Ok, that's easier. Rest a few for the Champions League final or Forster Clyne Toby Fonte Bertrand Morgan Vic ??? Davis Tadic Pelle ??? Choice of JayRod if back fit and at last year level/JWP - this is the hardest part for me, with Mane/Long/Elia also options . Great to have those choices back.
........................Forster................................. ..........Fonte Alderwierled Gardos............... Clyne.. Schneiderlin.. Wanyama.. Bertrand .............................Davis.............................. ....................Pelle.......... Mane.................... Bench ; Davis, Yoshida, Targett, Cork, JWP, Tadic, Long, Elia, Rodriguez Like everyone I had a bit of fun trying different options but I went for a solid formation with plenty on the bench to change things. But if everyone is available then that looks one impressive squad.
Here goes.... Boruc Clyne Fonte Alderweireld Bertrand Long Cork Schneiderlin Davis Pelle Rodriguez ...by way of explanation. I'm still not wholly convinced by Forster, I think he's getting more reassuring by the week and I'm pretty sure that he causes less disruption within the team, that said for a giant of a keeper I wish he'd command the penalty area with more authority, his distribution is good but, I hope I'm not just being provocative, Artur just edges it for me. Fonte would be the first name on the team sheet for me Yep, I've side-lined Wanyama and I would dearly have loved to include Reed who I think has been excellent since he broke into the team but as with others posters there will be great options on the bench.
Only last season we struggled when we lost J Rod as we had no speed up top, now we have the speed and the quality to finish 1on 1s, hard to pick between Elia, Mane and a fit J Rod and Long has to be in the mix as well
I think the back 7 pick themselves given that we play 1-4-2-3-1. Given that Pelle plays up front it is only the 3 behind that come into question. My view is that W.Prowse is getting better week by week and should start in the centre of the 3. Then it is a case or perming 2 from 6 of Mane, Elia, Long, Tadic, Davis and Jay Rod. Given that you can add Gardos, Yoshida, Reed, Cork, Targett and Hesketh to the mix and that Long and Jay Rod can play as out and out strikers the cover needed is for Forster. Just imagine... Forster Clyne.............Fonte.......................Toby...........Bertram Spiderman.......Wanyama .................Elia...........................Ward-Prowse...................Mane Pelle Long ..................J Rod................Tadic......................Davis Cork.......................Reed Targett..................Gardos......................Yoshida.......Flanagan Davis
McCarthy for Flanagan, but yes, two strong sides.. If eBen put wanyama with cork to make it even more competitive.
I think that's a nice question. Who in our side is world class or would look at home for one of the very elite sides? Alderweireld is one of the finest centre halves i've seen in a Saints shirt, but he can't get in the Atletico side. I would say Clyne & Schneiderlin are the obvious choices. Think what you will about the 5 players that left us, but so far they've only gone on to prove what a tough task it is. As for our strongest XI Forster, Clyne, Alderweireld, Fonte, Bertrand, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Davis, Rodriguez, Tadic, Pelle One thing we have now is a squad and a manager not afraid & able to mix it up and change things from plan A
As Fonte said it is all about team spirit...we have no big stars here. That is the mistake people make trying to buy our secret....you can't buy it piece meal.
Alderweireld is still Champions League class though, Athletico have one of the best defences in Europe and still played quite a few games last season. Schneiderlin and Wanyama are CL class, probably Fonte too.
