Team for next season...?

[maffff]

With the squad as of today

Goalkeeper - McCarthy (backups Federici, Taylor, Henly)
RIght fullback - Gunter (backups Kelly, Cummings)
Right Centre Back - Morrison (backup - Pearce, Gorkss, Hector)
Left Centre Back - Mariappa (backup - Pearce, Gorkss, Hector)
Left fullback - Bridge (backup - Kelly, Drenthe)
Right Central Midfielder - Karacan (backup - Carriço, McAnuff, Leigertwood)
Left Central Midfielder - Guthrie (backup - Akpan, McAnuff, Leigertwood)
Right Wing/Inside forward - Robson-Kanu (backup (Kebe, McCleary, Jobi)
Central Attacking Midfielder (only if playing 4-3-3/4-5-1) - Drenthe (backup Kebe, Jobi)
Left Wing/Inside forward - Drenthe (if 4-4-2) McCleary (4-3-3/4-5-1), (backup - Jobi, Blackman
Striker 1 Pogrebnyak (backup: Roberts, Le Fondre, Blackman Samuel)
Striker 2 (if playing 4-4-2) Le Fondre, Roberts, Blackman, Samuel)

So I end up with a stable back 5/7 of

----------------McCarthy
Gunter, Morrison, Mariappa, Bridge
----------Karacan----Guthrie---------

then attacking options as
4-3-3-/4-5-1

Robson-Kanu--Drenthe------McCleary
----------------Pogrebnyak

4-4-2
Robson-Kanu-------------------Drenthe
-------Pogrebnyak------Le Fondre




Subs bench:
Federici, Kelly, Pearce, (Carriço/Akpan), Kebe, Roberts, (McCleary/Le Fondre - depending on formation).

Although I expect we would see Jobi and Blackman involved over the season.

I think Pearce has to earn the shirt at the moment but would probably displace Morrison for a bit fairly early on.




I don't see many captain options playing so would probably have to go with Karacan or Mariappa for captain/vice captain.

[andrew1957]

Do people think we have a better squad now than at the start of last season in the PL. I for one do. It seems ironic that we will be starting on 3rd August with a bettor squad than we did last season at the higher level.

Goalkeepers McCarthy/Fed/Taylor - no changes here but McCarthy is now a lot more experienced and did well at PL level

Full backs - Kelly/Bridge/Gunter/Cummings>>>>>>>>Gunter/Cummings/Shorey/Harte

Centre backs - no change but Pearce/Mariappa and Morrison have all gained valuable experience at a higher level

Centre mid Legs/Karacan/Guthrie/Akpan/Caricco>>>>>>>>Legs/Karacan/Guthrie/Tabb/Gunnar

Wide midfield Kebe/HRK/McAnuff/McCleary/Drenthe>>>>>>>Kebe/HRK/McAnuff/McCleary

Attack Pog/ALF/Roberts/Blackman<<<<<<Pog/ALF/Roberts/Hunt/Church

Up front is the one area that needs to be improved a good deal. Hunt is a loss for me - at least at this level. We could do with one or two good strikers.

[Ian Royal]

................McCarthy
...Gunter, Pearce, Mariappa, Bridge
.............Guthrie, Akpan
Kebe...........Drenthe..........McAnuff
...............Pogrebnyak

Harsh on Morrison and Kelly, very harsh on Karacan and Leigertwood. Could just as easily challenge for the top six with:

......................Federici
..Cummings, Morrison, Gorkss, Kelly
McCleary, Leigertwood, Karacan, Robson-Kanu
...............Le Fondre, Roberts

Fook me this is a great squad right now.

[SCIAG]

McCarthy; Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Bridge; Guthrie, Karacan/Carrico; Kebe, McAnuff, Drenthe; Pogrebnyak
Subs: Taylor, Morrison, Gunter, Akpan/Karacan, HRK, McCleary, Le Fondre

Sold: Federici, Leigertwood, Cummings, Gorkss (all with regret- good servants who achieved a great deal for the club)
Others around the squad: Blackman, Samuel, Hector, Tanner, (Akpan)

[Royal Ginger]

--------------------Feds---------------------
Kelly---Pearce---Marriappa---Bridge

Kebe---Akpan---Guthrie---McAnuff

-------------Alfie---Pog-----------

McCarthy, Morrisson, Karacan, HRK, Roberts

McCarthy and Federici interchangeable. Never seen Drenthe play (surprised how many supposedly have) so can't comment on him, probably worth slipping in somewhere.

[MouldyRoyal]

Never seen Drenthe play (surprised how many supposedly have)

Because we watch football on the TV?

[Royal Ginger]

Never seen Drenthe play (surprised how many supposedly have)

Because we watch football on the TV?

He's only played a handful of games each season. Agreed a fair few would have seen some action with Everton, but i suspect a lot more people are just swept up with the circus.

[sputnik]

McCarthy; Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Bridge; Guthrie, Karacan/Carrico; Kebe, McAnuff, Drenthe; Pogrebnyak

Spot on. I'd probably go for Carrico if he plays to his ability.
Perhaps it would make sense to win promotion playing 4-5-1 so we're used to the formation when we're back in the top flight.

