SQUAD SELECTOR 24/25: League Two

Ali Maxwell drafts a 24-man squad, picking only one player per League Two club.

If Carlsberg made fourth-tiers…

…It wouldn’t be as good as this one.

As before in the Championship and League One, I've built this 24-man squad using just one player from each League Two club. And League Two is the strongest fourth tier in the world. We don’t say that enough, so let’s go again: League Two is the strongest fourth tier in the world. So, when we enter our squad into this tournament of the mind, let’s be clear: we are strong, strong favourites.

SQUAD SELECTOR 24/25: League Two

GOALKEEPERS

Gabriel Breeze (Carlisle), Nick Townsend (Newport), Harry Burgoyne (Morecambe)

I’m not the world’s greatest goalkeeper scout, but with young Gabe Breeze, I see a young keeper who plays without fear and loves to come and claim crosses - a commanding presence with great wingspan. Crucially, he’s a good shot-stopper, with the third-best save % in the division. And all this in his first season as a starter.

In reserve, Nick Townsend (5.2 shots on target faced per game) and Harry Burgoyne (4.5 SOT faced per game) have both been kept very busy this season and done well to post positive shot-stopping numbers without much protection. They’ll have their eye in if called upon. Let’s be honest, the third keeper tends to be selected from the team whose squad has the least individual quality. Sorry, Shrimps.

CENTRE-BACKS

Anthony O’Connor (Harrogate), Mickey Demetriou (Crewe), Brendan Wiredu (Fleetwood), Stephan Negru (Salford)

I love having the veteran leadership of O’Connor and Demetriou, and both will defend our box with their lives, but realistically they wouldn’t complement each other well, and there’s an argument that between Stephan Negru and Brendan Wiredu, we could achieve a better balance of aerial dominance, defensive nous and, well, legs…

Either way, it’s a lovely quartet and I’d be happy to mix and match. Wiredu also comes with the benefit of being able to play in defensive midfield, too.

FULL-BACKS / WING-BACKS

Donald Love (Accrington), Arkell Jude-Boyd (Cheltenham), Ben Jackson (Barrow), Max Clark (Gillingham)

Donald Love and Arkell Jude-Boyd will battle it out on the right side. Jude-Boyd is the inexperienced but energetic bomber, who can dribble, is comfortable in the final third and solid enough defensively. Love is the safe pair of hands. Not sexy and exciting, but solid and dependable. That’s true love.

It’s a similar story on the other side, where Ben Jackson does his best work in the attacking half with quality technique and delivery, and Max Clark is someone that relishes the defensive side of the game while being comfortable on the ball in deep areas.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

George Byers (Port Vale), Jake Reeves (Wimbledon), Alex Pattison (Bradford), George McEachran (Grimsby), Jamie Jellis (Walsall)

George Byers and Jake Reeves are lovely deep midfield operators who are tactically astute, can look after the ball and play forward well. I feel they’d complement each other just fine if I want a double pivot, but we may want to select just one of them with a whippersnapper alongside them in Jamie Jellis. In that instance, Byers gets the nod on account of his better ball-winning capabilities. He’s simply too good for the level. Although less experienced than Byers and Reeves, George McEachran still offers plenty. A smooth lefty that throws himself about despite a small stature, McEachran is also an U17 World Cup winner and started in the final.

I love Pattison for the mere fact that his super-power is simple, effective and surprisingly rare: constant sprinting forward from midfield, at speed, to terrify the back line. Crucial tournament experience. Jamie Jellis also offers us box-to-box energy and goal-threat.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS / WIDE FORWARDS

Armando Dobra (Chesterfield), Dan Crowley (MK Dons), Luke Molyneux (Doncaster), Jodi Jones (Notts County), Omari Patrick (Tranmere)

Dan Crowley would be the protagonist for all the pre-tournament selection debates. Yes, he has rare technical and creative ability for this level. He’ll drift all over the pitch, slinging beautiful passes into our wide players, creating chances for our striker, and chipping balls over the top for Alex Pattison to run into. “There’s no doubting his quality, he’s got to start, build the team around him”, say the pundits. Then you’d have bores like me on podcasts giving it: “But does his lack of dynamism negatively impact the team? Does he slow attacks down too much, or is that worth it for his extra-terrestrial vision?”

If it becomes clear, after the first match, that Crowley is a problem rather than a superstar, Armando Dobra would be a great option as our #10, better ability to cover ground and still with plenty of ability on the ball, whether it’s dribbling, creating or scoring.

Out wide, Jodi Jones on the left and Luke Molyneux on the right is just straight fire. Jones’ deliveries for our strong-in-the-air strikers, and Molyneux’s laser-shooting - these are League Two’s premium attacking threats. In Omari Patrick, we have a nice back-up wide option and a strong dribbler.

STRIKERS

Michael Cheek (Bromley), Harry Smith (Swindon), Samson Tovide (Colchester)

Cheeky or Smithy to start? That’s the question. Instinctively, I felt like Cheek was the more dependable goalscorer, but in actual fact Smith has scored more non-penalty goals in fewer minutes this season and their conversation rates are almost identical. Smith is better in the air, though they are both terrific and will feast on Jodi Jones’ delivery. Cheek is the smarter player outside the box, and more likely to create chances for Pattison or Molyneux running in behind. He’s also significantly less likely to pick up a petulant red card in a knockout game, à la Rooney/Beckham.

Having Samson Tovide off the bench will be a complete gamechanger. A fresh Tovide will be impossible to handle for tiring fourth tier defenders. The idea of watching Samson latching on to a long pass into the channel with just a 38 year-old Italian regional centre-back for company? Mamma mia. Tovide would complement either Cheek or Smith well in a front two, more than happy pulling wide and stretching the play while they wrestle with CBs for flick ons.

Starting XI

The mighty Gab Sutton gets the starting XI scoop for the tournament opener against The Auld Enemy, Scottish League Two:

Well, I absolutely loved that, and I hope you did too. Show that you are a League Two connoisseur by dropping your team into the comments below. And if you think a friend might appreciate this absurd fourth-tier nerdery, why not share it?