15/16 Title Winning Team vs 19/20 Play off Winning Team

[Welly Cobb]

Well, we've been here before fairly recently. We're looking at probably a few changes for League One last year, but I was thinking  before the play-offs began that we may be in for a rough ride next year if we go up, as the run away title-winning side of 15/16 struggled to make an impression in the league above. However, looking back it, the team we had weren't by any means an exceptional lot, just well managed and set up and with a sprinkle of quality (Ringing a few bells with that, and as such I hope we make a better first of keeping our manager this time out). I've been going through the combined teams, and while there are a few obvious picks, there are also a lot of players where it's tough to choose between the two teams out of who you'd have.

So, basing this on their age and form at the time of they played for us, what would be the best 11 you'd make out of the following? You can play any formation you want, but I've gone for 4-4-2 as I felt like I had to get Holmes in somewhere.

GK Adam Smith, GK Ryan Clarke, GK David Cornell, GK David Arnold
RB Brendan Maloney RB Josh Lelan RB/RWB Michael Harriman RB Reece Hall-Johnson
CB Zander Diamond CB Ryan Creswell CB Rod McDonald CB Luke Prosser CB Charlie Goode CB Jordan Turnbull CB Scott Wharton
LB David Buchanon LB Joe Martin LWB/LW Nicky Adams LWB/LW Mark Marshall
CM Jason Taylor CM Joel Byrom CM John Joe O'Toole CM Danny Rose CM Shaun McWilliams CM Alan McCormack CM Ryan Watson CM Chris Lines CM Scotty Pollock
AM Matt Warburton AM/LW/RW Sam Hoskins W Lawson D'Ath W Ricky Holmes W Alfie Potter W Lee Martin W Paul Anderson
ST Marc Richards ST Sam Hoskins ST James Collins ST John Marquis ST Billy Waters ST Harry Smith ST Andy Williams ST Vadaine Oliver ST Callum Morton

I'd have gone for
GK Smith
RB Maloney CB Goode CB Turnbull LB Buchanon
RW Adams CM McCormack CM O'Toole LW Holmes
ST Richards ST Morton

I could easily swap Richards for Oliver, Morton for Marquis, and Byrom and Watson are very similar picks if you play Curle's formation instead of using wingers.

[Madrid Cobbler]

 Fun idea so here's my take

GK Adam Smith
RB  Moloney
CBs Goode and Turnbull
LB Buchannan
CMs McCormack and JJOT
AMs Holmes and Adams
STs Richards and Morton

Subs: Cornell, Harriman, Wharton, Hoskins, Marshall and Oliver

I was determined not to be influenced by your choices so didn't look at them before making my choices, but I find I've picked exactly the same team!

[Air-Dan]

Think I'd have McDonald over Turnbull.
McCormack injured too often so Danny Rose would probably be slipped in more often than not. McCormack the preference when fit though.

Other than that I agree with the two of you.

[guest2934]

I was thinking  before the play-offs began that we may be in for a rough ride next year if we go up, as the run away title-winning side of 15/16 struggled to make an impression in the league above.

It was hardly the title winning "team' that struggled. The guts of it had been ripped out and the whole mentality changed.

This time around the manager and the core of the team will be the same, this could make a huge difference.

[Cordwainer2]

It was hardly the title winning "team' that struggled. The guts of it had been ripped out and the whole mentality changed.

This time around the manager and the core of the team will be the same, this could make a huge difference.

Also the last time we went up through the play offs, we were in the play offs again the next season.

[Winslow Lee]

Also the last time we went up through the play offs, we were in the play offs again the next season.

Playing a not too dissimilar style of football

[Madrid Cobbler]

This time around the manager and the core of the team will be the same, this could make a huge difference.
[/quote]

Are you sure? At the moment, only 4 of our play-off final winning starting line-up are still under contract next season: Arnold, Goode, Watson and Adams. That's not enough to be the "core" of the team, especially as Arnold has only played about 10 times for the club. There will hopefully be a few more of that 11 staying (Hoskins, Harriman, Oliver etc) but it's by no means a given. And a number of clubs will be sniffing around Charlie Goode too. And as far as I know Keith Curle hasn't yet resigned either. Perhaps you are suffering from post play-off over-optimism. Easily done!

[Battery Man]

This time around the manager and the core of the team will be the same, this could make a huge difference.


Are you sure? At the moment, only 4 of our play-off final winning starting line-up are still under contract next season: Arnold, Goode, Watson and Adams. That's not enough to be the "core" of the team, especially as Arnold has only played about 10 times for the club. There will hopefully be a few more of that 11 staying (Hoskins, Harriman, Oliver etc) but it's by no means a given. And a number of clubs will be sniffing around Charlie Goode too. And as far as I know Keith Curle hasn't yet resigned either. Perhaps you are suffering from post play-off over-optimism. Easily done!

I am not so sure that many clubs will be sniffing around players under contract at our level this summer. I think the amount of freebies available and the lack of funds at most clubs will mean that players under contract that clubs want to keep will be safe this time around.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Hoskins may find some decent offers from another club bearing in mind how the TV 'bigged' him up in the shop window?

[guest2934]

This time around the manager and the core of the team will be the same, this could make a huge difference.


Are you sure? At the moment, only 4 of our play-off final winning starting line-up are still under contract next season: Arnold, Goode, Watson and Adams. That's not enough to be the "core" of the team, especially as Arnold has only played about 10 times for the club. There will hopefully be a few more of that 11 staying (Hoskins, Harriman, Oliver etc) but it's by no means a given. And a number of clubs will be sniffing around Charlie Goode too. And as far as I know Keith Curle hasn't yet resigned either. Perhaps you are suffering from post play-off over-optimism. Easily done!

No, I grew out of Cobblers related over-optimism in the 80's!

I stand by what I said, football faces a tumultuous few months, players and their families will have tough decisions ahead. In contrast, there is a tangible spirit around the club today which was ripped out of the club when Wilder left, who lets face it couldn't get away fast enough.

This doesn't sound like a manager about to leave, does it? Maybe I am wrong?