Bolton v Leeds - Team/Reports/Ratings....

[1964white]

We're back with the first matchday thread of the new season as Leeds kick off their 2017-18 campaign with an away trip to newly promoted Bolton Wanderers.

Post up your starting XI plus any other titbits relating to this game

Thomas Christiansen has been busy during the Summer trying to snap up every midfielder he can, though to be fair Leeds quality and flair with the likes of Klich, Saiz and Alioski should benefit the team in the long run.

I reckon that Christiansen wants a team that can retain the ball & control the midfield.

Intriguing who he selects in the middle of the park?

Right now it's extremely likely Pennington & Cooper will be the central defence pairing with the absence of Jansson.

Who starts in the full-back positions with Anita coming into the equation.
Perhaps the biggest headache TC will have is who starts in goal. Felix or Green?

Thoughts?

No guesses who plays up front....

[Haighy]

I'm in Scarborough for the festival... so it's Schollars for me.

[danhirons]

Wiedwald

Ayling Cooper Pennington Berardi

Phillips/Bridcutt O'Kane

Roofe Hernandez/Saiz/Alioski Dallas

Wood

[The Subhuman]

Wiedwald

Anita Cooper Pennington Beradi

O'Kane

Alioski Hernandez Klich Roofe

Wood

[NorfolkWhite]

Interesting first game of the season selection with so many new faces.....but possibly

Wiedwald

Ayling
Cooper
Pennington
Barardi

O'Kane
Anita

Roofe
Alioski
Saiz

Wood

Subs
Hernandez
Klich (Bridcutt if not fit)
Vieira
Dallas
Ekuban

Plenty of competition in that MF / attacking wide positions but feeling paper thin squad wise at the back.....sure we must see movement here before too long.

[1964white]

Wiedwald

Ayling Cooper Pennington Berardi

O'Kane Anita

Roofe Saiz Alioski

Wood

[dezzy]

Wiedwald

Ayling Cooper Pennington Berardi

O'Kane Klich

Alioski Hernandez Dallas

Wood

I think Roofe will be a big player for us this season but Dallas is in ahead of him, on his pre season form, Hernandez faded last year, he's fresh now and knows the league, Saiz will take the number 10 jersey over time.
O Kane and Klich in midfield, for no other reason than they have a great sound bite for commentators, for when we are storming the league

[1964white]

:scarf1: Buzzing now as the first game of the season is nearly upon us :scarf2:

[1964white]

So which XI will Christiansen select for the Bolton game ?

[Ratscoot]

So which XI will Christiansen select for the Bolton game ?

Genuinely this is probably the first season that we've started and I've no idea who the starting eleven will be, I'm fairly confident that O'Kane, Pennington and Woods will start after that haven't a clue

[gessa]

Not a clue other than

Ayling.. .Cooper...Pennington...Berardi.

....O'Kane
Wood

[paddy parrott]

Green to get the shout for me ,back four picks it self there. O'kane and Bridcutt with Klich in middle. Then Roofe probably Hernandez and Big Chris Wood .

[The Subhuman]

I can see Anita starting, he's been very good in pre season and now it's serious I'd be surprised if TC doesn't go with whom he trusts. I just don't know where he'll play

GK - Weidwald - TC has nailed his colours to this mast imo
RB - Ayling - probably, but Anita maybe
CB - Cooper - 2 game loan and probable captain if Bridcutt fails to make the cut
CB - Pennington - The 2 CB's are 100% to start, there's no one else
LB - Beradi - probably, again could be Anita
RSMF - Gianni, it's his best position and he should have played himself into starting
LSMF - Roofe, 60/40 he starts but an impressive pre season
DMF - Anita..I'm shoehorning him in somewhere
CMF - O'Kane - Earned the right to start, not my favourite player but gets first crack. Bridcutt as Captain may also play here
AMF - Hernandez - We're going to start with Hernadez in the hole, there should be competition though from Klich/Saiz very soon
F - Wood - As sure as eggs is eggs bar a pre match injury

Subs - Saiz, Klich, Green, Vierra, Ekuban, Bridcutt, Some attempt at a cover centre back.

Midfield heavy bench, not good

[1964white]

Not a clue other than

Ayling.. .Cooper...Pennington...Berardi.

....O'Kane
Wood

Seem a safe six although Dobbo/Bell/Harris or whatever we've named him could start in one of the full-back positions. Think Roofe will start too !

And then there were four.....

[gessa]

Seem a safe six although Dobbo/Bell/Harris or whatever we've named him could start in one of the full-back positions. Think Roofe will start too !

And then there were four.....

I like Dobbo.
Agree Roofe should start.

[1964white]

I can see Anita starting, he's been very good in pre season and now it's serious I'd be surprised if TC doesn't go with whom he trusts. I just don't know where he'll play

DMF - Anita..I'm shoehorning him in somewhere

And rightly so, Anita has been one of our most consistent performers during pre-season

CB - Cooper - 2 game loan and probable captain if Bridcutt fails to make the cut

I think you might be right, god I hope not. Remember the fiasco when Bamba & Cooper were appointed as captains last season

[1964white]

I like Dobbo.
Agree Roofe should start.

Dobbo it is then mate

I'm sure everyone is aware of my reservations with Roofe however on pre-season form it would be tough on the lad if he was left out of the first XI. Should he gets his chance I hope he grabs the opportunity to show us the reason why we paid £3m for him

[gessa]

Dobbo it is then mate

I'm sure everyone is aware of my reservations with Roofe however on pre-season form it would be tough on the lad if he was left out of the first XI. Should he gets his chance I hope he grabs the opportunity to show us the reason why we paid £3m for him

He was always going to need a year, he did show at times like at Liverpool for instance there was a good player in there perhaps the new system suits his game better.

[1964white]

He was always going to need a year, he did show at times like at Liverpool for instance there was a good player in there perhaps the new system suits his game better.

Also hopefully Christiansen will allow the players to express themselves unlike Monk whom I always insisted he restricted his team from playing their natural game trying to play safe boring football, backfired on his managerial style in the end.

[Oscar]

I've restarted the fans channel again I mentioned last season with some friends and done a preview of the game:

Any feedback would be massively appreciated