With the strength of our squad at present should everybody be fit and available what would our strongest 11 look like. Seems whoever you choose your leaving some decent players out which can't be a bad thing and perhaps the team will change regularly to counteract the different opposition and tactics we face.
I don't think we have a best 11, I think we have a best 14 or 15, which adapts based on the opposition and availability. Which is what you want really, some added flexibility.
Seem to remember when discussing which of last seasons squad would be able to step up and hold their own in the Premier League I would like to think that we are all pleasantly surprised that a greater number of players have managed to do just that. Credit to all of them for proving the doubters wrong .
Harper doesn't punch enemy players in the head to give away silly penalties. Harper doesn't toss a wobbler and kick people to get himself sent off. Harper isn't a miserable sod. Harper isn't Scottish.
That applies to any squad. Look at Barcelona who left Neymar out for the Man City CL game. In most cases managers go with horses for courses. As an example, when we go to West Ham and Stoke City we need our tough tacklers and gritty players to start. Neither is a place for softies.
You were not at Southampton in November then or do you have a short memory. ? McGregor is the better keeper just......
Who is in our strongest 11 ? Andy Dawson's small physique disguised his strength. He was one of the strongest back then, but of course not in the squad now. I reckon Sagbo would be in there for sure. Footballing wise, Harper is a great back up, but surely not ahead of McGregor (even though he is Scottish). And Fig has to be LB (in spite of recent odd dip).
Well, we're talking fully fit so I'd have Dudgeon first. Arguably a better defender and undeniably better winging it down the left.
These days I am not sure whether there is such a thing. At the moment I think the current best team is the on that played Cardiff, apart from Chezzy in for Bruce. But with Brady, McShane and Aluko to come in, then it is arguable which would be the best balanced team, which is not necessarily made up of all the best players.
Hope so. We look a far more comfortable side when he plays, as we play out from the back a lot better.
4-2-2-2 -------------Greegsy-------------- -Rosie--Chester--Davies--Dudgeon- -------Livermore--Huddlestone------ --Aluko----------------------Brady- ----------Long-----Jela------------ OR 3-5-2 --------------Greegsy-------------- ------Chester--Davies--Macca-------- --Elmo-Livermore--Huddlestone--Brady- ---------------Aluko------------------ ----------Long-----Jela------------