Sunderland (A) - Who do you WANT to start?

[pea]

Mariappa (yes he started his career at right back)

And got moved and never played there again for a reason

[RFCSPACE]

Federici
Mariappa -Morrison
Cummings - Shorey
Tabb
Guthrie
McAnuff
Pog
HRK
Roberts

I'd like to think of it as a 2-2-1-1-1-1-1-1, kind of like a ladder with rungs, which will completely solve our issues with passing accuracy. A long ball of any length within the bounds of Roberts and Tabb will be picked up by us and can be recycled to the individual(s) in the adjacent rung towards our goal, ready to be pumped forward again. Once the ball has reached Roberts, he must shoot immediately. It's kind of a two steps forward, one step back approach. Kind of like how we play now but with a bit more goal threat centrally.

why not go the whole hog and play 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1?

You are a madman.

[TommyF]

Who do I want to start:
Casillas
Alves - Gorks - Silva - Mercelo
Robben - Xavi - Iniesta - Bale
Messi
Ronaldo

Who do I think should start:

Well, for certain 4-5-1 - we are being bypassed in midfield completely. We have 2 strikers and very little service, and a shaky defence with no protection through the middle. Shore up that midfield, and give the back 4 a bit of breathing space and we might not conceed 18 shots on goal.

So for me:
--------------------Federici---------------------
Cummings--Mariappa----Pearce---Shorey
(as no Morrison)

--------------Tabb--------Guthrie-------------
McCleary-----------McAnuff--------------HRK

----------------------ALF-----------------------

I've picked ALF for his running over Pog who just becomes a big lump to kick it in his general direction.

Oh yeah, and this is Sunderland. Get at them. We need to score because, by heck, we're going to conceed!

There is a reason I dont even play CM though.......

(edit). I did think the opposition for a few games were playing 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 then realised they were just queueing to take shots.

[murof]

Mariappa (yes he started his career at right back)

And got moved and never played there again for a reason

When did you see him play right back? most of his watford appearences where at centre back
I'd still give it a go, we can't do any worse than we're doing already, and besides, he had 19 premier league appearances under his belt before he joined us, so after Jason Roberts and Ian Harte, he is probably our third biggest premier league reject

[The Prisoner]

Federici
Cummings* - Pearce - Mariappa - Shorey
Robson-Kanu* - Guthrie - Tabb* - McAnuff*
Roberts*
ALF

Subs - whoever is fit

4-4-1-1

* I don't want to pick these players, but have little choice.

^ That team inspires me with no confidence whatsoever. We are probably 5 or 6 players away from being competitive. Possibly even play Guthrie behind ALF and bring in.....errrr.....a central midfielder.

God I am depressed now.

[Great Knolly]

....................Federici
...Cummings.Mariappa.Pearce.Shorey
.................Tabb.....Legitwood
HRK.................Guthrie...........McAnuff
........................ALF

Kebe for HRK if he's fit

[Unknown]

....................Federici
...Mariappa.Morrisson (if fit).Pearce.Shorey
.................Tabb.....Liegertwood
Mccleary.................Guthrie...........HRK
........................Pog ( if fit) [Roberts]

[Spud Gun]

I want this team to start:

-----------------------Federici

Cummings -- Morrison -- Mariappa -- Shorey

------------------- Tabb -- Guthrie

McCleary --------- Robson-Kanu ------ Kebe

--------------------- Le Fondre


But I'm fully expecting Jobi Crap-enough, Ledge, Roberts and Pearce to be in the team

[RFCSPACE]

I want this team to start:

-----------------------Federici

Cummings -- Morrison -- Mariappa -- Shorey

------------------- Tabb -- Guthrie

McCleary --------- Robson-Kanu ------ Kebe

--------------------- Le Fondre


But I'm fully expecting Jobi Crap-enough, Ledge, Roberts and Pearce to be in the team

?

[andrew1957]

With so many injuries (Gunter, Morrison, Karacan, Kebe and Pog) we don't have much choice. I would bring in Guthrie and revert to 4-5-1 first half with the option of moving to 4-4-2 if things don't go well. Drop Jobi as he is really off form.

Fed
Cummings
Pearce
Mariappa
Shorey
McCleary
Legs
Tabb
Guthrie
HRK
Roberts

Subs
Taylor
Jobi
Harte
Gorkks
Hunt
ALF
Samuel (as the only other fit first team player is Gunnar)

Just thinking that that is hardly a team or a bench that will have many PL teams quaking in their boots.

[InDaClub]

Shambles if Ledge plays!
Complete liability to the club and I don't think I can stand watching him whack the ball 80ft in the air again.

[regis-royal]

You lot obviously ain't been Reading fans for too long.Give the guys a break.You only sing when were winning,springs to mind.

[TommyF]

You lot obviously ain't been Reading fans for too long.Give the guys a break.You only sing when were winning,springs to mind.

I'm a typical Reading fan actually. I don't really sing much when we're winning either

[Broxroyal]

Given that somebody's got to play:


Taylor

Cummings - Pearce - Mariappa - Shorey

---------Guthrie-------Tabb

McCleary--------McAnuff---------HRK

----------------ALF------------------


Andersen
Gunnar
Harte
Obita
Hunt
Roberts
Samuel


McCleary, McAnuff and HRK to interchange frequently.

[Simon's Church]

Federici
Gunter Mariappa Gorkss Harte
HRK Ledge Tabb McAnuff
ALF Hunt

Lose and McDermott gets sacked, everyone's a winner. Except the team obviously.

[_royal]

4-5-1
Feds
Cummings
Pearce
Morro (If not Mariappa)
Shorey
McCleary
Guthrie
Ledge
Tabb
McAnuff
Pog

[Ian Royal]

Some of the crazy drivel with stupid formations and the players wildly out of position in roles they are totally unsuited to on these sorts of threads are hilarious.

I struggle to see how HRK is "wildly unsuited" to strike.

Although if its a general comment about the whole thread then fair do's.

More a general comment. I have a little sympathy with that idea. Although not a lot.

[CayeneMatt]

Given that somebody's got to play:


Taylor

Cummings - Pearce - Mariappa - Shorey

---------Guthrie-------Tabb

McCleary--------McAnuff---------HRK

----------------ALF------------------


Andersen
Gunnar
Harte
Obita
Hunt
Roberts
Samuel


McCleary, McAnuff and HRK to interchange frequently.

Guthrie as a DM in a 5 man midfield?

[TommyF]

Guthrie as a DM in a 5 man midfield?

not solely, helping out back taking the ball off defence and starting the attack from nearer the back without it just being booted straight upfield on the off chance one of our strikers will get there before any of their midfield or defenders!

[jellytot]

We do not have anyone worth picking.