Starting line-up?

[DarlinginJapan]

So, a few games into pre-season we're looking good. Only a few weeks til the real thing kicks off. If we were to stick with the players we have now and presuming everyone was fit what would be your first choice starting 11?

I'll go with:

Robinson
Stalteri
King
Dawson
Assou-Ekotto

Lennon
Carrick
Zokora
Tainio

Defoe
Berbatov

There are the two obvious positions to be improved but for the moment, that's my starting team.

Let the argument begin!

[Welsh Spur]

I can't pick one. It's just too hard. I want to play Keane, Defoe AND Berbatov, but I can't do it and have a four man midfield. I don't know who to put on the left, and if we don't sign a right back I'd like to see Lee there, not Stalteri.

I also want to see Huddlestone and Davenport playing more this season, and I think Ghaly can be good for us.

[shoot_ffs]

robbo
salty daws king lee
lennon jenas hudds tainio
defoe berby

bring on the hudds

[Houdini logic]

Robinson
Lee Daws King Eskotto
Zakora
Lennon Jenas
Keano
Berbatov Defoe

Subs:
Fulop
Hudds
Tainio/Barney
Davenport
Ghaly/Stalteri

I think carrick will go, so I'd try something like this, maybe not Bolton away, but for our first home game!
Maybe switch Lennon and Jenas over if more comfortable!

[suBerb]

I'm pretty sure that we'll buy a RB and a LW or LM, so

-----------Robinson

? -----King----Daws---Ekotto

-------------Zokora

Lennon------Jenas-------?


-----Defoe/Keano----Berby

[DarlinginJapan]

I'm pretty sure that we'll buy a RB and a LW or LM, so



But what if we don't??????

And who would you go for now.... Keane or Defoe?

[DarlinginJapan]

Has anyone seen Lee play at Right Back? It might be good, but I'd like to hear that it wouldn't be his first time ever!!!!


Wow!!!!!! And now this is my 100th post. Hoorah!

[Houdini logic]

He plays right back for Korea

[suBerb]

-----------Robinson


Lee-----King----Daws---Ekotto


---------------Huddle/Davids
-------Zokora


--------------Jenas

Lennon
-------------------Keano

-----------Berby

[Welsh Spur]

Lee played at right back for South Korea during the WC.

Sorry Houdini didn't see your post there....

[DarlinginJapan]

He plays right back for Korea

Then I'm sold! Let's give the wee fella a go!

[Thfc4Life]

If we sell Carrick, dont sign any more players and keep 4-4-2 :

Gk: Robinson
Lb: Assou-Ekotto
Cb: King
Cb: Dawson
Rb: Lee
Lm: Ziegler
Cm: Zokora
Cm: Huddlestone
Rm: Lennon
St: Berbatov
St: Defoe

Subs:

Gk: Cerny
D: Gardner
M: Jenas
M: Routledge
St: Keane

This would enable us to attack down both flanks with plenty of natural width, providing lots of service for Berbatov and Defoe, while retaining steel and solidity in the centre of the park.

[spurs61]

Then I'm sold! Let's give the wee fella a go!

I'd rather sell Lee and let him go!

[Welsh Spur]

I'd rather see Davenport have a more involved role; if it came down to it I'd rather see Gardner leave than Davenport.

[spurs61]

Thfc4Life, nice line up but I'd swap Hudds for JJ and push him forward and let Zokora sit slightly deeper a la Carrick. That way we have the same structure we had last seasoin but with a left side to boot.

[Thfc4Life]

Thfc4Life, nice line up but I'd swap Hudds for JJ and push him forward and let Zokora sit slightly deeper a la Carrick. That way we have the same structure we had last seasoin but with a left side to boot.

Yeh i was thinking the itsact same thing but i desperately want huddlestone to play and feel we would play much better football with him playing instead of Jenas, although i do concede that Jenas offers more goals and a higher work rate.

[Welsh Spur]

Exact....? :p

[Danishspurs]

Robbo

Lee, Daws, King, Ekotto

Carrick, Hudds

Lennon, Keano, Defoe

Berba

[spurs61]

Exact....? :p

Lol, owned, you've been corrected by a Weshman! ;)

[choda]

Its hard to know about the midfield right now, with probably another signing still to go ahead. I think I'd go with the Hudd in Carrick's position and Zokora playing box to box, he's apparently very strong with a great work rate and can get forward well. By all accounts he's a different class to Jenas.

