Starting XI’s - Current Squad (keep updating) 24/25

[F!RTHY]

This might be a tad premature for some, but for those who aren’t recruiting a great deal due to having settled squads, or for those like us, who appear to be signing every Tom, Dick and Harry, it’ll be interesting to see where your respective squads are at - and perhaps most importantly, where you still need to recruit.

For us - Bradford City:

Goalkeepers:
Sam Walker
Colin Doyle
Zac Hadi

Defenders:
Sam Stubbs
Neil Byrne
Callum Johnson
Brad Halliday
Cieran Kelly
Lewis Richards

Midfielders:
Ritchie Smallwood
Jamie Walker
Antoni Sarcevic
Alex Pattison
Bobby Pointon
Alex Gillead
Kevin McDonald
Clarke Oduor

Strikers:
Andy Cook
Jake Young
Calum Kavanagh
Tyler Smith
Vadaine Oliver
Harry Ibbitson

Vadaine Oliver, Kevin McDonald and possibly Tyler Smith, are surplus to requirements. I can Smith leaving on-loan to someone like Swindon and knocking in 20-25 goals.

We still need another left-sided CB, an experienced LB and another striker.

As for strongest starting XI:

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Callum Johnson
CB: Sam Stubbs
CB: Cieran Kelly

RWB: Brad Halliday
LWB: Lewis Richards

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Antoni Sarcevic/Alex Pattison

RW: Jamie Walker
LW: Calum Kavanagh

ST: Andy Cook/Jake Young

So much competition for places, especially in those attacking areas.

Over to you ….

 

[JJ1990]

For Crewe Alex:

Goalkeepers
Tom Booth
Dave Richards(Transfer Listed since last summer, likely to be released)

Defenders
Ryan Cooney(RB)
Lewis Billington(RB/CB)
Mickey Demetriou(LCB)
Zac Williams(LCB)
Nathan Robinson(CB)(FYP, yet to sign contract)
Charlie Finney(LB/CM)
Lucas Sant(LB)(FYP, yet to sign contract)

Midfielders
Jack Powell(CM)
Conor Thomas(CDM)
Joel Tabiner(CAM)
Matus Holicek(CAM)
Owen Lunt(CM)
Callum Agius(CAM)(FYP)

Attackers
Chris Long(LW/ST)
Shilow Tracey(RW)

Still waiting for decisions on Rio Adebisi and Courtney Baker-Richardson, but Adebisi looks set to leave and CBR, who knows. We need a GK, LB, RCB, CM, RW, LW and 2 strikers, maybe 3. 8 signings minimum, potentially as many as 10-11 if the 2 mentioned above leave. Big few weeks ahead to get most of those players in place before pre-season starts.

Strongest XI, it's hard to say as we don't know what system Bell will go with next season. Maybe a 4-3-3. Who knows. But if he does, then this will what we're lining up with currently:

GK: Booth

RB: Cooney
CB: Billington
CB: Demetriou
LB: Williams

CM: Powell
CM: Thomas
CM: Tabiner

RW: Tracey
ST: Long
LW: Holicek

New signings at the already mentioned positions strengthens us a lot. GK allows for competition in goal. RCB allows Billington to replace Cooney at RB. LB means Williams doesn't start there, as he struggles to play that position. CM covers for the possibility that Thomas gets injured, which he will. The 2 wingers replace Tracey and Holicek. The 2 strikers compete for starts against each other and hopefully knock in 10 each.

We're pretty weak at the moment, but then it's not even June yet. New signings roll through the doors in the coming weeks and the fans optimism will start to increase.

 

[Son of Cod]

Goalkeepers
Jake Eastwood

Defenders
Toby Mullarkey
Harvey Rodgers
Doug Tharme
Tyrell Warren

Midfielders
Alex Hunt
Curtis Thompson
Evan Khouri
Kieran Green

Forwards
Charles Vernam
Danny Rose
Donovan Wilson
Rekeil Pyke
Cameron Gardner

We've got contract renewal offers in for Denver Hume, Harry Clifton and Callum Ainley. Of those above, it sounds very much like Alex Hunt is going to York and I don't expect Khouri and Gardner to be massively involved in first team activity. Could see Pyke getting shipped out too.

