Mac the Knife

[Manwell Pablo]

No, but it might attract investment from Michael Jackson.

Ok we shall play a team of under 20's to attract investment from MJ Hee Heeee.

Do we need MJ's input?

Look at Exeter

[The People's Hero]

I've been looking at Exeter for a while now.

Should I be expecting anything to happen?

[Gené and Tonic]

you cant play football with a team full of kids.

I didn't say you could

[Manwell Pablo]

I didn't say you could

Tharcian's team is EXTREMLY young, you take out de vries and Rab the average age would be about 21

Douglas;

Stearman, McCarthy, Gerrbrand, Nils;

Smith, Hume, Hughes/Joey, Sheeehan;

MDV, Chambers.

[Thracian]

you cant play football with a team full of kids.

Ever heard of the Busby Babes?.

And I seem to remember an embarrassing comment from Alan Hansen about never winnning anything with kids.

"Levein's Leicester Lads" has a nice ring..and as far as I can see the ones mentioned are the best we've got right now with Weso to follow.

[Manwell Pablo]

Ever heard of the Busby Babes?.

And I seem to remember an embarrassing comment from Alan Hansen about never winnning anything with kids.

"Levein's Leicester Lads" has a nice ring..and as far as I can see the ones mentioned are the best we've got right now with Weso to follow.

He said that about Arsenal this season as well. To be fair to him hes not been wrong, even if it is a little early.

[Manwell Pablo]

He said that about Arsenal this season as well. To be fair to him hes not been wrong, even if it is a little early.

and where would weso play instead of hughes or Joey?

any team with any experince about it would rip us apart.

[Thracian]

Would have to be rested frequently though. Not sure a 19 year old could do that for the whole of the game. But you've seen him a lot more than I have, so...

You may be surprised there. He's an economical sort of player - the direct opposite of Tiatto - and always appears to have energy to spare even at the end of games.

[Hullfox]

You may be surprised there. He's an economical sort of player - the direct opposite of Tiatto - and always appears to have energy to spare even at the end of games.

Nor sure I want players with energy to spare at the end of the game.

I want them to give everything they've got.

[Thracian]

Nor sure I want players with energy to spare at the end of the game.

I want them to give everything they've got.

The point I am trying to make is that in matches I've seen him play he doesn't seem to have any trouble lasting the pace and that is probably because he thinks about what he's doing rather than charging about with undisciplined energy. In other words his style is more Rio Ferdinand than Danny Tiatto. Because of this I do not believe he would be at risk of burn-out.

[Ric Flair]

Wesolowski will dispell any myths about youngsters not being able to stand their ground against experience within 5 minutes of his first team debut. The lad put Hughes out of action for 2 months with a 50/50 challenge and it wasn't wreckless. He's just built like a brick shit house and stronger in the tackle than Fisherman's Friends.

[Manwell Pablo]

Wesolowski will dispell any myths about youngsters not being able to stand their ground against experience within 5 minutes of his first team debut. The lad put Hughes out of action for 2 months with a 50/50 challenge and it wasn't wreckless. He's just built like a brick shit house and stronger in the tackle than Fisherman's Friends.

No match 4 Blade though was he

[Ric Flair]

No match 4 Blade though was he

That most certainly wasn't a 50/50 ball

[cisono]

Did anyone notice McCarthy really giving Douglas a tongue-lashing?

Last time it was Stearman - this bloke is an Irish Braveheart and he's wound up to capacity for every game.

...

And don't forget his shouting at (and slapping of) Hume during the Brighton game.

He's probably wound up most of the time

[Manwell Pablo]

That most certainly wasn't a 50/50 ball

I do feel sorry for Blade,

dont think he quite timed his tackle properly. I think if he had gone in a second earlier he might of succeded in breaking both of weso's legs. Unlucky Bobo.

[Hutber's Law]

I do feel sorry for Blade,

dont think he quite timed his tackle properly. I think if he had gone in a second earlier he might of succeded in breaking both of weso's legs. Unlucky Bobo.

We'll file that under 'not funny' shall we?

[Manwell Pablo]

We'll file that under 'not funny' shall we?

seeing as it wasnt suppouse to be funny you can file it where you want.

[Hutber's Law]

seeing as it wasnt suppouse to be funny you can file it where you want.

[jamie_trueblue]

Agreed Agreed.

Gerrbrand and McCarthy have the making of a fine partnership.

i agree with you there is no stopping them.

[Gené and Tonic]

... until we play Celtic

[Sly]

I've really seen enough of Sylla and Hammill to be convinced they are weak links in any of our line-ups for reasons I've explained.

Even with this system I'd prefer Stearman and Sheehan on the flanks but I just don't see why we need Nils as a third centre-back which would risk confusion.

We are conceding very little with just McCarthy and Gerrbrand.

So, given Levein's inclination to play Nils whatever how about this:

Douglas;

Stearman, McCarthy, Gerrbrand, Nils;

Smith, Hume, Hughes/Joey, Sheeehan;

MDV, Chambers.

The more I consider it the more I believe that to be the strongest all-round City team I've written down yet. Not only can it win. It also looks like the makings of a properly balanced football team.

Hume would be fluid and Sheehan would operate as an old fashioned wing half which would suit him fine cos it's a role he's been playing (basically) in the reserves of late and he's bloody good at it.

I've got to agree with you about playing Sheehan at LM if Craig insists on playing Nils at LB. Hamill hasn't convinced me at all on the left wing. Sheehan offers too much to be left out of the team.

[Ric Flair]

I've got to agree with you about playing Sheehan at LM if Craig insists on playing Nils at LB. Hamill hasn't convinced me at all on the left wing. Sheehan offers too much to be left out of the team.

Sorry but although it might work, it's playing another 2 players out of position in Smith on the right wing and Sheehan at left wing. Let's try and have as many players as possible playing in their natural position. Sheehan will get his chance if the defence play up again, if not he'll have to wait for an injury or suspension to the left back. Nissa isn't actually doing that badly at the minute, but he's not doing great either. The problem is that Nissa will have been promised to be first choice when he joined the club and as we can't find room for him in the centre Levein is sticking him at full back. Stupid I know, but that's managers for you.

[Thracian]

Sorry but although it might work, it's playing another 2 players out of position in Smith on the right wing and Sheehan at left wing. Let's try and have as many players as possible playing in their natural position. Sheehan will get his chance if the defence play up again, if not he'll have to wait for an injury or suspension to the left back. Nissa isn't actually doing that badly at the minute, but he's not doing great either. The problem is that Nissa will have been promised to be first choice when he joined the club and as we can't find room for him in the centre Levein is sticking him at full back. Stupid I know, but that's managers for you.

I think Sly's comment goes back to a suggestion of mine that Sheehan might play in the old fashioned left half role which is pretty much where he plays for much of the time in the reserves when he's named as centre-back.

Your last paragraph sums up the real situation exactly.

[De Vries The King]

I think that we do actually have a good defence and although I don't rate Levein with him being a defender he knows what to look for. Surprisingly from our defence 2 years ago under MA we have a solid current back 4 with Maybury Mccarthy Gerrbrand and Johannson who all have about 5 years worth of top quality football in them and then with players coming through like Stearman and Sheehan and if Gilbert improves then we look solid at the back. Defensive futures good and now all we need is a 25 goals a season striker.