Best team selection and formation now ?

[Augem]

Bearing in mind the recent arrivals and form of existing players any thoughts on team selection positions and formations now ?

[maffff]

I'm struggling.

The definite starters for me would be:

Ali, Gunter, McShane, Moore, Obita, GMac

Either/Or:
CM: - Kelly (or Swift)
DM or CB - Evans (or Ilori, Oxford or vdB)
CM Williams or Mutch
FW Grabban or Kermorgant

That's 10 players already in. The final position would probably be Beerens

GIving us a team of:

Ali, Gunter, Moore, McShane, Obita, Evans, Kelly, Williams, GMac, Beerens, Grabban

- In a 4/3/3 with Evans (or vdB as Jaap seems to prefer him) dropping between the CB's, to make it a 5/2/3
- However, we might want to drop Evans for one of the CB's in Oxford or Ilori (or Blackett).
- Alternatively we could go 5/3/2, drop Beerens or GMac for a CB, with one playing off the striker.
- Or drop both Beerens and GMac for 5 CB's, Grabban and Kermorgant together.
- Or go 4/4/2 (as a last option) with Ali, Gunter, Moore, McShane, Obita, GMac, (Whatever the most cohesive centre 2 would be of Williams, Mutch, Evans, Kelly Swift), GMac, Beerens, Grabban and Kermorgant.

and that doesn't even start to address the fact I want to see more of Meite play.

In short. No idea. I can't do this.

[Top Flight]

I think it's obvious what our strongest team is now in light of recent acquisitions. It is the following:

GK: Al Habsi
RB: Gunter (Best RB in the league, no dispute)
LB: Obita
CB: Moore
CB: McShane
CDM: Evans
CM: Williams
CM: Swift
CM: Kelly
CF: Grabban
CF: Kermorgant

[Top Flight]

Huddersfield looked fantastic last night. Tore Brighton to pieces. I'm worried about our trip to Leeds Road now. I can see us getting anulled.

[NewCorkSeth]

Huddersfield looked fantastic last night. Tore Brighton to pieces. I'm worried about our trip to Leeds Road now. I can see us getting anulled.

Agreed. Gunter is really going to struggle.

[maffff]

I think it's obvious what our strongest team is now in light of recent acquisitions. It is the following:

GK: Al Habsi
RB: Gunter (Best RB in the league, no dispute)
LB: Obita
CB: Moore
CB: McShane
CDM: Evans
CM: Williams
CM: Swift
CM: Kelly
CF: Grabban
CF: Kermorgant

No GMac?

[George_]

I think it's obvious what our strongest team is now in light of recent acquisitions. It is the following:

GK: Al Habsi
RB: Gunter (Best RB in the league, no dispute)
LB: Obita
CB: Moore
CB: McShane
CDM: Evans
CM: Williams
CM: Swift
CM: Kelly
CF: Grabban
CF: Kermorgant

[LoyalRoyal22]

3-4-1-2

GK- Al Habsi

CB- Ilori
CB- McShane
CB- Moore

RWB- Gunter
LWB- Obita
CM- Williams
CM- Kelly
AM- Swift

CF- McCleary
CF- Grabban

Subs- Jaakola, Oxford, Van der berg, Evans, Mutch, Beerens, Kermogant


I would rotate Kermogant with the front two, depending on home or away. Mutch can be a good alternative to Swift.

[NewCorkSeth]

I opted for the original 4-5-1. Obviously its not too far away from a 5-2-3. I struggle to imagine how we can fit Kermorgant and Grabban into the same starting eleven without sacrificing McCleary which, to me, would be madness considering how good he has been.

Anyway this is my preferred starting eleven followed by the other options in each position. Isnt it wonderful to have selection headaches?

--------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---McShane--Moore----Obita
---------------------Evans-------------------
-------------Swift-----------Kelly-------------
McCleary--------------------------Beerens
--------------------Kermie------------------

or.

