Forward Options

[StinckleyFox]

53 minutes ago, Foxin_Mad said:

If we start with the useless **** BDCR we will be staying in this league a very long time, Rudkin is a first class bell end. 

Does Rudkin pick the team now as well?

[Lillehamring]

Why has no one in this thread mentioned braybrooke?

 

When we're up and running: 

9 - Bristric  (possible new striker, cullen, academy player)

8s - Braybrooke, Cullen, Chaplin, Page on rotation, mix and match (poss Hamza if we draw a big team in a cup game)

LW - Mavididi (i think he'll start and watson will start to be involved later), Watson

RW - Burns, Alves on rotation.

 

I think coulibaly will cover the wings, BDCR cover the 8s and the odd run on the wings.

 

I think, all things considered, to have 2 quality players in each position is great - I think all of these players are capable of getting into double figures at this level.

[AKCJ]

We now seem overbooked in our attacking midfield/wide options. Nice to have 4 genuine options on the wings in Mavididi, Alves, Watson and Burns who are all completely different to each other.

 

I suspect that Chaplin and Cullen will be the two main options behind the striker (I suspect that a lot of the time one of them will be the striker).

 

Leaves BDCR and Page really struggling to get into a front 4 but I suspect BDCR is massively on the 'sell at any price' list and I actually think I prefer Page playing from a slightly deeper role.

 

Something like this could easily be our end of season team. This assumes Nelson's injury is serious with Skipp, Hamza, BDCR and Faes leaving.

 

Stolarcyzk

Aluko Okoli Souttar McFarlane

Page Braybrooke

Burns Chaplin Watson

Bristric

 

McCarthy, Joseph, Gray, Neale, Cullen, Mavididi, Alves

 

If Skipp does leave he will need replacing. We'd be incredibly light in midfield. That squad would be very young too. Average age of roughly 23 years 250 days.

[LVFox]

1 minute ago, Lillehamring said:

Why has no one in this thread mentioned braybrooke?

 

When we're up and running: 

9 - Bristric  (possible new striker, cullen, academy player)

8s - Braybrooke, Cullen, Chaplin, Page on rotation, mix and match (poss Hamza if we draw a big team in a cup game)

LW - Mavididi (i think he'll start and watson will start to be involved later), Watson

RW - Burns, Alves on rotation.

 

I think coulibaly will cover the wings, BDCR cover the 8s and the odd run on the wings.

 

I think, all things considered, to have 2 quality players in each position is great - I think all of these players are capable of getting into double figures at this level.

Personally, see us as a 4-2-3-1, with Braybrooke one of the 2 central midfielders (same for Page although wouldn’t surprise me to see him get time as a 10)

 

I couldn’t for example, see us play Cullen and Chaplin as dual 8s

[Mapperleyfox]

As it stands today we are heading into the competitive season with no senior striker in the squad, despite the 'recruitment team' knowing months ago this was going to be the case and having the best part of a year to identify targets and start the process.

 

Yes elements of recruitment so far may look decent on paper (I shall reserve judgement until the season is underway), but to be in this situation is unforgivable yet again. What are they playing at? Why are our processes so slow?

 

RUDKIN OUT | KING POWER OUT

[Foxin_Mad]

26 minutes ago, StinckleyFox said:

Does Rudkin pick the team now as well?

He is the shit **** that has known for the best part of 4 years we need a striker and failed to do anything about it, yet again he has failed in his duty and should be removed. It is criminal to go into another critical season with no proper striker at the club. Blokes a moron

[BenTheFox]

32 minutes ago, Mapperleyfox said:

As it stands today we are heading into the competitive season with no senior striker in the squad, despite the 'recruitment team' knowing months ago this was going to be the case and having the best part of a year to identify targets and start the process.

 

Yes elements of recruitment so far may look decent on paper (I shall reserve judgement until the season is underway), but to be in this situation is unforgivable yet again. What are they playing at? Why are our processes so slow?

 

RUDKIN OUT | KING POWER OUT

This is my concern. We've signed Watson, Chaplin, Burns and Cullen on top of having Alves, Mavididi and BDR, yet even when Bristic gets done we're still light up front and in deeper midfield positions. Granted, those signings may look decent on paper for this level, however, should we not be prioritising positions that we actually need? It's no use having an embarrassment of riches at this level in attacking midfield areas if you haven't got a midfielder to break-up attacks or a striker to build-off and put the ball in the back of the net. 

