EFL SQUAD SELECTOR: Championship, League One, League Two

Ali Maxwell calls up one player from each club to create three EFL squads.

Everything we do, we do it for you. Specifically you, @alexquantock.

Who likes a nerdy laugh? I know I do. A nerdy laugh is up there with my favourite non-sporting things, along with:

• A big old hug when you most need it

• Throwing something into a bin from range

• The first beer on the train to a football match

• The feeling of being engulfed by sweet, sweet darkness when the lights are turned off at the end of a long day – beautiful oblivion.

I am going to select a 24-man squad from all three EFL divisions. Three goalkeepers are compulsory. The rest is up to me, except for one strict rule: in keeping with the squad selection philosophy of England C, I can only select one player per club.

Sara or Sargent? Kieffer or Leif-er? Summerville or Ampadu or Rutter or AAAARRGHHHH!

Doing this, while chuckling away nerdily throughout, brings together several interesting threads:

• Evaluating EFL players from across each club and division

• Considering their rank within their position cohort

• Balancing the dispersion of talent across all areas of the pitch, and handling the fact that some clubs have significantly less individual talent than others

• Selecting a squad that provides a realistic tactical blend – a team that could actually make sense on the pitch, rather than just looking good on FIFA

This is the anti-Garth Crooks selection philosophy. No full-backs at centre-back. No strikers on the wing. Not even a left winger on the right wing. I want to lead these teams to glory at Fictional Summer Tournament 2024. And I need the perfect squad alchemy.

If you fancy taking part in this exercise, I’d like to see your squad(s) in the comments.

Championship

We’re going to the Second Tier Euros. We are desperate to beat Spain’s Segunda División and 2. Bundesliga, in particular. And the plane will contain the following…

GOALKEEPERS

Carl Rushworth and Viktor Johansson are going to have to go through some sort of Goalkeeping Hunger Games in the pre-tournament camp. I can’t choose between them. I have marginally more trust in Johansson as a shot-stopper, just due to his body of work over the last two seasons, but Rushworth has that incredible throw which is going to start a lot of exciting counter attacks. Matija Sarkic is in the Pepe Reina role. And no, that doesn’t reflect well on Millwall’s individual quality in my eyes.

CENTRE-BACKS

I was struggling to identify centre-backs that I can be absolutely sure are way better than the rest. I personally believe that the defensive quality of a team is more down to tactical organisation and complementary partnerships than the ‘defensive ability’ of individuals. So, my staff had better know how to drill a defence. I’ve got no badges.

I am happy with the idea of a Rob Dickie and Jacob Greaves partnership. Both are strong in the air, and those qualities will be crucial when it comes to winning the battle in both boxes, which often defines tournament football. Dickie has regained his confidence and returned to his best recently. He is able to spot and play good forward passes. Greaves has the experience of playing at left-back and LCB in a three, and should be comfortable enough on the ball, while also becoming an absolute aerial monster this season.

Dion Sanderson – Birmingham captain at a young age – and Wesley Hoedt, as a left-footer with good size and on-ball skills, are excellent squad options.

FULL-BACKS / WING-BACKS

The starting full-backs are Kyle Walker-Peters on the right and Leif Davis on the left. I see these two as clearly superior to others in their position. Walker-Peters is a cut above as a dribbler, comfortable in tight spaces and happy to play a tucked-in role to support the midfield rather than joining the front line. That’s Leif Davis’ job – one that he’s done as well as any full-back I can remember in the years we’ve covered the Championship.

Perry Ng is a lovely versatile option and would be excellent as an RB in a back four or RCB in a back three. Kenneth Paal is the sort of player I am convinced would be more widely lauded at this level had he joined, say, Coventry rather than QPR in 2022. Sorba Thomas is something of a wildcard. If it was tactically appropriate to play wing-backs, because a cross-heavy approach was the best way to win, then he would be on the pitch, spamming crosses.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

When it comes to Championship clubs that have one player who stands out by miles and has to be picked, Stoke and Wouter Burger stood out. He is excellent out of possession – tall, strong and aggressive – and though he isn’t a tempo-setter in possession, he has enough to offer on that front.

The big question is whether Burger is paired with Ben Sheaf or Hayden Hackney. It’s horses for courses. In an even, tense knock-out game, where margins are fine, I would lean towards the size, experience and do-it-all ability of Ben Sheaf over the composure and playmaking ability of Hayden Hackney. But if we’re favourites to win a game and likely to have 60%+ possession, I need Hackney. Ben Whiteman won’t let us down if called upon.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS / WIDE FORWARDS

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has to play. He’s so versatile and his skillset is, I think, perfect for tournament football. He has played in such an attacking role for Leicester this season that it’s easy to forget he also has the tools to play a deeper midfield role.

