Our best 11

[Berlin Blade]

So, we’ve had a good few weeks to look at our new signings for the most part and we’ve had a feel for the opposition now. I know it’s horses for courses sometimes and our team selection will depend on opposition sometimes, but hypothetically if we are playing a run of the mill premier league side at home, in a game where we’re after 3 points (I know they all are winnable but you know what I mean), who would your first 11 be? I think mine may be:

Henderson
Baldock
Basham
Egan
JOC
Stevens

Lundstram
Norwood
Fleck
(Flat midfield 3)

Mcgoldrick
Sharp

I would also not mind seeing

Hendo
Baldock
Basham
Egan
JOC
Stevens

Lunny
Norwood
(Sitting)

Freeman
Mcgoldrick
(Both behind striker)

Mousset

It’s interesting to think the first 11 is our team from the championship. I do like pretty much all of our signings, but it’s interesting that the 45 million has been spent on cover/options for the first team, rather than on players to walk into the starting 11.

What does everyone else think? This is not for a moment bashing mcburnie or Robinson, I think both are great players but offer different things that may not necessarily work with the way those teams set up. Wilder wants his players ‘starving’, and I think some time chomping at the bit and watching how Mcgoldrick and Sharp operate may do them the world of good in terms of fitting in to the system and understand what’s required of them.

 

[TaipeiBlade]

Henderson*
Baldock
Basham*
Egan
JOC
Stevens

Lundstram
Fleck
Freeman/McGoldrick

McBurnie*
Moose


* Is people we really should be looking to improve on in January. Basham has done better than expected, but I really think we need a CB with some premier league experience to try and limit the stupid mistakes.

Henderson is on his last chance for me.

McBurnie is decent, but I think we need a clinical, premier league proven striker in Jan. It's a long shot, but Mitrovic from Fulham would be good... but probably out of our budget.

Norwood, he does some great passes but does less than Lundstram and Fleck, and Freeman gives us a better attacking option. If any of the 3 are to be dropped, it's gotta be him.

Robbo can't finish. Moose has 1 shot, 1 goal. So gotta give him 90 minutes and see what he can do. His fitness is a concern, he didn't look great vs Liverpool when he came on ... probably a mistake playing him vs Sunderland tbh.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Henderson
Baldock
Basham
Egan
O'Connell
Stevens
Fleck
L Freeman
Lundstram
McGoldrick
Mousset

 

[mancunianblade]

Really like Norwood he's so important but he has a habit of making a could of really noticeable mistakes per game..

Feel a bit for Freeman played really well when he replaced Fleck then been tarred with the same brush as the others that played in the Leagues cup games, and I don't mean by the fans.

The Strikers that the conundrum

Sharp has to start we are missing too many chances in an around the box that he would convert. Bar the suspension does Wilder question his energy? We are playing a very high energetic press and we see pinning teams in, Robinson, Mousset and McBurnie do this well.

Defensively McBurnie was immense yesterday and that alone means I think he keeps his place

So far Robinson has been wasteful

I think Mousset has already settled into his position as an impact sub..

Don't see Clarke playing for us again Unless there are injuries or suspension.

So I'd say going forward the front two will be Sharp and McBurnie and it won't take long to settle down and them to.build an understanding

 

[BladeInIreland]

Usual but McBurnie and Mousset upfront. With freeman on for Lundstram if we need more.

 

[8lade]

So I'd say going forward the front two will be Sharp and McBurnie

We need this from next week, as I was discussing Sharp with a Donny fan, my Arsenal mate said 'I have absolutely no idea who you're talking about.' The opener v Arsenal for Sharp then!

 

[mancunianblade]

We need this from next week, as I was discussing Sharp with a Donny fan, my Arsenal mate said 'I have absolutely no idea who you're talking about.' The opener v Arsenal for Sharp then!

May be completely making this up but it feels that whenever Sharp is kept out he comes back all guns blazing and goes on a scoring run

 

[8lade]

May be completely making this up but it feels that whenever Sharp is kept out he comes back all guns blazing and goes on a scoring run

he's just a great finisher who realises his time is short so is making the best of it. I'm not saying he would've scored some of the chances we've seen go astray recently but I'm confident he'd have got most of them on target. The guy* I was talking to about Sharp said he looked poor the last time he was at Doncaster, whether this was players around him or motivation I don't know but we're definitely seeing the best of Sharp at United.
*Has scouted for Doncaster Rovers.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I'd be bringing Freeman in now, he's a class act.

 

[Ricky]

Henderson
Basham Egan O'Connell
Baldock Lundstram Fleck Stevens
Freeman
Mousset McBurnie


Let's just try it.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I still haven't seen anything from the new lads that makes me think Billy Sharp shouldn't be the first striker on the team sheet every week.

In fact, not playing your best goalscorer week in week out is bordering on being fucking stupid.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Henderson
Basham Egan O'Connell
Baldock Lundstram Fleck Stevens
Freeman
Mousset McBurnie


Let's just try it.

I’d sacrifice Fleck or Lunny before Norwood. Without him we lose a crucial pivot.

 

[Ricky]

I’d sacrifice Fleck or Lunny before Norwood. Without him we lose a crucial pivot.

Maybe. But when we're having 30% possession every game, it's not quite as important.

Might not work, and won't ever happen but I think it's worth a try. Freeman should be in the team.

Or we could just drop Lundstram and go as we did last season with Norwood, Fleck and an attacking (!) midfielder.

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

Henderson
Basham Egan O'Connell
Baldock Lundstram Fleck Stevens
Freeman
Mousset McBurnie


Let's just try it.

