Gonna contribute to my own thread here!
I think the most important thing now is getting the most balanced team we can field nailed down for the next glut of home games (no more trying to 'shoehorn') and that means adding a bit more offensive impetus. For that, and also taking individual form into account, I think we need to look at this kind of team/system going forward, starting with this vs. Sunderland in the league cup:
The line-up:
Pickford
Holgate - Keane - Jags - Baines
Davies - Gana/Morgan
Lennon - Sigurdsson/Rooney - Lookman
DCL/Sandro
The players:
Pickford - No brainer, play our no. 1 keeper as much as possible.
Holgate - Not as offensively minded as Martina but a better defender. Also needs game time for his confidence to grow. With Lennon in front of him it will also take some of the pressure off of him not being relied on to bomb forward all the time.
Keane - No brainer, automatic starter at centre half but needs to regain some lost confidence.
Jags - Better than Williams currently and will work harder for the team in general, so he's my pick.
Baines - No better choice at LB really, which we all know. Needs lots of movement in front of him on the left and I think Lookman will help.
Davies - Feel he needs to be part of a pair with either Gana
or Morgan and play as the more advanced CM. We need to encourage him to kick on and I think giving him regular game time in this position is important for his continued development.
Gana/Morgan - Gana has been more productive and in better form than Morgan so I'd be inclined to go with him but Morgan's qualities both on and off the ball can't be overlooked when he's 'on it' like he was vs Hajduk Split at Goodison. Either are solid picks on their day though obviously, I'm just not convinced that playing them at the same time at home against teams set up to defend is the way to go.
Lennon - Yes, Aaron Lennon. Figure a lot of people will disagree here but I think he needs to be handed a start wide right. The guy works hard and has a bit more end product about him than most. Lookman on the opposite side performing a similar job is important.
Lookman - Needs game time desperately and, like Lennon, will provide a bit more creativity/pace from a wide position. Needs to work together with Baines effectively.
Sig/Rooney - Hard to choose as I really want to see Sig in a proper 'no 10' role but Rooney has been in better form. Think either will do, both are arguably the most 'clever' offensive players with the ball in the squad.
DCL/Sandro - Again difficult as DCL has been in better form but Sandro needs the game time to acclimatise more (and a goal for his confidence obviously). I think whoever starts should look to be replaced after around 70 mins either way to freshen up there later on.
Other players: I like
Mo Besic and think he needs to be part of the match day squad regularly and he's flexible in that he can slot in both at DM & centre half if needs be.
Klaassen is struggling at the moment and arguably needs game time as much as the other players but I think we just need to temper expectations a little bit for now and I reckon he should possibly be tried in a free role behind the striker wherever possible.
Kenny should be also eased in at RB wherever possible until Coleman is back, and even beyond that to be fair.
Vlasic should be part of the squad ahead of Mirallas at this point and also needs to be introduced slowly, but sparingly, into the front wide positions so he can get a feel for English football as he does look a talented lad who deserves a chance.
Niasse is a weird one, I'd rather we persist with DCL & Sandro but I suppose another striker option isn't a bad thing and I also think he'd get his head down if offered the opportunity.
The system:
Has to be 4-2-3-1 for me with the front four & Davies getting up the pitch as much as possible when we're on the ball. Lots of productivity required from Davies & Gana to control the middle of the pitch and
use the wide men as much as possible! Sig/Rooney have the class to link up the play and create opportunities themselves and DCL/Sandro need to make their presence felt amongst their defenders, which includes regular pressing from the very front. If Koeman demands 'productivity' and 'aggression' then let's bloody see it for a full 90! We need the senior players like Jags & Rooney to display some real leadership as well (which to be fair Rooney has done ok with, just a little more general aggression and 'fire' would be good).
