However, as yet another striker turns us down and Neil Taylor’s situation at an impasse I fear that our transfer activity has stagnated somewhat. So then if we didn’t get any players inbetween now and the start of the season for our first game against Arsenal on the 16th of August would it be a disaster? Would the team represent anything that could challenge in the cups and for a top ten finish?
We all have differing opinions on the current squad members and the first team as it stands could be subject to a number of questions…
Goalkeeper – Steve Harper, Fraser Forster or Tim Krul? Personally I think Forster will leave the club. Krul had an outstanding debut for Holland and was competent when he played last season. I feel he will get the nod with the experienced yet wise Harper knowing he has a lot to offer even from the bench.
Defence – Starting with the right-back, I think it’s fairly obvious that Danny Simpson, while young and sometimes nervy is a far better option, than the likes of James Perch and Ryan Taylor. In the middle of defence you’d guess that it will be our new captain, Fabricio Coloccini, but between Steven Taylor and Mike Williamson it really is a hard call. I personally thought that Williamson was superb last season and is a competent player who reads the game very well. Unfortunately for him Taylor came into a great run of form and scored goals which Willo couldn’t manage. For me that would be the deciding factor. Left-back all depends on whether or not Jose Enrique stays and to be honest… I think he will … The lack of interest in him that is concrete speaks volumes.
Midfield – I am relishing next season purely because our strength in depth in midfield will draw envious glances from elsewhere. For me it’s going to be Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye in the middle. The power and presence of Tiote combined with calm and technical Cabaye is something that will hopefully compliment each other.
Now this is the hardest call – Wingers. I really think that Joey Barton should be on the right as he is most effective there and will provide great service for the attackers. I’d then put Marveaux on the left. This wasn’t an easy choice as I think Jonas is underrated. He really is a maverick and can be a power tool on the wing. With the likes of Dan Gosling, Danny Guthrie and Shane Ferguson all on the bench we will have a lot more flair and pace in this midfield.
Strikers– As Hatem Ben Arfa’s shirt would suggest he seems destined to play the No10 role. I think he will be superb there. He played there at Lyon and was so dangerous with Karim Benzema and with him playing off Demba Ba it would be clinical partnership! With Shola Ameobi, Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands on the bench we haven’t got any game changers… Which I admit is a major worry
So my team is a sort of 4-2-2-1-1
Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique; Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote; Joey Barton, Sylvain Marveaux; Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba.
Which would give us a potential bench of: Steve Harper, Mike Williamson, Shane Ferguson, Dan Gosling, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best, Shola Ameobi.
I think that is a force to be reckoned with… However it becomes painstakingly obvious we need a striker or two and cover at right back.
What do you think?
Thanks to Liam Southern Toon for giving us something that isn’t related to money or transfer activity to ponder!
Cheers toonsy – to be fair even if we got in Taylor and long they still wouldn’t get in the first team IMO 😉
Liam southern toon(Quote)
No probs with the defence or GK there. We may however be looking at 4-3-3 with Tiote, Baton & Cabaye in the midfield and HBA, Ba & Jonas up front with Marveaux on the bench to start with. although personally I’d still love to go all out with 3-3-1-3 al la Chile & El Loco.
Premandup(Quote)
Krul
Simpson Taylor Colo Jose
Barton Tiote Cabaye Marveaux
Ben Arfa
Ba
That would be my team as things stand 🙂
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
haha mint thread toonsy lad , right ….. this is me tam thats gana smash the gunners 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
krul
simpson collo taylor enrique
tiote
barton cabaye gutierez or marveaux ( i cant decide )
ben arfa
new striker or demba ba
subs
harper
willo
ferguson
gutierez or marveaux
gosling
new striker or demba ba
best
thats a canny subs bench!!! 😎
Army69(Quote)
krul
Simpson
Saylor
Coloccini
Enrique
Barton
Tiote
Cabaye
Gutierrez
Ben Arfa
Ba
Subs
Harper
Raylor
Jordie(Quote)
I would have a very similar setup but with Jonas starting over marveaux. He has the experience in this league and tracks back while definitely being able to offer something in attack.
