After months without a competitive game, we are back in business, as we face Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Darrell Clarke insists that he wants to win every game of football, so I am expecting to see a strong line-up. In terms of formation? It is difficult to say. Most of pre-season has seen us adopt a 4-2-3-1, however playing a team from two divisions above us might see a slightly more defensive approach.
Will we be seeing any of the new signings? Potentially. Jack Rose said in his interview with the club that he is a bit behind the other players, as he has not been in training as long as them. Rory Holden I expect to see and George Nurse has missed a couple of friendlies so I am unsure about his fitness. Hayden White and Emmanuel Osadebe will most probably be on the bench, as with the little time they have had with the rest of the group, it may come as one game too soon. With a fixture on Tuesday, I would expect us to see all 5 players before our league campaign starts next Saturday.
Sheffield Wednesday are a club in disarray, but that will not stop Gary Monk wanting to see his team competing, and going on a cup run. I expect a near fully strength line-up, but with how the season will pan out, with a lot of midweek fixtures, I think now more than ever, football will be a squad game. They played a lot of last season in a 3-5-2 (5-3-2, dependant on how you look at it) and will no doubt be tough to break down. They are in the Championship for a reason, they have players of real quality Barry Bannan, Izzy Brown, and Jordan Rhodes are all major threats. They will be up for a fight, no Championship team wants to be knocked out to a League Two club. live on Sky.
We are being treated to a game on Sky, so please remember that kick-off is slightly earlier, at 2.15pm. I cannot wait to see the boys back out on the pitch, and I am sure you are too.
What do we think the score will be? Can we cause an upset? Will we see one of the new signings? Not long to find out.