So a lot of work for us to do in the transfer window. I'm expecting about 10 signings. We started the summer with one keeper, no full backs, no creative midfielders and one winger.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

GK
Lawlor
Jones
Oram (promoted from academy)

RB
Sterry
Flint (promoted from academy)

CB
Woods
Anderson
Olowu
McGrath
Faulkner
Allen (promoted from academy)

LB
Maxwell
Senior

CM
Bailey
Westbrook
Sbarra
Close
Broadbent
Kuleya
Straughan-Brown

RW
Molyneux
Degruchy

LW
Hurst
Gibson
Sotona (transfer listed)

ST
Ironside
Miller
Goodman

Needed
Goalkeeper
Right Back
Right Winger
Attacking Midfielder
Striker

 

[Si Robin]

Goalkeepers:
Max Harris

Defenders:
Tom Bradbury
Lewis Freestone (currently subject to a bid from a League 1 team)

Midfielders:
Elliot Bonds
Tom Pett
Liam Kinsella
Jordan Thomas

Forwards:
Matty Taylor
Aidan Keena
Rob Street
Tom King

Needed:
Help!

 

[valefan16]

Likely see some movement out and plenty in but at current:

Goalkeeper:

Connor Ripley

Defence:

Nathan Smith
Dan Jones
Jesse Debrah
Jason Lowe
Alex Iacovitti
Connor Grant
Jack Shorrock
Mitch Clark
Ben Lomax

Midfield:

James Plant
Ethan Chislett
Ben Garrity
Funso Ojo
Tom Sang
Ronan Curtis


Striker

Ryan Loft
Baylee Dipepa

Line Up if played today assuming Moore reverts to 4-3-3

Ripley

Jones
Smith
Iacovitti
Clark

Garrity
Ojo
Sang

Chislett
Loft
Curtis

Key points from that, a new left back, and a striker to replace Loft!

Midfield very strong, keeper decent enough but work in other areas needed

 

[Grimsby Road]

Goalkeepers
Jake Eastwood

Defenders
Toby Mullarkey
Harvey Rodgers
Doug Tharme
Tyrell Warren

Midfielders
Alex Hunt
Curtis Thompson
Evan Khouri
Kieran Green

Forwards
Charles Vernam
Danny Rose
Donovan Wilson
Rekeil Pyke
Cameron Gardner

We've got contract renewal offers in for Denver Hume, Harry Clifton and Callum Ainley. Of those above, it sounds very much like Alex Hunt is going to York and I don't expect Khouri and Gardner to be massively involved in first team activity. Could see Pyke getting shipped out too.

So a lot of work for us to do in the transfer window. I'm expecting about 10 signings. We started the summer with one keeper, no full backs, no creative midfielders and one winger.

We could just about put a team out

Eastwood

Mullarkey
Rodgers
Tharme
Warren

Thompson
Khouri
Green

Vernam
Rose
Wilson

...... definitely needs major surgery & quality to do better next year .

 

[OneDecentLester]

Okay so currently squad wise we’re looking like this:

GK:
- Ryan Boot

Defenders:
- Ryheem Sheckleford
- Ash Palmer
- Tyrone Williams
- Jamie Grimes
- Brandon Horton

Midfielders:
- Tom Naylor
- DJ Oldaker
- Mike Jones
- Ollie Banks
- Tim Akinola (New signing)

Wingers/Attacking Midfielders:
- Ryan Colclough
- Armando Dobra
- Liam Mandeville
- Michael Jacobs
- James Berry
- Bailey Hobson

Forwards:
- Will Grigg
- Paddy Madden (New signing)
- Joe Quigley
- Kane Drummond (New signing)

Of the above, it’s rumoured a few have been told they can leave if a club comes in for them, whether that’s loan or permanent (Few names I’ve heard are Ash Palmer & DJ Oldaker, but I’d also fully expect Hobson to go out on loan again too personally).

