Recently, I read a piece by the brilliant Ali Maxwell of NTT20 called “EFL Squad Selector”.
He set himself the challenge of picking three EFL Squads – one for each division – in the spirit of England C, whereby he could only pick one player from each club.
If you haven’t already read that piece, click HERE to have a read.
I very much like squad-building challenges and am an avid watcher of the EFL, and so I thought I would take on the same challenge by picking my own EFL Squads.
How do my squads compare to Ali Maxwell’s? Is there someone that would have been an absolute must for you that perhaps hasn’t made my squads? Let us know what you think of the squads, and possibly comment with your own!
As happy accidents go, having the best goalkeeper in the league – in my opinion – playing for the worst club in the league is right up there. Viktor Johansson may well have had greater opportunity than some of the other goalkeepers to show what he is about, by way of the high-volume of shots he gets at Rotherham United, but I think that the Super Swede has comfortably claimed a stake as being the standout goalkeeper in the division. A fabulous shot-stopper, one who dominates his area, and already capped internationally by his country. I would struggle to find another play at Rotherham United who I’d even remotely consider for this, and so is the most nailed on banker if ever I’ve seen one.
Inverted full-backs – especially on the right – is the done thing nowadays in football; there is no one better than Archie Gray in that regard. A player who has already been billed as one of the finest young prospects in English football despite having only just turned 18 years of age, Gray has an aggression and tenacity that belies his size and a composure and technical ability befitting of a player going right to the top. There are lots of good right-backs in the league, but Gray is – in my opinion – the pick of those.
He may have been used in part this year as a right-back, but one of the certs for an inclusion in the middle of the backline is Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The former Claret excelled at Turf Moor last term on their way to promotion, and displayed a natural proficiency in possession and passing range the like of which we haven’t seen before. He is a composed player who will provide the style and pizazz at the back, and he gets in.
Alongside a more technically proficient customer in Harwood-Bellis, I am plumping for the physical stature and combative defensive game of Jacob Greaves. A player that has been utilised either centrally or wide left at full-back, Greaves has shown an aggression and nous in the air, is of a good size and will act as the perfect antithesis to Harwood-Bellis. Harwood-Bellis is the brains and balletic defending style, while Greaves is the aggression and athletic operator.
The left-back selection was far easier than the right-back option; it just is Leif Davis. By far and away the best left-back in the EFL – in my honest opinion – Davis is a left-back in principle, but very much a winger in practice. A constant driving force from deep, he is someone that provides good delivery into the box, often marauding on the overlap, plays tricky one-two’s and isn’t adverse to a goal himself, too! He is the modern day full-back in every sense of the word and is one of the easier selections that I had to make in this side.
The first player in this team who was an absolute must – by any means – was Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Foxes midfielder is a safe bet in the argument for the best player in the division, and he is the sort of player who can win a game by himself. A lovely left-footed style, Dewsbury-Hall is the one in the City side who is able to get on the ball, drive the team through the thirds, pick a pass, and provide the creative spark that this team needs.
I will admit that if you had told me at the start of the season that I would be plumping for this guy then I would have raised an eyebrow or too, but his quality has grown on me and his improved consistency all the more impressive on his part; Gabriel Sara. Very much leading the way by some distance as The Canaries’ star man this term with his South American flair and guile in possession, Sara has produced some big goals, shown undeniable creativity and is capable of the spectacular. A match-winner.
Alongside him I have gone for Coventry City’s Ben Sheaf. A player who has certainly upped his game this term, Sheaf provides the perfect balance in this midfield. A good size, large frame and the ability to make use of that to drive the ball through the thirds and protect it in possession, Sheaf gives you a bit of everything. The ideal player to sit in a more reserved role behind Sara and Dewsbury-Hall, I feel.
On the left-hand side of this team, I have opted for some star quality; not to say that the team didn’t have enough already, mind! In tournament football, you need players who can win games by themselves and there is no one better tested under that pressure than Jack Clarke. The Championship’s Jack Grealish is well-accustomed to winning games by himself. Quick feet, a strong dribbler, direct and unpredictable, Clarke is a player who thrives on the big stage and is arguably the best wide player in the Championship; he is a must.
On the other side, I have gone from the trickery and swagger of Jack Clarke to the experienced, wily nous of Jed Wallace. No stranger to performing under pressure, Wallace is a seasoned veteran in the second tier and is often a safe bet for a supply line with his pinpoint delivery. He has been instrumental in allowing a Baggies side who have perhaps not been the most creative from open play in recent years to being efficient in front of goal, and is someone you can rely on.
The big question; who do I have leading the line? There are some good options, but you really can’t look past Sammie Szmodics. The trajectory of his career and the improvement he has undergone at Ewood Park from when he joined is significant to say the least. He is now being given the responsibility of leading the line for his country; that says it all. The leading scorer in the division and someone who has shown an ability to score out of scraps; he is the man to go to if you want goals!
