Sonny Bradley
There was probably an assumption when Sonny and Adam Reach arrived that we were getting experienced players who might be a little beyond their best. They would help us along, offer leadership and know-how, and perhaps need managing through the season.
Instead, both look completely comfortable in the Championship. Sonny stands in the middle of that defence with the armband on and gives the whole thing an authority that is difficult to put a value on.
I saw a Luton supporter make a lovely observation the other day. When Sonny left them, it felt as though they had outgrown him, but now they are crying out for a player like him in League One while he is keeping Championship clean sheets with us. Perhaps he had outgrown them instead.
Funny how football works, isn’t it? After what we have seen at Preston and Bristol City, he is another straightforward choice.
Andrei Cubis
This is where prediction starts to creep into preference, because there is absolutely no performance-based reason to leave Ryley out. He was excellent on Tuesday night and could quite reasonably expect to keep his place.
However, Chris has spoken about making changes through this run of games, and I think Andrei will come back in. After those first one or two appearances, he has looked excellent whenever we have used him, and rotating between two players performing at that level is a lovely option to have.
It would not be a verdict on Ryley’s performance. We have already shown that we can change personnel in the back three and retain the things that make us difficult to play against, so this feels like a change the coaches might make.
Adam Reach
Adam is nearly as easy to name as George or Sonny, particularly with Callum Elder injured. He has looked comfortable at this level and is giving us exactly what we need down the left.
Josh Honohan is still waiting for things to fall into place, and I do have some sympathy for him. He needs regular football, but with us out of the cup and other players able to cover the position, it is difficult to see where a sustained run comes from at the moment.
That does not mean writing him off. It means recognising that Adam has made himself very difficult to leave out, and I would certainly keep him in for Swansea.
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