McCarthy: I Know My Best Team
Saturday, 20th Jul 2013 09:39

Boss Mick McCarthy says he knows his best team ahead of this afternoon’s friendly visit to Barnet (KO 3pm). Town so far have a 100% record in their pre-season matches.

McCarthy says he has a good idea who will be in his first XI come the start of the season proper on August 3rd: “There are three friendlies left, I know my best team, I know my best players.”

The Blues manager says the aims of pre-season remain as they were at the start: “I want to get them fit, I don’t want any injuries, I just want to play the games.

“I’d prefer to win them because it’s a good habit. They don’t mean anything, I know that, but it’s still better to win them. We’ll just play the games, keeping fit, getting match fit.”

McCarthy was hopeful that left-back Aaron Cresswell might be OK for the visit to the Bees’ new home, The Hive, after missing the match at Gillingham with a thigh injury. Overall, the squad is likely to be much the same as the one which travelled to Kent on Tuesday.

Frederic Veseli will play his first game since joining the Blues on a two-year contract with the option of a further season yesterday, probably at right-back.

Trialist Titus Bramble said he could well be involved against Barnet after the 2-1 victory over the Gills and Tottenham central defender Bongani Khumalo may play the third game of his trial with the Blues and Spurs in talks regarding a season-long loan.

Striker Paul Taylor is again set to miss out, although we understand that the ex-Peterborough man is now in full training with the rest of the squad and has been pencilled in to play at Colchester on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Blues continue to be reported to be close to the signing of ex-Wolves defender Christophe Berra with the deal perhaps being announced as soon as Monday.

Town were reported to be close to a deal more than a week ago following his release from Molineux. Blackpool are also understood to have made an approach after a move to Rangers broke down.

Speaking about Berra after the Crawley game McCarthy said he’d love to have him at Portman Road but felt money might be an issue with the Scottish international having to take a significant cut in wages: “He’s a free transfer and he’s a really good defender Christophe.

"If I could sign him, I’d be delighted. Whether we can afford to sign him, because he’ll have other offers, he’s a good player.

“But I like him, I signed him, for heaven’s sake, I paid £2 million for him and he helped get us promoted and helped keep us up for two seasons as well.”

The recruitment of Berra and Khumalo would give Mick McCarthy plenty of competition at the centre of the defence with Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith last season’s first choices. However, it would mean a deal to sign Bramble is unlikely.

Photo: Action Images

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Pettitt10 added 13:10 - Jul 20 i asumed Ole_Pablo_Ole had just made a typing error by putting players in wrong positions with my post...
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riley26 added 14:07 - Jul 20

Agree with the Billy Sharp sentiment, looks like we have got a very solid team in strength and depth now, would be hoping for top 10 at least with this lot.

Yet looking down the list we don't have a Rhodes, and Austin or Zaha that you look at and think, with him in the team they've got a chance of promotion for sure.

That said, we haven't seen most of these players over the course of a season, the likes of McGoldrick, Nouble, Taylor and Anderson could be dangerous players.

battyblue added 14:30 - Jul 20 we are all guessing to which will be Micks starting eleven but i would guess Gerken will start in goal for starters also Woody will be in midfield imo
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Lennyboy added 15:22 - Jul 20 14 dasy, 23hours and 38..37 minutes until the start of what is gonna be a great year for the Blues. Hippeee!!!!!!
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jabberjackson added 15:24 - Jul 20 I honestly think we'll be promoted by March!
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jabberjackson added 15:27 - Jul 20 I'm always always optimistic before the start of the season - this season I'm more chipper than Johnny Wark taking a penalty. That's how confident I am! Is anyone else feeling the same surge?
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RoyKeanesDog added 15:28 - Jul 20

Loach
Velesi/Hewitt Chambers Smith Cresswell
Edwards Skuse Hyam Tabb
McGoldrick Murphy

I think that would be my team. I haven't seen enough of Velesi or Hewitt to draw any comparison between the two.

Likewise, I haven't seen Anderson play so I couldn't pick between him and Tabb, but obviously Mick knows.

I think it's important to keep Carlos in the team. He was one of our most consistent performers during the dark years and you never saw him shy away in a match when we were getting battered.

He was captain for a lot of that time too and I'd like to see him captaining a more organised and successful side.

I also don't like the idea of a Hyam, Tabb, Anderson, Skuse midfield. Not because they're bad players, but you can't shove four players in a midfield together when only two of them have played a handful of games with each other and expect them to gel.

Tractorog added 15:28 - Jul 20

My guess is if Berra joins we will not sign Khumalo. There are so many options. No one has really mentioned Edwards, long in the tooth but one of the fittest players at he club. He may only have scored a couple of goals towards the end of last season, but boy were they important goals out of no where. Provided he is on the wing a good player and role model for training and commitment. Given his age probably cover, but I bet he trains his way into contention.

Garv added 16:25 - Jul 20 I imagine... Loach Veseli Chambers Smith Cresswell Anderson Skuse Hyam Tabb McGoldrick Murphy Would like to see Tabb in the middle though with Taylor out wide maybe.
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BobbyBlueLamb123 added 00:52 - Jul 21 This picking the team to start the season is all guess work because how mick is going he might of sign six more players by then My only worry is I hope all these new players gel together quickly and we get off to a good start not like last season
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