As you can see, numbers are far healthier in the attacking positions / midfield currently, and I’d be very surprised to see many more come in in those positions, possibly 1 maybe 2 more maximum. Defensively & GK is where we’re going to see the majority of our incomings no doubt.

Rumoured names were looking at currently:
- Sam Clucas (Midfielder just released by Rotherham and played for us under Cook the first time round, apparently very close…)
- Kyle Mcfadzean (Experienced CB offered new deal at Blackburn but rumour is he wants to move closer to home and very good friends with Naylor.)
- Chey Dunkley (CB offered new deal at Shrewsbury, but once again, one that Cook has worked with previously)
- Tendayi Darikwa (RB who’s just left Apollon Limassol in Cyprus, but has been at Wigan, Burnley & Nottm Forest since he came through the academy here & was turned into a RB by Cook.)

They’re just the names I’ve heard, but we will definitely be in for a keeper as currently we only have Ryan Boot (who is more than good enough to be our starting keeper tbh, but needs competition). Wouldn’t be surprised to see Harry Tyrer come back in on loan from Everton.

Picking a starting XI is virtually impossible at any point of a season under Cook as he loves to rotate & use all his squad, so even harder to do that currently considering there’s still likely to be quite a bit of business done. I’ll give it a go though on what I’d pick currently with what’s in the building so far:

Boot
Mandeville Palmer Grimes Horton
Naylor Oldaker
Dobra Madden Colclough
Grigg

 

[Son of Cod]

We could just about put a team out

Eastwood

Mullarkey
Rodgers
Tharme
Warren

Thompson
Khouri
Green

Vernam
Rose
Wilson

...... definitely needs major surgery & quality to do better next year .

Haha yeah, I wasn't thinking about Warren at LB to be fair. I think considering how bad last season was the players we've got in the ranks aren't actually that bad as a base. I'd be fairly happy for that attack to start the first day of the season and then Tharme and Thompson are nailed on so that's almost half an XI. Can definitely argue cases for Green, Rodgers and Mullarkey too. Warren I have no idea about. I'd be disappointed if Eastwood goes into the seaaon as our #1 though.

 

[jacobncfc]

Goalkeepers:
Sam Slocombe
Tiernan Brooks
Aidan Stone (transfer listed)

Centre backs:
Lewis Macari
Matty Platt
Kyle Cameron
Connell Rawlinson (transfer listed)
Geraldo Bajrami

Wing backs:
Aaron Nemane
Jodi Jones
Adam Chicksen
Will Randall (transfer listed)

Midfielders:
Matty Palmer
Scott Robertson
Dan Crowley
Sam Austin

Forwards:
Macaulay Langstaff
Alassana Jatta
Cedwyn Scott
David McGoldrick

Our team now would be:

Slocombe
Macari - Platt - Cameron
Nemane - Palmer - Robertson - Jones
Crowley
Jatta - Langstaff

To be honest, with the exception of the goalkeeping mess, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see that start the season as our strongest XI. I think we'll probably bring in another centre back to play on the right of the back three, though, and use Macari as an option there and more defensively at right wing back.

 

[Grimsby Road]

Goalkeepers:
Sam Slocombe
Tiernan Brooks
Aidan Stone (transfer listed)

Centre backs:
Lewis Macari
Matty Platt
Kyle Cameron
Connell Rawlinson (transfer listed)
Geraldo Bajrami

Wing backs:
Aaron Nemane
Jodi Jones
Adam Chicksen
Will Randall (transfer listed)

Midfielders:
Matty Palmer
Scott Robertson
Dan Crowley
Sam Austin

Forwards:
Macaulay Langstaff
Alassana Jatta
Cedwyn Scott
David McGoldrick

Our team now would be:

Slocombe
Macari - Platt - Cameron
Nemane - Palmer - Robertson - Jones
Crowley
Jatta - Langstaff

To be honest, with the exception of the goalkeeping mess, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see that start the season as our strongest XI. I think we'll probably bring in another centre back to play on the right of the back three, though, and use Macari as an option there and more defensively at right wing back.

