Best XI...

[tiger666]

Excitement guaranteed.

Lloris
Lennon Vlad Verts Townsend
Lamela Holtby Eriksen
Defoe Soldado Adebayor​

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I would have really liked to see in some of our earlier games against weak cup opponents whether Holtby and Erikson could play as a pair in front of one of our central defensive midfield beasts. If they could we'd be fucking class to watch, right up there with the Scum. Put Townsend on left and Lamela on the right in the front of that midfield and we'd utterly annihilate sides. If it looked a bit lightweight it would also been interesting to experiment with Erikson on the left in a role similar to the one Modric played for us in his early days, that way we could play stronger central midfielders but keep Erikson, Holtby and Lamela in the starting line-up.

AVB fucking chucked that opportunity sadly

I really don't see why not, it's crazy that AVB didn't even consider this and always went for the power of Paulinho, Dembele who are never likely to pick a pass. Arsenal sit on top of the league playing with just Flamini as a defensive mid so I don't see why Sandro or Capoue can't do the same. Going to be very interesting to see how TS approaches the West Ham game tomorrow, it will give us an insight into his thinking straight away as I'm sure he would already have had ideas on how we should have been lining up as he's been watching us closely for so long.

 

[Joeyboey]

Lets just play two strikers for once and see what happens. We might even score some goals!

 

[hodsgod]

Perhaps you're right.

City and Chelsea in particular have great fullbacks who can put in brilliant deliveries, ours don't do that so it upsets the whole system in that wingers are needed then, but if you play wingers you're crossing for a loan striker.

I've tried to picture Eriksen in Silva's position as he's pretty much ambidextrous meaning he can come in or go out and consider Lamela behind the striker to get him in behind more.

I am desperate to see Lamela, and yet when I have he has mostly disappointed me. Comparing that to Silva really shows the difference in class, I just hope Sherwood can get him playing. I wouldn't mind seeing him tomorrow night

 

[tiger666]

We might even score some goals!

Steady now.

 

[danielneeds]

Not sure but I'd look at the way City lineup for a start.

What does that even mean? They have completely different players.

 

[danielneeds]

Why are so many people putting Lamela in? Is based on hoping he is good, or based on what you have seen so far?

Probably a bit of both. He's been very poor, but he's still made or scored more goals than Townsend in limited time. Surely that tells you there is an clever player in there.

 

[IMissTheWaddler]

Hugo

Walker, vlad, Verts, Rose

Sandro, Holtby

Lennon, dembele, Townsend

Soldado

 

[Joeyboey]

Steady now.

Ideas way above my station

 

[King of Otters]

In the short term...

Lloris

Walker Daws Verts Rose

Sandro Dembele

Holtby

Lennon Soldado Townsend

​

But within a month or two I'd hope we gravitate towards something like this...

Lloris

Walker Chirches Verts Rose

Sandro Capoue

Eriksen

Lamela Soldado Townsend​

 

[Caco]

I'm not totally sold on the 4-2-3-1 formation, but I think we need to see it through to get the best out of our current squad. Not going to bother trying to predict what our team will be tomorrow but with all players fit i'd go for;

Lloris

Walker, Chiriches, Jan, Rose

Capoue, Paulinho

Townsend, Lamela, Eriksen

Soldado

I'd be interested in seeing how Sandro would perform at CB, mainly because I'd want him on the pitch. I've gone for Capoue and Paulinho based on early season form when Capoue looked really good, he is only getting back from injury so I'd expect him to get that same form back. Also, I would only have Lamela in the centre so he can get close to Soldado and support him a bit better.

If I was critical of my own selection, I'd say I don't see an obvious leader/captain in this team, would probably go for Hugo.

 

[Stevie_ni2003]

My best 11 would not include Townsend!! Has done nothing this season to make me think he's any good!

All those that think the sun shines out of his arse please tell me what it is he has in his locker!

 

[tiger666]

Ok seriously then. This would be mine. I couldn't decide between Sandro/Capoue. Only went with Capoue as I want to see more of him but not saying he's better than the beast. No idea if this would work but I'd love to see Holtby in a deeper role just to see what happens. Probably get torn apart but fuck it. What do I know.

