Our best XI...

[SEANSPURS1975]

We nearly have a full squad to pick from. So when everybody is fit, on form and firing, what would be your best team?
I’d go...

 

[coys200]

Son has to play for me. In a 3 I’d drop dele deeper and bench dembele. But it really depends on opponents. I’d say your formation is our most cautious. As In away to PSG.

 

[kremlyn]

I completely agree with the op but the 4231 is much more debatable now moura is here. We could see a 433 too.

 

[glospur]

It depends on the opposition. i want to see this against the weaker sides:

Lloris
Aurier - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - Rose
Dier/Wanyama
Eriksen - Dele
Lucas - Kane - Son
​

I think it has heaps of attacking potential and, while it's similar to the way Liverpool set up, our DM, back 4 and keeper are so much better than theirs that it's still defensively solid enough.

In a big game though, I honestly don't know. We've got so many options now that everyone's fit. i think I'd probably go with:

Lloris
Sanchez - Alderweireld - Vertonghen
Aurier - Eriksen - Dier - Dele - Rose
Kane - Son

Vorm - Davies - Trippier - Wanyama/Dembele - Winks - Lamela - Lucas
​

Dier over Wanyama because Wanyama, when he's been fit, has been very poor this season. He's hit nowhere near the heights of last season. Arguably cost us the game at Wembley against Chelsea and was dreadful against Newport. Although, I wouldn't be completely opposed to Dier taking Sanchez's place and moving Wanyama into DM.

I think Winks has to be on the bench over one of Wanyama/Dembele because he offers us something completely different that we dont have from anywhere else in the middle of the park. His ability to get on the ball and play quick, efficient forward passes is a point of difference from Dembele, Wanyama and Dier. I feel as though we look a lot better when Winks plays as well.

No out and out striker on the bench is simply because Lucas and Lamela are more talented and offer more than Llorente. If Kane needed to come off then Son or Lucas are capable of playing up top for the rest of the game.

I understand that some people might think that that midfield three isn't defensively diligent enough, but remmeber we played a midfield 3 of Eriksen-Winks-Dele against Liverpool, and a midfield three of Eriksen-Winks-Sissoko at the Bernabeu, and a midfield 3 of the same combination for most of the game against Madrid at Wembley after Toby was injured. I think that midifield 3 that I've got is defensively good enough, while also having players with excellent movement who can get on the ball and pick out the passes needed on the counter.

 

[fortworthspur]

I know 3 CBs is all the rage these days but I think we are more balanced with 4 defenders. It worked well for us (3CBs) when we had Walker and Rose but they were in peak form and fitness. Ive been much less impressed with it this season.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Lloris
Trippier - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - Rose
Wanyama - Dembele
Son - Eriksen - Dele
Kane
​

As we see more of Moura and Aurier as the season continues, that may change. And the three behind Kane aren't constrained to those exact sides, they're all capable of roaming across the pitch.

 

[stevenqoz]

Once Toby has played his first game I believe Poch will see this as his best side against non-top six opposition.
----------------Lloris
--------Toby Sanchez Vert
Aurier---------Dier----------Davies
---------Son---Eriksen---Dele
------------------Kane

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

Of course we can play different players/formations against different quality teams. We have a strong squad that can play various systems/players.
This was a bit of fun in that I think that’s our best team and if we were playing in a Champions League final or FA Cup final that’s the team I would pick.

 

[dontcallme]

Of course we can play different players/formations against different quality teams. We have a strong squad that can play various systems/players.
This was a bit of fun in that I think that’s our best team and if we were playing in a Champions League final or FA Cup final that’s the team I would pick.

Absolutely. I think you have the right team when playing the elite.

When playing weaker opposition we can sacrifice a centre back for Son

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

I know 3 CBs is all the rage these days but I think we are more balanced with 4 defenders. It worked well for us (3CBs) when we had Walker and Rose but they were in peak form and fitness. Ive been much less impressed with it this season.

How many games has Alderweireld, Sanchez and Vertonghen player this season? I think these three together are formidable and will be the way forward.

 

[stevenqoz]

Of course we can play different players/formations against different quality teams. We have a strong squad that can play various systems/players.
This was a bit of fun in that I think that’s our best team and if we were playing in a Champions League final or FA Cup final that’s the team I would pick.

Hear what you are saying here but it seems to me Dier is not up for dropping by Poch

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

Hear what you are saying here but it seems to me Dier is not up for dropping by Poch

I think Dier has been fortunate this season. Would have been very interesting to see what Pochettino would have done if Alderweireld and Wanyama weren’t out with long term injuries.