At least for the arsenal game, that is what I would prefer
AndrewT(Quote)
WTF didn’t finish, bloody iPad
Williamson
Gosling
Marveaux
Guthrie
Best
Jordie(Quote)
Keeper… Krul
Back Four… Simpson… Taylor… Coloccini… Enrique
Centre Mid… Tiote… Cabaye
Wingers… Barton… Gutierrez (Marveaux an unknown)
AM… Ben Arfa
Up Front… Ba
If Marveaux comes good, definitely should replace Jonas, likeable lad, workhorse, but end product is shocking at times
Keith(Quote)
its funny cos every1s putn the same team in haha!! lets just hope pardue does the same
Army69(Quote)
have yous all noticed ameobi hasnt been mentioned once in a team 😆 😆 😆 😆 think weve had enuf of him like 😆
Army69(Quote)
Harper
simpson colocinni williamson enruqe
ben harfa barton tiote cabaye marveux
BA
Declan(Quote)
I would have Krul, Simmo, Willo, Collo, Jose, Tiote, Joey, Marveaux Lm Gutti Rm, Benny Am and Ba st .
Cabaye and joey can rotate and play together when Tiote is suspended/off to anc Marvy and Gutti can swap depending on opponents and Ba can be replaced with Best when injured or away Anc.
Were not too far from having a decent side but need cover up front and fullbacks (both) I would rather have another dedicated rightback and another dedicated leftback for competition rather than someone who can play either but half as well.
Just my opinions though….HWTL
giimps(Quote)
declan – ben arfa on the right midfield??? 😕
Army69(Quote)
Just for Fun
Krul
Saylor – Colo – Jose
Barton – Tiote – Cabaye
HBA
Jonas – Ba – Marveaux
Subs
Harper
Kadar
Willo
Gosling
no depth up front
Premandup(Quote)
I agree with Premandup and think we should go 3-1-3-3 Chile style, its really one intriguing formation.
Anyway
Krul
Simpson Taylor Coloccini Enrique
Tiote Cabaye
Barton Ben Arfa Gutierrez
Ba
Subs
Harper Williamson Gosling Guthrie Ferguson Marvueax Best
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Premandup @ 14 – Only problem with that is Barton/Cabaye doesnt fit those positions. Other than that it looks real tasty!
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Krul
Simpson/Taylor/Colo/Jose
Barton/Cabaye/Tiote/Jonas
HBA
Ba
Don’t know a lot about marveaux and he’ll be lacking match practice as he hasn’t played since last year
Andy(Quote)
I agree with pretty much all of that bar Williamson, for me there is no doubt that Taylor is a much better choice than Mike. He has played excellently in the last 3 games, whilst every time Williamson got the ball my heart was in my mouth…
TheDimpleboy(Quote)
For me it’s a 4-2-3-1
krul
simo saylor collo Jose
Tiote. Cabaye
Jonas Marveux
HBA
Ba
raffo(Quote)
4-3-3 in the style of England since the world cup with Marveaux and Ben Arfa In free roles behind the main striker.
Krul
Simpson S Taylor Colloccini Enrique
Tiote
Barton Cabaye
Ben Arfa Marveaux
Ba
Subs – Harper (GK), Williamson (DF), Gosling (RB,CM,AM), Gutierrez (RM,LM), Ferguson (LB, LM), Shola Ameobi (FW), Lovenkrands (RM, LM, FW)
Oblong(Quote)
As the squad is today I would pick this starting line-up: 4-2-3-1
Krul
Simpson-Saylor-Colo-Enrique
Tiote-Barton
Gutierrez-Ben Arfa-Marveaux
Ba
Bench: Cabaye (he need time I think), Ferguson, Forster, Gosling, Guthrie, Best, Williamson
And we also has Lovenkrands, Ranger and good young guys to get their chances.
If we can keep the players we have and get a new striker (Sturridge, please!), Nzogbia and a competitiorer for the RB I would be more than happy with our squad. And probably we can say goodbye to Smith, Perch, Ameobi and Xisco:)
Kristoffer(Quote)
wey im off to feed the 4 week old laddy al b on afta lads 😀
Army69(Quote)
All things considered…not a bad looking squad if you ask me. A left back & another striker & we’re golden 😀
witters(Quote)
Aye nice one army!
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Ba
Ben Arfa. Jonas
Marveaux. Barton
Tiote
Jose. Colo. Taylor. Simpson
Krul
jay jay(Quote)
AlanPardewProject. We don’t have the right squad for 3-3-1-3
I’d rather have Matudi in there with Selezneyov up front, but we haven’t got them yet.
Premandup(Quote)
Jay Jay @ 25, i like that squad, except that I am still a Williamson fan…so Mike vs. Saylor. But I absolutely want to keep Jonas in the starting XI and like the idea of moving him to the right.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
I would probably go for something like this against Arsenal:
Harper
Simpson-Taylor-Coloccini-Enrique
Barton – Tiote
Jonas Ferguson
Ben Arfa
Ba
Just think that gives good balance to the team, for a match where we should probably field a few attacking players that know how to defend, and also have the character to stand up and fight. I don’t know much about Cabaye and Marveaux yet, so might swap Cabaye for Barton, and Marveaux for Ferguson.
