The Squad

But Wanyama is a c unt isn't he?

A bit of a silly billy, but the blame lies with Spurs for acting like ******s and tapping up all over the show.

Squad, when fully fit looks exciting with two exceptions.

Would love to see a dominant '10' (wouldn't most clubs).

Sad to see very few English players in the proposed starting line up.

This is the strongest possible team, apart from Rodriguez.

Then why aren't you playing Rodrigues?

Squad, when fully fit looks exciting with two exceptions.

 

Would love to see a dominant '10' (wouldn't most clubs).

 

Sad to see very few English players in the proposed starting line up.

As much as I like Cedric, this is a reason I would've really liked Kieran Trippier. Obviously it was difficult because they thought they might have kept Nathaniel Clyne, but really think he'd have fitted in well.

Overall I'd say our strength in depth is more even. Our best players are not quite as good as last season's best players, but our back up options are better.

We've strengthened most up top, midfield slightly weaker, defence slightly weaker.

Having said that. It's very early days. Who's to say Romeu wont turn out to be as good as Morgan once he's settled in?, and Clasie might add some creativity. Cedric becoming as good as Clyne in the next few weeks, and van Dijk ever reaching Toby's standard seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened!

The only catch is that I really think there's a good 5 teams that finished below us last season that have strengthened drastically. It's going to be a much more competative league this season.

Our coaching staff are top notch, though, imo, so we might well overachieve again. I just think that overachieving this year, all things considered, would mean finishing 10th - 12th, rather than 12th - 16th.

Er Clasie is a normal MC or DM, not a number 10, why would we have a line up with 3 defensive mids? That is very negative.

MLGs line up is much more balanced and what I'd like to see.

A fully fit Jay Rod should be in the team over Clasie in the wrong position, and over Romeu or Wanyama.

Er Clasie is a normal MC or DM, not a number 10, why would we have a line up with 3 defensive mids? That is very negative.

 

MLGs line up is much more balanced and what I'd like to see.

 

A fully fit Jay Rod should be in the team over Clasie in the wrong position, and over Romeu or Wanyama.

Guan and Monk said he's been training as the furthest forward midfielder. Also the Dutch said he's not a conventional DM as he's more attacking.

I like the look of that one!

It looks a bloody great team!

Guan and Monk said he's been training as the furthest forward midfielder. Also the Dutch said he's not a conventional DM as he's more attacking.

I've always thought we'd got him in as a SD upgrade?

As much as I like Cedric, this is a reason I would've really liked Kieran Trippier. Obviously it was difficult because they thought they might have kept Nathaniel Clyne, but really think he'd have fitted in well.

Trippier was my 1st choice. I thought him excellent at Burnley and it's a real pity we didn't get him.

Squad, when fully fit looks exciting with two exceptions.

 

Would love to see a dominant '10' (wouldn't most clubs).

 

Sad to see very few English players in the proposed starting line up.

I think Guan or Monk said that before his injury Clasie was training as the most forward of the three central midfielders, though his playing history and the opinions of the Dutch supporters who contribute here all seem to suggest he's a straightforward defensive midfielder. That said, Davis isn't a #10 either, so we're already playing someone in the wrong position there - perhaps the hope is that Clasie will just be less wrong?

TBH it's the position Gaston should have played if he had ever turned out to be half the player we'd all hoped.

Our summer has been pretty good I reckon the squad looks stronger, with more depth over all IMO. Morgan will always be a big miss but we were never going to keep hold of him.

I guess if there was one player I wish we had a stab at signing this summer it would have been Cabaye he would have been great just in behind the forwards I reckon.

I can well see why Clasie might be tried in that position, but seeing that he's not played there once, bit bizarre it's considered our best 11.

I think we now have a better squad than last season and a comparable, possibly only very marginally weaker, starting XI

Agree with this. With the depth we now have, as well as the various tactical and positional permutations that go along with it (and there are quite a few), I can see us going on a hell of a good run after Christmas, when other 4-10 teams are grappling with lack of depth (just as we did last year). Sure, some of those 4-10 teams have strengthened (Palace, Stoke) but don't seem to have the depth we now have. Weaker first half of the season, much stronger second half - and 5-8 could be within reach.

I like Itchen_dan's line-up as well but I'm not sure we're going to see Wanyama in there right away.

Koeman's a pretty genial guy but I suspect he's not one to cross and he might (I hope) be looking to make an important point-of-principle for the club as a whole. Wanyama may have some work to do to get back in RK's good graces before he gets into the starting line up.

A lot of this depends on how Koeman is looking to utilize Clasie - as one of the two defensive midfielders or just in front of them.

I can well see why Clasie might be tried in that position, but seeing that he's not played there once, bit bizarre it's considered our best 11.

