It is hard to believe that our new season will kick-off this Saturday as we still have a team that is very much "work in progress". Chris Ramsey stated that he would still like to have 5 more additions, plus there will still be some more exits (possibly Fer, Austin and Phillips?). With all of this uncertainty, what team would you choose for Saturday? Although Chris Ramsey ideally prefers a 4-3-3 option, I believe the 4-2-3-1 set up played against Atalanta is a very good insight into his current thoughts. The back line is our current Achilles heel and with Yun still injured option, an alternative option to the Atalanta match defence could be could be Furlong- Onuoha-Hill- Perch. But I really hope that we get a new central defender (as Clint will have major difficulties to consistently play well for 90 minutes) and new left back soon. However, today I would field the following team: --------------------------Green------------------------- ---Perch ------Onuoha-----Hill------Kpekawa--- --------------Faurlin-------------Luongo------------- ---Phillips-------------Chery--------- Gladwin----- ------------------------ -Austin------------------------- It will be interesting to see what may happen this week to possibly change this line-up.
Similar team to yours: -------------------Green------------------- Furlong--Onuoha--Perch--Kpekewa ----------Faurlin----------Luongo-------- Phillips-----------Fer--------------Chery -------------------Austin------------------- Subs: Lumley, Hill, Henry, Gladwin, JET, Polter, Blackwood That still leaves out Hoilett, Sandro, Diakite, YSY, Doughty, RGC, Petrasso, Sutherland, Robinson, Traore and Comley Gladwin instead of Fer if he goes this week. Edit: Forgot Mackie. He can take Blackwood's spot on the bench.
I quite like that defensive back line. This could be a good solution for resting Clint. But, I am not sure if I would start with Hill, or introduce him later in the match if needed to "shore-up" with experience.
Fer wont be there he will be in Sunderland And the Perch Ned combination was not tried yesterday. So Ski's attempt is my bet too -------------------Green------------------------- ---Perch ------Onuoha-----Hill------Kpekawa--- --------------Faurlin-------------Luongo------------- ---Phillips-------------Chery--------- Gladwin----- ------------------------ -Austin-----------------------
Fer will be gone, and Austin wont feature,so i'm going for this: ------------------Green------------------------- ---Perch ------Onuoha-----Hill------Kpekawa--- --------------Faurlin-------------Luongo------------- ---Phillips-------------Chery--------- Gladwin----- ------------------------ -Polter-----------------------
According to another thread on here Ramsey has said if they are here and fit they will feature. He wants to use them as long as we have them.
It is a tough call. But if he has not signed, then I would be very tempted to play Charlie. I believe that Charlie is the type of player who would like to go out "with a bang". He is our current number 9 and it would be in line with the message "we want to keep him, but...."
It's not like we've got an alternative striker experienced in this league ready to be thrown in. Might as well play him- he's not exactly the type to not be bothered. Looks like Fer is good as gone so I'd like: Green Furlong Perch Onuoha Kpekawa Luongo Faurlin Phillips Chery Gladwin Austin Subs: Goalkeeper, Hill, Henry, Doughty, Mackie, JET, Polter
So long as Charlie is here i'd play him. But think Fer will be gone before the weekend. Green Furlong - Perch - Onuoha - Hill Luongo - Faurlin Phillips - Chery - Gladwin Austin Subs: Goalkeeper, Kpekawa, Henry, Diakite, (Actually looked decent at the weekend.) Mackie, JET, Polter
The big part if that is IF, if he's fit, if he's here, he only trained twice last week, who knows if he's trained anymore this week.
I don't actually care as it will all evolve it's like Xmas and birthday presents best wait for the day Hard fixture Nothing to learn until September We are a new team Green will be goal Ned and Hill and I would play Henry at RB and Perch at LB
With the arrival on loan of the experienced ("veteran") Paul Konchelski, it seems that we have solved the short term issue of who plays at left back. I would expect him to start on Saturday: --------------------------Green------------------------- ---Perch ------Onuoha-----Hill-----Koncheski--- --------------Faurlin-------------Luongo------------- ---Phillips-------------Chery--------- Gladwin----- ------------------------ -Austin------------------------- It will be interesting to see what develops in this left back position once Yun returns to match fitness.
The wildcard Konchesky has thrown us all. Predictably Unpredicable I can see Cantona getting a run out
To be honest, I only want Konchesky to be backup. And he will be very useful for that reason. But I have high hopes for Kpekawa and Konchesky is there to take over if Kpekawa crumbles. Give the kid a chance first. He's the future. Konchesky is not.