Name our strongest team assuming everyone is fit, mine would be Pants Jones Jos Brown PVA Catts Briddo AJ Fletch Giacca Whicks
Pantillimon Réveillère O'Shea Brown Van Aanholt Larsson Cattermole Johnson Fletcher Giaccherini Wickham
I think Seb and Rev have been excellent this season mate, Bridcutt has been a pleasant surprise when he's started though, and it'll be good to have more depth in the fullback areas when Jones returns.
Pants O'Shea-------Brown Jones-------------------------PVA Catts Larrson----Alvarez Johnson---------------------Giacc Fletcher Cats protecting the back two dropping back into a back three like he does so effectively Giving Jones and PVA a licence to push forward and play more like wingers than wingbacks. Then in front of Catts our 4 most creative players feeding our best striker and providing attacking support and threat. 7 up and 3 back whilst attacking. Lets start scoring some f**ing goals. Gus doesn't change shape so I won't. Think I'll remain realistic instead of putting something down he'll never play.
Does that mean no place for our man of the match each time he has played and no place for a striker we have just committed a kings ransom too. I have been pleased for Catts this season, but he still gets booked every other game and after he is, he is less effective, the last two goals against Man City were a perfect example of this dilema, one tackle away from being down to 10 men he has to back off, we expect too much from the lad and he needs help protecting our back four. If Gus is so inflexible as you think then I am a little bit worried to be honest. Remember this formation has us two points above a relegation place with just two wins all season.
The team & formation should change for the different styles we come up against and that what let's poyet down. the bloke hasn't got the balls to change stuff up.
----------Mannone--------- -------O'Shea Brown ------ Jones -----Catts ------PVA ------Alvarez Rodwell------ AJ -------------------- Giack --------Fletcher------------- That's if everyone we have is fit and on form. PVA and Jones playing as fullback/wingback, not playing two at the back.
Same as me with the exception of Larsson, didn't see that before I posted. I would put Rodwell in mind as I'm dying for him to come good.
So what do you suggest? Dropping a 10m striker because another striker has signed a contract? The op asked what we thought was our strongest line up, I've stuck with our shape because I want to remain realistic and that is my team. We can't play everyone then 11 players can we? It's squad game and we've got a much stronger squad these day which is delightful. But we can't play everyone so that's my team. Everyone stood off against Man City, that was Gus' mistake not Catts. It was the tactic deployed to all. So it's all the formations fault we are where we are is it? I don't buy that. Nothing is that simple. We've had chances we haven't been clinical with, our back 4 has been makeshift most of the season, we've been riddled with individual errors and two of our most creative midfielders have been injured. Would all of that not effect our league standing? You simplify things far too much for me fella, nowt in life is black and white, we live in a world riddled with gray areas which you can see if you step back and look at the bigger picture. That's my strongest team and I'm very happy with it and no offence to the players who didn't make it. Players like Conner, Vergini and Bridcutt are unlucky not to make it but I can't pick everyone.
Its all a bit of fun really Bri, love your posts, but I would be curious to know which 10 million striker I have dropped, unless you are including wages and mean Jozy
You haven't, you're playing him AM. I'm of the opinion that they're both strikers and can't play anywhere else. If you've noticed my posts over the years I have an obsession in regards to not playing players out of position, that and two for every position. Probably says more about my mental health than anything. I've done really well about Wickham at inside forward but I hate it mate. It's driving me crazy, that and our fullback situation. Don't know why but it really winds my up. In regards to our fullback situation over the last ten years, manager after manager has put me through living hell.
Something I'd be really interested to see which we don't have the personnel for... -------------GK --------CB--------CB WB----------------------WB -------------DM ---------CM------ CM ------------AM AM ---------------F Not just because it's christmas either. I just feel like it's a modern formation which would work well. United should be looking at the with the amount of Central players they've got. Or do we have the players for it... -----------------Vito --------Brown------- O'Shea Jones-------------------------PVA ----------------Catts ----------Rodwell Larsson ------------Alvarez Giack ---------------Fletcher
I base my selection on having Fletch play just behind Whicks soley on what I think their individual strengths are. Both are good players and are currently our best hope for goals. Robbie Savage made a statement last time he was on MOD saying that most goals are scored from in between the posts, or from central areas something to that effect anyway, so I would like to see both play in a more central position, Whicks has more physical presence than Fletch and would give central defenders something to worry about, Fletch is more of a goal scorer, but when he plays for Scotland he plays the deeper role brilliantly, bringing in other players with some great first time passing, this is not Whicks strong point as you will agree, also Fletch would be able to ghost into the box more with someone ahead of him a bit like John Wark used to do for Ipswich. I appreciate football is all about opinion and this is just mine it is as likely or not to work as much as anybody elses, that's the beauty of the game, and at the end of the day its all down to Gus and he is a football man no question. In Gus we trust, onwards and upwards.
Id prefer a technique player in an AM role myself like Giacc or Alvarez. Aye it's down to Gus, Can't see him playing an AM at all, maybe Alvarez at CM playing deep lying play maker role but I can't see him putting anyone up FLetch or Wickham's arse which I'd like to see myself. Aye, gus has his ways, that's why I never tinker with the shape. The Kids play his system with ease, hoping the seniors start clicking. They just don't have the movement or the willingness to want the ball or move the ball fast enough like the kids do.
I dont think anyone could possibly know and in a way that's a good thing. Most people will have Fletcher in but its based on the fact hes scored 4 goals but these came in 2 games. He's been poor other wise. Fully fit there's only a few players id say would be definitely in our strongest 11 as opinion changes week in week out on form. Two weeks ago most wouldn't have picked Bridcutt for the u21's Oshea Vergini Cattermole The other 8 slots are anyone's guess for me
I think we may see Giacca or Alvarez in AM positions very soon, and I look forward to it. Injuries and suspensions will play a part in us finding our feet in the second half of the season, but its a good situation to have as many options as we have up front.
