been brought in to provide that this time out. I’ve not seen him play the ten role before, I’ve not seen him play at all before, but I’m going out on a limb and suggesting any player coming from the Premier League to lincoln is likely to play games.

Dan Nlundulu

If you’re reading this Tom Hopper, my apologies, but I’m tipping Nlundlulu to be a surprise package this season. He’s certainly the centre forward we didn’t have when we needed to take pressure off Tom, and I wonder if we might play with a dedicated nine rather than a false nine. Would we have scored more with a ‘fox n the box’ last season, rather than a workhorse like Tom? There will be days when tom’s approach is needed, away at bigger clubs, we’ll need to defend from the front, but when we need to put teams to the sword, we’ll turn to Nlundulu, I’m sure.

Who does that leave fighting for a place? Sam long in goal, Hayden Cann, Adam Jackson, Max Melbourne, Sean Roughan and Cohen Bramall in defence, James Jones, Lasse Sorensen, Teddy Bishop and Max Sanders in midfield, Theo Archibald, Tom Hopper, Remy Longdon and Anthony Scully up top. That’s a squad of 24 players (excluding Makama, of course, likely to go out on loan) with (dare I say) four or maybe five that you would worry about if they needed to play ten or fifteen games in a row.

Not a bad place to be in right now, although obviously, the quality of Fiorini, Nlundulu and Adelakun will be the difference between a mid-table slog and top six pressure.