Anybody want to have a go at our starting line up against Shels on the first day?
Austin O'Neill should get the nod over John Flynn in goal.
I think Colin Osbourne will be right full if he is fit with Sean L'Estrange at left full.
Philip Byrne and Alan McDermott will be the two centre halves. Our defence has been very very poor throughout pre-season and it's a real worry. Hopefully, once we get a settled back 4 in front of O'Neill, things will get better.
From the friendlies, Paul Rigney looks like he will start on the left but I'm still not convinced by him, i'm not sure he has the pace to be a winger at this level. Paul Donnelly and Alan Byrne should line up in midfield and should offer decent protection to the defence but we will badly miss Stephen Cooling's creatitvy in there. I'm not sure who play on the right, I think Gary Walsh has played there during pre-season but I haven't seen any confirmation that he has signed yet. Stephen McCrossan could maybe play there at a push. Ian Brazil did ok there a couple of times last year and in the under 21's but I haven't seen his name mentioned anywhere.
Up front, Philly Gorman is a cert to start with probably Amond beside him. Amond's pace could be a real asset, I'll be interested to see how Dean Barrett gets on as well, he looks like a big strong lad. I think we have the strikers to score goals but I'm worried about who will create them without Cooling in midfield.
So, I reckon we will line up with
O'Neill
Osbourne P Byrne McDermott L'Estrange
????? Donnelly A Byrne P Rigney
Gorman Amond
