Team for Saturday

[Robin]

So many unknowns but is anyone brave enough to predict the team? I'll stick my head out and go as follows:

Day (GK)
Power (RB)
Sherring (CB)
Wilson (CB)
Harmon (LB)
Kinsella (CM)
Wilcox (CM)
Hutchinson (AM)
Archer (FW)
Broom (FW)
Bickerstaff (SC)

Subs: Diallo, AJB, Bakare, Martin, Young, King and Taylor

So Sohna misses out and everyone else is injured I believe. I feel we go with full backs who defend as SC will want to tighten up at the back,

[Benctfc]

GK Day
RWB AJB
CB Sherring
CB Wilson
CB Wilcox
LWB Harmon
CDM Young
CM Hutchinson
CM Kinsella
CAM Archer
CF Bickerstaff

I can see him keeping 5 at the back and Bickerstaff looks certain to have to play up top on his own. Perhaps a diamond in midfield? Could also maybe take Hutchinson out of that team and play either Broom or Martin and go with two more natural wingers.

[Fuller]

So will Bakare and Sohna now have a chance?
Obviously Pell and Angol suspended this Saturday.
Why has Backwell not even been on the bench?
Hopefully a couple of free agents coming in but doubt they’d be up to speed for a while.
Any updates on all those injured, and when we might see them again?

[Si Robin]

Neither Bakare nor Sohna are registered to play.

[Fuller]

Neither Bakare nor Sohna are registered to play.

Can they be registered to play?

[Si Robin]

A very good question that I don't know the answer to.

Given we'd be able to register free-agents, one assumes they could be registered.

[HamTown]

Zero chance it'll happen but I'd be curious to see:

GK Day
RB Power
CB Sherring
CB Wilson
LB Wilcox
CM Archer
CM Kinsella
CM Backwell
CAM Hutchinson
CF Bickerstaff
CF Mazionis

Battling and agricultural!

[Fuller]

Thought Mazionis is also now injured?

[Warwickshire Robin]

A very good question that I don't know the answer to.

Given we'd be able to register free-agents, one assumes they could be registered.

Looking at the rules, League 2 clubs are allowed to name a 22 senior player squad list, 8 of those have to be homegrown. This excludes goalkeepers and players under 21 who don't need to be registered, although all loan players need to be registered no matter what age.

So basically, assuming we are at this limit, players need to be moved on before new players can be added to the squad. I am guessing that doesn't mean you can just remove registered players to a 'bomb squad' but actually need to let them leave the club?

[Si Robin]

We have apparently registered 19 players (the yes stands for home grown):

https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-m ... 8c8c68.pdf

EFL - Squad List 2025/26
Cheltenham Town - In Squad Players

1 Angol, Lee Anthony Yes
2 Archer, Ethon Yes
3 Backwell, Tommy George Yes
4 Bennett, Scot Andrew Yes
5 Bickerstaff, Jacob Samuel Yes
6 Broom, Ryan James Yes
7 Cundy, Robbie David Yes
8 Harmon, George Christian Yes
9 Hutchinson, Isaac Yes
10 Jude-Boyd, Arkell Nicholas Cecil Yes
11 Kinsella, Liam Mark Yes
12 Martin, Joshua Saul Yes
13 Miller, George Yes
14 Pell, Harry David Balraj Yes
15 Power, Darragh
16 Sherring, Sam Yes
17 Thomas, Jordan Reece Yes
18 Wilson, James Steven Yes
19 Young, Luke Yes

EFL - Squad List 2025/26
Cheltenham Town - Under 21 Contract players
Player
1 Anderson, Taine Charlie
2 Diallo, Mamadou
3 King, Thomas Willoughby
4 Mazionis, Jokubas
5 Obieri, Sopuruchukwu Malvin
6 Taylor, Thomas Jack
7 Tustin, Harry James
8 Walters, Cameron Robert
9 Willcox, Frederick Henry Arthur

[Robin]

So will Bakare and Sohna now have a chance?
Obviously Pell and Angol suspended this Saturday.
Why has Backwell not even been on the bench?
Hopefully a couple of free agents coming in but doubt they’d be up to speed for a while.
Any updates on all those injured, and when we might see them again?

I just don't see Sohna being an SC type of player full stop. Bakare effort would I think appeal but he's surely not starting ahead of Wilson or Sherring.

