What's our best XI?

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ZoneManWilf

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With COG signing, we now have quite an extensive playing squad with a lot of options for formations and line-ups.

Squad as it stands (I think):

Goal: Howard, Willis, Turner
Defence: Alcock, Harris, McCarthy, McGahey, McEverley, Collins, Kennedy
Midfield: Doyle, Basham, Scougall, Wallace, Davies, Reed, McGinn, Dimiao, Khan
Attack: Murphy, Flynn, Campbell-Ryce, Baxter, O'Grady, Hidgon, McNulty, Porter, Adams

So what's our best starting eleven out of that lot? With all the team changing in recent weeks, I'm not sure even sure Clough knows what his best line-up is, but does that matter in a season where we're playing a lot of games and have dealt with quite a few injuries?

We know by now that a lone striker is the way Clough likes to play, but with COG, along with Higdon and McNulty getting back, I really hope we switch away from Baxter up front. It worked a fair bit at the end of last season, but we're not scoring enough goals right now if we want to get up towards the auto spots. We simply aren't converting pressure to goals, especially at home (Dingles match the prime example).

I'd go with:
............................Howard...........................

Alcock......McCarthy......McEverley......Harris

.................Doyle............Basham.................

Flynn....................Baxter..................Murphy

...........................O'Grady............................

Options would be use Basham in defence, as neither of the McCentrehalfs, are pulling up trees at the moment, but I think Basham's current form would see him best used in midfield. It means Scougall misses out, but I think his form of late is mixed, and could be a player we use coming off the bench to liven midfield up. Plenty of other bench options with McNulty and JCR as well.

You could easily switch to 4-4-2 with Higdon for Baxter and playing COG up alongside Higdon.
 

With COG signing, we now have quite an extensive playing squad with a lot of options for formations and line-ups.

Squad as it stands (I think):

Goal: Howard, Willis, Turner
Defence: Alcock, Harris, McCarthy, McGahey, McEverley, Collins, Kennedy
Midfield: Doyle, Basham, Scougall, Wallace, Davies, Reed, McGinn, Dimiao, Khan
Attack: Murphy, Flynn, Campbell-Ryce, Baxter, O'Grady, Hidgon, McNulty, Porter, Adams

So what's our best starting eleven out of that lot? With all the team changing in recent weeks, I'm not sure even sure Clough knows what his best line-up is, but does that matter in a season where we're playing a lot of games and have dealt with quite a few injuries?

We know by now that a lone striker is the way Clough likes to play, but with COG, along with Higdon and McNulty getting back, I really hope we switch away from Baxter up front. It worked a fair bit at the end of last season, but we're not scoring enough goals right now if we want to get up towards the auto spots. We simply aren't converting pressure to goals, especially at home (Dingles match the prime example).

I'd go with:
............................Howard...........................

Alcock......McCarthy......McEverley......Harris

.................Doyle............Basham.................

Flynn....................Baxter..................Murphy

...........................O'Grady............................

Options would be use Basham in defence, as neither of the McCentrehalfs, are pulling up trees at the moment, but I think Basham's current form would see him best used in midfield. It means Scougall misses out, but I think his form of late is mixed, and could be a player we use coming off the bench to liven midfield up. Plenty of other bench options with McNulty and JCR as well.

You could easily switch to 4-4-2 with Higdon for Baxter and playing COG up alongside Higdon.

I think with our squad now we have quality in every position, what ever starting 11 we put on the pitch we should be able to beat most if not all the teams in this league. With the signing of O'grady and maybe a couple more signings in January we are have a squad that excites me if not more than the 11/12 season.

My team would be the same as yours pretty much (probably try and fit Wallace in there when/if he's fit), I would like to see us bring in a quality right winger in January as for me Flynn and JCR are to hit or miss.

Howard
Alcock McCarthy McEverley Harris
Wallace Basham
JCR Baxter Murphy
COG
 
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It's all much of a muchness isn't it ?
No outstanding player in any position
Can't see us troubling the pfa team of the year with any of that lot
 
I'd go:

............................Howard...........................

Alcock......Basham......Someone starting Mc......Harris

.................Doyle............Reed.................

Flynn....................Scougal..................Murphy

...........................O'Grady............................

More than happy to have Baxter, JCR, McN/Higdon to come off the bench for the last 15 onslaught.
 
I'd go:

............................Howard...........................

Alcock......Basham......Someone starting Mc......Harris

.................Doyle............Reed.................

Flynn....................Scougal..................Murphy

...........................O'Grady............................

More than happy to have Baxter, JCR, McN/Higdon to come off the bench for the last 15 onslaught.

All 4 Scrappy midgets in the same midfield grumps?
 
.......................................Howard.........................................
Flynn\Alcock.........McGhaey.....Basham.......McEverley\Harris
.....................Reed/Doyle ..................Wallace........................
............ Scoogs................Baxter..................Murphy...............
...................................... O'Grady..........................................


For alternates, first name = preferred choice.
 
.....................Howard.........................
Davies..McCarthy...Basham..Harris
.....................Doyle.............................
JCR......Scougall....J.Wallace....Murphy
......................O'Grady.........................

Subs:- Turner, Alcock, McCeveley, Reed, Flynn, Higdon, Baxter
 
In a 4-4-2 :eek: I'd go with:

GK: Howard (obviously)
RB: Allcock (reluctantly - as I've said before, I would have preferred a new attacking right back rather than us signing O'Grady or, ambitiously, why not both?)
LB: Dirty Bob
CB: Basham
CB: McEverley or McGahey (depending on the opposition)
RM: Flynn
LM: Murphy
CM: Doyle (Captain)
CM: Baxter or Scougall (depending on form)
ST: McNulty
ST: Higdon

Subs: O'Grady, Reed, Willis(GK), Campbell-Ryce, whichever CB I didn't put in, whichever CM I didn't put in and the one of the two young lads from Ilkeston.
 
