Wallace wants to play Patto at CHF this year but after only playing 2 games in 2005 it's a big call to expect him to fill the role for 22 weeks. When he is playing alongside Simmonds then either Stafford or Knobel will have to make way. Staff has only played half a year the past 2 years due to injury (and suspension) so that decision may work itself out as WP alluded to.
A spot for Thursfield only opened up once Chubba went down. I guess Moore is also vying for that 3rd defender role too. Based on last year's form Kellaway still deserves his spot. He had his best year ever IMO and him copping that broken jaw and missing 6 weeks through us out of wack.
Same goes for Gas. Then it's a choice b/w Hall and Sarge for CHB. Maybe over time will move Gas into a Mark Graham role of fill-in downback leaving the other two to hold down CHB and FB. Unless Thursfield has grown another inch taller then I don't reckon he'll become our future FB.
In the midfield - (X you'll like this lol) Johnson will eventually move out onto a HB flank allowing Cogs, Tuck, Lids, Tambling, Hyde, Polo and co to rotate through the centre. Cogs, Tuck and Polo as ballwinners with others as speedy clearers. Lids will do both. Polo hasn't cracked a game yet so a big call to expect him to jump in and play a major role yet. Sugar will still need to Like Terry said in his article today the main guys who you would expect to step up are the 4-5 year guys on our list. Midfielders are easier to introduce and develop as they are rotated anyhow. In fact we need 10-12 decent ones. So if one of our youngsters shows any major improvement (say Foley proves doubters like me wrong), Wallace can simply place more faith in him by giving him more time in the guts while pushing a senior player out onto a flank where the extra class and experience can create havoc. A win-win for us.
