Our first team selection for new campaign..

[Bptiger]

4 hours ago, fuchsntf said:

It’s not End of June yet..…changes will be obvious…!

Each week from July,we’ll see also  not so obvious  players also moving..

So my first stab at it…

 

                Iversen

         Souttar.  Faes

Ricardo.                   Kristi

  Braybrooke. KDH….Justin 

                   Nacho

            Vardy.      Daka

Good defence , but the midfield is crap , that’s the 1 reason that we are where we are , daka for me is hopeless and should be moved on 

[Fightforever]

           Iversen/New GK

      Justin  Souttar  Faes 

Pereira KDH Hamza/Soumare Kristiansen

              Praet/new CAM

      Vardy/Daka    Iheanacho

 

Soumare could play because no one wants him. Some French team will probably bid 6 million on deadline day.

 

Praet same as above but replace French team with Italian. 

 

If we can't shift anyone other than Maddison, Barnes and Castange we will probably use most of the sale money to just pay the wages of the rest of the squad for the season.

 

I think that team comfortably gets out of the championship. On the xG table we were 11th in the premier league and our defence was 13th for xGA and we will have almost the exact same defence in the Championship. Alongside the best tackler in the Championship last year Hamza. Meaning the fullbacks and Justin can bomb fowards.

 

I know the game is played in real life and not on paper but the discrepancy is too huge to ignore. 

 

The issue was Ward being so terrible he relegated us. 

 

As long as Maresca isn't terrible we will stomp the championship.

 

Justin and Ricardo on the same flank will terrify and Iheanacho would clean the league.

 

Edited 22 June 2023 by Fightforever

[fuchsntf]

40 minutes ago, Bptiger said:

Good defence , but the midfield is crap , that’s the 1 reason that we are where we are , daka for me is hopeless and should be moved on 

I wasn’t trying to pick ,the best for this or that…

just reading various articles on possible player retainmemen…

Then selecting possibles

[Fosse93]

If we played vs. Coventry tomorrow, and assuming Barnes and Maddison have already 'checked out' then I'd go:

 

                                          Iversen

 

                      Justin         Souttar         Faes

 

Albrighton                                                             Kristiansen

 

                           Ricardo                   KDH

 

                                        Iheanacho

 

                               Daka                Vardy

 

 

I reckon that's a strong starting 11, not much depth past that though.                     

[LeePhilpottsBaldSpot]

 

Not saying we will (or could!) replicate it, but this is how Man City played last season.

 

Justin would make sense to be the one flipping from a full back out of possession to a defensive midfielder in possession.

 

As the team is currently (* = replacement likely to be needed);

 

Ederson = Iversen

Ake = Kristiansen

Dias = Souttar

Akanji = Faes

Stones = Justin

Rodri = Dewsbury-Hall

Grealish = Barnes*

Gundogan = Iheanacho

de Bruyne = Maddison*

Mahrez = Albrighton*

Haaland = Vardy

 

[sacreblueits442]

...pretty much, if we can get our purchases right!!!

 

                                         Iversen

             Souttar             Coady              I. Julio

Ricardo          M. Kaba           L. fernandez             Giles  

                                       Nacho                 

                          Archer                Vardy

                        

[LVFox]

1 hour ago, LeePhilpottsBaldSpot said:

 

Not saying we will (or could!) replicate it, but this is how Man City played last season.

I'd be amazed if Enzo goes for this next year - strikes me as someone far more independent than just a Pep copy.

 

I think we see a full back push into midfield though - Thomas on the left or Ricardo on the right would do that job excellently 

[LeePhilpottsBaldSpot]

23 minutes ago, LVFox said:

I'd be amazed if Enzo goes for this next year - strikes me as someone far more independent than just a Pep copy.

 

I think we see a full back push into midfield though - Thomas on the left or Ricardo on the right would do that job excellently 

Yeah, I don't think he will either - we don't have the players nor will he be bedded in enough to do something as bold as this.

 

But it might give glimpses into some things he might try. He'll definitely have more tactics than unmotivated latter-day Rodgers, both in and out of possession.

