Whether its "eating a bit of humble pie", 'being fully informed', or just "having a good, hard think about things", I've just gone through the experience of trying to "name a team that takes us forward."
It is a very interesting experience, and,... well...maybe the demands I've made that we play youth at all costs is "a bit adventurous". Its actually quite hard to fit them all in, ...and, have a sensible team at the same time! Maybe, I've got to take back a few things I've intimated about Roly and his selection panel !!??!
I downloaded the full senior squad, and, the current injury list. I looked at the rookie list, and whilst I'd like to see Messers Deluca, Nyhuis, Strnadica, Duman, and Ubergang play, I assumed they are all unavailable.
In the interests of youth, but a 'realistic' competitive team, I put a line through The Fist, Ibbo, Suban D.Pearce, Sheriden, Griffen, Bennell, Tabenar, A. Pearce, Grey, Clarke, Sutcliffe, Spurr, Apeness, Balic.
Of that lot...there are some good long time servants, some long term injuries that we'd like to see play (Bennell, Clarke, A Pearce,), and Ibbo, Spurr and Tabs are unlucky. Tabs would otherwise be named in a team of youth, but he's got to learn to dominate before he comes back in (in my view....) Balic is out, but hopefully not for long.
From our injury list I assume (on the basis of how RoLy is talking, Ballas, Langdon, and Sandy are able to play. Don't believe all 3 will, but for this exercise, I'll assume they do.
And so...
A 'youth inspired, competitive" team for this week looks like :
Logue Mcarthy Ballantyne
Walters Kersten Crozier
S Hill Neale B Hill
Blakely Johnno Langdon
Ryan Hamling Hughes
R : Sandy Fyfe Mundy
Int: Cox Tucker Collins Darcy
Now, I'm not sold on the positioning..just the personnel....but the real issue is, there is not a lot outside that list that are available. Nothing in fact, unless Tabs starts dominating, or Balic is back and up-to-speed, and Brady grey is not injured. Or, we pull someone of the rookie list ie Deluca.
And...there's still a lot of old blokes in there!!!
I'd be interested if Dockerlanders would be 'happy' with the above team, knowing that it sacrifices a few good soldiers (Spurr, Ibbo, and maybe Griffen and Sheriden) for the future, or whether the 'same old, same old' is preferred??
What I do know, is that it is not an easy exercise, especially if Johnno, Mundy, Fyfe, S.Hill,Sandy and Ballas are all "hanging on by a thread". Anyway, would be interested in peoples thoughts....
