Well, here it is lads and lasses – it’s all going to get very real, very quickly!
We’ve obviously had an influx of new players coming into the club, which means the starting XI will be almost unrecognisable from that which was victorious against Sheffield United at Wembley 12 weeks or so ago.
The pre-season friendlies have given us a good idea of how we might start the season – the biggest decision today, I reckon, is who partners Dan Ballard at the back.
Anthony Patterson returned to action in the last pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano, however it’ll be new signing Robin Roefs who’ll start in goal today. He’s looked promising so far – he seems to command his box and his distribution looks good too, however it’s a big step up for him and – like all of the lads – he’ll be hoping to get off to a good start today.
Defence: Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Reinildo
We’ll certainly go into today’s game with Trai Hume – fresh from signing a new long-term deal - Dan Ballard lining up in defence, and new addition Reinildo will play at left back. That leaves a decision to make over the remaining spot in the centre of defence. Jenson Seelt has played most of preseason and looked really good – so you’d expect him to line up alongside Ballard today. And, look, he very well may start today. However, taking a step back, it’s a huge ask of a young lad with very limited experience to play in such a high-octane game as today’s is. Seelt will leave the club on loan soon anyway – a move back to Hollard for the year to enable him to play regularly is on the cards – so I think new signing Omar Alderete will come straight in. Of course, it depends on his fitness and how he’s trained over the past couple of days, but his experience and drive will be important. Le Bris described Alderete as a warrior, and said he could play if he needed him to, so I think we’ll see him from the off.
Midfield: Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra, Noah Sidiki
If you’d told me a fully fit Enzo Le Fee would be struggling to get into the centre of midfield when the first game of the season came round, I’d have said you were nuts, but here we are. It’s a shame in a lot of respects as I was really looking forward to seeing more of Le Fee centrally, but I’m sure he’ll get his place back in the team sooner rather than later. And, it’s testament to the quality we’ve brought into the club that that’s the situation he’s facing. Captain Granit Xhaka will lead the team out and will be the deepest-lying midfielder, with Habib Diarra and Noah Sidiki playing either side of him.
Attack: Chemsdine Talbi, Eliezer Mayenda, Simon Adingra
In attack, we’ll see new signing from Brighton, Simon Adingra, line up on the left, and Eliezer Mayenda start through the middle. Mayenda’s had an indifferent pre-season – his build up and link up play has been excellent, but he’ll have been disappointed in his finishing, and will hope to get on the scoresheet today, given the likes of Isidor and Guiu – as well as another new forward presumably arriving before the end of the month. On the right, I think – judging by pre-season line ups – that Talbi will be there. I thought he looked bright last weekend. However, I will not be at all surprised if Le Fee’s in that spot just drifting in from the right hand side.