Left wing is the strongest area of the pitch, and therefore the biggest headache: Crysencio Summerville or Jack Clarke. Can they both play? I wouldn’t be comfortable sticking one of them on the right wing, albeit Summerville played there last season. Would it have been better to just pick Clarke and get Ethan Ampadu in the squad? Possibly. But regret is an appalling waste of energy. This is a team that’s going to skew left in possession, and the idea of Davis/Dewsbury-Hall/Summerville rotations on the left side of the attack makes me drool.

Morgan Whittaker will hold the width on the right side, ready for the switch and a 1-v-1 with the full-back. I don’t need Whittaker having many touches, but we want to set up a system that allows him space to shift and shoot when he does receive it. Jed Wallace is the captain of this squad, whether he is on the pitch or not. A better leader, I cannot imagine, and if Whittaker is having an off day then you’d love to have Wallace holding width on the right wing.

STRIKERS

This squad had to have Josh Sargent, Kieffer Moore, or both. Realistically, it came down to a choice between Leif Davis vs other left-backs (because his inclusion precludes Moore) and Gabriel Sara vs other central, attack-minded midfielders.

Sargent will lead the line, and if he can recreate his current goalscoring form, scoring 30% of his shots, we’ll be confident that our dominance in possession will lead to chances being finished. If not, we’ve got options: the irrepressible Sammie Szmodics, top goalscorer in the Championship, or the ‘press and poach’ option of Ike Ugbo.

John Percy’s leaked Predicted XI: Rushworth; Walker-Peters, Dickie, Greaves, Davis; Sheaf, Burger; Whittaker, Dewsbury-Hall, Summerville; Sargent

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League One

GOALKEEPERS

You need a really good goalkeeper in tournament football. We can’t have good performances undermined by errors. It’s fairly clear that Lincoln City keeper Lukas Jensen has performed the best in League One as a shot-stopper: a 77.6% save percentage represents the best in the league, and he’s also top of Opta Analyst’s ‘Goals prevented’ metric.

Viljami Sinisalo will be an excellent back-up option. Harry Lewis will bring some good banter and supportive energy to the training sessions.

CENTRE-BACKS

I’m really happy with this. Elliott Moore and Conor Shaughnessy are simply excellent defenders for the level – good defensively, strong in the air and among the best ball progressors in central defence. Chey Dunkley can be brought on in case of aerial bombardment, and Bosun Lawal is a great player to have around: a CB by trade who could feasibly be a starting DM alongside one of our deep-lying playmakers, based on recent performances in that position.

FULL-BACKS / WING-BACKS

Not my favourite segment. I’m a big fan of Liam Bennett, who is fully in the category of ‘would be more highly rated if he played for a team that hadn’t lost more than half their matches since he moved into the first team’. He’s a Duracell bunny up the right side, while Tom Hamer can play if we have concerns about a physical match-up.

Luke Leahy will play at left-back. His technical ability, set-piece prowess and leadership qualities will be important. Leyton Orient’s Tom James is a bit of a wild card: I like the fact that he can play at left-back or right-back, and he’s another player with excellent technique and passing range.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

I want midfielders with composure on the ball. Tense, tournament football is where any technical or mental deficiencies will be exposed, and I cannot afford a stodgy midfield. Josh Sheehan has been imperious this season, while Matt Smith is very tidy and good under pressure, but will likely sit on the bench.

As mentioned, I like the idea of Bosun Lawal and Josh Sheehan as a midfield partnership. If we can provide the right platform for Adam Phillips to thrive, he can be a game-breaker for us. He’s all about taking shots and playing killer passes – high risk, high reward. While that may not always be appropriate for the situation, he could feasibly win us a tight match.

Ben Garrity thrives in physical matches and can be our Scott McTominay. You don’t need to actually touch the ball, Ben, until you pop up in the box to score. Out of possession, be as physical as possible to disrupt the opposition.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS / WIDE FORWARDS

We are getting the majority of our attacking spark from wide areas. In games where we are going to dominate the ball, I like the idea of have Karamoko Dembélé in front of Sheehan and Lawal. The more attention he gets, the more space out wide. But certainly situations may necessitate an Adam Phillips or even a Ben Garrity to play a tiny bit deeper if we’re up against it.

It’s Nathaniel Mendez-Laing right wing. It’s Ephron Mason-Clark left wing. We’re not getting much goal threat from midfield, so these two – supported by Femi Azeez and Sam Hoskins, both high-volume shooters from wide positions – need to provide plenty of it. Any team that commits too many forward in attack against us is going to regret it when NML and EMC are leading the counter-attack.

STRIKERS

I love young players as much as the next guy, but we’re picking a team to win, not to grow in transfer value. So, experienced strikers feel like a good thing to take to a tournament, and that’s just as well because my strikers are 29, 30, 33 and 35. It’s like 2006 Italy with Messrs Totti, Toni, Inzaghi and Del Piero.

It’s not controversial to suggest that, as attacking players get older, they develop the psychological tools required to become more efficient goalscorers. Chris Martin, Jamie Reid and Alfie May have 53 league goals between them this season. Matty Taylor’s League One career record reads 71 goals at 0.51 per 90, so he’s a dependable back-up or bench option if needed.

