I get the feeling that there are going to be quite a few differing opinions on this. Putting today's game aside, where certainly a few of the new signings won't play, what do people see as our strongest match squad of players and the formation? Here is how I see us lining up this season with everyone available: Lloris Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Benny Sandro Dembele Dempsey Sigurdsson Bale Adebayor Subs: Friedel, Caulker, Naughton, Parker, Huddlestone, Lennon, Defoe Leaving the following waiting in the wings: Dawson, Gallas, Livermore, Jenas, Bentley, Carroll, Townsend Interesting to note that the bench and reserves are entirely English apart from Friedel and Gallas, while only two Brits make it into my starting XI. Very different from just a few years ago where we regularly had 5/6 British players starting.
Yep, that's pretty much what I posted earlier Dawson in for the injured Kaboul, livermore in for the injured/unfit Hudd arguably the 4th best team and squad in the country. IF we can beat Norwich tomorrow, I may well change my mind and tip us for fourth I can't believe the biz we've done this week, brilliant by Levy/AVB
That's the formation. I would bring in caulker for Kaboul at the mo. Dawson's lack of pace is key for the high line
Fair comment Spurm, but I wouldn't want Caulker on Holt today. To me Dawson can handle him, but the high line is an issue I agree. Let's see how they handle it. I'd sacrifice the high line and get in Daws. But we could come unstuck over this issue without Kaboul I agree.
Of course, seeing as AVB seems to rate Gallas, it'll probably be him I hope not, because I can see Holt 'roughing up' JV and WG
I think gallas needs to be gradually withdrawn. I think he's past it. Not today, but we should try and bring caulker in. We are integrating basically a new team anyway so get the lad in, could be the new King
Dembele is not a DM. LLoris Walker Kab JV BAE Sandro Parker Dembele Dempsey Ade Bale I know I've put Dembele on a separate line, but this would essentially be my 433 pick, for tight away games, and swap one of Parker or Sandro for Sig, if we're at home against lower league opposition where only one DM would be needed.
I agree Gallas is past it, in fact he's been past it for many months. I would prefer to see him ditched now before he costs us with a monumental balls up which he never seems to be too far away from making. As for today, I would prefer to see Dawson or Caulker but I am not raising my hopes.
I like your team, but will take issue with your first comment. Dembele is not a DM, but I don't think the formations above implied he was. In the 4-2-3-1 formations he is taking Modrics place and starting deep. Sandro/Parker to win the ball, Dembele to use it. He can run with the ball and go past players, creating space for the forwards. I look forward to seeing that!
Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Dembele, Sandro; Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Bale; Adebayor. I'd go with that for the foreseeable future, though I think Villas-Boas will pick Gallas ahead of Dawson, unfortunately. Looking at our squad options now though, we look fairly unbalanced and quite light up top. I'll be happy to see players like Townsend and Carroll given a chance, but we've still got Bentley and Jenas on the books and I'd expect them to be used.
Pretty much the same but I wouldn't play 4-2-3-1 Lloris Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Benny Sandro Dembele Sigurdsson Dempsey Adebayor Bale A 4-1-2-3 would offer more versatility in attack and would utilise Dembele & Sigurdsson's creativity as much as possible. Let's face it - there's a big Modric sized gap in the MF now - gotta fill it however much we can - I think the above could do that.
I like people who take issue with me! The very first formation in the opening post implied to me that Dembele is in front of the back 4 with Sandro, I saw another posters comment yesterday saying he was looking forward to seeing him in Livermores role who's been infront of the back4....am I really not seeing this right then??
I think he will play deep, but not as a DM. Modric often started deep - esp when VDV first came here - but you'd never say he was a DM. Livermore will compete with Parker and Sandro, not with Dembele.
I do agree, but Mod played deep because he had to, in 4411 last year with 2 of your 4 mids as wide men he had little choice, Mod ands VdV had to bridge the gap in the middle from Parker to Ade. I tried to explain this where people have said theirs a Modric size hole left open. Imo there would be IF we were playing the same formation which I think we can all safely say we won't be, so I don't think filling that 'position' or large space is too much of an issue.
