nelsonpfc
Active Member
We've had a fairly good pre season. Apart from Bournemouth we've played all non league teams thanks to the friendly vs Cardiff being cancelled due to us playing them in the League Cup. Recruited well I think. Interesting to see if the players from last season can step up. 3 of the first choice back four injured and the lack of an experienced replacement for Michael Doyle in midfield is a worry, although moving Carl Baker to centre midfield looks like it could either be a master stroke or we could be massively bullied and overrun there. We looked the business against Bournemouth on the attack but very open at the back. Crawleys powerhouse centre forward beasted us in the first half last week so i'm hoping there aren't as many big lump centre forwards as there are in the league 2!!! Jackett has been playing either 4411/4231 with Brett Pitman in an slightly deeper role with young Chaplin or Kal Naismith leading the line. Both full backs will get forward alot so I think any team with high fast wingers will get alot of joy on the counter attack. Can't see many 0-0 draws until the Burgess-Clarke unit is back and fit although Burgess should be ok for Saturday at the back.
Likely lineup
Luke McGee
Gareth Evans
Christian Burgess
Tom Davies
Tariq Holes-Dennis
Kyle Bennett
Carl Baker
Danny Rose
Kal Naismith/Milan Lalkovic
Brett Pitman
Conor Chaplin/Naismith
Rochdale look like they are a decent top half side so I expect a very hard introduction to league 1, but hoping a full Fratton Park along with the Eisner takeover annouced this week we can possibly edge it 2-1 Pitman and Bennett scoring
Likely lineup
Luke McGee
Gareth Evans
Christian Burgess
Tom Davies
Tariq Holes-Dennis
Kyle Bennett
Carl Baker
Danny Rose
Kal Naismith/Milan Lalkovic
Brett Pitman
Conor Chaplin/Naismith
Rochdale look like they are a decent top half side so I expect a very hard introduction to league 1, but hoping a full Fratton Park along with the Eisner takeover annouced this week we can possibly edge it 2-1 Pitman and Bennett scoring