Backwell has slipped down the pecking order, he's another who could go either way under SC. I suspect he will appreciate his effort and application but he generally goes for experience over youth. Also who would you drop for Tommy to get into the team as Kinsella and Hutchinson seem to be almost guaranteed starters if fit.

On the injuries here is what I believe Bennett/Miller (due back end of October), Thomas/Anderson (should be back some point next month), Maz (no details), are there any other injuries not made public?

On the free agents, one will surely be a striker, maybe both but if you look at injuries we might need another defender unless he's prepared to use Bakare.

[Robin]

Neither Bakare nor Sohna are registered to play.

Can they be registered to play?

Presumably yes because Bakare played (and cost us a goal) against Barnet.

[Robin]

We have apparently registered 19 players (the yes stands for home grown):

https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-m ... 8c8c68.pdf

EFL - Squad List 2025/26
Cheltenham Town - In Squad Players

1 Angol, Lee Anthony Yes
2 Archer, Ethon Yes
3 Backwell, Tommy George Yes
4 Bennett, Scot Andrew Yes
5 Bickerstaff, Jacob Samuel Yes
6 Broom, Ryan James Yes
7 Cundy, Robbie David Yes
8 Harmon, George Christian Yes
9 Hutchinson, Isaac Yes
10 Jude-Boyd, Arkell Nicholas Cecil Yes
11 Kinsella, Liam Mark Yes
12 Martin, Joshua Saul Yes
13 Miller, George Yes
14 Pell, Harry David Balraj Yes
15 Power, Darragh
16 Sherring, Sam Yes
17 Thomas, Jordan Reece Yes
18 Wilson, James Steven Yes
19 Young, Luke Yes

EFL - Squad List 2025/26
Cheltenham Town - Under 21 Contract players
Player
1 Anderson, Taine Charlie
2 Diallo, Mamadou
3 King, Thomas Willoughby
4 Mazionis, Jokubas
5 Obieri, Sopuruchukwu Malvin
6 Taylor, Thomas Jack
7 Tustin, Harry James
8 Walters, Cameron Robert
9 Willcox, Frederick Henry Arthur

So basically we can add three outfield players (maximum) to the squad at this moment and for January some of those 19 need to leave for us to add more (unless we had youngsters).

Also did anyone else know Harry Pell's middle name is Balraj?

Edit: SC said we can only add two free agents so potentially Bakare has been added to this list (and it's slightly outdated) and we actually have twenty registered. That means almost certainly Sohna is not making the squad here and some of the others need to leave in January - anyone's guess who.

[Warwickshire Robin]

We have apparently registered 19 players (the yes stands for home grown):

https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-m ... 8c8c68.pdf

EFL - Squad List 2025/26
Cheltenham Town - In Squad Players

1 Angol, Lee Anthony Yes
2 Archer, Ethon Yes
3 Backwell, Tommy George Yes
4 Bennett, Scot Andrew Yes
5 Bickerstaff, Jacob Samuel Yes
6 Broom, Ryan James Yes
7 Cundy, Robbie David Yes
8 Harmon, George Christian Yes
9 Hutchinson, Isaac Yes
10 Jude-Boyd, Arkell Nicholas Cecil Yes
11 Kinsella, Liam Mark Yes
12 Martin, Joshua Saul Yes
13 Miller, George Yes
14 Pell, Harry David Balraj Yes
15 Power, Darragh
16 Sherring, Sam Yes
17 Thomas, Jordan Reece Yes
18 Wilson, James Steven Yes
19 Young, Luke Yes

EFL - Squad List 2025/26
Cheltenham Town - Under 21 Contract players
Player
1 Anderson, Taine Charlie
2 Diallo, Mamadou
3 King, Thomas Willoughby
4 Mazionis, Jokubas
5 Obieri, Sopuruchukwu Malvin
6 Taylor, Thomas Jack
7 Tustin, Harry James
8 Walters, Cameron Robert
9 Willcox, Frederick Henry Arthur

So basically we can add three outfield players (maximum) to the squad at this moment and for January some of those 19 need to leave for us to add more (unless we had youngsters).

Also did anyone else know Harry Pell's middle name is Balraj?

