So with Buddy playing which gives Heeney more midfield time, who likely is the loser out of the other mids? Does this put at risk Mills scoring?
I don't expect Heeney gets any midfield time, he didn't last week that I saw and Horse and Heeney have been pretty consistent that he's a forward this year with no intention to use in the midfield.
Mills is the #1 midfielder now, as he should have been a couple of years ago, no one else is impacting him.
Parker would be forward more if anyone as he's the one who can play the role like Heeney there.
Personally expecting Buddy in for McLean would be the only change this week, if Rowbottom doesn't get up then I think probably Hayward (sadly) would get an undeserved game, possibly Bell also. I think an underdone Buddy would probably be the stay at home forward like McLean was on the weekend.
He is an absolute gun, but can play wing too. Curnow can't play anywhere else. Cripps can play forward but should be mostly in the mids. Williams should be mostly in the middle too.
I could've put Dow at 0% which is definitely a chance, but good to rotate more than just Cripps/Walsh/Williams/Curnow through there.
Actually think Williams will help Dow like he did in the preseason because they genuinely like Williams forward and Martin also. I think at this point Dow is probably going to get more midfield minutes and he'll either take the opportunity or be out of the side in the next couple of weeks. No point playing him out of position in an area he's proven he's no good after he's finally shown something this season playing his actual position. Especially for guys like Curnow who isn't part of the midfield if the Blues are serious about moving forward, he either finds another role which he's actually done decently before as a forward or wing or he has to make way at this point. A midfielder turning 32 who can't kick just sadly isn't the guy you priortise in a young team building for the future or not if you're serious about the team.