This was posted on our board, but I figure both sides could have a go.
My team would be:
Gordon (Sunderland), Onouha (Sunderland), Enrique (Newcastle), Coloccini (Newcastle), Williamson (Newcastle), Sessegnon (Sunderland), Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Tiote (Newcastle), Barton (Newcastle), Carroll (Newcastle), Gyan (Sunderland).
Substitutes: Harper (Newcastle), Mensah (Sunderland), Elmohamady (Sunderland), Nolan (Newcastle), Richardson (Sunderland), Muntari (Sunderland), Welbeck (Sunderland).
Reserves: Krul (Newcastle), Bardsley (Sunderland), Turner (Sunderland), S. Taylor (Newcastle), Gutierrez (Newcastle), Ireland*/Guthrie (Newcastle), Ameobi (Newcastle).
* Assuming he signs while this thread is still active, if not include Danny Guthrie.
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Although not the same player explicitly, I wouldn't say that Muntari and Tiote could play together. Muntari wouldn't get in on the wing ahead of Sessegnon and Ben Arfa, so he's a substitute. Nolan is hard to drop, but realistically Gyan and Carroll at the front are a better choice. Defensively, I've went for what I feel is the best partnership - I think Mensah's a good defender but he's injured too much to put in a starting eleven.
There'd be no place for players such as Cattermole (simply not as good as Tiote), Zenden and Bramble, nor for Ameobi (although naturally he'd be part of the squad due to his status as the irremovable object), Simpson, Smith and others. Some of the reserve spots probably are down to allegiance - Krul and Mignolet have both shown some good ability, so either could be #3, while Cattermole or (if he's any good) Meyler could get in ahead of Guthrie.
Unintentionally, that gives both teams 9 of the first 18, and Newcastle 5 of the 7 further reserves. Sunderland do have some depth, but much of it hasn't done well in England thus far (Riveros, Angeleri), so when it came to the 19-25 spots it made sense to go for those with a track record.
My team would be:
Gordon (Sunderland), Onouha (Sunderland), Enrique (Newcastle), Coloccini (Newcastle), Williamson (Newcastle), Sessegnon (Sunderland), Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Tiote (Newcastle), Barton (Newcastle), Carroll (Newcastle), Gyan (Sunderland).
Substitutes: Harper (Newcastle), Mensah (Sunderland), Elmohamady (Sunderland), Nolan (Newcastle), Richardson (Sunderland), Muntari (Sunderland), Welbeck (Sunderland).
Reserves: Krul (Newcastle), Bardsley (Sunderland), Turner (Sunderland), S. Taylor (Newcastle), Gutierrez (Newcastle), Ireland*/Guthrie (Newcastle), Ameobi (Newcastle).
* Assuming he signs while this thread is still active, if not include Danny Guthrie.
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Although not the same player explicitly, I wouldn't say that Muntari and Tiote could play together. Muntari wouldn't get in on the wing ahead of Sessegnon and Ben Arfa, so he's a substitute. Nolan is hard to drop, but realistically Gyan and Carroll at the front are a better choice. Defensively, I've went for what I feel is the best partnership - I think Mensah's a good defender but he's injured too much to put in a starting eleven.
There'd be no place for players such as Cattermole (simply not as good as Tiote), Zenden and Bramble, nor for Ameobi (although naturally he'd be part of the squad due to his status as the irremovable object), Simpson, Smith and others. Some of the reserve spots probably are down to allegiance - Krul and Mignolet have both shown some good ability, so either could be #3, while Cattermole or (if he's any good) Meyler could get in ahead of Guthrie.
Unintentionally, that gives both teams 9 of the first 18, and Newcastle 5 of the 7 further reserves. Sunderland do have some depth, but much of it hasn't done well in England thus far (Riveros, Angeleri), so when it came to the 19-25 spots it made sense to go for those with a track record.
