2017/18 Starting Elevens

[Stevencc]

I stole this thread from the non-league section.

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Obviously dependent on signings coming off and Martial and Shaw's respective ability to convince Jose that they deserve a starting place.

I'd be very happy going into the season with that, though - with the possible exception of Perišić who I'm not quite sold on.

 

[epic73]

http://www.futhead.com/17/squads/7033616/

I'd be pretty happy with this.

 

[Stevencc]

http://www.futhead.com/17/squads/7033616/

I'd be pretty happy with this.

I can't believe you've left Herrera out of the starting eleven after the season he's just had.

And Jose doesn't trust Smalling one iota.

 

[epic73]

I can't believe you've left Herrera out of the starting eleven after the season he's just had.

I think him and Mata are about 50/50 and I like Mata more.

 

[Bilo]

4-2-3-1: Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Mascherano, Alonso; Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera; Torres.

 

[snortingfrogs]

 

[epic73]

Flanagan > Milner?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Hoping we keep King. Otherwise Afobe would probably slot in there just off Defoe. Or in games where we want to be more defensive, drop in another central midfielder (Gosling / Surman)

 

[Bilo]

Flanagan > Milner?

No. Not even almost.

 

[snortingfrogs]

Flanagan > Milner?

Yeah, I think Flana would do a good job as LB.

 

[epic73]

No. Not even almost.

I was asking that rhetorically.

 

[SALTIRE]

Can't see Flanagan getting into the side and think he'll be sold before the season starts. He's bulked up a little though and has a trainer who makes The Rock look small, but I think we've moved on from him personally.

 

[HarvSFC]

Forster

Cedric - VvD - Yoshida - Bertrand

Romeu - Ward-Prowse

Tadic - Boufal - Redmond

Gabbiadini

Not sure on the formation we're going with under Pellegrino, but judging from last season that is the base I'd start with.

I reckon Forster deserves another chance in goal due to previous seasons, but if he doesn't improve then dropped for McCarthy.

Would bring in another central midfield to play the defensive position alongside Romeu and another Alderweireld/VvD/Lovren type signing to play alongside VvD at the back.

Think we can also improve on both Redmond and Tadic on the wings, while Boufal is probably best as a number 10.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Think we've pretty much finished our big first team signings now, incredible considering we've only recently got over our celebration hangovers.

Lössl

Smith - Schindler - Jorgensen - Löwe

Mooy - Hogg

Kachunga - Palmer - Ince

Mounié


But I realise that won't mean much to most of you...

Jonas Lössl- giant Danish keeper, became hot property at Guingamp before moving to Mainz last year and not doing quite as well (as with most of Mainz players last season).

Tommy Smith- RB in Championship team of the year last season, one of the top assisters in the league.

Christopher Schindler- classy as fuck, scored our winning penalty, incredibly intelligent CB that I'd say is one of our most likely players to be wanted by a bigger club this time next year.

Matheus 'Zanka' Jorgensen- captain of Copenhagen last season, believe he was in Champions League team of the group stage after they kept 4 clean sheets out of 6 games. Looks a real steal at £3.5m, and a massive personality.

Chris Löwe- always 7/10 LB, think he'll make the step up just fine, but also just signed Scott Malone from Fulham for competition.

Aaron Mooy- Australia's most expensive player, contender for best player in the Championship last year, can't believe we've signed him. The brain of our team that made us tick last year.

Jonathan Hogg- our Kante basically, absolute man mountain, brilliant combination with Mooy.

Elias Kachunga- another reliable 7/10'er, can play anywhere in the front four, big part of our pressing game and chips in with a few goals.

Kasey Palmer- classy as fuck, Chelsea have done exactly with him that they have with Abraham. Missed the last few months of last season which was a blow, chuffed to have him back, so tricky and inventive.

Tom Ince- you probably know about him, very impressive numbers for a winger last season, I really think he'll shine as Wagner's management is all about getting the best out of what he's got.

Steve Mounié- pronounced like Houllier not Mooney... Our record signing, 14 Ligue 1 goals last season (1 less than Mbappe I believe!), monster in the air. I think he'll be a star.


Not mentioning stars of last season Michael Hefele (CB, big loveable german bastard) and Rajiv van La Parra (winger, still expect see plenty of him, lots of tricks but not much end product).
You'll probably remember Dean Whitehead who is staying on for another season, but only expecting a few cameos from him.. still just about got it at 35.
Also signed Danny Williams, CM from Reading who was great for them last season, best player at Wembley... and Laurent Depoitre ST from Porto, another man mountain who I think will be our 2nd choice striker, loved at Gent, once wanted by Spurs.
Not expecting Nahki Wells, Collin Quaner (ST) or Phillip Billing (CM) to appear much but they have the potential to surprise a few and all did v well against City last season.

We need to get off to a good start, got a few generous fixtures to begin with. Do that and I'll really fancy our chances of staying up. Either way, we'll definitely give it a damn good go. No 11 men behind the ball from us.

 

[HarvSFC]

Huddersfield's scouting system reminds me of what ours used to be. Wagner was an incredible appointment whoever spotted him and you guys haven't looked back since.

 

[Stevencc]

 

[JoshBCFC]

Think we can also improve on both Redmond and Tadic on the wings, while Boufal is probably best as a number 10.

Wasn't Boufal shit last season?

Steve Mounié- pronounced like Houllier not Mooney... Our record signing, 14 Ligue 1 goals last season (1 less than Mbappe I believe!), monster in the air. I think he'll be a star.

Mounie... Houllier... how on earth does that work?

 

[JimJams]

It's foreign. That's how.

 

[SALTIRE]

You've not signed Fabinho...

 

[Stevencc]

You've not signed Fabinho...

Or Perišić!

 

[SALTIRE]

You've not signed Fabinho...

Lol yeah didn't see him there either! Been a quiet window for you guys as well so far.

 

[Stevencc]

Lol yeah didn't see him there either! Been a quiet window for you guys as well so far.

It's picking up a bit now with the addition of Lukaku and hopefully another two to come in before the season starts.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Wasn't Boufal shit last season?


Mounie... Houllier... how on earth does that work?

Moo-nee-ay

Best example I could think of that Premier League fans would understand

 

[Super_horns]

I'll let you know at the end of August when we've signed about 10 players!

Hughes and the new right back from Alves would start I guess - otherwise at the moment we'd have the players who stuttered to the end of the season.

Hence why we need to add a few more!

 

[G-Dragon]

Obviously we haven't signed Robertson, Keita or Van Dijk yet.

 

[Smally]

Pickford

Coleman
Keane
Williams
Baines

Davies
Schneiderlin
Gueye

Klaassen
Sandro
Bolasie

 

[Stevencc]

Do you think Barkley's off or do you just not think he deserves to get into the starting eleven?

 

[Smally]

At the moment I wouldn't pick him because we don't know what his future will be. If he was staying, I'd move Klaassen back into midfield, have Barkley playing off the right like he did last season and bench Davies.

There's not been too much said about Barkley. Spurs and Milan have been the only sides I've heard of show an interest, and I wouldn't be surprised if we are expecting a late bid from Spurs like they did with Sissoko last season. If he doesn't sign the contract we've offered (rumoured to be £100k per week) then anything around £20m I'd accept

 

[JimJams]

Rooney got the number 10 shirt, Klaassen the number 20. Is that relevant to the starting lineup or just more a gesture for Rooney on his return?

 

[Smally]

More of a gesture I'd imagine. Lukaku was 10 last season so it's a straight swap in that sense