Lloris
Walker Vlad Verts Rose
Capoue Holtby
Lamela Eriksen Townsend
Soldado​

 

[idontgetit]

I really don't see why not, it's crazy that AVB didn't even consider this and always went for the power of Paulinho, Dembele who are never likely to pick a pass. Arsenal sit on top of the league playing with just Flamini as a defensive mid so I don't see why Sandro or Capoue can't do the same. Going to be very interesting to see how TS approaches the West Ham game tomorrow, it will give us an insight into his thinking straight away as I'm sure he would already have had ideas on how we should have been lining up as he's been watching us closely for so long.

I understand why a manager would be nervous to play both Holtby and Erikson centrally, I mean if my job was on the line I'd have used a one of them playing next to Dembele or Paulinho with one of Sandro or Capoue sitting but I would have been jizzing my pants at the thought of getting a low risk chance to try it out. Your comment about Arsenal is bang on, they played Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Ozil, Wilshere against Liverpool and beat them 2-0. One of AVB's biggest underlying issues was that he seemed to believe you needed 10 beasts to play a high tempo pressing game

 

[idontgetit]

My best 11 would not include Townsend!! Has done nothing this season to make me think he's any good!

All those that think the sun shines out of his arse please tell me what it is he has in his locker!

I'd start him on the left, he's perfect for the role. Can shoot, use both feet and has pace but will track back if instructed to. Chadli isn't fast enough for left wide forward, neither is Sigg. The only other player i'd consider starting over him there is Erikson, so as to fit in an extra passing player to the team

 

[SlickMongoose]

Lloris
Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Ekotto
Carroll, Holtby
Lamela, Eriksen, Townsend
Adebayor

(assuming Adebayor can be bothered, Soldado if not)

I want us to go back to having passers in the middle rather than physical players, and I want a striker who contributes to general play rather than a pure poacher.

Lamela reminds me a bit of Modric when he first came to England, he'll be quality once he's got used to the league but he needs playing time.

 

[shelflife_73]

Lloris
Walker Vlad Verts Rose
Sandro Dembele
Lennon Eriksen Lamela
Soldado

 

[Stevie_ni2003]

I'd start him on the left, he's perfect for the role. Can shoot, use both feet and has pace but will track back if instructed to. Chadli isn't fast enough for left wide forward, neither is Sigg. The only other player i'd consider starting over him there is Erikson, so as to fit in an extra passing player to the team

Yes he can hit a ball but has he not had our highest shots this season and remind me how many times he has scored. The only thing he is good at this season is finding Row Z. He consistently turns play over to the other team with his constant shooting. No end product and runs with his head down, doesn't pass. Not for me. God awful player!

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I understand why a manager would be nervous to play both Holtby and Erikson centrally, I mean if my job was on the line I'd have used a one of them playing next to Dembele or Paulinho with one of Sandro or Capoue sitting but I would have been jizzing my pants at the thought of getting a low risk chance to try it out. Your comment about Arsenal is bang on, they played Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Ozil, Wilshere against Liverpool and beat them 2-0. One of AVB's biggest underlying issues was that he seemed to believe you needed 10 beasts to play a high tempo pressing game

Exactly, in the modern game you're barely allowed to tackle anyway so it's more about having the workrate and being aware of your positioning and responsibilities when you don't have the ball. Put it this way, we played Liverpool with arguably the most physical midfield 3 we could put out. We still got outplayed by Allen, Lucas and Henderson *shudder*

We just couldn't keep the ball for long enough periods. Avb also had so many chances in the useless EL to try this out and he never did.

 

[HoltbiusMac]

Assuming Ade can't be fucked, and I've seen nothing to suggest he can bar 2 games last season, then I think we have to find some form of 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 that works for Soldado at least until January. Any system which wants two strikers relies on at least one of them being a second striker that works hard and creates (Rooney, Aguero, Suarez) or sometimes a number 10 who gets forward a lot (VDV). Soldado and Defoe are nver going to be that player.

Lloris
Walker Chiriches Vertonghen Rose
Dembele Sandro
Lamela Eriksen Townsend
Soldado

Dembele and Sandro worked last year - let's get it back again.
Lamela and Eriksen should increase through-balls to Soldado and Townsend should provide more decent crosses and a bit of threat.