Well it would be bizarre if we had any decent AMs to play there but we only have Steven Davis (never scores), JWP (no one knows what his position really is) or Gaston () I'm really surprised we didn't get linked with a goal scoring midfielder or two in the summer.

I personally think this is the strongest and more importantly most balanced side we could use. More than good enough for another top 8 finish in my opinion.

 

I do like the look of this, with enough quality on the bench to make changes if needed.....happy days

Never mind getting excited over the first XI as it's a long season and we will most likely only have the luxury of playing them all fit together for about 8 games a season.

It's those not immediately in everyone's first XI that gives me greater confidence that we could have another great season...

- Rodriguez

- Juanmi

- Long

- Davis

- JWP

- Reed

- Yoshida

- Targett

5 Senior internationals and 3 juniors.... not bad at all.

van Dijk signing, Wanyama staying, Bertrand/Clasie back from injury & Koeman's options are looking good.

 

We aren't going to play the same XI every week, but one option would be...

 

 

 

Plus...

 

Keepers - Forster, Davis, Gazzaniga

Defenders - Targett, Martina, Caulker, Yoshida, Gardos

Midfielders - Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Davis, Reed

Attacking players - Juanmi, Long, Ramirez

Incase you missed the game on Sunday.....

Tadic is about 20 times better playing on the left. In fact he is more or less totally useless on the right....

So, as Mane played particularly well on the right that leaves Jay Rod up the middle IF we can accommodate 4 attacking players in the same team ...

Ramirez is still worth a go in the team.

Ramirez is still worth a go in the team.

If he's ever fit!

Lack of English players no fault of the clubs really - they all got purchased by bigger clubs. Investment has been to make team as good as possible and I suspect that wouldn't be possible had we pursued English players (or players playing in this country).

Academy is a bit dry for a few years too.

------------Stek

Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand

-----Wanyama Romeu-------

Mane------Davis-------Tadic

------------Pelle-------------

 

With options of Juanmi, Long, JRod, Clasie, JWP, Yoshi, Gaston (maybe) on the bench....!

Davis instead of clasie wtf?

Can't see Clasie being a DM in the Prem, too light.

Stick him in the Davis role infront of Vic and Romeu and that way we'll have a bit of everything.

Itchen Dan's team looks very pleasant.

Crazy (or indicative of English football) that the Under 21 national team captain can't get in his fan's team line up

I personally think this is the strongest and more importantly most balanced side we could use. More than good enough for another top 8 finish in my opinion.

 

That'll do for me - some still untried mind but looks good all the same.

Crazy (or indicative of English football) that the Under 21 national team captain can't get in his fan's team line up

More that bit. Mind you if being captain of your national side makes you a regular starter we have to include Cuco Martina and Davis in the team every week to.

Can't see Clasie being a DM in the Prem, too light.

If indeed, Clasie is a more of a finesse DM and cannot adapt to a CAM role, I can see any combination of Romeu, Wanyama, and Clasie as the 2 DMs depending on 1) the team we play, 2) the strategy we want to employee and the availability of any of the three (re: suspensions/injuries).

So essentially, we would use the 2nd half Norwich formation/squad, except Clasie instead of JWP, VvD instead of Yoshida, and Bertrand instead of Targett

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu----------Clasie-------

Mane----------JRod-----------Tadic

---------------Pelle------------------

You put Romeu on the right to help out Cedric out.

Or, if you want to be more defensive, you pair up Wanyama and Romeu and move Clasie into the CAM role. (this is the one EVERYONE seem to like)

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu--------Wanyama----

Mane---------Clasie-----------Tadic

---------------Pelle------------------

or a hybrid with a very defensive back and a very offensive front, although I would worry a bit without having a dynamic central MF in this scheme to bridge between the offense and defense. (maybe in this scheme, Van Dijk is give more freedom to roam upfield centrally, as from every video I have seen of him, he feels comfortable doing).

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu--------Wanyama----

Mane---------JRod-----------Tadic

---------------Pelle------------------

my 2 cents - as us Yanks say.

At least our squad should be able to put in a good cup run you would think?

I doubt they will use the untried academy players this year and mix it with those that have played in the first team like Reed.

I don't know, everyone seems to be raving about JWP in the DM position last week against Norwich and he is no bruiser.

 

If indeed, Clasie is a more of a finesse DM and cannot adapt to a CAM role, I can see any combination of Romeu, Wanyama, and Clasie as the 2 DMs depending on 1) the team we play, 2) the strategy we want to employee and the availability of any of the three (re: suspensions/injuries).

