On The Bench
Sam Long
One for the future, no doubt. We do have to have a keeper on the bench and I suspect that he won’t be needed, but expect to see him in pre-season action and pushing on from there.
Cohen Bramall
This boy will be a real menace next season, and he’s settled nicely in the side, but for me he is best used from the bench in the play-offs. That pace will cause tiring legs problems and if we got to last 20 of the second leg at level pegging, he’d be a huge asset. He has adjusted well to life at this level and I expect him to benefit from a summer of focused training.
Lewis Montsma
It seems inconceivable that I name Lewis Montsma on the bench, such is the quality we have in the squad. In a way it is flattering – I have left Adam Jackson out completely given how soon it is from coming back, as I feel one central defender on the bench is sufficient. As for Lewis, he’s been superb in recent weeks, but Walsh plays as a left-sided defender and then it is a straight choice as to which has been better, him or TJ. If Lewis has been a 8.5, TJ has been 8.6. My gut tells me it might be the last chance this young man gets to play at the Bank though, because I suspect the vultures will be circling.
Max Sanders
I’ve gone for Sanders over Jackson as a precautionary measure more than anything. I’m not sure that we need two centre backs on the bench, whereas I do think two midfielders is a good idea. I’m always worried when Bridcutt goes flying into a challenge in case he pulls up injured, and Max is a more like-for-like replacement. Also, it’s not Michael’s style, but if we’re defending a lead and need a more robust midfield on fresh in the latter stages, young Max will be the man for the job.
James Jones
I suspect Jones has suffered with long Covid and that he needs a pre-season to get back to his levels, but it hasn’t been a bad campaign for the former Crewe man. He’s certainly in with a shout of minutes from the bench and if we are craving some creativity, it could be the stage on which he begins to shine once again. Remember Simon Yeo in 2003? He’d struggled after Christmas that season and he came back in the best possible way. could James Jones do the same? He has the right skills, he just needs a slice of luck.
Anthony Scully
Imagine having a hand in 20% of your team’s goals, reaching double figures yourself, potentially scoring the goal of the season and still being on the bench for the play-offs. That is Scully’s reality, one he will have to make peace with. He’s almost certainly the 12th man, the go to option on the bench when the minutes begin to run down, and with good reason. He’s not the quickest, he’s not the tallest, he’s not the most skilful or the most technically gifted, but he does score highly in all of those areas. What he is, without a doubt, is the most instinctive finisher we have. he knows which runs to make and where to pop up, and that could be very, very crucial coming off the bench.
Callum Morton
Only two Lincoln City played have scored against Sunderland in 270 minutes of football, and Callum Morton is one of them. In a team that plays 4-3-3, as we do (unless you call it 4-1-2-3 or 4-1-4-1, it’s all the same to me) Callum doesn’t quite fit. Off the bench, sure. In a more attacking 4-4-2, definitely, but as a lone nine with his back to goal, it’s a no from me. That said, he has play-off pedigree and would be a handful from the bench.