Predicted XI: Johansson; Gray, Cooper, Harwood-Bellis, Davis; Sara, Sheaf, Dewsbury-Hall; Wallace, Szmodics, Clarke (4-3-3)
Picking a goalkeeper in League One was – like the second tier – an easy task; Latics youngster Sam Tickle. Already in and around youth squads at youth level internationally, Tickle was thrust into the thick of it by The Latics in their hour of need and he has absolutely not let anyone down. Indeed, he has gone one step further than that and underlined his potential as one of the best young goalkeepers that the country has to offer. Aggressive off his line, decent with the ball at his feet and generally just a strong customer that protects his goal well; he is in.
In terms of standout right-backs in the division, former Glover Tom James (of Leyton Orient) certainly pushed the position close, but I have opted for Josh Dacres-Cogley. Formerly of Tranmere Rovers and having been utilised in a wing-back role this term for Bolton Wanderers, I am still going to plump for Dacres-Cogley given his comfortability on the ball and ability to get high and wide on the right flank and contribute in an attacking sense; that is what I want in this side.
Over the course of the past few seasons, we have seen Luke Leahy play in a number of different roles; in midfield, on the wing, centrally at the back, and also at left-back. It is because of his role new-found later role with Wycombe Wanderers that gets him into the starting eleven. Versatility is key in a squad for a tournament and Leahy provides that, with ability to drift more centrally and be more advanced with the ball, but predominantly functions as a steady left-back option; you don’t dispense Joe Jacobson if you haven’t got something about you.
I want an out-and-out defender in this side who can do just that in the heart of the backline, and no one personifies that more so than Rams centre-back Eirin Cashin. The picture of defensive poise, Cashin is an aggressive, tough-tackling and simultaneously hard-working defender whose commitment and physicality perhaps belies his size compared to others. He always plays with a real honesty to his game, and in terms of providing the team with the no-nonsense, robust player in defence, Cashin ticks every box.
Alongside Cashin, I can afford to pick a perhaps more dynamic, powerful and forward-thinking centre-back to complement him; Fleetwood Town’s Bosun Lawal hits the spot. Capable of playing in midfield and as a centre-back, Lawal is someone that provides the versatility of being a centre-back without the ball where he can make use of his aggression, stature and aerial qualities, yet with the ball he can move back into midfield. Capable of getting goals and a threat regardless of what role he is in, he would dovetail nicely with Cashin.
So, where do I start in midfield? I want a player that can sit at the base of the midfield, and there is no one better-suited to that role than Bristol Rovers’ Kamil Conteh. Well-accustomed to being the defensively-minded player in a midfield of overly attacking players alongside him, Conteh is press-resistant, has a good range of passing and strong positional sense, and protects the back four well. In any side gunning to win a tournament, you need that player that is going to do the less-publicised part of the game in terms of retaining possession and keeping it simple in his passing, and Conteh has shown accelerated rise into the limelight as being perfect for that.
There are so many talented players from an Lincoln City persuasion, thus making the 1-player-per-club rule difficult in terms of who I opted for, but I have gone for Danny Mandriou. The Irishman has been a breath of fresh air in the division, and has taken on the role of “Chief Creator” in an Imps side on the up with little fuss. He exudes all of the confidence and composure you would expect for a creative, goal-scoring midfielder, with intelligence, trickery, manipulates the ball well in tight spaces, and in a City midfield that otherwise quite dynamic Mandriou is the one they look to for the invention and end product. I am a huge fan of his.
Alongside him, I am going for a player who has perhaps not been at his very best this term – compared to the high standards of last – but someone who I still rate highly and who I think will give good balance for this team; Luca Connell. A defensive midfielder by trade, but someone who has the energy and endeavour to get higher up the pitch, the former Celtic man isn’t – I feel – overly amazing in any one attribute, but overly strong across the board. He will also – alongside Conteh – provide a platform for Mandriou to go and do his thing.
The first attacker who has to get into the side is Sam Hoskins. This team without Sam Hoskins would go from a team capable of winning the tournament to one that fails to get out of the group; very much like his role at Northampton Town. In effect, he does it all; where would The Cobblers be without the little pocket dynamo? The source of end product for Town, capable of the spectacular but equally adept at the more routine finishes. He also has an infectious work-rate and sets the tone for the team. The complete player.
I can’t possibly pick a team of the best players in League One without making a spot for Ephron Mason-Clark; the wide player makes room for himself in fact. Whenever I have watched The Posh, Mason-Clark has always been that player who is direct and aggressive in his play. A capable dribbler, quick feet and an ability to make runs in behind, he is – in my opinion – the best wide player in the division. He can cut inside, drop short and also hit the byline, and he always finds a way to ask questions of the opposition.
The final player in this lineup is the striker; how do I pick just one striker from the vast array of quality forward options that League One has to offer? I have opted for a player who I think provides the perfect antithesis – and indeed complement – to the mix of wide players the team has to offer, and that is Aussie Kusini Yengi. With how much Mason-Clark and Hoskins will want the ball into feet and running at players, I wanted a player to lead the line and get the team up the pitch and no one does it better than Yengi. A physical powerhouse, can play either back to goal or in behind, and is more than simply a focal point; he can play, and has the cajones in front of goal you want. The complete striker.