---------------------Jaakola----------------------
Watson------Ilori-----Oxford-----Blackett
----------------------JVDB------------------------
------------Williams----Mutch----------------
Popa-----------------------------------Harriott
--------------------Grabban---------------------

[Hound]

with not remembering anything about Popa, one match of Reece, very little I can remember of Mutch and not Grabban for a couple of years, not really sure

I'd agree personally would start with the following and build from there:

Ali, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Moore, Kelly, McCleary.

[NewCorkSeth]

with not remembering anything about Popa, one match of Reece, very little I can remember of Mutch and not Grabban for a couple of years, not really sure

I'd agree personally would start with the following and build from there:

Ali, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Moore, Kelly, McCleary.

Interestingly you are the second person not to list Swift as a definite starter. According to Transfer Market Swift has scored 7 goals and assisted 5 which make McCleary the only player involved in more goals then him in the team.
Is there something I'm missing?

[CountryRoyal]

with not remembering anything about Popa, one match of Reece, very little I can remember of Mutch and not Grabban for a couple of years, not really sure

I'd agree personally would start with the following and build from there:

Ali, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Moore, Kelly, McCleary.

Interestingly you are the second person not to list Swift as a definite starter. According to Transfer Market Swift has scored 7 goals and assisted 5 which make McCleary the only player involved in more goals then him in the team.
Is there something I'm missing?

It's a strange one. His overall performances since returning from injury have been by and large poor, especially of late, yet he has still chipped in with match defining contributions. The very definition of mercurial.

He wasted two good opportunities at Birmingham with poor touches, lost possession countless times, but then is capable of producing (and does) that creativity and killer pass that we've been lacking for a few years and more importantly scoring goals. Great movement from him for the winner on Tuesday night.

[CountryRoyal]

I opted for the original 4-5-1. Obviously its not too far away from a 5-2-3. I struggle to imagine how we can fit Kermorgant and Grabban into the same starting eleven without sacrificing McCleary which, to me, would be madness considering how good he has been.

Anyway this is my preferred starting eleven followed by the other options in each position. Isnt it wonderful to have selection headaches?

--------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---McShane--Moore----Obita
---------------------Evans-------------------
-------------Swift-----------Kelly-------------
McCleary--------------------------Beerens
--------------------Kermie------------------

or.

---------------------Jaakola----------------------
Watson------Ilori-----Oxford-----Blackett
----------------------JVDB------------------------
------------Williams----Mutch----------------
Popa-----------------------------------Harriott
--------------------Grabban---------------------

Jesus. That second team would give a lot of this division a run for its money imo.

[NewCorkSeth]

I opted for the original 4-5-1. Obviously its not too far away from a 5-2-3. I struggle to imagine how we can fit Kermorgant and Grabban into the same starting eleven without sacrificing McCleary which, to me, would be madness considering how good he has been.

Anyway this is my preferred starting eleven followed by the other options in each position. Isnt it wonderful to have selection headaches?

--------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---McShane--Moore----Obita
---------------------Evans-------------------
-------------Swift-----------Kelly-------------
McCleary--------------------------Beerens
--------------------Kermie------------------

or.

---------------------Jaakola----------------------
Watson------Ilori-----Oxford-----Blackett
----------------------JVDB------------------------
------------Williams----Mutch----------------
Popa-----------------------------------Harriott
--------------------Grabban---------------------

Jesus. That second team would give a lot of this division a run for its money imo.

Its odd isnt it? If last season we had the second team (taking away the unknown Popa, JVDB and Jaakola) I dont think we would have been too unhappy with our options.
Being able, on paper, to produce 2 separate teams from our current squad that look like they could handle the league is pretty pleasing.

[NewCorkSeth]

with not remembering anything about Popa, one match of Reece, very little I can remember of Mutch and not Grabban for a couple of years, not really sure

I'd agree personally would start with the following and build from there:

Ali, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Moore, Kelly, McCleary.