Norwegian fan(Quote)
Krul
Jonas collo saylor Jose
joey cabaye tiote marveux
Ben
ba
Im85288(Quote)
I think it will be:
Harper
Simpson Taylor Colo Jose
Barton Tiote Cabaye Jonas
Ben Arfa
Ba
subs: Krul, Williamson, Marvaeux, Gosling, Best, Fergusen, Ameobi
MDS(Quote)
giimps says:
July 12, 2011 at 18:28
Were not too far from having a decent side but need cover up front and fullbacks (both) I would rather have another dedicated rightback and another dedicated leftback for competition rather than someone who can play either but half as well.
———————
Sort of agree- my team is calling out for another FB or two. Pehaps they are still hopeful on NTaylor and think Tavernier could do a job at RB. Another ST is needed so I can leave Shola off my bench 😉
MDS(Quote)
off thread for a mo they are saying somewhere else 😉 😉 that B.A.and Marvaeux cost 4 mil each to sign up,sounds more like a P.R. stunt from ashley and owl heed to me if true good job they were free 🙄 🙄
icedog(Quote)
Ice…you been reading .org 😀
witters(Quote)
WITTERS i read every bloody thing mate never buy rags so got to find **** elsewhere 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
4-3-3
GK – Tim Krul
RB – Danny Simpson
CB – Steven Taylor
CB – Fabrico Coloccini
LB – Jose Enrique
CM – Joey Barton
CM – Cheick Tiote
CM – Yohan Cabaye
RW – Hatem Ben Arfa
ST – Demba Ba
LW – Sylivan Marveaux
NottsGeordie(Quote)
What,s the point in running down your contact if you don,t get a big signing on fee. I imagine they got a few million each.
premandup(Quote)
**** being the operative word 😆 😆
witters(Quote)
NG aye would go with that,see how it went,think pardew will tinker hear and there
icedog(Quote)
I reckon we’ll play 4-2-3-1 this year.
————Krul————
Simpson–colo—taylor–jose
——tiote——barton—–
marveaux—cabaye—ben arfa
————-ba————-
RG_11010(Quote)
Notts, that looks good as well. I think a 4-3-3 could be very possible when all our players are fit. I might try out Jonas as one of the wings over marveaux. Although chances are that the sylvan has a better and more regular shot on him compared to jonas
AndrewT(Quote)
Agree with Toons on the line-up, but can’t see Enrique being here. For me, he is already a Liverpool player, but the club are just dragging it out to save face. I don’t see why Phil ‘Big Nose’ Thompson would say it was a done deal otherwise.
~ El Toro ~(Quote)
Yeah icedog we could play loads of formations next year 🙂 4-3-3/4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1/4-4-2
NottsGeordie(Quote)
I just realised that my first sentence is total contradiction
~ El Toro ~(Quote)
‘For me, he is already a Liverpool player, but the club are just dragging it out to save face. I don’t see why Phil ‘Big Nose’ Thompson would say it was a done deal otherwise.’
Not sure about that, if a deal was in place we would just the money asap, we wouldn’t wait around.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I see us playing more of a 4-3-3 like when Keegan was in charge. That got the most out of Barton and Geremi, and works best if you have midfielders who can play long angled balls into the box (think Geremi’s ball into Owen against the Mackems).
Cabaye is also supposed to be able to play intelligent long balls, and they are Barton’s specialty. Ba looks like a great header of the ball, and Best seems like he can find gaps in the defense… that will be created by Ben Arfa’s brilliance.
Chelsea have shown that you can have a good record in defense with three attacking player if you play 3 good defensive midfielders.
Our strongest 11:
—————–Krul—————————-
Simpson – Taylor – Colo – Enquique
—Barton —- Tiote —- Cabaye
Ben Arfa———————————-
———————– Best —————–
—-Ba ————————————
Subs
Marveax/Jonas bring something different from the bench.
Gosling provides excellent cover for MF 3
Free Scoring Smudge(Quote)
I’m not sold on Enrique to Liverpool either
No CL football there next year and, though they are improving, who would they knock out of the top 4 next year? It sounds as if we have offered him a lot of money so can’t really see him going there for money either.
