This was posted on our board, but I figure both sides could have a go. My team would be: Gordon (Sunderland), Onouha (Sunderland), Enrique (Newcastle), Coloccini (Newcastle), Williamson (Newcastle), Sessegnon (Sunderland), Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Tiote (Newcastle), Barton (Newcastle), Carroll (Newcastle), Gyan (Sunderland). Substitutes: Harper (Newcastle), Mensah (Sunderland), Elmohamady (Sunderland), Nolan (Newcastle), Richardson (Sunderland), Muntari (Sunderland), Welbeck (Sunderland). Reserves: Krul (Newcastle), Bardsley (Sunderland), Turner (Sunderland), S. Taylor (Newcastle), Gutierrez (Newcastle), Ireland*/Guthrie (Newcastle), Ameobi (Newcastle). * Assuming he signs while this thread is still active, if not include Danny Guthrie. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although not the same player explicitly, I wouldn't say that Muntari and Tiote could play together. Muntari wouldn't get in on the wing ahead of Sessegnon and Ben Arfa, so he's a substitute. Nolan is hard to drop, but realistically Gyan and Carroll at the front are a better choice. Defensively, I've went for what I feel is the best partnership - I think Mensah's a good defender but he's injured too much to put in a starting eleven. There'd be no place for players such as Cattermole (simply not as good as Tiote), Zenden and Bramble, nor for Ameobi (although naturally he'd be part of the squad due to his status as the irremovable object), Simpson, Smith and others. Some of the reserve spots probably are down to allegiance - Krul and Mignolet have both shown some good ability, so either could be #3, while Cattermole or (if he's any good) Meyler could get in ahead of Guthrie. Unintentionally, that gives both teams 9 of the first 18, and Newcastle 5 of the 7 further reserves. Sunderland do have some depth, but much of it hasn't done well in England thus far (Riveros, Angeleri), so when it came to the 19-25 spots it made sense to go for those with a track record.
Well, Mensah's injured too much. Thinking of it a bit like King at Tottenham, and to be honest, I rate Williamson along with Coloccini so I'd find it hard to pick between the two! As for Guthrie, I couldn't think of another player in our sides that could fill that spot, in a day's time it'd likely be Ireland anyway.
But as this is a 'fantasy' article, i'd be basing it on everyone being fit, personally. It's not that i think Wiiliamsons bad, he's a decent defender, just that Mensah would be first on the team sheet when fit.
With this kind of post you are always going to get club bias...However, what I would say is that Bardsley is in contention for our player of the season and would be always in a team of my choice.
It's no wonder that you got banned from our forum. Either way, rising about it as I'm not 12 year olds as your posts suggest! Bardsley has done well, but Jose Enrique is arguably Newcastle's best player and there's no way I could drop him. Especially seeing as Bardsley's still not a certainty ahead of Richardson over there.
There will always be club bias so its a pointless argument. For what its worth however I dont think many NUFC players would get in that team to be honest.
