Predicting Starting XI

[marty mcfly]

Would be high pressing and really difficult for the opposition to pass it's way through. Don't think too many teams wouldn't be out-energied/overpowered by that midfield.

It does make a lot of sense. It sort of allows McCarthy and Cleverly to do the dog work while giving a certain amount of freedom to Barkley and Deulofeu.

I just think McCarthy and Cleverly will find they have too much space to cover. It's something similar to what I would play (in preseason) except I would use two defensively minded speedy wingers who are more used to doing that job.

I think we can both also see why Martinez wouldn't play either and can't really blame him.

 

[Bungle]

You could equate anything that gets someone excited to porn. It doesn't mean it's true. There's a real issue with people not wanting fans to speculate on this forum.

**** Must not lose control ****

It's funny.

I think you take this all a little bit to serious if I'm honest mate. Speculate away, maybe include some random South American teenagers that we might sign in a few years whilst you're at it, use the scout system on Fifa to see which ones are brilliant at age 14 and bring them on over.

 

[marty mcfly]

I think you take this all a little bit to serious if I'm honest mate. Speculate away, maybe include some random South American teenagers that we might sign in a few years whilst you're at it, use the scout system on Fifa to see which ones are brilliant at age 14 and bring them on over.

Excellent - Maybe we can start two threads.

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

It does make a lot of sense. It sort of allows McCarthy and Cleverly to do the dog work while giving a certain amount of freedom to Barkley and Deulofeu.

I just think McCarthy and Cleverly will find they have too much space to cover. It's something similar to what I would play (in preseason) except I would use two defensively minded speedy wingers who are more used to doing that job.

I think we can both also see why Martinez wouldn't play either.

It would simply mean Bobby using McCarthy and Cleverley as proper box to box midfielders. It also means Barkely has a slightly deeper, central role which we all think is the future.

Del would always have options to pass to. It would require a bit more shooting practice from McCarthy but it's essentially Cleveley's best role and we'd be getting bodies forward quick enough so that Rom doesn't get isolated.

 

[Furey1878]

Howard
Coleman Stones Jags Baines
McCarthy Barry
Deulofeu Barkley Cleverly
Lukaku​

• With occasional cameos from Besic, just so he can be subbed and we all boo.
• McGeady in for Deulofeu and vice versa everywhere 3 games.
• Barry to be given a 7 year extension on his contract and made captain.
• Osman in for Cleverly to save our season around spring time.

 

[marty mcfly]

Howard
Coleman Stones Jags Baines
McCarthy Barry
Deulofeu Barkley Cleverly
Lukaku​

• With occasional cameos from Besic, just so he can be subbed and we all boo.
• McGeady in for Deulofeu and vice versa everywhere 3 games.
• Barry to be given a 7 year extension on his contract and made captain.
• Osman in for Cleverly to save our season around spring time.

Where's that image that says "Don't know if you're serious?"

 

[Bungle]

Where's that image that says "Don't know if you're serious?"

 

[LocalNative]

How about we don't start Cleverly? That's a start.

 

[EFCPaul]

This is what I think we'll line up as on the first day of the season.

---------------- Howard ------------------

Coleman -- Stones -- Jagielka -- Baines

McGeady -- McCarthy -- Besic -- Deulofeu

----------------- Barkley ------------------

----------------- Lukaku -------------------


Joel
Dann
Oviedo
Cleverley
Kone
Lennon
(someone else)

(Sadly I think Mirallas will go)

 

[marty mcfly]

I like the Different Strokes one more.

 

[18efc78]

..............................Joel

.............Stones.....Dann.........Jags

Coleman............Mccarthy...........baines

..........Deulofeu...barkley.. Cleverley

.............................lukaku

 

[marty mcfly]

..............................Joel

.............Stones.....Dann.........Jags

Coleman............Mccarthy...........baines

..........Deulofeu...barkley.. Cleverley

.............................lukaku

Damn that makes a lot of sense but Jags is awful in a 3 man defense. Even worse if he's stuck out on the left. Jags in the middle and Ogbonna on the left makes a lot of sense.

 

[flibbyflob]

How about we don't start Cleverly? That's a start.

Well we didn't last season and it was a disaster. Took us ages to get going.

 

[blue_aussie05]

So how many signings do you think we'll get over the summer?

I think we need a lot more than we'll get, but I'd suspect we'll have perhaps 4 or 5 in total, including Cleverley. Some of these will be after the season starts (eg on the last day of the window), so we may sart the season with only a few additions to last season's squad. Given we've lost Distin, Alcaraz, Lennon and Atsu, that's still a paper thin squad. The loss of European football means we might get away with that, but it shouldn't deflect from our squad being very small and in need of numbers.

I've said for years we need at least 8 additions to put us in a stronger position to challenge, and cope with extra games. Instead we get 4-5 most summer's, which to me still leaves us lightweight.

 

[Gerbs]

Optimistic starting lineup

---------------Howard----------------------
Coleman--Stones----Jags------Baines----
-----------McCarthy---Barkley------------
Mirallas---------Kagawa-----------Deulofeu
----------------Lukaku-----------------------


Realistic Starting Lineup

---------------Howard----------------------
Coleman--Stones----Jags------Baines----
-----------McCarthy---Cleverly------------
Lennon---------Barkley-----------Deulofeu
----------------Lukaku-----------------------