Best XI...

[mattstev2000]

I honestly don't know - none of the players have really shown much quality so far so it's difficult to pick a best 11.

If I personally had to choose I'd probably go with something like...

Lloris
Walker Verts Chiriches Rose
Sandro Dembele (or Carroll)
Lamela Eriksen Chadli
Adebayor (if someone has kicked him up the arse, otherwise Soldado)

..but that very much relies on Lamela, Eriksen, Soldado and Chadli all living up to the potential that people were raving about when we signed them rather than based on their performances for us.

 

[samsonlevi]

The best 11 as most people call it varies depending on form and also (as much as we don't like) opposition. If we are playing against a team we are expect to beat and therefore a team that will put 10+ men behind the ball I believe the 'best 11' should/could be:

Lloris

Walker
Verts
Vlad
Rose

Holtby
Dembele
Eriksen

Townsend
Lamela
Soldado

When playing a team that will be a lot more competitive throughout the match and pitch (man c, Liverpool) I would go with:

Lloris

Walker
Vlad
Kaboul
Verts

Sandro
Dembele
Paulinho

Lennon
Holtby
Soldado

And use the subs to stretch the last 20 mins of the game

 

[xuri]

 

[tiger666]

Is young Tom Carroll the defensive mid?

 

[HoltbiusMac]

Why is the assumption that Sherwood means a switch to 4-4-2 and an archaic style of play?
He's renowned as a progressive coach, the U21s have primarily played 4-3-3 with an emphasis on good movement up front and passing in the midfield. Just because he's British doesn't mean he's Pulis. Even his playing style was more about technique than your average Brit.

If anything, from the little I know about him, the players I imagine he'd favour will be Eriksen, Lamela, possibly Capoue. Ferdinand also seems to like Soldado from his Europa League commentary so I can't imagine he'll be cast straight aside for Defoe. And Lennon I hardly see a problem with anyway - he's not the best but he's not the worst either.

 

[idontgetit]

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!

Completely disagree mate. Yes he's had loads of shots and no he hasn't scored goals. The issue though is that he's shooting from the wrong place. He's shooting from in front of the defence instead of shooting from behind the defence. All he needs it to be moved to the left and the manager to have a word in his ear instructing him to stop coming short to pick the ball up and run at people and instead first look to be played in to space behind the back four. Lennon has looked good for us because he's been doing that. Unlike Lennon however Townsend has a serious shot on him and can genuinely produce goals and assists with both feet.

In the past I was one of Townsends biggest critics but he stepped up and improved on everything I thought would hold him back. A little bit of coaching, some more experience and we'll have a top player.

 

[Mattspur]

I hope we never play 4231 again unless it's away from home.

Arsenal play 4231 without to many problems.

 

[rabbikeane]

There's no magical formation out there that is the solution to everything.
It's all about playing to our players' strenght, and the weakness of the opposition.
442/352/433/4231/451/4131/4141/460/4222
They can all work.

When it comes to City they don't really play 442 in a traditional way,
if you look at the players they so called play out wide,
you'll find that they (Silva, Nasri etc.) play centrally ahead of the more holding two.
City's formation can just as well be called a 4222.
They occasionally put on Navas for widt, but most of the time the fullbacks provide width,
while the two guys you think should be out wide are central creating stuff.
Fernandinho and Yaya gives the midfield a fundament and backbone,
two creative players run the game in front of them,
one striker play as a pure no 9 (Negredo), while the other (Aguero) is allowed to go where he can find space (often out left).

<Adebayor - Soldado

Eriksen - Lamela

Dembele - Sandro

<Rose - Vertonghen - Chiriches - Walker>

Lloris

In many ways it's a throw back to the way Brazil used to line up
with world class full backs bombing forward,
two holding midfielder, two creating, no wingers, duo up front.​

 

[hodsgod]

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.

Not really, as he hasn't really played in the league yet. I will not form an opinion based on Thursday nights, if you did Defoe is our best striker!

 

[hodsgod]

Arsenal play 4231 without to many problems.

As I said several times, it's different players.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Best XI in the sig...

 

[HoltbiusMac]

There's no magical formation out there that is the solution to everything.
It's all about playing to our players' strenght, and the weakness of the opposition.
442/352/433/4231/451/4131/4141/460/4222
They can all work.

When it comes to City they don't really play 442 in a traditional way,
if you look at the players they so called play out wide,
you'll find that they (Silva, Nasri etc.) play centrally ahead of the more holding two.
City's formation can just as well be called a 4222.
They occasionally put on Navas for widt, but most of the time the fullbacks provide width,
while the two guys you think should be out wide are central creating stuff.
Fernandinho and Yaya gives the midfield a fundament and backbone,
two creative players run the game in front of them,
one striker play as a pure no 9 (Negredo), while the other (Aguero) is allowed to go where he can find space (often out left).

<Adebayor - Soldado

Eriksen - Lamela

Dembele - Sandro

<Rose - Vertonghen - Chiriches - Walker>

Lloris

In many ways it's a throw back to the way Brazil used to line up
with world class full backs bombing forward,
two holding midfielder, two creating, no wingers, duo up front.​

The problem with this is both Negredo and Aguero are so dynamic and hard-working. They are both a nightmare for defenders as they can both turn you, their physicality whether it's size or pace is phenomenal. Soldado and Adebayor aren't really that player. Adebayor on his top, top form might be but that's a mighty big assumption. I agree with the top part I just don't think we have the players to make a 2 striker system work right now. We need to find one that get's it working for one striker (whichever one you like).

