Bolton Wanderers – Amario Cozier-Duberry
Okay, he’s not their player, but the best Bolton players have been loans – Johnny Kenny was my other pick. I might have gone for Sam Dalby, he was a handful, but it has to be Cozier-Duberry.
I’m beginning to see a pattern in terms of players that impress me, and you’ll see it here. Fast, tricky, goals and assists, plays out wide. It seems I have a type!
Bradford City – Jenson Metcalfe
I didn’t realise this was going to be quite as tough as it is. Honestly, I wanted to put ‘nobody’ here, and that felt a bit like a slur on Bradford.
In 180 minutes against us, they didn’t score. They were pitiful at the Bank, and while they were strong at their place, it was a dour, uninspiring, strong, organised and efficient, but without a player saying to me ‘I’ve got a massive future’. Maybe that’s their superpower, like us. As Al Pacino says in The Devil’s Advocate, “That’s the gaffe, my friend. You gotta keep yourself small. Innocuous.” Maybe their lack of a standout star makes them innocuous.
I recall flashes from Metcalfe in the first game, and his name was the only one that sparked a little recognition when researching.
Burton Albion – Charlie Webster
I really wanted to be edgy here and pick Tyrese Shade, a physical and mobile forward who has a big future. Like Tolaj at Plymouth (but not as honed), I see Shade pairing great physical attributes with intelligence, and he’ll be an asset to a top-end League One, bottom-end Championship side.
It’s got to be Webster, though, and it’s hardly a hot take. He’s composed, he’s great on the ball, and he’s got natural ability far better than the level he plays at. I have little doubt he’ll be on a pitch opposing us next season.
Comments Welcome!