Newcastle fan in peace. Before each derby my mates and I tend to get into a conversation about who we would have in a combined team. I know this is neither new nor original but I think it is decent banter for the weekend of the derby so here goes my selection (it's actually a bit more depressing than I would have liked): GK: Krul. The first thing to say here is that Mignolet was my first choice for the last few times we've done this. My test now is that if Newcastle bought Westwood and started playing him ahead of Krul the fans would kick off but if Sunderland bought Krul and started playing him ahead of Westwood I think most would be happy - not a perfect test and in honesty neither are world-beaters but Krul just has a bit more generally I think. Defence: Santon - O'Shea - Colocinni - Debuchy From both squads the only 'certainty' I would have is Colocinni. The other three are just of case of the least bad and all are controversial really. O'Shea I think is a good player (though Brown is better when fit) who is playing badly but still has ability in there. In a stable team with a consistent performer alongside him I think he would be 'ok' but in honesty there aren't many better from our two squads (though I haven't seen much of Diakite or Roberge). Wing-backs aren't inspiring from either team and there will be cries for Dummett or Colback but one is unproven and the other is out of position. Debuchy shows glimses and is a France international so I'm sticking with him. Santon is ace going forward and just needs more and more experience of the Prem I think. Midfield: Giacherini - Anita - Cabaye - Cattermole - Ben Arfa A pretty strong midfield and the only part of the team I would really say there was competition for places. Giacherini has impressed so far this season and is surely preferable to the alternatives (Joans/Johnson/Gouf) and Catts is a must on his current form. Cabaye and Ben Arfa and pretty uncontroversial inclusions (I would be interested to see if many leave them out) and the last place could have gone to one of a few but personally I think Anita is often under-rated and would have him in ahead of Tiote/Larsson/Sissokho/etc. Striker: Fletcher The best available when fit. The alternative is Remy who has been ace so far this season and following a strong showing at the end of last season may prove to be better but after the Cisse debacle I'm going to hold off judgement of a striker on the basis of half a season! Note: Cisse just doesn't figure for me, I have no idea how this is the same player as the one who looked insanely talented in his first half season when every week he was doing something incredible (Villa, Swansea, Chelsea, etc) but its at the point now I no longer expect to see that again. Overall I think was easier to do than in previous seasons as there are fewer players screaming out for inclusion and the defence in particular is a bit of a shambles. The only players I rue leaving out are Remy, Tiote (who has looked much better this season) and Johnson (who I still think will come good). I haven't bothered with a subs bench as I think it would be too depressing.
Id have Remy ahead of Fletcher and even Mike Williamson is better than John Oshea. On paper Newcastle have a much better team. Probably only Giaccherini who'd get in as Sissoko is better than Cattermole. actually id have catts ahead if anita.
7 mags - 4 sunderland players Comm and only because you sold Mignolet otherwise it would have been 6-5. I'm not claiming to be unbiased (as I am) but I don't think that's particularly unfair. Who would you have in then? The defence in particular is a free-for-all and there aren't many/any outstanding candidates Parker: Willo has had a really good few games for Newcastle but he's an accident waiting to happen. He's a very good championship defender who is a 6/10 performer in the prem with the odd 2/10 thrown in. I think we'll go Krul; Santon-Willo-Dummett-Debuchy; Arfa-Tiote-Cabaye-Sissokho-Remy; Cisse. That is one **** defence but MYM, Colo and Taylor are probably all out, plus I'll be annoyed if he actually does leave Anita out. Our game may hinge on Gouf coming off the bench, every so often he looks ace.
ps. Sissokho flatters to decieve in my opinion. After his first few games I thought he was Michael Essien-eqsue and looked like he had it all but he's been flat and naive this season. Tied to Tiotes return to form and the consistent 7/10 that is Anita (he's nothing spectacular and is unlikely to ever make match of the day highlights but he does all the simple things well and makes few mistkes) and I wouldn't currently have him in the Newcastle starting line-up. Pardew, and most Newcastle fans, disagree though and maybe they're right. How do you think Sudnerland will line up? Catts, Giach and Fletcher look like comfortable premiership level players but I guess the rest have to start proving a point. As for O'Shea you see him more than me but pre-Crystal Palace were people calling for him to be dropped? He's always seemed solid in the matches I've caught him.
It is for us as well to be honest Comm, though admittedly not as bad. Even when you put the squads together all you end up with is a decent keeper, a shoddy defence, a strong midfield and a decent striker (who is an injury worry). The midfield is the only saving grace. That combined team is midtable fodder.
I think Poyet would like to field Fletcher and Altidore but I dont think he'll trust a 4 man midfield so it'll be 4-2-3-1 I think Something like...... ..........................Westwood............................. Gardner----brown------oshea---------colback -----------Cattermole---Larsson---------------- Giaccherini---------Ki-------------------Johnson -------------------Fletcher------------------------
I like that front six IF Larsson can play for you like he has for Sweden. The CB pairing should be good and I think O'Shea is getting more flack than he deserves at the moment as people search for scapegoats when 8-9 players each match are playing under-par. Wing-backs I'm not convinced by though and I think he'll play Bardsley after going to the effort to recall him. Celustka (sp.) looked decent I thought for someone who's only just started in the prem but maybe Colback is a better shout for the derby.
What a depressing thread this is. For the past two or three seasons when these have popped up it has always ended up with us arguing over who's best players get in ahead of the other team's, and the general concensus is a combined team would be pushing for European places easily. This year.... as haslam says, even combined, its midtable fodder at best. No arguments with the team btw, I wouldn't have O'Shea in there on current form but there's noone worth bringing in from either team to replace him. Disheartening.
Catts and Giacc are our only contenders ATM, TBH. A fit Fletcher is a shoo-in, but that's when he's up to speed. A load of our players could get in, but their form is currently ****e and we cannot complain too much with a mag-biased team just now.
OShea should be left out of the Sunderland team never mind getting a place in a combined team. He is fcking rubbish.
