You have to think this is the strongest 11 we have, on paper. Fletcher maybe considering he has a few goals on the board pre season at least
I think it will be: Bachman Kiko Troost Sierralta Rose Etebo Louazza Chalobah Sarr Deeney Cucho Think we will lose.
Who knows with this club? We could pick literally anyone. Hughes will probably start, score a hat trick and then move to Villa a few days later.
Bachmann Kiko Troost Sierralta Rose Ekong Cleverly Gosling Sarr Sema Deeney King, Chalobah, Pedro and Cucho would all improve the line-up (and Hughes, but he's leaving)
First you re saying that Gosling was never good enough for the Prem and now you’re talking about Cleverly . Somewhat confusing .
Genuinely don't know enough about Gosling's past performance at Premier League level to know if he was ever that standard, all I know is that he's nowhere near it now and neither is Cleverley or a number of others we're probably going to moronically stick with.
Personally think this is spot-on. Only concern would be that we haven't seen much of Sierralta so far in pre season, so Xisco may go with one of Cathcart/Kaba *shudders*.
This was starting XI for first EPL game in 2015 under QSF. Interesting to speculate how many of current squad would make that team . To make comparison easier let’s say the 2015 formation was also a 433 with Layun and Anya as front 3 and midfield 3 of Jurado ,Capoue and Behrami. I would say that Gomes>Bachmann Nyom=Kiko Prodl 2015 > Troost Cathcart 2015= Sierralta Holebas > Rose/Masina Behrami>Etebo Capoue>Yokuslu/Gosling Jurado <=>Cleverly (two different players who don’t compare) Anya<Sarr Layun=Cucho Deeney2015>Deeney2021 QSF>Xisco So the only 2021 players who would get in that 2015 starting XI is Sarr, and possibly Cucho, Sierralta, Kiko and Cleverly ( if you played high press) . So maybe the BWs are right for once ( even stopped clocks are right twice a day ) . Time to press the alarm bells and start painting up our Gino out banners for Villa game .
Add the fact the league is better than it was then and it seems relegation by Christmas is certain. However, we do have a few unknown quantities in the squad so there is some hope. But will the grinning imbecile in charge have the balls to drop terds like cleverley and deeney and play them? It's doubtful.
I would expect: Bachmann; Kiko, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Gosling, Etebo, Cleverley; Sarr, Deeney, Cucho. But if either Kiko or Sierralta don’t feature against Palace next weekend then I think it will be Ngakia/Cathcart. That midfield will be turned over by Villa as well. Gotta get Hughes, Chalobah or Yokuslu in the squad ASAP.
Yeah midfield is definitely our weak spot . Even with the 3 players you mentioned it still lacks real quality .
.........................Bachmann....................... Ngakia....Sierralta....Troost....Masina .........................Etebo................................ Cleverley.............................Louazza Sarr.............Deeney.............Coucho Don't think Kiko is fit. Zinc may play from the start but I expect him from the bench. Deeney to be given a chance before King takes over. Kabasele may start in front of Troost but unlikely. Sema may start but Cucho looks so good and it's a home match. If we sign another midfielder before the season starts or Hughes signs then Cleverley will drop to the bench. Probably all completely wrong!
Surely King signed here expecting to be first choice? He was deeply pissed off with his playing time at Everton. Is he really going to have signed here to be kept out of the side by a non goalscoring old man?
Deeney has been great for us . But if he trudges out first match of the season then this is a backward step
I don't disagree with King over Deeney, I have just assumed from the time given to each player so far in pre-season that Deeney appears to be given first chance rightly or wrongly.
Someone said King isn't fit enough yet. We have to pray this is the case. If deeney is considered the better option, God help us.
He's still got two weeks of pre-season left having already featured in a few friendlies. No way that can be used as the reasoning/excuse.
That reminds me in 1971 we played Leyton Orient losing 1-0 to a Tom Walley own goal, only for Tom to be sold to the Orient a few days later!! Anyone else remember that?
Bachmann Kiko Sierralta WTE Rose Cleverley Louza Etebo Zinckernagel Sarr Cucho. Deeney King Sema Cathcart Ngakia Foster Masina Fletcher Chalobah Kabasele Dennis Pedro Gosling. Think I have too many subs.
