Can't help but wonder since the new players have started arriving and the old guard have started moving on, just how far the club have come since the dark days of relegation. Obviously we are nearly an entirely new team, but are we really that much weaker than we were as we were checking out of the Premier League? Myhill McShane----Gardner-----Zayatte----Kilbane Garcia-------Bullard-------Marney-------Hunt Altidore-----------JVoH vs. Mannone Rosenior----Chester-----Gerrard----Dawson Stewart------Harper-------Ashbee-----Devitt Fryatt-----------McLean I've moved some around so that we have two unique squads... but do you think the City of 2011 could take the one of 2010. I think there's a fair chance they would. Obviously there is the class of Hunt and JVoH What do you all reckon?
I can't believe I missed Koren out. How the hell could I have missed Koren out. Now I know why 606 closes at 11. That's when my brain stops Would like to see McLean down the wing though.
I think the current defensive 5 certainly has the edge. Marney was one of those players who always seemed to be present when we got our best results and I don't believe it's coincidence. His drive harried the opposition and gave our players more time on the ball / possession (sure, the prettiest barn door in the land was safe but he did bring something to the team). I think Jan would outmuscle Chester and Gerrard more often than not and Altidore would pass every one of his knockdowns back to Mannone. Their only chance would be if the knockdowns fell to November '09 Bullard. I would go 0-0 draw, although Zayatte and Gardner might have a say in that. Koren and Stewart coming in would probably edge it in 2010/11's favour and I'll pocket the difference in wages as a consultancy fee.
I think the 2011 squad would walk it. Gardner wouldn't even be on the pitch, and if he was then Ash would make sure to get a few crunching tackles in. Altidore didn't have a clue where to find the back of the net, Zayatte would score at least one own goal. Rosenior and Stewart would run right past Kilbane. As mentioned, Hunt and JVoH (and possibly McShane) would be the only people I would consider.
So: Myhill McShane----Gardner-----Zayatte----Kilbane Garcia-------Bullard-------Boateng-------Hunt Altidore-----------JVoH vs. Mannone Rosenior----Chester-----Gerrard----Dawson McLean------Koren-------Ashbee-----Devitt Stewart-----------Fryatt Would that be closer to the mark? My money would definitely be on the 2011 squad looking at that...
Spanner, considering our current position is very similar to the promotion year after the same number of games I think it would be a very clsoe call. 2011 possibly a better squad, but the promotion squad possibly more of a team as played together longer - sum greater than it's parts?
Pederson is a forgotten hero, he was a class act for us in the promotion season, and one of Brownies best signings.
I'm not so sure, Hessle Road and Altidore would bag a good few between them at this level, maybe not Altidore but he'd create plenty for JVoH who can definately put it away. I'm not sure Gerrard or Chester would cope with Altidores battering, they don't look to confident with a bit of pace and power running straight at them and diving about. Chester wouldn't have a chance against JVoH in the air either. Boateng and Bullard IMO are a fairly better CM pairing, Boateng was better than Ash, and Bullard is more technicly giften than Koren. I'd also give Myhill the nod over Manonne for now at least, and judging from what I've seen of Fryatts finishing so far, I think Myhills excellence at shot stopping would come into play. Hands down we are better on both flanks now at full back and wings. Stewart and Fryatt though I think would demolish Zayatte and Gardener, with McLean ****ting on Kilbane but not too sure about Devitt vs. McShane... McShane doesn't give players much time on the ball and Devitt doesn't really have the pace and tricks to exploit McShanes biggest weakness. I would probably find a way to get Stewart on the left wing, I think he'd cause some serious trouble against the ninja.. Whatever the result I think it would be a 'score more goals than the other team' 4-3 kind of fixture, but I think it's pretty even to be honest.
Mmmm interesting thread if Geo in for Marney Koren for Garcia Think they would just nick it 3-2. Harper and Ash aren't my prefered CM's
I think its difficult to say at this stage - with all the new transfers in I still don't think we've seen the team gel or that NP knows his best XI - I'll wait until the end of the season and comment then.
question....would the team that Dowie started against Portsmouth beat any Hull team from any time in history? probably not I think Myhill Mendy - Mouyokolo - McShane - Dawson ***an - Marney - Bullard - Kilbane Folan - JVOH Also for last seasons team Mouyokolo would definitely start in front of Gardener, for me it'd be: Myhill McShane - Mouyokolo - Zayatte - Kilbane Geovanni - Boat - Bullard - Hunt Altidore - JVOH Fryatt - Stewart Barmby - Harper - Ashbee - Koren Dawson - Gerrard - Ayala - Rosenior Mannone I think those teams match up quite evenly,If it was based purely on the 22 players but i'd expect the premier league team to win, bottom line is that the standard is lower this year so players look better, i.e. McShane who I think looks more than competant at this level but way out of his depth in the prem. However, if NP was to manage one team and Dowie/Brown the other then i'd expect the Championship team to win
The premiership and championship are massivley different styles of play and i feel our current side would loose to the side of the premiership just due to pure size however, our current side i believe would do much better in the premiership. This is down to better creative players and goal scorers rather than just brute force. Defenders who can acctualy defend also help havnt had anyone since Turner.
I'd take Hunt JvoH from the Prem team but other than that i'd stick to the championship team. I'd stick them in for Devitt and McLean though i've nothing against them, it's just JvoH & Hunt are class players and would walk into most teams at this level I'd take Jozy back too but not as a starter, he might not have clicked here but there was definately a top player somewhere in there. He was full of energy and effort
I'd pick this years squad though add JVOH as a target man and Hunt for his skill, work rate and determination - great to see he's still doing the business at his new club. I've got to say MOTD is a lot less stressful now that we aren't in it
Very thought provoking question, I've thought of something similar recently. Would also be interesting to see how this team would fare against the promotion winning side of 2007-08. I think our attack from then is still stronger than ours at the moment but in time, they will become very good