What would your starting line up be

U

upthevilla

Vital 1st Team Regular
From the current squad, (and obviously you can chop and change as new players sign), what would be your line up to start the season? You can pick your favourite XI, or pick a side where if all players were on form they make the side. Eg, Micah Richards wouldn't get anywhere near my favourite XI, but on form might make the on form side. Let's assume Johnstone has signed.

Johnstone
Richards Terry Chester Taylor
Jedinak
Bjarnesen. Lansbury Grealish
Kodjia Hogan

 
3-5-2 for me

Johnstone

Chester
Terry
Baker

Bree (I like Hutton but Bree is the future)
Amavi (Don't rate Taylor at all)

Landsbury
Hourihane
Grealish

Hogan
Kodjia


I realise there's not much steel in that midfield but think we need to be positive this season and live up to our favourites tag, on the front foot and try trying to score goals.

I want to fit Green in somewhere but just doesn't fit into my system unless he can play as left wing back instead of Amavi.
 
Johnstone

Bree Chester Terry Taylor


Green Jedinak Lansbury Bjarnason

Kodjia Hogan

Bruce wants to play 4-4-2 I would rather 4-1-3-1 so maybe someone like Hourihane or Grealish in for Hogan if he doesn't start scoring regularly.
 
I see sirdennis would have us at a disadvantage from the start of every game, only starting with 9 outfield players in his preferred system.

My own preferred line up would be in a 3-2-3-1-1 formation.

Johnstone.

Chester.
Terry.
Baker.

Jedinak.
Lyden.

DeLaet.
Lansbury.
Amavi.

McCormack.

Hogan.
 
As we saw last season, it's near-impossible to try and fathom Bruce's team selections, but all things being equal and everyone fit, I would go for:

Johnstone

Bree / Chester / Terry (c) / Taylor

Hourihane / Jedinak / Green

Grealish

Kodjia / McCormack (or Hogan, doesn't matter)

Arguably a bit lightweight in midfield, in which case I would swap Grealish for Lansbury.

Bench would be along the lines of:

Bunn / de Laet / Baker / Lansbury (or Grealish) / Adomah / Bjarnason / Hogan (or McCormack)
 
sirdennis - 11/7/2017 09:13


Bruce wants to play 4-4-2.
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In the JT Press Conference he said he was going to experiment with 3 at the back during pre-season. I think he'll go that route.
 
1958 - You wouldn't play Kodjia??? Are you mad? Are you madder than Mad Jock McMad of Madchester? Are you?!?
 
I've gone Bjarnesen in midfield and Jedi protecting the back 4/ anchoring the midfield as we are quite lightweight in midfield as you say JPA.
Think there's goals in the front 5 whoever we pick - Hogan, McCormack, Kodjia, Grealish, Hourihane, Lansbury. Definitely 3 at the back is the way to go though.
 
Against Hull I'd start off with:

Johnstone

Hutton Terry Chester Taylor

Lansbury Hourihane Bjarnason

Grealish

Hogan McCormack

Too early to start Kodjia (it might also be too early to start Bjarnason, in which case I'd be tempted to play Green or Lyden, depending on how defensive Bruce wants to be). Also be a mistake to rush Jedinak back. For this first match I'd prefer Hutton's experience to Bree.
 
I wasn't too impressed when we tried 3 at the back last season. Those wide open spaces down our flanks behind the wingbacks invited trouble.
 
DeanoVilla - 11/7/2017 10:57

Do people really think we could have JT and Jedinak in the same team? There's no legs there at all.
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Considering Jedinak is by far our best player, then yes. There's not the same pace in the Champ, I don't think Terry would be caught out of position too often, and Jedinak gets around the pitch better than any of our other passengers imho.
 
3 at the back again is it. Same thing will happen as the last time we tried it, and the time before that, and the time before that. Neither Bree or Taylor looked particularly comfortable as wing backs when they played there so we will end up with 5 at the back, again, leaving the midfield completely overrun and the forwards isolated as we hoof it up to them in an attempt to relieve the pressure. It didn't work last time and it won't work this time.
 
DeanoVilla - 11/7/2017 10:41

In the JT Press Conference he said he was going to experiment with 3 at the back during pre-season. I think he'll go that route.
Click to expand...

I'd not seen that actually. If that is his favoured formation, I might amend to:

Johnstone

Chester / Terry (c) / Baker

Bree / Hourihane / Jedinak / Taylor

Grealish

Kodjia / McCormack (or Hogan, doesn't matter)

Bench:

Bunn / de Laet / Amavi / Lansbury (or Grealish) / Green / Adomah / Hogan (or McCormack)

 
DeanoVilla - 11/7/2017 10:41

sirdennis - 11/7/2017 09:13


Bruce wants to play 4-4-2.
Click to expand...

In the JT Press Conference he said he was going to experiment with 3 at the back during pre-season. I think he'll go that route.
Click to expand...

Oh right I didn't see that.

Pre season might make things a bit clearer .!!!!
 
1958Villan - 11/7/2017 10:14

I see sirdennis would have us at a disadvantage from the start of every game, only starting with 9 outfield players in his preferred system.

My own preferred line up would be in a 3-2-3-1-1 formation.

Johnstone.

Chester.
Terry.
Baker.

Jedinak.
Lyden.

DeLaet.
Lansbury.
Amavi.

McCormack.

Hogan.
Click to expand...

Lol and I am an accountant as well

:23:

I did mean 4-2-3-1
 
DeanoVilla - 11/7/2017 10:43

1958 - You wouldn't play Kodjia??? Are you mad? Are you madder than Mad Jock McMad of Madchester? Are you?!?
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Deano, playing at his best Kodjia is a lone striker, who doesn't hold the ball up for a running midfielder or other forwards. Now while that can be useful against some teams, it is actually very limiting in creating chances, so, for the majority of games I would start two forwards who can work as a pairing, creating for each other.
If that makes me mad, then mad I am.
 
JW85, for a 3 man back line to work, you have to play 2 in holding midfield, while the outside two of the back 3 cover for the wingbacks.
The back 3 and the 2 holding players have to be calm and determined to do their jobs. They can't go chasing forward at every opportunity. For corners and free-kicks the centre backs can go forward but, the holding players have to stay back.
This formation gives the attacking 5 the freedom to interchange positions and weave patterns around and through defenders. Very confusing for teams that play manmarking.
The downside to a 3 man back line comes when you don't have the players capable of playing the system.
 
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