Post Window Best Eleven (and Squad)

[dannythomas]

I would have to include Capoue when he is fit again. Would give Rose a run of games but if he proves a liability no choice but to move Vertonghen there. I also would at this moment include Lennon assuming he is fit. Maybe he needs a couple of games on the bench first. I think substitutes with all our different options is where AVB can hopefully show tactical awareness. I am glad Adebayor stayed because clearly Soldado can't play every game and I just don't like Defoe up front on his own other than coming off the bench . Let's not forget that 2 seasons ago Ade was outstanding and I think in this particular case Harry man managed him better than AVB ) By the way does Chiriches have any potential work permit issues ?

So to start with
Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose
Sandro Paulinho
Lamela Eriksen Chadli

But I can see that changing to
Lloris
Walker Kaboul Chiriches Vertonghen
Capoue Paulinho
Lamela Eriksen Lennon
Soldado

Subs : Gomes or Friedel ( I really don't feel comfortable with either ) , Rose, Sandro ( great player but I think Capoue will be better ) , Dembele ( he needs to up his level if he is going to hold his place ) , Holtby, Chadli, Defoe
Back up players Dawson, Naughton, Sig, Townsend , Ade ( shows our squad strength these cannot get on " my " bench

Cup teams

Lloris ( occasionally give him a rest but I just don't like our other options , shame we don't have a young keeper as back up )
Naughton Kaboul Dawson Rose
Sandro Dembele
Lennon Holtby Chadli
Adebeyor

Subs : F or G, , Vertonghen, Capoue, Paulinho, Eriksen, Lamela, Soldado

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think for the first time we probably have the luxury of not having a precise best 11. There are a couple of positions where there are two/three equally strong viable options. Dembele/Carroll would have been one but now it may be Dembele/Holtby/Eriksen in the left of a 433. Sandro and Capoue are different but both viable in the centre of the 433 or 4231. All of Capoue, Sandro, Paulinho and Dembele can play in a cm 2. You just need to tailor it to the game circumstances.

Up front we now have Soldado and Adebayor. Either of whom I would be happy leading the line. Adebayor offers a much wider skill set around the pitch, Soldado offers more inside the box. Again, you adapt to the game in hand.

Attacking midfielders we now have some variation, Lamela, Eriksen, Holtby, Lennon, Sigurdsson, Chadli, Townsend. Our formation will influence the selection at times, as will the game circumstances and the usual injuries and suspensions etc. But there might not be a best 11 any more.

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[yanno]

I think for the first time we probably have the luxury of not having a precise best 11. There are a couple of positions where there are two/three equally strong viable options. Dembele/Carroll would have been one but now it may be Dembele/Holtby/Eriksen in the left of a 433. Sandro and Capoue are different but both viable in the centre of the 433 or 4231. All of Capoue, Sandro, Paulinho and Dembele can play in a cm 2. You just need to tailor it to the game circumstances.

Up front we now have Soldado and Adebayor. Either of whom I would be happy leading the line. Adebayor offers a much wider skill set around the pitch, Soldado offers more inside the box. Again, you adapt to the game in hand.

Attacking midfielders we now have some variation, Lamela, Eriksen, Holtby, Lennon, Sigurdsson, Chadli, Townsend. Our formation will influence the selection at times, as will the game circumstances and the usual injuries and suspensions etc. But there might not be a best 11 any more.

I think this is absolutely right.

In tough away games, we may play a 4-3-3, with 3 of Sandro, Capoue, Paulino & Dembele in the middle and players like Lamela, Eriksen and Townsend (potentially devastating in a counter-attack) and Chadli as the wide players.

At home, we may play Eriksen or in time Lamela centrally, as the creative fulcrum just behind the main striker. Eriksen will presumably be our first choice there because of his experience playing the role, but as he adapts to the pace of the PL Lamela may drift inside. As Ossie85 has informed us, Lamela's natural position as a youth player was as a pure number 10. So, he may end up there later this season or next.

Holtby is an interesting one as I'm not sure what his position is. His through ball for Defoe's goal against Tbilisi showed good vision, and he looked stronger than last season. We had ITK that AVB sees him as a 6 rather than a 10, and Capoue's injury means he may get a chance as the box-to-box player in a CM3.

 

[g_harry]

Loris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose
Paulhino Sandro
Lamela Eriksen Chadli
Soldado