This must be the worst Friday of the close season to date. We have had threads of every kind so here is one more, our mates from the darkside welcome to join in. The task is simple, try and be has fair as you can and lets see if we can make the best starting 11. The team can include loan players indeed anyone who played for either team over the past 2 seasons. Any formation you like and any player you like, off you go....
Goal: Mig Lb: Jose Enrique Cb: Bramble Cb: Coloccini Rb: Bardsley Lm: Gutierrez Cm: Catts Cm:Tiote Rm: Barton St: Gyan St: Bent Subs: Gordon Mensah Hutton Zenden Nolan Welbeck Carroll Tried to be as fair as possible.
Over two seasons is the question. Not enough time to make an impact. Although same thing could be said about hutton. but i needed to include another fullback. So i dont really know about that one.
Goal: Gordon Lb: Jose Enrique Cb: Bramble Cb: Coloccini Rb: Bardsley Lm: Gutierrez Cm: Catts Cm:Tiote Rm: Sess St: Caroll St: Bent Subs: Mig Mensah Hutton Zenden Nolan Welbeck Gyan
Will give it my best shot Gordon Bardsley Turner Bramble Enrique Barton Tiote Henderson Sessegnon Bent Carroll
Without Ben Arfa: Goal: I don't even know tbh. I haven't paid enough attention to Sunderlands goalies. Lb: Jose Enrique Cb: Turner Cb: Coloccini Rb: Bardsley (I'm presuming he's better than Simpson but I don't really know for sure) Lm: Gutierrez Cm: Barton Cm: Tiote Rm: Sessegnon St: Carroll St: Bent With Ben Arfa: Goal: Again, I dunno Lb: Jose Enrique Cb: Turner Cb: Coloccini Rb: Bardsley Lm: Sessegnon Cm: Tiote Rm: Barton Cam: Ben Arfa St: Carroll St: Bent PS: The second team with Ben Arfa would kick seven shades of **** out of most teams I reckon. The only weak spot I'd say would be Bardsley and maybe Turner (haven't seen him enough). With Bardsley, he is probably a little better than Simpson, but Simpson isn't particularly brilliant either. They're both average compared to the likes of Enrique in his LB position when he's on form. The rest of it though, strong ****.
I refuse to put a keeper in because Gordon's been ****e, Mignolet's been not much better, Harper hasn't played enough and Krul hasn't played enough. I'm also leaving one of the CB spots for the same reason, Bramble clown, Turner, Mensah, Taylor havn't played enough, Williamson whilst solid I don't feel right putting him in a best XI tbh..... ?????????????????? Enrique Coloccini ???????? Bardsley (just - begrudgingly) Jonas Tiote Nolan Barton Bent Carroll Ok, so some of you will say I'm being biased in the midfield department, but really - Sessegnon: He's been here for 5 months and for 3 of those he was ****e. Henderson: He was more of less awful for the entire of last season. I can't comment on the season before because I didn't see enough of him! Whereas, Tiote: Beyond awesome. Nolan: 39 league goals in 2 years, almost single-handedly clawed us out of the Championship, winning Championship player of the season in the process. Barton: Neck and neck with Tiote for our player of the year imo, probably just gets it considering Tiote's disciplinary issues costing us valuable points
GK Gordon LB. Richardson RB. Bardsley CD. Bramble CD. Mensah LM. Malbranque RM. Elmohammady CM. Henderson CM. Cattermole ST. Bent ST. Gyan Subs. Turner, Onua, Wellbeck, The Tealady, Guy who collects tickets on turnstile 12, Me! Seems fair and balanced to me.
Bardsley was sunderlands best player last season and turner is one of the most unrated players in the PL
The mackems can correct me if I'm wrong but I've heard that Bardsley, whilst being very lovable (especially for his goals), is in fact quite an average full-back. Does the job well, but not particularly amazing.