[Bptiger]

14 hours ago, fuchsntf said:

I wasn’t trying to pick ,the best for this or that…

just reading various articles on possible player retainmemen…

Then selecting possibles

Not having a go at u or ur team selections , just making the point that our midfield let us down so bad this year , and unless we secure some players who can hold the ball and pass to a team mate we will stay in the championship for many years to come 

[st albans fox]

A lot of formations/selections on here seem to be ignoring how difficult it is to play in midfield compared to defence.  Having the play both in-front and behind you is way different to defending where things are all ahead of you. Also, to come inside off the wing into the middle presents additional issues with stuff happening on both sides when you’re used to it all being to the left or right. 

 

Stones is an excellent footballer who is used to being in the middle of the pitch so that takes care of the both sides. He has taken time to come to terms with the play being ahead and potentially behind - but out of possession he drops back into a defensive role so it’s still mainly ahead of him. 

[filbertway]

I'd probably wait till you know the make up of the squad. It's as futile as guessing the first fixture or a cup draw. There's literally no information to even make a reasoned guess.

 

If just one person realises how ridiculous it is then this post has done it's job

 

[fuchsntf]

On 23/06/2023 at 01:24, Fightforever said:

           Iversen/New GK

      Justin  Souttar  Faes 

Pereira KDH Hamza/Soumare Kristiansen

              Praet/new CAM

      Vardy/Daka    Iheanacho

 

Soumare could play because no one wants him. Some French team will probably bid 6 million on deadline day.

 

Praet same as above but replace French team with Italian. 

 

If we can't shift anyone other than Maddison, Barnes and Castange we will probably use most of the sale money to just pay the wages of the rest of the squad for the season.

 

I think that team comfortably gets out of the championship. On the xG table we were 11th in the premier league and our defence was 13th for xGA and we will have almost the exact same defence in the Championship. Alongside the best tackler in the Championship last year Hamza. Meaning the fullbacks and Justin can bomb fowards.

 

I know the game is played in real life and not on paper but the discrepancy is too huge to ignore. 

 

The issue was Ward being so terrible he relegated us. 

 

As long as Maresca isn't terrible we will stomp the championship.

 

Justin and Ricardo on the same flank will terrify and Iheanacho would clean the league.

 

Thx…for getting  into these ideas…This is all one wanted to see,some forethought

on up & coming campaign…with fans opinions who might be pushing us through this season..

plus to compare , who will in the end stay/go, with those put up „Now“  from posters various selections…

The forum has had enough time to have is „ Wake“ & ride the hard facts of relegation…

Now it’s time to look forward….

[foxinsocks]

22 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

Thx…for getting  into these ideas…This is all one wanted to see,some forethought

on up & coming campaign…with fans opinions who might be pushing us through this season..

plus to compare , who will in the end stay/go, with those put up „Now“  from posters various selections…

The forum has had enough time to have is „ Wake“ & ride the hard facts of relegation…

Now it’s time to look forward….

Agree.  I hope we retain the right guys and look forward to the challenge of acing the championship

[fuchsntf]

16 hours ago, filbertway said:

I'd probably wait till you know the make up of the squad. It's as futile as guessing the first fixture or a cup draw. There's literally no information to even make a reasoned guess.

 

If just one person realises how ridiculous it is then this post has done it's job

 

Just some lighthearted…let’s get on with looking forward..

instead of moping & being a  miserable forum,still crying on the past..

[Supergray22]

20 hours ago, Bptiger said:

Not having a go at u or ur team selections , just making the point that our midfield let us down so bad this year , and unless we secure some players who can hold the ball and pass to a team mate we will stay in the championship for many years to come 

We do need to find someone like that who can get on the ball and pull the strings. I’d love it to be  Braybrooke or the like but we may need someone with more experience and evidence of success in that role. 

[honeybradger]

22 hours ago, LVFox said:

I'd be amazed if Enzo goes for this next year - strikes me as someone far more independent than just a Pep copy.

 

I think we see a full back push into midfield though - Thomas on the left or Ricardo on the right would do that job excellently 

Ricardo as an extra midfielder is wasted, he needs to be making runs into the box

[Bptiger]

59 minutes ago, Supergray22 said:

We do need to find someone like that who can get on the ball and pull the strings. I’d love it to be  Braybrooke or the like but we may need someone with more experience and evidence of success in that role. 

Again not having a go at u but , we need experience’s in the midfield not a kid like braybrooke , YOURI failed us because he was deadset slow and wanted to play backwards more than to go forward . Not sure what we can get now we are in the championship but there had to be some young talent in Europe who want a chance to break into the epl

[Bptiger]

22 hours ago, LVFox said:

I'd be amazed if Enzo goes for this next year - strikes me as someone far more independent than just a Pep copy.