What's happened with Randall ?

Always thought he looked decent for Sutton

 

[Andy Butler]

Okay so currently squad wise we’re looking like this:

GK:
- Ryan Boot

Defenders:
- Ryheem Sheckleford
- Ash Palmer
- Tyrone Williams
- Jamie Grimes
- Brandon Horton

Midfielders:
- Tom Naylor
- DJ Oldaker
- Mike Jones
- Ollie Banks
- Tim Akinola (New signing)

Wingers/Attacking Midfielders:
- Ryan Colclough
- Armando Dobra
- Liam Mandeville
- Michael Jacobs
- James Berry
- Bailey Hobson

Forwards:
- Will Grigg
- Paddy Madden (New signing)
- Joe Quigley
- Kane Drummond (New signing)

Of the above, it’s rumoured a few have been told they can leave if a club comes in for them, whether that’s loan or permanent (Few names I’ve heard are Ash Palmer & DJ Oldaker, but I’d also fully expect Hobson to go out on loan again too personally).

As you can see, numbers are far healthier in the attacking positions / midfield currently, and I’d be very surprised to see many more come in in those positions, possibly 1 maybe 2 more maximum. Defensively & GK is where we’re going to see the majority of our incomings no doubt.

Rumoured names were looking at currently:
- Sam Clucas (Midfielder just released by Rotherham and played for us under Cook the first time round, apparently very close…)
- Kyle Mcfadzean (Experienced CB offered new deal at Blackburn but rumour is he wants to move closer to home and very good friends with Naylor.)
- Chey Dunkley (CB offered new deal at Shrewsbury, but once again, one that Cook has worked with previously)
- Tendayi Darikwa (RB who’s just left Apollon Limassol in Cyprus, but has been at Wigan, Burnley & Nottm Forest since he came through the academy here & was turned into a RB by Cook.)

They’re just the names I’ve heard, but we will definitely be in for a keeper as currently we only have Ryan Boot (who is more than good enough to be our starting keeper tbh, but needs competition). Wouldn’t be surprised to see Harry Tyrer come back in on loan from Everton.

Picking a starting XI is virtually impossible at any point of a season under Cook as he loves to rotate & use all his squad, so even harder to do that currently considering there’s still likely to be quite a bit of business done. I’ll give it a go though on what I’d pick currently with what’s in the building so far:

Boot
Mandeville Palmer Grimes Horton
Naylor Oldaker
Dobra Madden Colclough
Grigg

That Colclough is a coke head rat who think he is handy. Got no time for him. Acted the hardman around here and got seen to. Decent football player mind but he has wasted his career

 

[jacobncfc]

What's happened with Randall ?

Always thought he looked decent for Sutton

Constantly injured. I'm surprised we've listed him and not treated it as a completely fresh start, can't see who's going to take him.

 

[クレイグ]

Our defence worries me so far. Looks weak. Very good in midfield and up top though.

 

[1862]

Constantly injured. I'm surprised we've listed him and not treated it as a completely fresh start, can't see who's going to take him.

I'm just not sure he fits in a team that has a lot of the ball and is facing a low block a lot of the time, he's looked a bit clueless when he's had the ball. The highlights I've seen of him are all when he's on the break or has a lot of space to work with. You're right that he hasn't had a lot of time to prove otherwise though.

Our team now would be:

Slocombe
Macari - Platt - Cameron
Nemane - Palmer - Robertson - Jones
Crowley
Jatta - Langstaff

To be honest, with the exception of the goalkeeping mess, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see that start the season as our strongest XI. I think we'll probably bring in another centre back to play on the right of the back three, though, and use Macari as an option there and more defensively at right wing back.

Yeah agree with this entirely, I'd really like to sign another starter who can play RCB and cover Platt in the middle. I like Macari a lot but planning to start him and Cameron in the same team isn't addressing the issues defending the box.

