Confidence or Bluff?

[Oldsparkey]

From Ole's Austrian training camp interview with Terry Phillips, it appears that he's seen enough to know his starting eleven against Blackburn.

“I know my starting XI, more or less, fitness and injuries permitting,” says Solskjaer.

Really?.......................Anyone got any ideas who that 11 might be given what we've seen and heard so far?

No prizes for this, but let's see who takes away the honour of the prestigious "Ole Sixth Sense" award.

Predictions (educated guesses or insider knowledge welcomed) below please, and we'll have a look on Friday 8th August who gets closest. I doubt I'll get more than half right, but here goes with mine. I'll post it as a 4-4-2, but God knows what format Ole will set up for this first game.

.............................Marshall..........................

Brayford..........AN Other............Turner...........Fabio

Burgstaller.........Mutch............Whitts............Daehli

.................Macheda.................Guerra.................

 

[BluefromBridgend]

I'll go with most of that Sparks. Even if we get Keane in on loan I can still see us starting with Hudson to ensure some continuity and understanding in the centre of our defence.

I don't know how quick Burgstaller is but my main concern, without Noone, is the lack of pace in the middle of the park. We look solid and all 4 can provide invention and score but as for any speed I have my doubts and I don't think Usain Bolt would have any worries with our front 2 either.

It could be we will be lookng at pur full backs to get forward more - both have shown they are capable of that as long as the cover slots in behind them.

I will have a better gut feeling after the Yeovil and Wolfsburg games.

 

[whiffletree]

Mostly agree with Sparkey, but:

Hudson in for A N Other & apparently Maynard is forging a 'tidy' understanding with Macheda.

I still think we need a defensive midfielder (Gunnar??) possibly 4-5-1 with Maynard up top.

 

[Stevoldinho]

I'd play 4-2-3-1

Brayford Turner Huds Fabio

Dikacoi Gunnar/Witts

Mutch Daehli Burgstaller

Guerra/Macheda

With a lack of genuine options for wingers I think it will suit us better. The attacking 3 all have the intelligence to play in the spaces available. I seriously doubt we'll start like this though as we've signed so many strikers. Maynard could play as one of the 3.

 

[swanseaandproud]

I would be very worried if Monk said he knows his starting line up at this stage of pre season training to be honest.....

 

[whoops]

Formation more likely to be 4-5-1. Sparkey's formation means we will be vulnerable on the left as neither Fabio nor Daehli can be trusted to defend. By that I mean when Fabio bombs forward and loses the ball Daehli will not cover so something needs to be done to shore up the left hand side. Possibly Gunnarson can be utilised as a fifth midfielder with Macheda as the lone striker. Apparently in the practice match at the Open Day the best striker on display was unbelievably Kenwynne Jones.

 

[Swamp]

i think call will play, plus i want le fondre up front. i think he'll score 25 goals next season if he's fit and plays week in week out. his finishing is second to none at this level.

 

[Ccfc4ever]

i think call will play, plus i want le fondre up front. i think he'll score 25 goals next season if he's fit and plays week in week out. his finishing is second to none at this level.

Cala banned for first match

 

[Swamp]

i stand corrected CCFC

though i'd be surprised if macheda has anything more than a squad role for the first few games, i think le fondre will be our number one striker as he's a top class player………..

 

[Oldsparkey]

i stand corrected CCFC

though i'd be surprised if macheda has anything more than a squad role for the first few games, i think le fondre will be our number one striker as he's a top class player………..

Disagree - from the noises that Ole's made recently, Macheda will lead the line for the start of the season. If it doesn't come off, Ole can't say he's not got options.

At the back, I agree to an extent with whoops about our left hand side being a bit fragile defensively with a Fabio/Daehli combo, but it would be very pacey and create far more opportunities for our front runners than previous sluggish combos like Taylor/Whitts down that side.

Gunnar in place of one of the front men for an opening fixture away from home could be an option, but the more likely choice would be Dikgacoi for me.

 

[EldonBluebird]

A lot of how we line up will depend on what happens on the transfer front. IF Medel stays we have a chance of replicating the system that has served Chile well.

The options to use a 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 or the old favourite 4/4/2 are all there. Hopefully we wont see the 8/1/1 formation that the previous manager used.

We have a very strong squad and are rightfully favourites to go up.

Here's to a season of good quality attacking football

 

[Jay-Rede]

After yesterday.. Kenwynne?


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