These seven seem to be pretty consistent in everyone's line up on this thread.
To think,back in 2016 six were playing third tier football,one was in the fourth and now they're nailed on starters in the top tier ...... having just given the european champions a run for their money.
Outstanding.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Horses for courses so it's hard to say our best XI, but what I will say is I can't put a striker who can't finish in my definitive 'first 11' - that's not to say Didsy isn't a fabulous player who will more than play his part this season

Henderson
Baldock - Basham - Egan - JO'C - Enda
Lundstram - Norwood - Fleck
McBurnie - Moose

I'd also like to see what Freeman or even Ravel can do between the midfield and attack like we used to play. You can always pick variations of stirkers and all will play their part, Billy, Robinson and Didsy but I think those 2 have all the tools you need, you've got height, pace, bit of technical ability, awkwardness, heading ability and finishing in that pairing.

 

[Keen Blade]

Goalie + back 5 are nailed on.
You've got to drop one of the flat MF 3.
In the absence of Duffy , you've gotta get Freeman or McGoldrick in - as a 10 behind TWO strikers - in any game you need & intend to win , like Watford next Saturday.

So , you have to keep Lunny and one of Norwood or Fleck makes way.
I don't care which one.

I don't care which 2 strikers play , but for me it would be Sharp + McBurnie or Mousset.

Didsy is NOT a striker at Prem level (but he's a good number 10).
Robbo is NOT a striker.
He's a winger.
He'd be a 10 , except he can't hold the ball for long enough to link play.

Sharp & Mousset are natural goalscorers. Sharp has strength & guile. Mousset has strength & speed.
McBurnie is an energetic big unit , who can pull defenders around + score the occasional header. He needs to build up his strength.

 

[BushBlade]

Has anyone considered the reason we’re so defensively solid is because we’ve switched to a flat three in midfield? And that if we switch back and have Freeman or Didsy (my autocorrect changed ‘Didsy’ to Duffy, like it thinks it knows about football) we might just turn into Norwich?

 

[Deleted member 1486]

Maybe. But when we're having 30% possession every game, it's not quite as important.

That's crazy backwards thinking. It's even more important with less possession because you have to maximise chances with what little possession you have.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Wilder went with a cautious flat 3 in midfield to start the season, fair enough, but its clear the defence can look after itself now. Freeman in for Lundstram and back to 3-4-1-2 for me. If Wilder persists with the present formation then it looks like Freeman will become the premier league's equivalent of Ricky Holmes.

 

[YES Blade]

Wilder went with a cautious flat 3 in midfield to start the season, fair enough, but its clear the defence can look after itself now. Freeman in for Lundstram and back to 3-4-1-2 for me. If Wilder persists with the present formation then it looks like Freeman will become the premier league's equivalent of Ricky Holmes.

I'm happy enough with the flat 3 against Liverpool on Saturday, but Watford we've surely got to go for it and can't rely on a Everton style smash and grab performance. So I agree, bring back the attacking midfielder behind the front 2.

 

[Ricky]

Sorry, I meant Mousset and McGoldrick. One injury and I forget him.....

That's crazy backwards thinking. It's even more important with less possession because you have to maximise chances with what little possession you have.

And Freeman being in for Norwood would definitely decrease our chances of maximising possession?

Having him in there with the right front two would increase our attacking threat significantly. Numbers, quality, athleticism, balance.

For a game like Watford it could definitely be worth a go. It would have the additional effect of catching them by surprise.

 

[Freethinker]

Has anyone considered the reason we’re so defensively solid is because we’ve switched to a flat three in midfield? And that if we switch back and have Freeman or Didsy (my autocorrect changed ‘Didsy’ to Duffy, like it thinks it knows about football) we might just turn into Norwich?

I think it's time to find out

 

[Madabouttheblades]

I'd be looking at off loading Clarke, Stearman and K Freeman in January.
Bring in Sander Berge, and 2 strikers not sure which ones though. Perhaps, a couple who are playing and scoring in the Chsmpionship.

 

[MoSF94]

I would like to see Mousset and McGoldrick start a game together - think McGoldrick's tendendy to drop deep and Mousset's willingness to run in behind would compliment each other well. Wouldn't have the aerial presence of McBurnie +1, but both are probably better in the air than Robinson and Sharp (in terms of hold-up/aerial duels, anyway - Sharp's headed finishing is very good). Whatever we choose, I love that we have 5 very different players to choose from, all of whom bring something genuinely useful to the table - though I think/hope we haven't seen the best of any of them in the PL, yet!

 

[Mumbo]

So, we’ve had a good few weeks to look at our new signings for the most part and we’ve had a feel for the opposition now. I know it’s horses for courses sometimes and our team selection will depend on opposition sometimes, but hypothetically if we are playing a run of the mill premier league side at home, in a game where we’re after 3 points (I know they all are winnable but you know what I mean), who would your first 11 be? I think mine may be:

Henderson
Baldock
Basham
Egan
JOC
Stevens

Lundstram
Norwood
Fleck
(Flat midfield 3)

Mcgoldrick
Sharp

I would also not mind seeing

Hendo
Baldock
Basham
Egan
JOC
Stevens

Lunny
Norwood
(Sitting)

Freeman
Mcgoldrick
(Both behind striker)

Mousset

It’s interesting to think the first 11 is our team from the championship. I do like pretty much all of our signings, but it’s interesting that the 45 million has been spent on cover/options for the first team, rather than on players to walk into the starting 11.

What does everyone else think? This is not for a moment bashing mcburnie or Robinson, I think both are great players but offer different things that may not necessarily work with the way those teams set up. Wilder wants his players ‘starving’, and I think some time chomping at the bit and watching how Mcgoldrick and Sharp operate may do them the world of good in terms of fitting in to the system and understand what’s required of them.

Is it that they know the system and each other much better than the new guys so work as a
more effective unit?