Predicted XI: Tickle; Dacres-Cogley, Lawal, Cashin, Leahy; Conteh, Mandriou, Connell; Hoskins, Yengi, Mason-Clark (4-3-3)
Every team needs a good goalkeeper and so who better to start this team off than County’s shot-stopper Ben Hinchliffe. A player who is as steady as they come, a top professional and most importantly a reliable pair of hands. By no means the most progressive with the ball at his feet, but he more than makes up for it with the proficiency of his hands. He has the experience and nous you need to win games, and has shown more than once his ability to keep sides in games; he gets the nod (and quite possibly the armband) to lead this eleven.
If we are to go with attacking full-backs, Gills wide man Remeao Hutton is perfect. He showed during his time at Swindon Town that he is a competent crosser of the ball, and couple that with his pace, power and running ability he is the ideal forward-thing, attacking player from deep. A diligent and accurate crosser of the ball that will provide endeavour and creativity down the right.
Along the same train of thought but on the other side, Joe Tomlinson is a safe pick for the left-back berth. On his day, he is too good for League Two and is in an MK Dons side looking to compete to get out of it this term. Highly composed and technical on the ball, Tomlinson is a constant force down the left with his drive, dribbling ability and delivery into the final third, and he is usually a sure bet for a goal or two as well. In Hutton and Tomlinson, the team will have balance and attacking gusto.
In a team with two attacking full-backs, there is value to have a more defensively-minded selection in the back line and thus Harrogate Town man Anthony O’Connor gets the nod. A dogged, committed, no-nonsense defender who has marshalled the Sulphurites defence well this term with his leadership and experience and will take up a similar role in this side.
Alongside him, I have opted for a player who will more than likely be putting forward a case to have the armband for this team and lead by example in the same way he has done with Crewe Alexandra this term; Mickey Demetriou. The former Newport County has been the driving force behind a Crewe Alexandra team that are well-placed for a shot at promotion, and has been the picture of consistency at the back. First and foremost, he is an outstanding defender that does the basics right, but it is over and above what he does to guard his own box that stands out. His application, work-rate, fight, passion; all of the intangibles that seem a given on paper, but the way he galvanises the team is the sort of leader I need at the heart of this defence.
One selection that is almost forced upon me – given how good he has been this term – is Jodi Jones. League Two’s Assist King is the go-to man fit creativity and invention in the final third, with his defence-splitting passes and devilish delivery the match for any defence. In terms of high-output, direct wide players, Jones has consistently shown this term that he is operating at a level above League Two. If there is a man that I want on the ball in the final stages, it is Jodi Jones.
On the other side, I have gone for a player who has equally impressed albeit has done so in a perhaps more reserved, under-the-radar way and that is Tranmere Rovers winger Rob Apter. The tricky and tenacious winger has proven an astute capture from Blackpool, giving Nigel Adkins’ side creative spark. His jinky, hot-footed style has made him a nightmare for defenders and couple that with his direct dribbling style then he has been a constant threat.
I have opted for a 4-4-2 and so can afford to have one of my central midfielders as a more attack-minded option, and Wrexham’s Elliot Lee fits the bill perfectly. For all of the plaudits that Paul Mullin gets at the top of the pitch, it is in the large part indebted to Lee’s technical ability behind him. Lee is one of the most gifted footballers in the division and is elite when it comes to finding pockets of space, getting on the half-turn and keeping defenders (and goalkeepers) guessing with his shooting ability from range and intelligence to pick a pass.
The final pick in the midfield is one that may come as a surprise to many, but one that I am a huge fan of and who I think provides real balance to this side; Morecambe’s JJ McKiernan. The youngster provided legs, energy, work-rate, a combative presence, but offers a great deal more than that, too. He is in many ways the perfect mix between technical competency and all of the gritty destructive qualities that make him such a well-rounded midfielder.
Using a 4-4-2 is perhaps not the done thing nowadays (3-back formations are the fashion) but I have opted for the use of such in order to accommodate Mansfield Town man Davis Keillor-Dunn. A player who could quite as easily operate as an advanced midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, the former Oldham man has been the pick of the attacking players for a Stags side on their way to promotion out of League Two. Keillor-Dunn has a wand of a left foot, fashions chances for himself out of nothing, and is a safe bet for a goal; he’s got over 20 of them this year, alone!
That leaves us with the “big man up top”; who better than Bradford City striker Andy Cook. A motivated Andy Cook at his very best is a sight no defender wants to see. He is somewhat simply reduced to being just a reference about which to play, but he is a great deal more than that. Surprisingly mobile, good in the air, and a clever player who plays a yard quicker in his head than perhaps his feet, Cook makes use of his frame well to hold off defenders and on his day is the epitome of a handful. The perfect foil for Keillor-Dunn and the ideal player to lead the line for this side.
Predicted XI: Hinchliffe; Hutton, Demetriou, O’Connor, Tomlinson; Apter, Lee, McKiernan, Jones; Keillor-Dunn, Cook (4-4-2)
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