I don't know how anyone could drop Keane... especially after last season.

I'd give Lee a go at right back (where he's not cutting in all the time), I think he could be quality if he settles in the prem. I think he'd have a lot of ability and running power if he got going. Having said that I'd like to add another full back to the squad, either to the team or as cover.

[choda]

Robbo

Lee, Daws, King, Ekotto

Carrick, Hudds

Lennon, Keano, Defoe

Berba

Worth a shout. If Defoe works on the left that could be magic. I'd push Keane a little closer though, exactly where he played last season, and I'd push the wide players just a little deeper, but still very attacking. If they got the balance right with that system it could work fantastic. You'd just have to be careful not to be too Keeganish.

[Welsh Spur]

I can't understand why so many ppl are leaving Zokora out of their line-ups!!! I've seen him for St.Etienne and C d'IV and he's amazing!!!!

[choda]

Robbo

Lee, Daws, King, Ekotto

Carrick, Hudds

Lennon, Keano, Defoe

Berba

Oh yea. I missed the fact that you had Carrick in there instead of Zokora. I agree with Welshspur, Zokora must play for me. And Carrick and Hudds are too similar, in my opinion, to play together, you need some dynamism in there, a box to box guy. Besides Carrick is off, almost certainly.

[spurs61]

I can't understand why so many ppl are leaving Zokora out of their line-ups!!! I've seen him for St.Etienne and C d'IV and he's amazing!!!!

Agreed. He's just soooo dynamic. As far as I'm concerned he will be the foundation of our midfield with one of Carrick, Jenas, Davids, Taino, Hudds and Ghaly all fighting for one position. Actaully, I seriously think we should be selling at least one of that list, we can't keep them all happy and I'm sure their respective wages aren't exactly tuppence hapenny.

[suBerb]

Are you sure that all this excitement about Huddlestone is not a little bit premature??? Well, he's very talented , but Zokora is an established player...

[spurs61]

Are you sure that all this excitement about Huddlestone is not a little bit premature??? Well, he's very talented , but Zokora is an established player...

Yes, but he can only improve with games. I have already said that Zokora would be my number 1.

[suBerb]

Yes, but he can only improve with games. I have already said that Zokora would be my number 1.

that's my position too

[DarlinginJapan]

one of Carrick, Jenas, Davids, Taino, Hudds and Ghaly all fighting for one position. Actaully, I seriously think we should be selling at least one of that list, we can't keep them all happy and I'm sure their respective wages aren't exactly tuppence hapenny.

Agreed! We seem to be a bit overloaded in the centre of midfield... hold on I've had an idea.... why don't we sell that Carrick fella! (and Murphy!)

[Keanoldinho]

Agreed! We seem to be a bit overloaded in the centre of midfield... hold on I've had an idea.... why don't we sell that Carrick fella! (and Murphy!)


That's a great idea maybe we could even sell him for 17 or 18 mil and make a feckn fortune:D

[Houdini logic]

Murphy should be playing for Watford or someone, help them out, he's not needed!

Or offload him to Bishop Stortford

[derek zoolander]

Robinson
lee dawson king ekotto


jenas zokora huddlestone

lennon defoe

berbatov

this that gives us enough flexibility as lennon and defoe can tuck in to create a 3 man strikeforce and also has huddlestone doing the defensive work which allows jenas and zokora to get forward but also has zokora to achor the midfield if we need to hold on to a lead, something we didnt do enough of last season...too many bloody last minute goals!

[Keanoldinho]

-----------Robbo

----Salty King Dawson Ekotto

--------Zokora Davids/Hudd

------------Jenas/Tainio

--Lennon/Rout---------------Keano/Reid

-------------Berbatov/Defoe

**** carrick who needs him, and that line up is without even signing anybody else and it's still quality.

[highlander]

good use of the attacking diamond there

[Keanoldinho]

good use of the attacking diamond there

that formation is the one all the successful teams used at the WC Italy and France included, because it's so versitile it can turn into 451 on defense and 433 or 424 on attack