Town boss Paul Jewell says he’ll make the decision on his starting line-up for Saturday’s season opener at Bristol City on Thursday. The Blues manager is still hoping to add to his seven new signings before his squad make the trip to Ashton Gate.

Speaking after Saturday’s unlucky 2-1 friendly defeat to Wolves, Jewell said: “Probably Thursday we’ll make that decision. We’ll see how the week pans out. You can make a decision on Monday and then someone gets injured on Tuesday.

“We’ll see how things go and see if anyone comes in, who comes in and then we’ll make that decision as quickly as we possibly can.”

The Blues boss used a 4-5-1 formation against Wolves with Mark Kennedy in the holding midfield role which is likely to be occupied by Keith Andrews if and when his loan switch from Blackburn is confirmed.

Jewell says he was experimenting with his options and wasn’t specifically thinking about next week’s game against the Robins: “I wanted to have a look at something. Sparky’s a good passer of the ball and he’s got experience.

“Pre-season’s all about having a look. I’m still not settled on my formation and my final XI for Bristol City yet, not by a long chalk.”

The Liverpudlian has always been an advocate of the 4-4-2 formation at his previous clubs but feels 4-5-1 currently gets the best out of his squad: “I would like to play 4-4-2 but I want us to be adaptable.

“I think that at the moment with the personnel we’ve got, the system we played against Wolves probably suits us that bit better.

“We have to pass the ball in that system and when we don’t pass the ball, when we get a little bit tired like we did in the second half, we get a little bit stretched and the system falls down a little bit.

"So, we must pass it with a purpose and I thought for the first hour against Wolves we certainly did that.”

Meanwhile, Everton’s Irish defender Shane Duffy has dismissed rumours that he’s joining Town on loan, but the 19-year-old, who faced the Blues during a spell with Burnley last season, says he wouldn’t be averse to such a switch, tweeting: “Haven’t heard anything yet. Would be a great move if it happened.”

Elsewhere, released winger Reggie Lambe is currently on trial at Cambridge United. Lambe has already spent time with Bristol Rovers, Newport County, Southend and Gillingham this summer.

Photo: Action Images

randomblue added 12:09 - Aug 3 Suggests he's waiting to see who might come in this week then!!! 4-5-1 with a holding midfielder could be good! Allows the other four to get forward!!! COYB!!!
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jaydee added 12:09 - Aug 3 So we now have atleast 6 strikers,but still going with 1 up top !
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Turner_Blue added 12:10 - Aug 3 Feeling confident about Saturday, feel a 2-0 win coming along. :) How many fans does anyone think we'll take down there?... :) COYB!
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footyblue added 12:13 - Aug 3 madness playing 4-5-1 it doesn't work as we aren't quick enough to get forward and support simples
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SitfcB added 12:19 - Aug 3 Around 2,000 Turner_Blue
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Back_The_Boss added 12:20 - Aug 3 Turner blue - Club have already sent away for the next batch of tickets, so anyting of 1200+. COYB.
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Bluejake added 12:20 - Aug 3 If a manager as experienced as PJ, who has successfully got two teams promoted out of this division, thinks that 4-5-1 is the best formation for us to play with the personnel we've got, I for one think that he's a far better judge of these things than any of us - lets just let him get on with his job.
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simoitfc added 12:21 - Aug 3 If hes naming his squad tomoro.andrews needs to sign today and poss collins frm stoke.sooner the better cus maynard and stead will test our back 4 no doubt.
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Blue4life added 12:27 - Aug 3 Dont see why people complain so much about 4,5,1... of course i want to see 4,4,2 but if the manager who sees the week in, week out thinks we play best in a 4,5,1 and we play games and win some then im more than happy to go with it. I f i remember rightly Keane played 4,5,1 for the first 6-8 games of last season and we were unbeaten in those games and as soon as he meddled with it we starting losing... if a formation works it works people... so get on with it if it is 4,5,1!