MDS(Quote)
GK – Krul
RB – Simmo
CB – Colo
CB – Saylor
LB – Enrique
DM – Tiote
RM – Jonas
CM – Cabaye
LM – Marveaux
FWD – Ben Arfa
CF – Ba
Tasty!
Cabaye will play a Fabregas-esque roll this season, no doubt.
Daverism(Quote)
Ha! Role.
Daverism(Quote)
From the current squad:
Krul
Simpson S. Taylor Coloccini Enrique
Cabaye Tiote
Jonas Ben Arfa Marveaux
Ba
Bench: Harper, Williamson, Kadar/Tavernier, Gosling, Barton, Vuckic/Ferguson, Sh. Ameobi
Evar(Quote)
This team would be awesome:
GK – Harper
RB – Perch
LB – Tavernier
CB – Williamson
CB – Kadar
CM – Guthrie
CM – Smith
RM – Raylor
LM – Loverman
ST – Ameobi
ST – Ameobi
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Oblong’s formation nails it for me. We need pacey players on the wings, meaning Barton should be kept in the middle of the park. He can play to his strenghts from there, distributing balls left and right, and going forward when possible ..
funkness(Quote)
I Agree with your starting line up… Mostly…
Krul
Simpson| S.Taylor| Coloccini| Ferguson
Ben Arfa| Cabaye| Tiote| Marveaux
Ba| Lovenkrands
until Barton is definetally staying… I choose this otherwise… I’d pick Ben Arfa + Ba getting Crosses and passes from Marveaux and Barton
Just If Ben Arfa played on the wing and Cabaye the closest midfielder to him… Cabaye could produce Quality passes to Ben Arfa who could set up or use skill to get past defenders to score a goal…
Makes sense eh?
Iby(Quote)
iby??????????? lovenkrands??
Army69(Quote)
storey going on that erdinc will sign,not twitter but could be just as bad some guy on eds 😀
icedog(Quote)
Is upson gonna sign for us?
jay jay(Quote)
@JAY JAY
I bloody hope not!
Oblong(Quote)
JAY JAY somebody whats to sign its bloody dead on hear the neet 😐
icedog(Quote)
Jay….I’d rather have Campbell back…..er well maybe not but you get my drift.
richietoon(Quote)
Richie,
You back in old blighty yet ❓
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
TGS…fly back in the morning….just as I’m starting to get a tan, I’ll be back to square one by the time I come back…..unless I get a spray on one at that beauty parlour bobby uses 😆
richietoon(Quote)
I agree with IBY, but have jose, if he is still here, but I can see why you left him out.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
————Krul————
Simpson–colo—taylor–jose
——tiote——barton—–
Jonas—cabaye—ben arfa
————-ba————-
Main subs: Harper, Williamson, Ferguson, Gosling, Marveaux, Vuckic, Best…
JJ(Quote)
Lots of rumours we are in talks with someone, lukaku 🙄 benzema 😆 N’zogbia…again 😐
But I just have a feeling Upson might sign 😥
jay jay(Quote)
Definately says we need to impress quality at RB, cover at LB and a pacey winger/striker type to play on the right…
Get that, keep what we got, and its a quality squad…
JJ(Quote)
RT, dont forget to have a chat mate, you could maybe say I used to play for Barcalona acdemy? 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Talking about Matthew Upson, I was looking at the relegated clubs today wondering if there was any players i’d take for competition/back up defenders.
it wasn’t exactly rich pickings but the two players I thought might be worth a look were James Tomkins from West Ham or Liam Ridgewell from Birmingham.
Both are capable of playing in a few positions and both are decent if not brilliant players that wont cost the earth.
Oblong(Quote)
Spencer…..aye,divnt fret. I’ll sort it out for ya.
richietoon(Quote)
JAY JAY you got it wrong erdinc to sign by week-end all agreeed,ranger ganning to b/pool on loan,pardew whats to keep him,toon wont allow rout to go to swansea over taylor carry on,any more useless imfo ill be sure to tell you 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Stoke agree fee for Cartlon Cole…
Fank Thuck!
JJ(Quote)
JJ…..that’s better news than us signing a player 😆
richietoon(Quote)
JJ aye m8 had a sweat on me-sel 🙄
icedog(Quote)
RT- I was just reminding you because you drink that much like, you must suffer from memory loss and that? 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
STT richie not a drinker,more of a glutton big dave says 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
oh aye nearly forgot harper told today that krul will be no1 keeper 😯
icedog(Quote)
I dont give a shyte what big dave says,
But cheers anyway ice, got nothing against you
SpencerTheToon(Quote)