Edit: SC said we can only add two free agents so potentially Bakare has been added to this list (and it's slightly outdated) and we actually have twenty registered. That means almost certainly Sohna is not making the squad here and some of the others need to leave in January - anyone's guess who.

As I read the rules the three u21 loanees have to count as part of the 22 man squad therefore we are already full with no gaps to fill unless players leave?

[Robin]

Very worrying if we are at the limit. We cannot send any loans back until January so we would need players to join national league clubs on a permanent deal to bring in free agents that's going to be a real job for someone to move a couple out in that case because like Sohna and Bakare they won't want to take a pay cut or go part time and the top national league clubs probably won't want them.

[horlickfanclub]

If Michael Flynn ends up at Newport County Scott Bennett might join him in January.

[Shade]

Also did anyone else know Harry Pell's middle name is Balraj?

Yes. It's a cracker.

A BBC article listed some of the injured players SC will be unable to pick the other day, and Bakare and Sohna were among them. Who knows, with the communications, but I'm assuming this was typical BBC and the reporter just didn't check why they haven't been in the squad and assumed they've been injured.

[Shade]

If Michael Flynn ends up at Newport County Scott Bennett might join him in January.

*hands together prayer emoji*

He can have a few others as well.

[Robin]

If Michael Flynn ends up at Newport County Scott Bennett might join him in January.

I could definitely see Flynn going back and both Day and Bennett joining him, great shout that.

[paperboy]

We can cross this guy off our list of free agents.

https://x.com/EnglishAbroad1/status/197 ... HOIGA&s=19

Terry Ablade still available after a month at Slimmers World.

[TheTownClub]

Not sure what that list means because it doesn't have Mark Barber on it, despite him appearing against Barnet.

[Si Robin]

Registration was completed after deadline day, Barnet was in August. That's why Bakare was able to play then but isn't now.

[TheTownClub]

That explains it, thanks!

[Robin]

Registration was completed after deadline day, Barnet was in August. That's why Bakare was able to play then but isn't now.

So can we still sign players Si?

[Si Robin]

As far as I'm aware we can.

It'd be a bit odd of Steve Cotterill to say he's looking at bringing one or two in if we can't register them until January.

[Jerry St Clair]

Hang on, why are Bakare and Sohna contracted to us but not registered? What have i missed? That seems mad.

[Si Robin]

I assume they weren't registered for two reasons:

1. To show them they had no future at the club and try and get them to accept a move regardless of where that offer was from (at least one of them rejected a move to the National League in the summer).
2. To keep space for any free agent signings we may have wished to make.

[Jerry St Clair]

Another damning indictment of the chaos wrought under the previous DoF. What an utterly disjointed shambles.

[Robin]

It's crazy that neither was moved on and haven't at least gone on loan (because they are still paid by us in that case so no loss of earnings). Also it's clear that come January that 2-3 of our registered players will need to be moved on, let's hope we don't fall into the same trap there that we did with these two.

[Fuller]

It's crazy that neither was moved on and haven't at least gone on loan (because they are still paid by us in that case so no loss of earnings). Also it's clear that come January that 2-3 of our registered players will need to be moved on, let's hope we don't fall into the same trap there that we did with these two.

Unless some players start performing to a higher standard, and we start to move up the table a bit, then I’d expect more than 2-3 players to be moved on.
Most of them only have contracts until next summer or are loans. We could well see a big turnaround in January.

[Robin]

I'm talking permanent players, so if we move 2-3 out plus two free agents come in before that's quite a bit of turn over already.

I agree on the loans other than Sherring and Hutchinson I don't expect any to stay beyond January. Maybe Taine Anderson is retained as he's only played one game and could be a good player but Maz, Taylor, Archer I just don't see as the types of players SC will want to build on.

So 2 free agents, 2-3 permanent signings with players leaving and five loans leaving replaced by 3 new ones means 7-8 new faces that's big changes.

[everyman]

Whatever ! If Diallo doesn`t [play against Bristol Rv`s on tues he needs to go out on loan,has to be playing to gain experience ?

[Fuller]

Whatever ! If Diallo doesn`t [play against Bristol Rv`s on tues he needs to go out on loan,has to be playing to gain experience ?

So who sits on the bench if he goes out?

[asl]

Some would have you believe goalkeepers never get injured or sent off so we could have an extra outfield player on the bench...

[plymrob]

Dave Lewis might be free as GK cover?