 

[DEFchenkOE]

There's no magical formation out there that is the solution to everything.
It's all about playing to our players' strenght, and the weakness of the opposition.
442/352/433/4231/451/4131/4141/460/4222
They can all work.

When it comes to City they don't really play 442 in a traditional way,
if you look at the players they so called play out wide,
you'll find that they (Silva, Nasri etc.) play centrally ahead of the more holding two.
City's formation can just as well be called a 4222.
They occasionally put on Navas for widt, but most of the time the fullbacks provide width,
while the two guys you think should be out wide are central creating stuff.
Fernandinho and Yaya gives the midfield a fundament and backbone,
two creative players run the game in front of them,
one striker play as a pure no 9 (Negredo), while the other (Aguero) is allowed to go where he can find space (often out left).

<Adebayor - Soldado

Eriksen - Lamela

Dembele - Sandro

<Rose - Vertonghen - Chiriches - Walker>

Lloris

In many ways it's a throw back to the way Brazil used to line up
with world class full backs bombing forward,
two holding midfielder, two creating, no wingers, duo up front.​

Pellegrini played the same way at Villareal with the likes of Cazorla and Cani as the attacking mids and Senna + one other holding. Forlan and Rossi upfront. Good vid here actually

If we were to go 2 up top then i'd rather we play like this than with traditional wingers getting down the line.

 

[MkYid]

Imo the best team we've got is

Lloris

Walker
Vlad (kaboul)
Verts
BAE (rose til he comes back)

Sandro
Dembele (paulinho)
Eriksen

Lamela (lennon)
Soldado
Townsend (lamela)

 

[rabbikeane]

The problem with this is both Negredo and Aguero are so dynamic and hard-working. They are both a nightmare for defenders as they can both turn you, their physicality whether it's size or pace is phenomenal. Soldado and Adebayor aren't really that player. Adebayor on his top, top form might be but that's a mighty big assumption. I agree with the top part I just don't think we have the players to make a 2 striker system work right now. We need to find one that get's it working for one striker (whichever one you like).

You might be right, I'm not even saying we should play like this.
I think we need to look at the player we got, the way we want to play, and the manager we'll get and find a combination that works. Finding a way of playing that will make all at the club pulling in the same direction is more of a key for me than actual formation and player selection.

Our strikers are clearly not as good as City's or at least not as suited for their play.
However, Adebayor like to pull out left for space while Soldado is a pure poacher for the middle.
Supported by central creative midfielders and "wing backs", I do think they could work.
In many ways, I'm more inclined to sell them all if we should continue with one up front.
Not sure I have the solution though, it could very well be that a more traditional 433 could work for Soldado,
if the striker is going to play up front isolated somewhat that would be more of an Adebayor role.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Not many shouts for sig' which surprises me. Clever player with a good shot.

 

[formlesswater]

I'd like to see what happens when we put our most intelligent players on the pitch at the same time:

Lloris
Walker Kaboul Chiriches Vertonghen
Sandro Holtby
Lamela Eriksen Sigurdsson
Soldado

 

[Mr Pink]

Lloris

Walker
Vlad
Vertonghen
Rose

Dembele
Holtby
Eriksen

Lamela
Soldado
Townsend

That's what I'd like to see against most teams. Would swap Holtby for Sandro in some tougher fixtures.

 

[Mattspur]

Best XI in the sig...

Dawson?

 

[XSuicideBunnyX]

There's no magical formation out there that is the solution to everything.
It's all about playing to our players' strenght, and the weakness of the opposition.
442/352/433/4231/451/4131/4141/460/4222
They can all work.

When it comes to City they don't really play 442 in a traditional way,
if you look at the players they so called play out wide,
you'll find that they (Silva, Nasri etc.) play centrally ahead of the more holding two.
City's formation can just as well be called a 4222.
They occasionally put on Navas for widt, but most of the time the fullbacks provide width,
while the two guys you think should be out wide are central creating stuff.
Fernandinho and Yaya gives the midfield a fundament and backbone,
two creative players run the game in front of them,
one striker play as a pure no 9 (Negredo), while the other (Aguero) is allowed to go where he can find space (often out left).

<Adebayor - Soldado

Eriksen - Lamela

Dembele - Sandro

<Rose - Vertonghen - Chiriches - Walker>

Lloris

In many ways it's a throw back to the way Brazil used to line up
with world class full backs bombing forward,
two holding midfielder, two creating, no wingers, duo up front.​

I'm thinking we could almost line up with a (weaker?) version of city's team -

Adebayor = Aguero's free role and Negredo's physicality
Soldado = Aguero's finshing and Negredo's positioning
Eriksen = potential Nasri
Lamela = potential David Silva
Dembélé = worse Yaya Touré (edit: imagine if Dembélé stormed forward like Yaya does. Yum.)
Paulinho = Fernandinho
Rose = potential Clichy
Vertonghen = Kompany's defense and leadership
Chiriches = Kompany's runs down the wing
Wlaker = Faster but dumber Zabaleta
Lloris = the one area where we have an advantage

We line up like this at home, watch some Man City tapes and we're on our way.