 

[spids]

I agree with OP, but think it really depends who we are playing. Away at Juve for sure. At home against a park the bus team, I'd play 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 and look to use Son and Moura

 

[thefierycamel]

At home against a lower team

Lloris
Aurier Toby Jan Rose
Wanyama
Eriksen Dele
Lucas Kane Son

Against good teams I think you've nailed it. Feel free to switch in dier for wanyama, either/or is fine.

 

[stevenqoz]

I think Dier has been fortunate this season. Would have been very interesting to see what Pochettino would have done if Alderweireld and Wanyama weren’t out with long term injuries.

As a coach, long term injuries aside, you always have in your mind your starters. Remember, Poch has a whole coaching staff around him but nevertheless having listened to them he will decide. If you don't do this as a coach you can end up second guessing/undermining yourself. In our squad Lloris Kane Eriksen Dele Toby Vert and Dier would be his first picks. Son Dembele Sanchez Wanyama would make up the next group then come the blokes who are scrapping for places Winks, Trippier / Aurier, Davies / Rose, then Foyth and Sissoko.

 

[bubble07]

Once Toby has played his first game I believe Poch will see this as his best side against non-top six opposition.
----------------Lloris
--------Toby Sanchez Vert
Aurier---------Dier----------Davies
---------Son---Eriksen---Dele
------------------Kane

Puts too much onus on dier to make us play.

 

[bubble07]

We nearly have a full squad to pick from. So when everybody is fit, on form and firing, what would be your best team?
I’d go...
View attachment 35678

Eriksen in wanyama position and son in erilsens position against every team home and away outside top 6

 

[ebzrascal]

It depends on the opposition. i want to see this against the weaker sides:

Lloris
Aurier - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - Rose
Dier/Wanyama
Eriksen - Dele
Lucas - Kane - Son
​

I think it has heaps of attacking potential and, while it's similar to the way Liverpool set up, our DM, back 4 and keeper are so much better than theirs that it's still defensively solid enough.

In a big game though, I honestly don't know. We've got so many options now that everyone's fit. i think I'd probably go with:

Lloris
Sanchez - Alderweireld - Vertonghen
Aurier - Eriksen - Dier - Dele - Rose
Kane - Son

Vorm - Davies - Trippier - Wanyama/Dembele - Winks - Lamela - Lucas
​

Dier over Wanyama because Wanyama, when he's been fit, has been very poor this season. He's hit nowhere near the heights of last season. Arguably cost us the game at Wembley against Chelsea and was dreadful against Newport. Although, I wouldn't be completely opposed to Dier taking Sanchez's place and moving Wanyama into DM.

I think Winks has to be on the bench over one of Wanyama/Dembele because he offers us something completely different that we dont have from anywhere else in the middle of the park. His ability to get on the ball and play quick, efficient forward passes is a point of difference from Dembele, Wanyama and Dier. I feel as though we look a lot better when Winks plays as well.

No out and out striker on the bench is simply because Lucas and Lamela are more talented and offer more than Llorente. If Kane needed to come off then Son or Lucas are capable of playing up top for the rest of the game.

I understand that some people might think that that midfield three isn't defensively diligent enough, but remmeber we played a midfield 3 of Eriksen-Winks-Dele against Liverpool, and a midfield three of Eriksen-Winks-Sissoko at the Bernabeu, and a midfield 3 of the same combination for most of the game against Madrid at Wembley after Toby was injured. I think that midifield 3 that I've got is defensively good enough, while also having players with excellent movement who can get on the ball and pick out the passes needed on the counter.

Wanyama has not been fit all season and was actually coming back from injury in the Chelsea game...
How you can watch the Man Utd game and not include Dembele amazes me...

 

[Deleted member 22380]

————-—————Lloris——————————
—————————(Vorm)——————————

——--Alderweireld-Sanchez-Vertonghen————
————————(Dier-Foyth)——————-

Aurier———Wanyama-Demeble————-Rose
(Trippier———-Sissoko-Winks—————Davies)

———————-Eriksen-Dele————————-
———————(Lucas-Lamela)———————-

—————————Kane——————————
—————————(Son)——————————

Depth:
GK: Gazzaniga
CB: Carter-Vickers
WB: Walker-Peters
CM: Onomah
AM: N’Koudou, Edwards
ST: Llorente, Janssen

 

[glospur]

Wanyama has not been fit all season and was actually coming back from injury in the Chelsea game...
How you can watch the Man Utd game and not include Dembele amazes me...

And has been poor when he has played. He needs a few weeks to get back in touch imo and, as it stands, is clearly not in our best 11.

Yep, I agree haha. It amazed me as well. But against the poor teams I think he dwells on the ball to much allowing them to get set in their low block. Against those teams I prefer players who get on the ball and move it quickly. Against the stronger teams in the 3-5-2 I wouldn't be opposed to bringing Dembele in for Son and moving Dele forward.