 

[joethegill]

Goalkeepers:
Jake Turner
Glenn Morris
Taite Holtam (youth)

Defenders:
Connor Masterson
Max Ehmer
Shad Ogie
Max Clark
Robbie McKenzie
Remeao Hutton
Scott Malone (listed)
Sam Gale (youth)
Alex Giles (youth)

Midfielders:
Ethan Coleman
Tim Dieng
Jonny Williams
George Lapslie (listed)

Forwards:
Oli Hawkins (listed)
Ashley Nadesan (Listed)
Josh Andrews
Elliot Nevitt
Jayden Clarke
Joe Gbode (youth)

Plus an offer made to Dom Jefferies (midfield).

Our best XI right now not including Jefferies or anyone on the transfer list would probably be:

Turner

Hutton - Masterson - Ogie - Clark

Coleman
Mckenzie - Dieng
Williams

Nevitt - Andrews
​

We have no width in the squad, so no surprise to see us linked with wide men. We're also quite light in central midfield, and need another striker. If we can get the 4 transfer listed out the door sooner rather than later then that'd be positive.

Still required:

Centre Midfielder
Right Winger
Left Winger
Centre Forward

That'll probably do it to be honest, defence is most or less set already from last season.

 

[Optipez]

What's happened with Randall ?

Always thought he looked decent for Sutton

He's never got going for us. Had a niggling injury pre season where he needed special insteps for his boots, apparantly had a car crash which injured him and when he's been on the pitch he's offered nothing and plays with zero confidence.
Him and Junior Morais have been invisible and just not worked out at all.

 

[hellogregory]

Carlisle United

Goalkeepers
Gabe Breeze
Harry Lewis

Defenders
Jack Ellis
Jack Armer
Jack Robinson
Sam Lavelle
Jon Mellish
Aaron Hayden
Ben Barclay

Midfielders
Alfie Mccalmont
Harrison Neal
Josh Vela
Dylan McGeouch
Callum Guy
Taylor Charters
Jayden Harris

Attackers
Luke Armstrong
Georgie Kelly
Anton Dudik
Dan Butterworth


We need a hell of a lot of work. Some of them have been told they can find new clubs and ideally I’d like 6-8 of the above offloaded as well as signing 10+ new players.

Simpson’s best 11 as things stand.

Lewis
Ellis Hayden Lavelle Mellish Armer
Guy McGeouch Vela
Kelly Armstrong
​

Garbage. Bottom 6 standard until we make changes.

 

[joethegill]

Still required:

Centre Midfielder
Right Winger
Left Winger
Centre Forward

That'll probably do it to be honest, defence is most or less set already from last season.

Armani Little added, so cross off the midfielder. Nolan apparently almost done from Accrington, plus allegedly looking at Dan Kemp. Just a forward to go after that and we're pretty much done.

 

[Scum.]

Milton Keynes Dons

Goalkeepers
Craig MacGillivray
Nathan Harness
Ronnie Sandford
Seb Stacey

Defenders
Dean Lewington
Daniel Harvie
Luke Offord
Jack Tucker
Joe Tomlinson
Cameron Norman
Phoenix Scholtz
Albert Wood
Brooklyn Ilunga
Charlie Waller
Charlie Stirland

Midfielders
MJ Williams
Dawson Devoy
Alex Gilbey
Stephen Wearne
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Callum Tripp
Conor Grant
Joel Anker

Attackers
Max Dean
Ellis Harrison
Matt Dennis
Jonathan Leko

Not easy to separate our players into these buckets given so many of them can play all over the park, especially wingback/CAM/up front. In terms of our biggest priority, we are short all over the pitch (10 of the players listed are recent academy graduates) but particularly in midfield/attacking roles given we have lost the likes of Bate, Payne, Lofthouse, Tezgel when their loans finished and I guess you can throw in Kemp too who we released because it didn’t work out.

