If we were playing Bolton today

[Keanoldinho]

What would your 16 man squad be including your formation remember King, Salty, and Reid(as always) are injured and explain how your formation would work. Here's mine

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

-------Lee Davenport Dawson Ekotto

---------------Zokora Davids(c)

------------------Murphy

-----Lennon-------------------Defoe

-----------------Berbatov

subs: Cerny-Gardner-Jenas-Routledge-Keano

Ok let me just start by saying feckn quality. The reason I got Murphy starting is because of his passing ability which is world class and with Davids and Zokora breaking everyones legs behind him he could focus on threading balls through to Lennon, Defoe, and Berbatov and our overlaping fullbacks Lee and Ekotto, plus he's a set piece master something we sorely needed last season because Carrprick was shite.

Now Defoe on the left is not what it seems simply because Ekotto would be overlaping him in attacking situations with Davids covering him and Zokora still holding everything at the back together allowing Defoe to move inside and create havoc in and around the box.

The rest of the formation is pretty easy to figure out with everyone in there natural positions and look at all the attacking options on our bench it's feckn quality all the way through. The only reason I got Defoe starting instead off Keano is because Keano is just coming back from that neck injury and isn't as sharp as Defoe at the minute. We still got Ghaly, Tainio(potentially the new sicknote), and Hudd.

The best thing about that line up is it's fecking quality and we'll be adding a couple more quality players to the squad before the start off the season. appy dayz COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



















































I'M PISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SCIFIN17YID]

That is a damn good formation, P.S carrick was not shit lol, he played a very important keyplayer in out team last season, but looking at your formation there its very good, P.S i wouldnt keep defoe at the back, want him up front. PS where is LEE ?

[Keanoldinho]

That is a damn good formation, P.S carrick was not shit lol, he played a very important keyplayer in out team last season, but looking at your formation there its very good, P.S i wouldnt keep defoe at the back, want him up front. PS where is LEE ?


I meant Carrprick was shite at set pieces, but Murphy is a master of free kicks and corners. Defoe wouldn't be at the back he'd have to track back a little but Davids and Ekotto would be our main defensive players on the left wing, Defoe would just be an outlet on the left for a quick break mostly cutting inside running at defenders and getting into the box with Berbatov while Ekotto gets to the byline and crosses the ball. Lee is right footed and more than capable of playing RB him and Lennon would destroy the right wing, fullbacks would be ****ed from the word go because their both so fecking quick and skillful.

[gbspur72]

Like this formation but would replace Murphy with Jenas.

[Danishspurs]

JJ is injuried right now, but would change the midfield a bit... Would play:

Zokora, Hudds

Davids

Davids in the offensive position instead of Murphy, because he likes to go forward and he's got more pace then Murphy who's ****ing slow..

[Keanoldinho]

Davids aint a offensive midfielder and the reason Murphy is in there is his passing ability which is better than Carrick. Jenas could probably play that role to but Murphy is also a set piece specialist.

[Danishspurs]

I don't rate Murphy and never understand why we bought him in the first place..

[shoot_ffs]

i'm sure murphy won't start the season with us. today will be a good guide, if he gets a game it'll be to see how he copes, as he's already had a good look at ghaly and hudds. if not then he already is last choice midfielder. also for the right back slot, what about hargreaves, i thought he did ok there. half expect him to line up besides carrick at manyoo tho.

--------robbo
lee daws davs ekotto
--------hudds
lennon tainio zokora defoe
---------berby

the other good news about bolton is they already have their full backs out for the game :0)

[mjbmedia]

Keanoldhino you should be pissed more of the time

[choda]

Nice debate. Personally, I think it's all about the balance. If you're going to play Zokora and Davids then I wouldn't play Jenas aswell, I'd prefer the guile that Murphy's got.

Murphy's not shit. I don't know where that comes from, he's a good player who sees a pass. He's never got a go for us (and I'm not saying I'd changed the team last year), he was fantastic for Charlton. Give him a break, I could see him doing some great games for us this year if we play three in the centre. He's never actually played in his position (the centre) for us either.

Another shout for the playmaker role would be Fat Arse. As I've stated before, he's had some absolute stormers for Ireland as a playmaker, he's got great vision and passing ability. He's wasted and pretty useless out on the left because he's too far away from the game to create by seeing and playing passes and he can't create good wide positions because he's got no pace.

[derek zoolander]

For me it would have to be this.....


.............................................Robbo ...........................................

Lee....................davenport.................. ..Dawson..................Ekotto

........................Huddlestone............... ...Zokora.............................

Lennon....................................Keane... ................................Defoe

............................................Berbat ov........................................

Subs:
Cerny
Gardner
Davids
Barnard....(maybe dixon or pekhart on the bench for that unknown tactic)
Tainio


its a 4-2-3-1 formation but with defoe and lennon doing some defensive duties aswell. keane likes to drop deep and seek the ball anyway so a sort of sheringham role for him would be ideal.

you have huddlestone and zokora sitting in front of the back 4 and breaking up play and playing simply to the 3 in front to create chances, when the ball is in the opponents half then zokora could press forward a bit more just to add another option

[nuttyhotspurs]

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

Lee--------------Dawson----------------Davenport--------------Ekotto

Lennon------------Jenas-------------------Zakora----------------Keane

--------------------Defoe------------------Berbatov--------------------

[xXx Jo xXx]

i think jenas should play as e was not used at the world cup and is prob eager to play

[Keanoldinho]

After todays performance Tainio might of just bumped Murphy for the central playmaker role. I really hope he can stay injury free this season and not pull a sicknote again.

[Gold7]

-------------------robbo----------------------

lee-------davenport------daws------benoit

--------------------------zokora--------------
----------------jenas--------------------------

lennon----------------------------------tainio

-----------berby-----------defo---------------


plenty of legs in this team
bring on keano at some stage
imagine bolton get a corner and we break from it our front five would make minced meat out of them

[poddell]

Firstly i would say we need two more signings a right back and a left midfielder.

If i had to pick the team for bolton based on the squad available, i would go with this:

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

Ifil-------------------Dawson---------------Davenport--------Assou-Ekotto

Lennon-------------Zokora-------------------Jenas------------------Tainio

-----------------------Keane---------------Berbatov---------------------

BENCH:

Defoe
Huddlestone
Davids
Gardner
Cerny

I think we play best in a four four two formation plus a lot of teams in the prem now play 5 in midfield and if we played our 3 strikers we could get overpowered in the middle of the park.

This team has plenty of pace and legs. Also the strength in depth is very good.

If Keane doesn't start the season as well as he finished the last then i would be quick to give Defoe a chance as he is hungry after missing out on the world cup.