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Ebantiass added 12:31 - Aug 3 Have to agree with Bluejake let Jewell get on with the job and maybe just maybe we might positively suprise a few people this season.
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textbackup added 12:34 - Aug 3 jaydee and footyblue.... we now have the likes of JET that can get forward quick enough so will prob work... the negative fans will see it as 451, the positive will see a 433
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Turner_Blue added 12:38 - Aug 3 Yes, that's what I thought 2000+ Atmosphere should be quite good then! :) Looking forward to it, let's hope we can get a good result as well!... COYB!!! :) :)
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blue_beats_yellow added 12:39 - Aug 3 I agree @Blue Jake! Jewell is far more qualified than anyone on here, unless @Footyblue is actually Fergie in disguise? I do like the thought of us attacking Bristol with a 4-4-2 but I'm sure Jewell knows what he's doing. So excited for Saturday.
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Lightningboy added 12:40 - Aug 3 4-5-1 when we're defending. 4-3-3 when we're attacking. ..it's not rocket science.
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Garv added 12:53 - Aug 3 442 is preferred by pretty much everyone. However, we haven't for quite a while had a defensive midfield player that can do a job. If Andrews comes in we have that and can play 451 more effectively than some games last year, meaning Bowyer and Leadbitter can get further forward along with Martin and JET, and we know Lee Martin is always a willing runner to get back and defend if need be (JET possibly not so much but I for one want him attacking as much as possible!)

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jaydee added 13:14 - Aug 3 Hey im not a negative fan,i went to holland for 5 days ( much to the discust of the missus) & im blue through & through,i am very positive & cant wait for the season to get going like everybody on here.I also havnt said im more qualified than PJ. He is the person that said he wants to play a 4.4.2 but didnt have the personnel at the time,he is the person that has signed 7 new players maybe rising to 8/9 come the end of the week but still saying we dont have the right personnel. A lot of people on here have very short memories,look at last season,we were real drab at times with 1 up front but now you think its ok. Sorry guys rant over COYB

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TractorRoyNo1 added 13:25 - Aug 3 and his lottery numbers
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chrisw2045 added 13:28 - Aug 3 If 4-4-2 is preferred by everyone then why do, man utd, man cit, arsenal, liverpool, barcelona, real madrid etc etc all play 4-5-1
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itfc94 added 13:28 - Aug 3 lightning boy hit the nail on the head for me, 4-5-1 when defending, 4-3-3 when going forward. 4-5-1 sounds a bit negative i know, but if we've got carson and JET with pace beside chops, i think we'll do alright
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timmy2guns added 13:29 - Aug 3 Lightningboy - First piece of sense in the whole thread of comments. You play the formation that suits your players best... not 4-4-2 just because you like it.
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DiamondGezzer added 13:30 - Aug 3 I think like most of you I'd prefer 4.4.2, but as I've never been a football manager, I guess I'll just leave it up to PJ. COYB.
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BwoodBlue added 13:39 - Aug 3 Stockdale Edwards Ingimarsson Delaney Cresswell Emmanuel-Thomas Bowyer Andrews Leadbitter Martin Chopra
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Tiggs added 13:40 - Aug 3 I think you, the fans, will need to decide if you want to see good football or if you just want to see results. It would be nice if success could be achieved with a mix of both, like our 'friends' up the road achieved last year. With a 4-5-1 formation it will probably only be the result option that will be achievable unless we get some flair in midfield.
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Turner_Blue added 13:45 - Aug 3 'BwodBlue' i agree with you there, however swap Andrews with Carson and we'll be fine! :) COYB!!! :)
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ElephantBlue added 13:50 - Aug 3 Is no one excited by PJ's comment regarding the 4-5-1 formation "“We have to pass the ball in that system and when we don't pass the ball, when we get a little bit tired like we did in the second half, we get a little bit stretched and the system falls down a little bit." Surly that means he is looking for the team to play football, passing football, a clearly more attractive idea than we have seen over the last few years (long punt up field). Yes a 4-5-1 dosen't work if you simply kick 60 yards to 1 man and leave him by himeself. As lightning boy says I am sure it will be more 4-3-3 going forward and if we are passing well then players will easily be able to get up and support the front players.

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