Columnist and TWTD's resident stats expert Chris Rand looks at Town's ever-changing midfield.
Those Town fans who think that we've got a bit too much strength in depth may have a point. Jim Magilton has kicked off the 2008/09 season with 12 different midfield starting line-ups in 12 matches. For the record, they are:
Preston (L): Haynes, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Quinn (substituted by Miller 46)
Orient (W): Haynes, Miller, Trotter (Garvan 64), Quinn (Norris 57)
Burnley (W): Trotter (Garvan 70), Shumulikoski, Miller, Walters
Wolves (L): Walters, Shumulikoski (Garvan 54), Miller, Haynes (Trotter 68)
Colchester (W): Campo (Miller 75), Trotter, Quinn
Watford (L): Walters, Campo, Miller, Trotter (Shumulikoski 82)
Reading (W): Walters, Garvan, Miller, Quinn
Southampton (D): Norris (Counago 73), Miller (Shumulikoski 71), Garvan, Quinn
Sheffield Wed (D): Norris, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Quinn
Wigan (L): Norris, Campo, Miller, Quinn (Haynes 72)
Crystal Palace (D): Norris (Garvan 56), Shumulikoski (Campo 70), Miller, Walters
Barnsley (W): Walters, Garvan (Norris 77), Campo, Quinn
The nine players who have started in midfield are:
Campo (4 starts: WLLW)
Garvan (5: LWDDW)
Haynes (3: LWL)
Miller (8: WWLLWDLD)
Norris (4: DDLD)
Quinn (8: LWWWDDLW)
Shumulikoski (5: LWLDD)
Trotter (4: WWWL)
Walters (6: WLLWDW) (+5 starts as a striker)
However, Jim's only just begun his experimentation, I suspect. There are over 3,000 possible combinations of nine players in four positions, which should take us into the 2064-2065 season, injuries permitting, before we need to repeat a combination.
Of course, in the unlikely event that one of the academy players is allowed to make a breakthrough in the next sixty years, we'll probably have enough combinations to see us into the next century. Which is nice. Although it's unlikely we've seen the last of Mr Evans's open chequebook for midfielders.