ALAN SWANN on Darren Ferguson’s selection posers after an impressive Papa John’s Trophy win over West Ham United

The performance of last night’s (December 8) heavily altered Posh starting line-up in a 3-0 Papa John’s Trophy home win over West Ham United Under 21s was a real eye-opener and some first-team regulars might be fearful of losing their place for the visit of Dale.

Here are the decisions Ferguson has to make. It’s assumed Posh will play a 3-4-2-1 formation on Saturday as they did tonight.

Joe Ward and Dan Butler are both injured.

Goalkeeper

Christy Pym v Dan Gyollai

Gyollai is doing okay and looked safe and agile last night, but Pym has been pretty much faultless this season.

Verdict: Pym

Right centre-back

Nathan Thompson v Niall Mason

Thompson is a top League One player, although he’s not returned from injury at his very best. Mason is as comfortable as Thompson on the ball, but lacks his defensive nous. Both carry the ball forward well, but Thompson has the edge, especially with a rookie wing-back to look after.

Verdict: Thompson.

CENTRAL DEFENDER

Mark Beevers v Ronnie Edwards.

Teenager Edwards looks a class act. Good on the ball, reads the game brilliantly and looks born to play in the middle of a back three. He’s not 18 until March though and that must count against him for now even if he looks extremely confident. He’ll probably be a midfielder in the future. Beevers can look uncomfortable with the ball at his feet, but he played his best football for Posh in this role last season so he will hang on to his place for now. An experienced head will be vital against a Rochdale side who will enjoy plenty of possession.

Verdict: Beevers

LEFT CENTRE-BACK

Frankie Kent v Frazer Blake-Tracy.

I’m not a fan of Kent playing on the left as it negates his ability to cruise forward in possession and I believe this is Blake-Tracy’s best position. But Kent is the better defender and the better footballer so he gets the vote although kudos to Blake-Tracy for coming back from his poor display at Pompey when asked to play left-back to perform well against the Hammers.

Verdict: Kent

RIGHT WING-BACK

Idris Kanu v Ryan Broom.

Kanu’s pace and power have been obvious for a while, but his ability to pick out a man with a cross so consistently was a revelation. Broom has fulfilled this role on many occasions for Cheltenham, but to me he looks like a player who needs to play in a more advanced role.

Verdict: Kanu.

LEFT WING-BACK

Frazer Blake-Tracy v Harrison Burrows.

Blake-Tracy could certainly play as a wing-back. He made his name as an attacking full-back with King’s Lynn. but he’s looked negative in possession and Ferguson wants more dynamism from his side which could let Burrows in. It’s a close call, but...

Verdict: Burrows.

CENTRE MIDFIELD 1

Jack Taylor is unopposed

CENTRE MIDFIELD 2

Reece Brown v Louis Reed v Ethan Hamilton.

I never though Brown would be struggling to get into this side after his excellence alongside Taylor last season, but his form has been patchy this term. Reed is the man in possession, but is yet to completely convince on or off the ball and neither had Hamilton until last night when he was outstanding. Hamilton does not keep the ball as well as Ferguson would like, but he is an impressive athlete who can run all day and tackle. Posh have lacked energy in recent weeks and Hamilton could provide it. Indeed based on last night it would be a travesty if Hamilton wasn’t selected.

Verdict: Hamilton.

FORWARD SUPPORT 1

Sammie Szmodics v Flynn Clarke v Ryan Broom.

Szmodics is woefully out of touch so he’s lucky his rivals for his place are either raw or also struggling for form. Clarke is one for the future rather than the here and now, but I’d like to see Broom’s speed and energy in the position he enjoys most. Broom was a good finisher before he joined Posh whereas Szmodics appears to have lost confidence in front of goal.

Verdict: Broom.

FORWARD SUPPORT 2

Siriki Dembele is unopposed

STRIKER
Jonson Clarke-Harris v Mo Eisa.

Until last night top scorer Clarke-Harris was a shoo in, as long as a horribly out of form Eisa was his main rival. We shouldn’t get carried away by two goals against an under 21 side, but Eisa strikes me as a confidence player and by the end of last night’s game he was smiling and his chest was puffed out. But I still like the idea of two speedsters getting in and around Clarke-Harris and taking advantage of his flicks and sheer physical presence. One last thought, would Clarke-Harris have scored the first goal last night? Doubtful in my opinion as he rarely looks like getting on the end of a cross. One to ponder and maybe Ferguson will look to take advantage of Eisa’s return to form. Once he scored his first goal last season he went on to score 12 in 14 games.

Verdict: Clarke-Harris.