Current starting XI (3-4-2-1):

MacGillivray
Offord - Tucker - Harvie
Norman - Williams - Gilbey - Tomlinson
Wearne - Lemonheigh-Evans
Dean

 

[Andy Butler]

I don't rate that MK Dons bh..That Dean is overrated to fuck

 

[Son of Cod]

Milton Keynes Dons

Goalkeepers
Craig MacGillivray
Nathan Harness
Ronnie Sandford
Seb Stacey

Defenders
Dean Lewington
Daniel Harvie
Luke Offord
Jack Tucker
Joe Tomlinson
Cameron Norman
Phoenix Scholtz
Albert Wood
Brooklyn Ilunga
Charlie Waller
Charlie Stirland

Midfielders
MJ Williams
Dawson Devoy
Alex Gilbey
Stephen Wearne
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Callum Tripp
Conor Grant
Joel Anker

Attackers
Max Dean
Ellis Harrison
Matt Dennis
Jonathan Leko

Not easy to separate our players into these buckets given so many of them can play all over the park, especially wingback/CAM/up front. In terms of our biggest priority, we are short all over the pitch (10 of the players listed are recent academy graduates) but particularly in midfield/attacking roles given we have lost the likes of Bate, Payne, Lofthouse, Tezgel when their loans finished and I guess you can throw in Kemp too who we released because it didn’t work out.

Current starting XI (3-4-2-1):

MacGillivray
Offord - Tucker - Harvie
Norman - Williams - Gilbey - Tomlinson
Wearne - Lemonheigh-Evans
Dean

 

[Scum.]

Two of them are yoots

 

[Scum.]

I don't rate that MK Dons bh..That Dean is overrated to fuck

22 goals and assists in 32 games isn’t too bad though?

He is suspended for the first 3 games (if we retain him that is) for that stamp in the play-offs though and was out injured for a fair period last year so who knows how consistent he will be as we didn’t expect anything of him last season given he was only 19 (now 20) years old.

 

[mightyshrimp]

Morecambe
We currently have
Moore
Edwards
Brown
Saul Fox
Harrack
No manager
No Ceo
Transfer Embargo
Wanker owner

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

You’ll still stay up.

 

[mightyshrimp]

Seriously we are virtually on the brink of disappearing out of existence and no 1 seems to give a fuck ,let's hope no of you are next

 

[spireite]

Morecambe
We currently have
Moore
Edwards
Brown
Saul Fox
Harrack
No manager
No Ceo
Transfer Embargo
Wanker owner

Some weird names in that line up. Surely if your surname is Embargo you don't name your child Transfer. Just asking for trouble

 

[Meadow]

Seriously we are virtually on the brink of disappearing out of existence and no 1 seems to give a fuck ,let's hope no of you are next

I absolutely do give a fuck. I know one of your supporters and he's a lovely bloke. Reading his tweets and retweets is heartbreaking.

I also thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your stadium a few years ago. Your stewards were excellent.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Goalkeepers:
Sam Slocombe
Tiernan Brooks
Aidan Stone (transfer listed)

Centre backs:
Lewis Macari
Matty Platt
Kyle Cameron
Connell Rawlinson (transfer listed)
Geraldo Bajrami

Wing backs:
Aaron Nemane
Jodi Jones
Adam Chicksen
Will Randall (transfer listed)

Midfielders:
Matty Palmer
Scott Robertson
Dan Crowley
Sam Austin

Forwards:
Macaulay Langstaff
Alassana Jatta
Cedwyn Scott
David McGoldrick

Our team now would be:

Slocombe
Macari - Platt - Cameron
Nemane - Palmer - Robertson - Jones
Crowley
Jatta - Langstaff

To be honest, with the exception of the goalkeeping mess, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see that start the season as our strongest XI. I think we'll probably bring in another centre back to play on the right of the back three, though, and use Macari as an option there and more defensively at right wing back.

Would you be happy for that to be your starting eleven? I'm not trying to have a dig, but you didn't exactly set the world alight last season, so as a fan I'd be looking for a few positions to be changed in order to vastly improve. I would feel a little uneasy in playing virtually the same team that weren't successful last year.