Edited 7 August by BenTheFox

[5waller5]

I’m not for one minute defending the lack of signing an out and out striker… 

 

But maybe RM sees the main problem we’ll face being a low block / park the bus opposition, and therefore is prioritising attacking mids who can break the lines rather than play it behind for the Vardy type striker? 
 

There’s loads of holes in this theory, but it’s the only rationale positive explanation I can think of

[Foxin_Mad]

11 minutes ago, 5waller5 said:

I’m not for one minute defending the lack of signing an out and out striker… 

 

But maybe RM sees the main problem we’ll face being a low block / park the bus opposition, and therefore is prioritising attacking mids who can break the lines rather than play it behind for the Vardy type striker? 
 

There’s loads of holes in this theory, but it’s the only rationale positive explanation I can think of

While we might need ways to unlock the low block, its utterly pointless if we dont have a striker who is semi proven and who can score goals, its let us down for a few seasons now, last year, particularly towards the end of the season we struggle to hit the target despite creating quite a bit. 

[indierich06]

Isn't Bristric basically signing today, and Cullen can play striker? Seems a lot of unnecessary worrying in this thread.

[Lesterlad]

15 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

Think we will try and move on Mavididi and BCDR.

🙏🙏

[AKCJ]

3 hours ago, 5waller5 said:

I’m not for one minute defending the lack of signing an out and out striker… 

 

But maybe RM sees the main problem we’ll face being a low block / park the bus opposition, and therefore is prioritising attacking mids who can break the lines rather than play it behind for the Vardy type striker? 
 

There’s loads of holes in this theory, but it’s the only rationale positive explanation I can think of

You have to have a striker that occupies the back four in order for possession football to succeed. Even basic defences can sit in their shape and be fine when a team just wants to shift the ball around.

 

The top teams have always had a top striker and on the occasion where those teams have a striker that's a bit below that top standard, they always have someone that's a pain in the arse to mark.

 

Vardy used to virtually never see the ball yet he'd constantly be on the minds of the centre halves. We need someone that's horrible to mark for the same reasons. Someone who can battle with a pair of centre halves and be ready. Someone with a bit of physicality about them and a good finisher and they'll score a lot of goals.

Edited 7 August by AKCJ

[5waller5]

7 hours ago, Foxin_Mad said:

While we might need ways to unlock the low block, its utterly pointless if we dont have a striker who is semi proven and who can score goals, its let us down for a few seasons now, last year, particularly towards the end of the season we struggle to hit the target despite creating quite a bit. 

 

4 hours ago, AKCJ said:

You have to have a striker that occupies the back four in order for possession football to succeed. Even basic defences can sit in their shape and be fine when a team just wants to shift the ball around.

 

The top teams have always had a top striker and on the occasion where those teams have a striker that's a bit below that top standard, they always have someone that's a pain in the arse to mark.

 

Vardy used to virtually never see the ball yet he'd constantly be on the minds of the centre halves. We need someone that's horrible to mark for the same reasons. Someone who can battle with a pair of centre halves and be ready. Someone with a bit of physicality about them and a good finisher and they'll score a lot of goals.

I agree, I was just trying to rationalise why we may not have signed one! 

[Foxin_Mad]

7 hours ago, indierich06 said:

Isn't Bristric basically signing today, and Cullen can play striker? Seems a lot of unnecessary worrying in this thread.

Neither has a particularly good scoring record, it really needs someone with a bit of a record at least somewhere 

[Richmondfox]

We really need Mavadidi to be phased out as a first choice attacking option.  His stats should be enough but the eye test once the season starts will hopefully make Martins mind up. 

 

 

[Lillehamring]

9 hours ago, AKCJ said:

We now seem overbooked in our attacking midfield/wide options. Nice to have 4 genuine options on the wings in Mavididi, Alves, Watson and Burns who are all completely different to each other.

 

I suspect that Chaplin and Cullen will be the two main options behind the striker (I suspect that a lot of the time one of them will be the striker).

 

Leaves BDCR and Page really struggling to get into a front 4 but I suspect BDCR is massively on the 'sell at any price' list and I actually think I prefer Page playing from a slightly deeper role.

