It kind of picks itself, doesn’t it? But there are still a few questions to be asked this weekend.
The squad has great depth, but there are perhaps 12 who have very clearly put their hand up and said, “We’re in the starting XI.”
That means there is one possible change from the team that beat Stevenage last weekend, but little more.
Goalkeeper
George Wickens is a given. Zach Jeacock wasn’t on the bench last time out, and I don’t really understand the Jamie Pardington situation as he wasn’t on the list of registered players with the EFL in September.
Either way, with Jeacock missing the Stevenage game, there isn’t really another option. Wickens is coming of age now. He was a good goalkeeper last season, a really good one this season, even if he didn’t have a lot to do against Stevenage.
Right Back – Tendayi Darikwa
Tendayi Darikwa is the captain and that makes it a no-brainer. He’s a good player, tough, tireless, and if he’s fit, he starts. That’s the situation with the skipper. A couple of years ago when Tom Hopper wore the armband, it created a small issue — if he was fit, he started, which kept others out of a competitive area.
Left Back – Adam Reach
With his vast Championship experience, Adam Reach has fitted perfectly. Think back to last season — Sean Roughan overlapped well, though his attacking stats didn’t always reflect it. Under Michael Skubala’s 4-2-3-1 you can still get that overlapping wing-back effect, and Reach gives exactly that.
Centre Backs
Sonny Bradley plays over Ryley Towler, and Towler’s unlucky. If Reach misses out, Towler plays. If Bradley misses out, he plays. But when both are fit, they start. Bradley’s been excellent without being showy. Others get more attention — Tom Hamer, Conor McGrandles — but Bradley’s just this silent bedrock. No fuss, no dissent, just experience and calm. You need that.
If Adam Jackson’s fitness is still in question, then Tom Hamer steps in. He’s an outstanding young man with a no-nonsense edge I really like. There’s a bit of Mark Bailey about him — no fuss, no dramatics, just solid defending.
Central Midfield
You can’t drop Tom Bayliss, who was a genuine shout for man of the match against Stevenage, and you can’t drop Conor McGrandles, who’s the standout player of the season so far.
Against Leyton Orient, it won’t be backs to the wall like Bolton away. It’ll be tighter, but we’ll want progression when we hit. The game will probably mirror Stevenage a little, but with us being more cautious as the away side.
If you want a fast start, Varfolomeev and McGrandles give you a solid base, but Bayliss is more progressive. There was talk about Stevenage completing more forward passes last week, but our passes led to more chances — that’s progression with purpose. Bayliss is a huge part of that, so he starts.
Attacking Three
On the left, Reeco Hackett. We’ll need pace and trickery, and Orient are there for the taking if we start fast. They’re not a bad side, but we’ve made a habit of fast starts — Exeter, Stevenage, Luton — and one day someone’s going to be on the receiving end of two or three early goals. It could be Orient. Hackett gives us that outlet and stretch.
On the other flank, I could go with Rob Street, but I’m picking Ben House. Wherever he plays, he’s a presence. He’s been phenomenal. Last season, he went from nailed-on number nine to twelfth man, and this year he’s basically said: “No, I’m starting.” Tireless running, constant duels — he was involved in 24 on Saturday, and no one else hit double figures. That’s unreal work rate, and away from home, that’s gold.
In the ten role, Freddie Draper. He’s already close to matching his starts from all of last season. A robust figure puts himself about and has added a different dimension to our attack. He had a good spell finding the net, then drifted a bit in front of goal, but in work rate and physicality, he’s spot on.
Striker
Up top, I have dropped our goalscorer from the weekend, Rob Street, and gone for James Collins. You’ve got to rotate those nines, and this seems like a good opportunity to do so. Street did well last week, missed a couple early, but if we’re going for that quick start and high energy, Collins is the right pick.
After fifty-five, sixty minutes, if he’s tiring, bring on Street — full of running, fresh legs, perfect change.
The Bench
No need to dive too deep into who’s on the bench — there’s so much quality there it almost feels unfair. Oscar Thorn, Erik Ring, Frankie Okonkwo, Justin Obikwu, Ivan Varfolomeev, and Ryley Towler. Then there is Dexter Lembikisa, who’s playing regularly for Jamaica and could go to the World Cup, has barely made a matchday squad yet. Lewis Montsma might hope to make the bench if Jacko isn’t fit as well.
That’s how strong the depth is.