[paultheroyal]

Based on the exciting news of the double signing, just thought i'd see what team you would like to see out there.

For me its:

McCarthy

Kelly Pearce Mapps Bridge


Kebe Akpan Carrico Karacan Drenthe


LeFondre


Bench: Fedders, Pearce, Gunter, Guthrie, McAnuff, HRK, Pog


Theres a team that i think could very realistically win the championship! Exciting times!

You been drinking?

[Esteban]

AMc

Gunts
Pearce
Mapps
Bridge

Guthrie
Karacan

Drenthe
HRK
GMc

Poggers/new striker/Alf

*jizzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

Do you think there's enough goals in that team?

[P!ssed Off]

Never seen Drenthe play (surprised how many supposedly have)

Because we watch football on the TV?

He's only played a handful of games each season. Agreed a fair few would have seen some action with Everton, but i suspect a lot more people are just swept up with the circus.

He burst on to the scene at the 2007 Euro U21s, where the Netherlands won it.
Anyone that even vaguely follows the England U21s would have seen Drenthe play in the Semi-finals of this tournament when England lost in a very long penalty shootout.
Drenthe also won the 'Golden Player Award' (Tournament's Best Player).

Presumably you didn't watch this years Euro U21s either. Fair enough, but don't be a div and assume that nobody else watched it either.

[Royalcop]

Don't think Adkins is a 3-5-2 fan but if he wanted to experiment:

------------------------McCarthy-----------------------
----------Morrison----Pearce----Mariappa------------
Gunter----------------Karacan-----------------Bridge
--------------Guthrie------------Drenthe--------------
------------------Pogrebnyak--------------------------
---------------------------ALF--------------------------

The possibilities for the Bridge / Drenthe partnership are mouthwatering - I genuinely feel sorry for every single Championship right back.

[Millsy]

LOL at anyone thinking Kebe will be fit for most of next season (as usual)

League apps:

08/09 - 41
09/10 - 42
10/11 - 36
11/12 - 33

So 2012/13 was the first in which he wasn't fit for most of the season.

Twat

Not really.

42 --> 36 --> 33 --> occasional appearance.

Spot a pattern?

I adore Kebe but we just can't rely on him anymore sadly. Unless his latest injury os now 100% sorted. Even then I don't fancy him to go through a year then be fit and reliable in the PL.

Kebe now has to be seen as a backup at best and not left in any sensible equation.

[grey_squirrel]

LOL at anyone thinking Kebe will be fit for most of next season (as usual)

League apps:

08/09 - 41
09/10 - 42
10/11 - 36
11/12 - 33

So 2012/13 was the first in which he wasn't fit for most of the season.

Twat

Glad you're predictably still keeping the edge of your seat nice and warm. Bell.

The rock you recently crawled out from must be missing you.

[FridaysGhost]

If we're at home, we should be 4-4-2, away,we may be 4-5-1. I would love to know how our midfield stacks up, Carrico has great potential and injury-free may be like a new player. Akpan has shown touches, Guthrie has played at a higher level and done very well. McAnuff is versatile. I've always thought Karacan was a good player. With Drenthe on the left and McCleary on the right, we have a stunning ability to show wing-play and our midfield should be just as good playing through the middle. A truly stunning attacking signing might just gild the lily. AZ however, has already said that we may be looking at up to 5 others. It's a good time to be a Reading Fan.

[St. Brynjar]

Assuming no more ins and outs.

4-4-2

--------------------McCarthy-------------------

Kelly-------Morisson-----Mariappa-----Bridge

Kebe--------Carrico-------Guthrie-----Drenthe

------------Le Fondre----Pogrebnyak----------

Subs: Federici, Pearce, Gunter, Akpan, McAnuff, HRK, Roberts

Or 4-2-3-1

--------------------McCarthy-------------------

Kelly-------Morisson-----Mariappa-----Bridge

------------Carrico--------Guthrie-------------

Kebe--------------McAnuff------------Drenthe

-----------------------Pog-----------------------

Subs: Federici, Pearce, Gunter, Akpan, HRK, Le Fondre, Roberts

McCleary, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Taylor, Cummings, Karacan and Blackman, are all adept replacements if any of the above leave.

[URZZZZZ]

Any chance NA will give the captains armband to anyone else?

[winchester_royal]

AMc

Gunts
Pearce
Mapps
Bridge

Guthrie
Karacan

Drenthe
HRK
GMc

Poggers/new striker/Alf

*jizzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

Do you think there's enough goals in that team?

Yep, ta

[FridaysGhost]

As things stand now, there are some very weird teams being put out by fans. A fit Carrico, having now acclimatised, may be a real asset. Guthrie has already proved his worth in a good team. Every player bought over the last 14 months (not including juniors) have been bought to improve our team although, obviously, some needed a period to acclimatise. I think a future team will be decided by quality and not by length of service.

[Basildon]

I feel like we've got too many central midfield options, the likes of Ledge and Akpan are going to struggle to get into the team. Which is fair enough for Ledge as he had a real stinker last season, but Akpan played well in the games I saw him play.