 

Something like this could easily be our end of season team. This assumes Nelson's injury is serious with Skipp, Hamza, BDCR and Faes leaving.

 

Stolarcyzk

Aluko Okoli Souttar McFarlane

Page Braybrooke

Burns Chaplin Watson

Bristric

 

McCarthy, Joseph, Gray, Neale, Cullen, Mavididi, Alves

 

If Skipp does leave he will need replacing. We'd be incredibly light in midfield. That squad would be very young too. Average age of roughly 23 years 250 days.

Not so sure about replacing Skipp - his spot is probably the more natural position for Braybrooke and Page, rather then as #8s. throw in Hamza, and i wouldn't even rule out Aluko to play there.

[Lillehamring]

9 hours ago, LVFox said:

Personally, see us as a 4-2-3-1, with Braybrooke one of the 2 central midfielders (same for Page although wouldn’t surprise me to see him get time as a 10)

 

I couldn’t for example, see us play Cullen and Chaplin as dual 8s

This is what excites me most - i posted elsewhere how versatile and interchangeable this squad is - the permutations at 6, 8 and the wings is insane.  And even within the formations i think you'll see wingers coming inside, 8s going outside, 9s dropping deep. there were times in pre-season where Aluko was playing right back and popped up playing ARW!

[coolhandfox]

9 hours ago, AKCJ said:

We now seem overbooked in our attacking midfield/wide options. Nice to have 4 genuine options on the wings in Mavididi, Alves, Watson and Burns who are all completely different to each other.

 

I suspect that Chaplin and Cullen will be the two main options behind the striker (I suspect that a lot of the time one of them will be the striker).

 

Leaves BDCR and Page really struggling to get into a front 4 but I suspect BDCR is massively on the 'sell at any price' list and I actually think I prefer Page playing from a slightly deeper role.

 

Something like this could easily be our end of season team. This assumes Nelson's injury is serious with Skipp, Hamza, BDCR and Faes leaving.

 

Stolarcyzk

Aluko Okoli Souttar McFarlane

Page Braybrooke

Burns Chaplin Watson

Bristric

 

McCarthy, Joseph, Gray, Neale, Cullen, Mavididi, Alves

 

If Skipp does leave he will need replacing. We'd be incredibly light in midfield. That squad would be very young too. Average age of roughly 23 years 250 days.

Pretty sure the could would love to move Mavididi and BCDR on.

 

Skipp will play unless he leaves.

[teblin]

Desperate need of a striker, though it is probably the hardest position to find. We've wasted millions trying to get a decent one. (Daka, slimani, Musa)

 

Hopefully we'll have a couple in before next weekend.

[tinpot_fox]

On 07/08/2026 at 10:53, StinckleyFox said:

Does Rudkin pick the team now as well?

I opened a pack of M&Ms yesterday and there were only brown ones inside. Rudkin is a first class bell end.

 

 

15 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

Pretty sure the could would love to move Mavididi and BCDR on.

 

Skipp will play unless he leaves.

Yes, I’m sure all parties would love to see BDCR move on to another club but I’d put money on him having a good run of games before Christmas.

[tinpot_fox]

2 hours ago, tinpot_fox said:

.

 

Yes, I’m sure all parties would love to see BDCR move on to another club but I’d put money on him having a good run of games before Christmas.

Told ya 

 

(hangs head in shame)

Edited 8 August by tinpot_fox
Context

[Clever Fox]

5 hours ago, tinpot_fox said:

I opened a pack of M&Ms yesterday and there were only brown ones inside. Rudkin is a first class bell end.

 

 

Yes, I’m sure all parties would love to see BDCR move on to another club but I’d put money on him having a good run of games before Christmas.

Hopefully better than today if he does. Too slow and doesn't worry defenders.

[Jimmy]

what's Opoku's injury? got to think just having him as a focal point would be much better than BDCR

[filthyfox]

Now, more than ever...

We need a no-mark from the Balkans with blistering pace (Bristric)

Edited 9 August by filthyfox

[tinpot_fox]

15 hours ago, Clever Fox said:

Hopefully better than today if he does. Too slow and doesn't worry defenders.

Yep. In the past he has shown that on occasion he can be in the right place and the right time to guide the ball into the net. But generally speaking the consensus is he breaks down and stops our toward play.