We always have some sort of injury so this will probably never happen but if all players were available who would make your 11 and what formation would you choose. I'd play 4-2-3-1 Friedel Walker Gallas King BAE Sandro Parker VdV Modric Bale Adebayor Subs - Cudicini, Kaboul, Dawson, Lennon, Kranjcar, Defoe,& Huddlestone. In my mind that would be a quality 18.
Pretty much agree with you King. I think the only thing I'd change due to his recent form is keep Kaboul alongside Ledley. Think he's been outstanding lately and been a contender for man of the match in many of the games. Improved massively this year.
I would have Dawson or Kaboul in for Gallas. They have now overtaken him due to age (or at least will shortly). Against weaker teams - esp at the Lane, would rotate Parker and Sandro and include Defoe, 2 holding midfielders is too much against the like of Wigan/Norwich/QPR etc. I think we can't really talk about a first choice 11, more a series of first 11's depending on opposition and venue.
I definitely agree about 4231 but I think we are better with sticking to the same system, whatever the venue or opposition, but rotating the players, both to keep everyone fit and also to play to the oppositions strengths and weaknesses. eg THudd could be more effective than Parker against a team with a weak midfield where we wouldn't need Parker's energy and THudd's passing would be given space. Changing the system causes confusion, but is sometimes necessary during a match if something is not working.
I would also say Kaboul has to be the 1st choice next to King atm,they seem to have struck up a great partnership,but apart from that your team is pretty well spot on.With the players on the bench it is a very strong squad not many better in the EPL.
I'd agree with the 4-2-3-1 for away games, but I'd like more of a 4-4-2 formation for home games as Defoe is also on form. Gallas for Kaboul, though, as he's been great this season (bar the City game).
Whats the opposition, and how are they set up before I can comment here. The teamsheet read pretty well on Sunday, but it struggled in patches due to the Goon formation.
He's a fine athlete, too. If you can't learn from playing alongside Ledley, you're never going to learn. Fortunately, for us, Kaboul seems to catch on fairly quickly.
I'd swap Dawson for Gallas on KH's one. I think we should play 442 with Defoe when we have bottom half team at home though.
It's nice to have options, isn't it? If you assume that King's selection is our first XI, then that allows us to field a second XI of: Cudicini; Corluka, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose; Huddlestone, Pienaar; Lennon, Kranjcar, Dos Santos; Defoe, in the same formation. No place for Gomes, Bassong or Pavlyuchenko, let alone Livermore, Townsend, Falque or Kane.
I'd rather Bassong/ Livermore/ Townsend/ Falque/ Kane/ Carroll/ Maybe Pav/ Luongo/ Coulibaly/ Fredericks/ Bostock/ Parrett/ Pritchard and any other youth team player take Pienaar's place. The guy is utter pony in my opinion, perhaps Everton would want him back? I'd drive him there myself.
I don't think that he's ever been fully fit since he joined us, SoS. Always looked a very tidy player at Everton.
I was hoping Pienaar would get a good preseason behind him and hit the ground running this season but it just hasn't happened for him. I still think he'll be a quality signing for us if we can keep him fit.