 

I think we see a full back push into midfield though - Thomas on the left or Ricardo on the right would do that job excellently 

No use pushing Thomas into midfield, he will always head backwards to his centre backs , he is a good defender but has no idea about going forward 

[Sly]

On 22/06/2023 at 19:30, Silva Fox said:

Who is Baybooke? 

[fuchsntf]

What an R between friends...

[Lillehamring]

51 minutes ago, Bptiger said:

No use pushing Thomas into midfield, he will always head backwards to his centre backs , he is a good defender but has no idea about going forward 

And yet people talk about Justin as if he is a wonderful attacking player - fact is neither of them are that great:

Thomas - 5719 mins  2 goals 4 assists

Justin - 5851 mins 3 goals 2 assists

 

Castagne isn't actually any  better as far as attacking product is concerned.  Ricardo is our only full back that offers a real attacking threat.

 

I know there's more to going forward than just goals and assists, but Thomas is no worse than anyone else - there's a lot of talk about FB being a strong position for us, but maybe it's actually not - maybe we have too few fullbacks than can considered to be attacking fullbacks?

[sacreblueits442]

54 minutes ago, Bptiger said:

No use pushing Thomas into midfield, he will always head backwards to his centre backs , he is a good defender but has no idea about going forward 

...cannot say I agree with that, he was not a player who looked to go backwards when he came into the side!!!

He was very much looking to go forward and link up with Barnes. He put whipped crosses into the box and was extremely forward-thinking. As you have noticed everyone started to go backwards and skill levels dropped off for most, it was as if a curse had been placed on the club, everyone and everything went to pot.

[lcfceed]

34 days from first day at training to cov for enzo. He surely will not want/cope the amount of changes thats been suggested?? Equally, theres 25 after cov to be selling/buying players.

[Paninistickers]

On 23/06/2023 at 00:24, Fightforever said:

           Iversen/New GK

      Justin  Souttar  Faes 

Pereira KDH Hamza/Soumare Kristiansen

              Praet/new CAM

      Vardy/Daka    Iheanacho

 

Soumare could play because no one wants him. Some French team will probably bid 6 million on deadline day.

 

Praet same as above but replace French team with Italian. 

 

If we can't shift anyone other than Maddison, Barnes and Castange we will probably use most of the sale money to just pay the wages of the rest of the squad for the season.

 

I think that team comfortably gets out of the championship. On the xG table we were 11th in the premier league and our defence was 13th for xGA and we will have almost the exact same defence in the Championship. Alongside the best tackler in the Championship last year Hamza. Meaning the fullbacks and Justin can bomb fowards.

 

I know the game is played in real life and not on paper but the discrepancy is too huge to ignore. 

 

The issue was Ward being so terrible he relegated us. 

 

As long as Maresca isn't terrible we will stomp the championship.

 

Justin and Ricardo on the same flank will terrify and Iheanacho would clean the league.

 

The outs are really interesting. We have the certs to go in Castahne, Barnes, Madders

 

It's the next layer that interesting / worrying...

 

Wilf and I agree that Praet and Soumare will probs go too. Sadly, I think we are gonna have to accept poor old Kels is likely to go. Retain 1 or 2 of those though, and we start to cook. For example, Soumare's dawdling and Wilfs passing shouldn't be (as) exposed at this level. 

 

 If we keep three of the next four we should be fine and likely dominate.

 

Faes (I like him, even tho others love to have a dog), Iversen (the biggest worry of all, as it means the non goalkeeping goalkeeper is back and a  10-15 place drop in the table), Ricky and /or JJ

 

Lose three of those though and we will be in tatters. 

 

Basically, my summary,  if we keep Soumare and Wilf, JJ, Iversen and Faes ....we should have a sqaud capable of bossing the division 

[Lillehamring]

33 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...cannot say I agree with that, he was not a player who looked to go backwards when he came into the side!!!

He was very much looking to go forward and link up with Barnes. He put whipped crosses into the box and was extremely forward-thinking. As you have noticed everyone started to go backwards and skill levels dropped off for most, it was as if a curse had been placed on the club, everyone and everything went to pot.

Spot on - i recall a period where thomas and barnes seemed to be reading each others minds.