Interestingly you are the second person not to list Swift as a definite starter. According to Transfer Market Swift has scored 7 goals and assisted 5 which make McCleary the only player involved in more goals then him in the team.
Is there something I'm missing?

It's a strange one. His overall performances since returning from injury have been by and large poor, especially of late, yet he has still chipped in with match defining contributions. The very definition of mercurial.

He wasted two good opportunities at Birmingham with poor touches, lost possession countless times, but then is capable of producing (and does) that creativity and killer pass that we've been lacking for a few years and more importantly scoring goals. Great movement from him for the winner on Tuesday night.

Explains why hes getting subbed. I assumed he was being started to produce a goal then would be replaced in the second half with Evans to sure things up in midfield.

[CountryRoyal]

-------------------- Al - Habsi ----------------
----- McShane --- Moore ------ Ilori -------
Gunter ------- Kelly ---- Oxf*rd ---- Obita
--- McCleary --- Grabban ---- Beerens --

It's definitely a hard task. There won't be a perfect system to incorporate everyone (obviously) but what we now have is a solid group and the ability to be flexible and change it up.

For me the the definites at the moment are Al-Habsi, Moore, and Kelly.

[maffff]

with not remembering anything about Popa, one match of Reece, very little I can remember of Mutch and not Grabban for a couple of years, not really sure

I'd agree personally would start with the following and build from there:

Ali, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Moore, Kelly, McCleary.

Interestingly you are the second person not to list Swift as a definite starter. According to Transfer Market Swift has scored 7 goals and assisted 5 which make McCleary the only player involved in more goals then him in the team.
Is there something I'm missing?

Reckon given Kelly's emergence and options that we have in the side now there's a chance it might well be either/or between the two of them. How to fit those two in together alongside a balanced team all round looks tougher than ever.

Kelly's undroppable at the moment and Swift is yet to get back to his best...

[maffff]

-------------------- Al - Habsi ----------------
----- McShane --- Moore ------ Ilori -------
Gunter ------- Kelly ---- Oxf*rd ---- Obita
--- McCleary --- Grabban ---- Beerens --

It's definitely a hard task. There won't be a perfect system to incorporate everyone (obviously) but what we now have is a solid group and the ability to be flexible and change it up.

For me the the definites at the moment are Al-Habsi, Moore, and Kelly.

One central midfielder?? Wouldn't we get a little overrun?

[CountryRoyal]

-------------------- Al - Habsi ----------------
----- McShane --- Moore ------ Ilori -------
Gunter ------- Kelly ---- Oxf*rd ---- Obita
--- McCleary --- Grabban ---- Beerens --

It's definitely a hard task. There won't be a perfect system to incorporate everyone (obviously) but what we now have is a solid group and the ability to be flexible and change it up.

For me the the definites at the moment are Al-Habsi, Moore, and Kelly.

One central midfielder?? Wouldn't we get a little overrun?

Can't Reece play CM? Certainly more defensive than VDB/Williams/Evans

[NewCorkSeth]

with not remembering anything about Popa, one match of Reece, very little I can remember of Mutch and not Grabban for a couple of years, not really sure

I'd agree personally would start with the following and build from there:

Ali, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Moore, Kelly, McCleary.

Interestingly you are the second person not to list Swift as a definite starter. According to Transfer Market Swift has scored 7 goals and assisted 5 which make McCleary the only player involved in more goals then him in the team.
Is there something I'm missing?

Reckon given Kelly's emergence and options that we have in the side now there's a chance it might well be either/or between the two of them. How to fit those two in together alongside a balanced team all round looks tougher than ever.

Kelly's undroppable at the moment and Swift is yet to get back to his best...

I suspect you are correct in saying that. However I do think with this option

--------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---McShane--Moore----Obita
---------------------Evans-------------------
-------------Swift-----------Kelly-------------
McCleary--------------------------Beerens
--------------------Kermie------------------

The presence of a DM gives us a little leeway to play both? If it were the 5-2-3 formation I would agree its a bit more risky starting both.