fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
Now I'm really optimistic. I know that we should beat East Thurrock handsomely, but then we should also beat teams like Burnham, Maldon, Heybridge Swifts etc and I don't remember us handing out any pre-season thrashings in the recent past to any of those (or other non league teams come to think of it!).
Looking at the squad, there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to be in the comfort zone, which I think has been the case over the last few years. Look at the players who can play in the different positions to appreciate the depth of quality we now have (I've deliberately excluded the current triallists);
Goalkeepers
Griemink and Flahavan.
Right back
Jupp, Hunt, Wilson, Williams
Left back
Nicolau, Wilson
Centre halves
Edwards, Barrett, Hunt
Wide midfielders
Gower, Corbett, Pettefer, Bramble, Husbands, Kightly, Bentley, Nicolau
Central midfielders
M aher, Bentley, Smith, Bryan, Pettefer, Corbett
Strikers
Dudfield, G ray, Broughton, Bramble, Husbands, Corbett
This is before we bring people like Prior, Judge and Surey into the equation.
Now let's assume we are even more unlucky with injuries than we were last year. We could still field a side as follows;
Flahavan
Williams Hunt Barrett Wilson
Pettefer Bryan Corbett Husbands
Broughton Bramble
There are 2 unknowns there (Williams and Bryan) but apart from that there are 6 or 7 there who would have been in serious contention for first choice last season.
So what could we do with the following team then?
Griemink
Jupp Edwards Hunt Nicolau
Gower M aher Bentley Pettefer
Dudfield G ray
Possibly add Prior and Smith in (if and when available)
The thing is, there are lots of possible permutations and partnerships that would all work equally well. What central midfield would be best for instance; Maher/Smith, Maher/Bentley or Bentley/Smith? What about strikers? Dudfield/ G ray, Broughton/ G ray, Bramble/Corbett, Broughton/Corbett, Bramble/ G ray...
Centre backs - lets say Prior now as well - Edwards/Barrett, Edwards/Prior, Barrett/Prior, Edwards/Hunt, Prior/Hunt, Barrett/Hunt...
The main point is that the spine of the team is now absolutely AWESOME! I don't know about anyone else but I'd be happy with any of those partnerships mentioned above. The wide players almost pick themselves but it was the spine that was very flawed last year... although no-one seemed to know it!
I think I'll pop down the bookies... 33/1 is a cracking each way bet I think!
Bring it on!!
Looking at the squad, there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to be in the comfort zone, which I think has been the case over the last few years. Look at the players who can play in the different positions to appreciate the depth of quality we now have (I've deliberately excluded the current triallists);
Goalkeepers
Griemink and Flahavan.
Right back
Jupp, Hunt, Wilson, Williams
Left back
Nicolau, Wilson
Centre halves
Edwards, Barrett, Hunt
Wide midfielders
Gower, Corbett, Pettefer, Bramble, Husbands, Kightly, Bentley, Nicolau
Central midfielders
M aher, Bentley, Smith, Bryan, Pettefer, Corbett
Strikers
Dudfield, G ray, Broughton, Bramble, Husbands, Corbett
This is before we bring people like Prior, Judge and Surey into the equation.
Now let's assume we are even more unlucky with injuries than we were last year. We could still field a side as follows;
Flahavan
Williams Hunt Barrett Wilson
Pettefer Bryan Corbett Husbands
Broughton Bramble
There are 2 unknowns there (Williams and Bryan) but apart from that there are 6 or 7 there who would have been in serious contention for first choice last season.
So what could we do with the following team then?
Griemink
Jupp Edwards Hunt Nicolau
Gower M aher Bentley Pettefer
Dudfield G ray
Possibly add Prior and Smith in (if and when available)
The thing is, there are lots of possible permutations and partnerships that would all work equally well. What central midfield would be best for instance; Maher/Smith, Maher/Bentley or Bentley/Smith? What about strikers? Dudfield/ G ray, Broughton/ G ray, Bramble/Corbett, Broughton/Corbett, Bramble/ G ray...
Centre backs - lets say Prior now as well - Edwards/Barrett, Edwards/Prior, Barrett/Prior, Edwards/Hunt, Prior/Hunt, Barrett/Hunt...
The main point is that the spine of the team is now absolutely AWESOME! I don't know about anyone else but I'd be happy with any of those partnerships mentioned above. The wide players almost pick themselves but it was the spine that was very flawed last year... although no-one seemed to know it!
I think I'll pop down the bookies... 33/1 is a cracking each way bet I think!
Bring it on!!
