Potential starting 11 for the 2010/11 season

I'm perplexed.  We don't have any quality wingers or wide midfielders and people are suggesting formations that make the best use of the wide areas.

E.g?

E.g?

People suggesting 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1.  We don't have the personnel for a 4-1-2-3.  4-2-1-3 might be a decent shout (if we bring in an extra attacking option).  4-3-2-1 would mean the likes of Kuyt, Jovanovic and Maxi being used as conventional wide midfielders which none of them excel at.  As far as formations go, there's a few key points to note:

- If Torres is fit, we play 1 up front, end of... N'Gog is backup to Torres.
- Gerrard's best position IS in behind Torres, however like Trinidad and Tobago did with striker Dwight Yorke at the world cup 8 years ago, it might be more beneficial to play him deeper to benefit the team more.  Slightly gimping Gerrard's game for the greater good of the team could prove to be a good decision.
- Hodgson shouldn't be scared of moving Cole over to the left if it benefits the team.
- We have no traditional wide midfielders (Cole is probably the best one we do have, perhaps Glen Johnson could be used here) or out and out wingers.  It's important to remember this when choosing a formation, we've been setup to play a 4-2-3-1 and should remain playing this formation until we've got the right squad to change it.  Rafa started out playing 4-4-1-1 until he slowly morphed the formation into a 4-2-3-1 over time.  If Hodgson's got an idea of changing to a different formation, he should slowly work into it.

If we sign another striker, I reckon my 5212 would be a good formation

I still think mine's the best:

               Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio
               Lucas
         Gerrard  Meireles
Maxi         Torres         Cole

                     Reina

Kelly   Carra   Skrtel/Agger     Konchesky

Johnson    Gerrard    Meireles   Jovanovic/Aurelio
                  
                        Cole
           
                     Torres

If Stevie, Nando, and Agger have injury issues again this year, this could be our starting 11:

                     Reina

Johnson   Carra       Skrtel      Konchesky

              Poulsen    Meireles

  Kuyt               Cole            Jova

                      Ngog

Subs:  Maxi, Babel, Kelly, Aurelio, Sotis, Jones, Pacheco

It certainly doesn't look terrible, but at the same time, I can easily see this team dropping a lot of points to teams like Sunderland, Villa, Fulham, Stoke, Wigan, Newcastle, etc.  I still think they would be able to beat the likes of West Brom, Blackpool, and West Ham, but is this team going to be good enough to get us back into the Champs League?

I still think mien's the best:

Spot on.This team looks good, very attacking,please lord no injuries this year.

                         Reina
Johnson   Carragher   Agger   Konchesky
                Meireles   Lucas
    Kuyt             Gerrard           Cole
                        Torres

Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Agger - Konchesky
Gerrard - Meireles
Kuyt - - - Cole - - - Maxi
Torres

'nuff said.

Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Agger - Konchesky
Gerrard - Meireles
Kuyt - - - Cole - - - Maxi
Torres

'nuff said.

Maxi on the left?
Nuff said.

How many times has he played there? Not many.
I honestly believe if we play both Kuyt and Jovanovic on the wings we're gonna be in for performances similar to the West Brom one.

How many times has he played there? Not many.
I honestly believe if we play both Kuyt and Jovanovic on the wings we're gonna be in for performances similar to the West Brom one.

He's played there enough times for most of the fans to know it does not suit him, I'm not saying stick Kuyt and Jova on the wings as I know they're nothing special there. I see what you're saying but I think Maxi on the right of Nando and Cole on the left is our best bet, with Gerrard and Meireles behind.

Think we should try Kuyt on the left then Holland did it during the world cup and they got to the final

looks like the team roy will be playing is:

                   reina

johnson  carra        agger  konchesky

            gerrard    meireles

kuyt                                   jovanovic
                    cole
                     
                   torres


to be honest, i'd much rather have kuyt on the left - as he impressed there against WBA - and maxi on the right, with jovanovic being cover for kuyt. he's good, but maxi is better and i cant see roy dropping dirky

We're actually still spoilt for choice, despite sending Aquilani out on loan and getting Poulsen in.

If we play one DM like every other damn team does, then we can have Gerrard, Shelvey, Meireles, Spearing, Lucas or Poulsen.

In central & attacking mid we could have Gerrard, Cole, Meireles, Shelvey, Pacheco and Spearing.

On the wings we have Babel, Jovanovic, Cole, Kuyt, Maxi, Pacheco and Gerrard.

Defensively, we're covered easily now.

Strikers we have Babel, Kuyt, N'Gog, Torres, Jovanovic.

My point is we have an extremely versatile squad. We're capable of playing Total Football with this squad if necessary. The Dutch team of the 70's didn't have 11 world-class players, yet were able to develop an extreme understanding and play their hearts out.

We can do this.

I understand what you're saying Res, but I don't fully agree. The dutch team in the 70's did have quite some world class players who all won multiple european cups. Cruijff, Rensenbrink, Neeskens, Haan, Van Hanegem, Jansen, Israël, Suurbier, Keizer, van De Kerkhof and Krol were all amazing players. And all due respect for Roy, but he's not in the same league as Michels. I agree on the versatility and to some degree depth of our squad, but I'm afraid we lack quality in the depth department. However, I think we could do well if we don't get any major injuries and some new players step up to the plate, players like Meireles, Cole, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Maxi, N'Gog. But it's a bigger if than I'd like.

We're actually still spoilt for choice, despite sending Aquilani out on loan and getting Poulsen in.

If we play one DM like every other damn team does, then we can have Gerrard, Shelvey, Meireles, Spearing, Lucas or Poulsen.

In central & attacking mid we could have Gerrard, Cole, Meireles, Shelvey, Pacheco and Spearing.

On the wings we have Babel, Jovanovic, Cole, Kuyt, Maxi, Pacheco and Gerrard.

Defensively, we're covered easily now.

Strikers we have Babel, Kuyt, N'Gog, Torres, Jovanovic.

My point is we have an extremely versatile squad. We're capable of playing Total Football with this squad if necessary. The Dutch team of the 70's didn't have 11 world-class players, yet were able to develop an extreme understanding and play their hearts out.

We can do this.

Brilliant post. Some sense, sprinkled with optimism and a side order of hope.

I'm with you. COME ON!

Based on new signings who could fill 1st team squad, maybe we could see starting 11 as follows :-
                    Reina
Johnson    Carragher   Agger    Konchesky
           Poulsen       Meireles
Cole               Gerrard            Jovanovic
                     Torres

                 Reina
Johnson   Carra  Agger   Koncheskey

         Meireles  Gerrard

Maxi            Cole          Kuyt

                 Torres

                 Pepe
     Carra Carra Carra Carra
Gerrard Gerrard Gerrard Gerrard
            Nando Nando

                 Pepe
     Carra Carra Carra Carra
Gerrard Gerrard Gerrard Gerrard
            Nando Nando

! It is true too... PL champions for sure!

looks like the team roy will be playing is:

                   reina

johnson  carra        agger  konchesky

            gerrard    meireles

kuyt                                   jovanovic
                    cole
                     
                   torres

this is probably my prefered line up, although i keep trying to fit pacheco and kelly in there