I’m really not sure who I would want to start up top, as those strikers have different profiles. May has done almost all of his damage as part of a front two, with a more physical foil alongside him, so perhaps there’s a 3-5-2 trial in one of the pre-tournament friendlies: Jensen; Lawal, Moore, Shaughnessy; Bennett, Phillips, Sheehan, Leahy; Dembele; Martin, May. It feels wrong not to have the star wide-forwards, but if I have to make a tactical decision for the betterment of the team, I will.

John Percy’s leaked Predicted XI: Jensen; Bennett, Moore, Shaughnessy, Leahy; Sheehan, Lawal; Mendez-Laing, Dembele, Mason-Clark; Reid

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League Two

GOALKEEPERS

Being peppered with shots? All getting a bit much? What’s your emergency? I need a Farman. Paul Farman. Barrow’s stopper has been in fantastic form in the past five months and seems to avoid the sort of mistakes that often plague keepers at this level. He has saved two penalties from six this season, too. And if anyone has earned a (fictional) cap, it’s Farman — how’s this for bad luck, from an interview with the Express:

I actually got selected twice for England C and both games were cancelled – once because of that downpour in Albania, the other one because the London riots went off [in 2011]. So I never played for England. They gave me a shirt but I never managed to get a cap.

I see Steve Arnold as a safe pair of hands if needed, while Harvey Cartwright’s selection is more a reflection of a lack of standout individuals in Grimsby’s squad.

CENTRE-BACKS

Crewe’s Mickey Demetriou may have the most goal contributions and the highest WhoScored rating of any League Two defender, but I believe his team-mate Luke Offord is a better all-round player, as seen by his thriving in a defensive midfield role recently.

He’s not aerially dominant – a cat, if you like, so it’s important that we have a ‘dog’ alongside him, which comes in the form of the youthful and exuberant Brad Hills, or the more grizzled but no less brutish Anthony O’Connor of Harrogate. Udoka Godwin-Malife is a versatile, ball-playing type who could play as an RCB in a three or fill in at right-back.

FULL-BACKS / WING-BACKS

This feels like a strong cohort. I’ve been very taken by Joel Senior, particularly after seeing him live. Athletic and attack-minded, he and Remeao Hutton will have some battle for the right-back position, given that Hutton is League Two’s premier crossing full-back.

It’s the same story at left-back, where Joe Tomlinson (who can play both sides) has been an incredible force for MK Dons but comes up against Dom Thompson — someone with such #pedigree that it’s fair to suggest he’s playing below his level, but perhaps needed a bit of a kick up the backside.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Between Elliot Watt and Liam Kelly, I’m delighted with the passing range at the base of midfield. We’ll need quality delivery, both for our target man and in terms of balls out wide to our dangerous wingers and full-backs. Neither stand out for their physical qualities, so there may be games where Jake Reeves needs to sit alongside one of them to add a more tenacious, tidy midfield profile to our midfield.

Instructions for our #8: pass forward, break forward, shoot. That’s the perfect assignment for both Elliot Lee and Isaac Hutchinson. Lee has 15G + 3A this season, Hutchinson 10G + 8A.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS / WIDE FORWARDS

On the right, Rob Apter or Jayden Fevrier: Apter the standout wide goal threat in League Two right now, and Fevrier perhaps its most dangerous, direct dribbler. On the left, it’s ‘cheat code’ Jodi Jones — breaker of the League Two season assist record as early as January — battling Hakeeb Adelakun, who makes the plane based on late-season form: five goals and four assists in his last eight games, full of silk and quality.

Spoilt for choice.

STRIKERS

We have four different profiles of striker in the squad, with 72 league goals between them: the focal point, the deep-lying gunman, the athletic disruptor and the in-behind threat.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner, Andy Cook, may not be troubling the top of the charts this season but his physicality and nous combined with an ability to score all kinds of goal makes him an excellent focal point. Davis Keillor-Dunn thrives with a target man to play off, buzzing around between the opposition midfield and defence, finding space to fire off shots.

We’ve got athleticism and stamina in the form of Newport’s Will Evans, who scored twice against England C a few years ago in 2022, precipitating a move to Newport. He will run channels, disrupt opposition defenders and press all day, and one theme of his 24 goals in all competitions has been an ability to finish first time from crosses. Then there’s Isaac Olaofe, who has developed brilliantly since joining Stockport County and kicked on this year, scoring 18 league goals and converting 30% of his shots.

As you may be able to tell, I am absolutely delighted with how my League Two Lions have come out. I really think that in terms of a spread of quality in all areas of the pitch, then relative to the level, this is the best squad of the lot. It makes a predicted XI difficult, but such is the cross to bear for an international manager with a perfect squad!

John Percy’s leaked Predicted XI: Farman; Hutton, Offord, O’Connor, Tomlinson; Watt, Reeves, Lee; Apter, Cook, Jones

What do you think?