Starting Eleven? As it stands .....

[Charnwood]

I still can5 believe Jack Clarke hasn’t started a match yet. For me if we play Kelvin Phillips and I think we should, at the level we’re playing now he will automatically drop back to support the back four plugging gaps and breaking up play just as we watched him do successfully at Brighton on Saturday. But what this does is leave Morsy almost on his own trying to link up play with the three sitting behind Liam Delap. What Jack Clarke adds is the ability and willingness to drop back and come and collect the ball out of defence and run at pace with the ball to move play quickly upfield, and for this reason alone he would always be in my starting line up. I think Ogbene can probably play a similar role but I know less about him as I haven’t watched him play as much as I have Jack Clarke, although when he played against England the other night he looked pretty quick too.

McKenna has so many options but for me unless he uses Jack Clarke and maybe even Cajuste alongside Phillips we’re going to struggle linking up play from defence through the middle of the pitch and until we do that we’re going to struggle creating chances for the front men to score the goals we so desperately need.

Hutchinson has the pace to help make this happen too but I don’t think we can expect Szmodics to do the same but without some service we’re going to get nothing out of Sam.

I know it would be controversial and maybe wouldn’t work with a 4:2:3:1 set up, but what about Clarke , Hutchinson, Ogbene playing behind Delap or are they all far too similar although they all have the ability to assist and score goals.

[ITFC2024]

I think Clarke-Hutchinson-Burns could be a strong starting three. I love Szmodics, but I think against some opponents he'd be better utilized as an impact sub. His speed and eye for goal could be critical, especially if we're behind late in matches.

Davis proved he can defend well as witnessed in the Brighton match. Can he be consistent? He will have his hands full with Southampton's Dibling if he plays. Hopefully with more playing time for J. Clarke, he and Davis will eventually develop some nice link up play. I can see Davis dropping the ball back to Clarke allowing Clarke to cut inside and take shots on goal, and I can see Clarke sliding the ball down the wing for Davis to run on to.

Also, I really want KM to stick with Delap as the starter. He's much stronger physically and quicker than Hirst, although Hirst does the off-the-ball stuff well by getting into good positions. However, against stronger teams, we'll have to rely more on counter-attacks and I'm not sure Hirst is the man for that approach.

[shabba]

I love Szmodics, but I think against some opponents he'd be better utilized as an impact sub. His speed and eye for goal could be critical, especially if we're behind late in matches.

Tricky as he IS a player who can score from a sniff though, and you need that in the side, but I do very much agree that Clarke looks very good and offers more all-round play, link up and such.

I'd like to actually see Clarke - Szmodics - Hutchinson

Hutch does well on that right side, but I know we won't go there as we have Burns and Obege for that spot.

[Bluemike]

Clarke Szmodics Hutchinson for me too, however I don't think we are going to have a settled starting Eleven, squad rotation is key now I feel

[Ricco]

Just get Szmodics central, (I don't mind seeing the wide players rotated more, they're all very capable) I think that could be absolutely key to the season, though I know others on here see Hutchinson there.

EDIT: sounds like I'm disagreeing a bit I'm definitely in the Clarke Szmodics Hutchinson camp for what I want to see.

[ITFC2024]

One reason I’d prefer Burns on the right, is he’s really good at crossing the ball across the front of goal. I can’t remember seeing Omari cross the ball. Omari usually tries to niggle his way to the center and rarely takes the ball down the wing.

[Ricco]

I too like Burns a lot, it's great to have the option of quite different players and perhaps form/fitness and opposition can dictate who plays rather than who's 'best'.

It's great that Burns can get to the byline and get crosses in, but on the flip side (trivela aside!), Burns isn't going to cut inside and play little trough balls or take shots/score goals like Hutchinson. There's a reason inverted wingers are in vogue... in the modern game with just one up top, you need your wide players to be genuine forwards and contribute a decent share of goals, more traditional wingers will struggle.

[ITFC2024]

During the Championship season Omari had 10 goals and 11 assists. Burns had 9 goals and 11 assists. They can both score, and they can both set up goals. That’s why in my opinion, they should both start (when healthy), and Burns should maintain his position on the right, and Omari should be central.

[hallamblue]

I agree 100% with this ^^^^^

[Ricco]

During the Championship season Omari had 10 goals and 11 assists. Burns had 9 goals and 11 assists. They can both score, and they can both set up goals. That’s why in my opinion, they should both start (when healthy), and Burns should maintain his position on the right, and Omari should be central.

You going to challenge this lame stat nerd over here?!

Well Szmodics netted 27, so sorry, but in my opinion he gets first pick, and gets placed in his most dangerous position, central. He also only had 4 assists last season, he's there to score goals, we need to get him in the box, he is the perfect man for the Chaplin role that got us 26 goals in League 1 and 13 in the Championship. That leaves the right hand side for the other two. I'm not sure where your stats came from, but this is what I have for last season:

Burns - 6 goals - 4 assists - a goal contribution every 240 minutes
Hutchinson - 10 goals - 5 assists - a goal contribution every 145 minutes

So I don't think it's even that close going forward, especially as with age on his side, Hutchinson should be improving all the time. Now where Burns levels it out is in experience and his defensive side of the game, which has been mentioned a few times on here as being underrated/unnoticed. That's why they're both great options to have, but I think they both have to be from the right and we have to get Szmodics firing in the centre.

[hallamblue]

Good argument there.... hadn't realised this.

[ITFC2024]

You going to challenge this lame stat nerd over here?!

Well Szmodics netted 27, so sorry, but in my opinion he gets first pick, and gets placed in his most dangerous position, central. He also only had 4 assists last season, he's there to score goals, we need to get him in the box, he is the perfect man for the Chaplin role that got us 26 goals in League 1 and 13 in the Championship. That leaves the right hand side for the other two. I'm not sure where your stats came from, but this is what I have for last season:

Burns - 6 goals - 4 assists - a goal contribution every 240 minutes
Hutchinson - 10 goals - 5 assists - a goal contribution every 145 minutes

So I don't think it's even that close going forward, especially as with age on his side, Hutchinson should be improving all the time. Now where Burns levels it out is in experience and his defensive side of the game, which has been mentioned a few times on here as being underrated/unnoticed. That's why they're both great options to have, but I think they both have to be from the right and we have to get Szmodics firing in the centre.

I stand corrected, I've just confirmed Wes and Omari's 2023/24 info on Footy Stats and it states Wes 6 goals - 4 assists and Omari 10 goals - 4 assists. If Szmodics can emulate that form in the Premier League, then he should definitely start in the center. Maybe the players who need to rotate are Hutch and Burns? (I know that will raise a few eyebrows)! Sorry I haven't been that impressed with Hutch after our first four matches. I'm sure he'll improve.

[Ricco]

Maybe the players who need to rotate are Hutch and Burns? (I know that will raise a few eyebrows)! Sorry I haven't been that impressed with Hutch after our first four matches. I'm sure he'll improve.

I think the fact we all see it differently, and that we have players that are versatile and relatively equal in quality, is testament to the recruitment job the club have done. Headaches are a good thing (so long as you can keep players sufficiently happy!), I'm sure they'll all get a chance to show us what they can do and McKenna will work out the best formulas.

[Bluemike]

I've not been overly impressed with Hutchinson thus far either. I don't believe he's completely fit.

[ITFC2024]

I've not been overly impressed with Hutchinson thus far either. I don't believe he's completely fit.

I do remember reading the reason he was sent back from the recent internationals was due to a tight hamstring.