My combined 11 as a thought experiment:
------------------------Mignolet
---------------Can - Koscielny - Sakho------------
Sterling ------- Hendo - Cazorla ------ Monreal
------------------Sanchez-------Coutinho--------------
---------------------------Sturridge---------------------
Mignolet: Pretty easy one. I rate Ospina, but Simon's form has been fantastic this year. No contest.
Can, Koscielny, Sakho: If Skrtel were available, this might be a clean sweep. As it is I rate Koscielny more than Toure (or Lovren for that matter). Sakho easily the best of both teams, and Can offers a great deal too. If I were thinking in terms of team balance however rather than picking the best 11 of both teams, I might swap Koscielny for Mertesacker as he strikes me as a player more suited to the central sweeping CB role.
Sterling, Hendo, Cazorla, Monreal: I was a bit iffy about Sterling at wingback because he hasn't set the world alight there, but he's a better pick than Bellerin for the role. Oxlade is injured and wouldn't get in ahead of Sterling anyway. Cazorla is an easy pick, no explanation needed really. Hendo or Lucas was a hard one - it would really depend on tactics. Lucas is only just fit so I cheesed it on the basis that he's not 100% yet. I don't really know a huge amount about Monreal. They keep letting him play so I assume he's a decent left back. Gibbs is pretty meh, and Moreno hasn't been great recently so I'm giving it to the man with the ridiculous name.
Sanchez, Coutinho: Two of the best players for either team. I could comment more if you want, but really I'd be wasting both of our time. Well, I'm probably doing that anyway. I'd be very surprised if anyone is still reading this anyway. Its getting on the long side and I've yet to say anything of substance. You ugly cocksucker.
Sturridge: Tough call, but has more class than Giroud, who is in great form.
Logged