Crafty and subtle dig at the O'Grady bunch in there Latters. Nice touch.

More inadvertent than crafty, but have a like.

That genuinely would be my team until O'Grady proves me wrong, as everyone says he will. I do still want a new right back, though.
 
............................Howard...........................

Alcock......Basham......McEverley......Harris

............Wallace/Reed........ Doyle..............

JCR...............Baxter/Scougall..............Murphy

..........................O'Grady............................
 
It's all much of a muchness isn't it ?
No outstanding player in any position
Can't see us troubling the pfa team of the year with any of that lot[/
Some decent L1 players in there Judge.
 

............................Howard...........................

Alcock......Basham......McEverley......Harris

............Wallace/Reed........ Doyle..............

JCR...............Baxter/Scougall..............Murphy

..........................O'Grady............................
Love to be driving down Blackstock Rd tonight on my way to match and here that line up announced on Radio Sheffield
 
Howard
Alcock- Jay- Basham- Harris
Davies-Doyle-Wallace-Murphy
Ogrady-McNulty

Turner-Mcarthy-Scougall-Reed-Flynn-JCR-Higdon.
 
Howard
Flynn-Basham-McGahey-McEveley
Murphy-Wallace-Scougall-Harris
Baxter
McNulty

Turner, JCR, Reed, Doyle, Alcock, COG, Davies

McCarthy back to Palace and Higdon in the bin.

For a second I thought my bench didn't look too exciting then I realised it's because I put all our best players in the first XI. That's an attacking version at home, rotate the defence along one and drop Bob back bringing Flynn up to midfield away. JCR, COG and Davies offer different attacking options if needed, Doyle and Reed can come on and control midfield if we actually have a lead.
 
Forget Wallace he struggles to make 20 mins never mind 90

Total waste
 
Howard
Alcock- Jay- Basham- Harris
Davies-Doyle-Wallace-Murphy
Ogrady-McNulty

Turner-Mcarthy-Scougall-Reed-Flynn-JCR-Higdon.
Totally agree with you Sitwell time for the bench
 
This would be my home side if all fit.Tweaking a few players on form etc.
.............................Howard............................

............Basham....McGahey....McEveley......

...............................Reed................................

..Davies.....Wallace..........Baxter.......Harris...

........................COG........Murphy..................
Subs:Alcock,Scougall,Kennedy,JCR,Higdon,McNulty,Flynn.

This is my away side.
............................Howard.............................

....Alcock....Basham...McEveley....Harris....

....................Reed........Wallace....................

.......JCR..............Scougall.........Murphy.....

...............McNulty/Higdon/COG..................
Subs:Flynn,McGahey,Davies,Baxter,Dimiao,StrikerA,StrikerB.
The strikers all depend on form really and i'm still interested to see Che Adams play,so for that reason i can't include him yet.
 
Tonight: 3-5-2.

Howard.

Alcock Basham McEveley

Murphy Baxter Doyle Scougall Harris or Flynn

Higdon O'Grady.



After 30 minutes if either of Scougall or Baxter are not in the game, teach 'em a lesson and bring Reid on.

3-5-2 can be much stronger defensively than 4-4-2 if the back 3 play in a unit which never ventures upfield.
 
Tonight: 3-5-2.

Howard.

Alcock Basham McEveley

Murphy Baxter Doyle Scougall Harris or Flynn

Higdon O'Grady.



After 30 minutes if either of Scougall or Baxter are not in the game, teach 'em a lesson and bring Reid on.

3-5-2 can be much stronger defensively than 4-4-2 if the back 3 play in a unit which never ventures upfield.

Murphy is not a wing back in a million years
 
Howard
Alcock Basham McCarthy Harris
Davies Wallace Reed Murphy
JCR
O'Grady

I think JCR behind the striker could work. He is bloody frustrating at times but defenders do seem to worry about him and if his team mates don't know what he is going to do next, I don't think the defenders will. If Davies isn't fit I would play Flynn. When Wallace isn't fit, I'd put Basham in there and McEverly back at centre half.
 
Murphy is not a wing back in a million years




In my team Murphy would be an out and out winger with Allcock right hand side of back 3. Doyle would have defensive responsibilities when Murphy has pushed on.

Flynn would be a conventional wing back which is natural to him but I would expect him to push on more than he does.

Bear in mind we are at home tonight. I would play 4-5-1 away from home.
 
4,4,1,1

Howard
Alcock- McEveley- Basham- Harris
Flynn- Reed-Wallace-Murphy
Baxter
O'Grady

Subs - Turner-McCarthy-Scougall-Davies-JCR-McNulty
 

Howard
Flynn-Basham-McGahey-McEveley
Murphy-Wallace-Scougall-Harris
Baxter
McNulty

Turner, JCR, Reed, Doyle, Alcock, COG, Davies

McCarthy back to Palace and Higdon in the bin.

For a second I thought my bench didn't look too exciting then I realised it's because I put all our best players in the first XI. That's an attacking version at home, rotate the defence along one and drop Bob back bringing Flynn up to midfield away. JCR, COG and Davies offer different attacking options if needed, Doyle and Reed can come on and control midfield if we actually have a lead.

Im similar but:

Howard
Flynn-Basham-McEveley- Harris
JCR-Wallace-Reed-Murphy
McNulty COG

Turner, Doyle, Alcock, Dimao, Davies, Wallace ( young), Adams

Add a new RB, McCarthy back to Palace and Higdon in the bin.
UTB & FTP
 

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