Summer Mailbag: Part One

A summer signings XI; a sons of top flight dads XI; the Robins' reliance on youth; Reading's ownership; Sunderland's strikers – and more!

Temperatures have soared over the summer. Whether that is down to global warming or the fervent excitement of EFL fans rubbing their hands in anticipation, nobody knows*. What we do know, is that you’ve thrown some fine mailbag questions into the hat. And now, after some deliberation and debate, we’re reeling off some of our finest mailbag answers – correlation really is causation.

But, ladies and gentlemen, this is only part one. So if you have any more headscratchers, get them in ASAP before we publish part two.

…Let the mailbag commence!

*Climate change is real - we’re not the EFL equivalent of flat-earthers, we promise.

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Ross asks:

Can you pick an XI of the ‘Best signings of the window so far’?

Ali Maxwell — This is the stuff that mailbag dreams are made of, thanks Ross. Before I make any picks, let’s start with some self-imposed rules:

1. One player per club.

2. Minimum three players per division. 

3. Not including any transfers covered in ‘Transfers We Love Part One’.

GK - Craig MacGillivray (MK Dons)

RB - Kane Wilson (Derby County)
CB - Matthew Pennington (Blackpool)
CB - Will Boyle (Wrexham)
LB - Ibou Touray (Stockport County)

CM - Jason Knight (Bristol City)
CM - Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient)

RW - Morgan Whittaker (Plymouth Argyle)
LW - Siriki Dembele (Birmingham City)

ST - Ellis Simms (Coventry)
ST - Alfie May (Charlton)

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Espen asks:

What do you think the strongest possible starting XI would be, if you made up a team of EFL-players who all have dads that have played in the Prem?

Ali Maxwell — We found a pool of no fewer than 33 ‘sons of X’ playing in the EFL! The spread of natural positions is problematic, with very few full-backs and central midfielders. Perhaps someone could write an analysis of why professional footballers’ sons tend to be wingers, attacking midfielders or strikers?

Here is my best effort at selecting an XI that stays loyal to natural positions, although you’ll have to forgive my very attacking #8s. It’s a 4-3-3 formation, and managed by Darren Ferguson or Nigel Clough – take your pick between the sons of two of the greatest managers of all time.

GK: Angus Gunn

RB: Darnell Furlong
CB: Nathan Wood
CB: Charlie Cresswell
LB: Leo Hjelde 

DM: Andre Dozzell
CM: Oli Cooper
CM: Josh Windass

RW: Tom Ince
ST: George Hirst
LW: Tyrese Campbell

Huw Davies — Well, of course that’s the obvious team… But feast your eyes on this XI, in a very modern, very attacking 3-4-1-2 setup:

GK: Connor Ripley

CB: James Carragher
CB: Mattie Pollock
CB: Sam Stubbs

RWB: D’Margio Wright-Phillips
CM: Archie Gray
CM: George Moncur
LWB: Billy Bodin

AM: Callum Hendry
ST: Liam Delap
ST: Miles Leaburn

Hmm. It’s a good thing Connor Ripley’s used to facing a lot of shots. Does anybody know if Devante Cole can play in defence…?

Ryan asks:

Who do you see as the buy of the summer in the Championship?