Barratt's got big shoes to fill to feel at home in the team though. I'd leave MDG at right back and if Lopata isn't going to be summoned from oblivion it's over to the amazing Mladen.
Conor as much said the same last week. Wondering if Robbo could do a prolonged period of 2 games a week. Didn't dismiss it out of hand though.
Can’t see Roberts playing for at least a month. We need someone in this week but will that happen, probably not? Be looking at a back four of Bland, MDG, Earl and Ogbeta I imagine. Not much height wise for defending set pieces there. If we’re paying Lopata we may as well bring him into the reckoning, especially with a cup game next week too. Usually field back ups in those but we don’t have any.
Should be MDG and Earl CB at the weekend. Why? Because they’ve played the most there. New lad comes in at LB Bland comes in at RB I don’t think he will play Lopata if they’re trying to offload for risk of injury. Again, don’t think he is that bad he’s not worth a run out…… Agree we need a senior CB if Roberts has to be managed, providing we offload Lopata of course.
Bland, MDG, Earl, Ogbeta Picks itself really with little options, we obviously need to bolster the defence but seen enough vs Plymouth to know if we take the game to teams we could score a bag full on Saturday irrespective of how we look at the back. We looked capable of scoring ever time we went forward could easily have had 5, no disrespect to Burton but can't see anything other than 3 points. Of course takes nothing away from our need to recruit.
Don’t think it’s going to be that straightforward because teams like Burton will probably just sit in but we definitely need to get the home form right straight away if we want to have a successful season.
I doubt he’ll be out for too long. I’ve pulled mine bad with lots of bruising & back able to play in 4 weeks. Hopefully he felt a tweak & went off as a precaution rather than a bad pull.