 

So essentially, we would use the 2nd half Norwich formation/squad, except Clasie instead of JWP, VvD instead of Yoshida, and Bertrand instead of Targett

 

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu----------Clasie-------

Mane----------JRod-----------Tadic

---------------Pelle------------------

 

You put Romeu on the right to help out Cedric out.

 

Or, if you want to be more defensive, you pair up Wanyama and Romeu and move Clasie into the CAM role. (this is the one EVERYONE seem to like)

 

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu--------Wanyama----

Mane---------Clasie-----------Tadic

---------------Pelle------------------

 

or a hybrid with a very defensive back and a very offensive front, although I would worry a bit without having a dynamic central MF in this scheme to bridge between the offense and defense. (maybe in this scheme, Van Dijk is give more freedom to roam upfield centrally, as from every video I have seen of him, he feels comfortable doing).

 

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu--------Wanyama----

Mane---------JRod-----------Tadic

---------------Pelle------------------

 

my 2 cents - as us Yanks say.

You maybe a yank but I like your analysis. One things for sure we seem to now have the playing staff that enables those types of formations. I still prefer the option with clasie playing the further forward but to me the key will be the partnership between VM & OR. If it's as effective as VM & MS then SFC will reap the benefit.

That window bar Alderwereld debacle was played pretty well, not Swansea well but not Spurs badly either. Interesting that of the 9 players in 8 are defensive which makes sense given losses. Worst 1st team but better squad IMHO which I'm hoping will balance out given our struggles last year when a few were injured. That said 2 clear areas of concern - if Pelle or Stek get long term injuries we are in trouble - but given cost of strikers (and our terrible recent record in buying them) and Forster situation I get the low risk gamble.

That said 2 clear areas of concern - if Pelle or Stek get long term injuries we are in trouble - but given cost of strikers (and our terrible recent record in buying them) and Forster situation I get the low risk gamble.

The club have never really said when Forster is expected back. I wonder if realistically he is going to struggle to return this season, although whilst Stek is fit there is no issue anyway.

But if FF is out for the season then the level of available backup to Stek is poor and undoubtedly in the bottom 3 of the league.

I do find it amazing that the club's transfers are so well planned and proactive yet we have failed to improve our no 2 keeper pretty much since we came up to the PL.

Both the last two seasons have seen our no 1 keeper miss at least a month's worth of games.

I'm hopeful that Juanmi will turn into the number 10 for next season, suspect our new recruitment process involves getting players on board for a chunk of time before they are ready for the team - not sure whether it was a strength thing or height of the Danes, but we seemed to be resting Cedric midweek, maybe they're both on a bulking up/strength strategy.

Can see the logic in playing Clasie in the hole, given that his strength seems to be quick short passes when in space and his physique is more suited to the attacking position.

Hopeful Van Dijk will be an improvement on Yoshida and Caulker, which seems likely even never having watched him play. Caulker needs a bit of game time in a confident side to sharpen himself up, if he learns to pass on the deck a bit more he'll be an asset too, albeit most likely from the bench.

----------------Stek-----------------

Cedric--Fonte--Van Dijk--Bertrand

-------Romeu--------Wanyama----

Mane---------JRod-----------Tadic

--------------- Pelle------------------

---------------Gazza-----------------

Martina--Caulker--Yoshida--Targett

---------Clasie------Reed----

Jwp/Davis ---Ramirez-------Juanmi

---------------Long------------------

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MERSE SAYS: I'm not sure about Virgil van Dijk at all because he's been playing for Celtic and hasn't had to head a ball. I'm very interested to see what happens with him, but they have kept Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama which is good news. Their start to the season has been a bit disappointing but they've had injuries so I'll give them a B-.

He gets paid to type that. quite incredible really.

MERSE SAYS: I'm not sure about Virgil van Dijk at all because he's been playing for Celtic and hasn't had to head a ball. I'm very interested to see what happens with him, but they have kept Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama which is good news. Their start to the season has been a bit disappointing but they've had injuries so I'll give them a B-.

He gets paid to type that. quite incredible really.

What's funnier than that is the respective scores that he gives to each team, re: their transfer business.

Bit bizarre that most people on here would put a player that's never played at number 10 or AM, and they've hardly seen play, in our 'best' X1. We clearly have options in several areas but as it stands and based on proven performance we seem to have done a bit of a united, plenty spent and bodies in but we're still potentially short in one key position.

With a plethora of options to play in the front four and no specialist number 10 we are almost stuck somewhere between 4-2-4 and 4-3-3 in terms of personnel if not in actuality. #10 is pretty key in a 4-2-3-1 but given that it's probably not Davis or JWP long-term, it's not Tadic (leave him on the left), it doesn't seem to be Juanmi at this stage, it definitely wasn't JRod at home to Mity, it could be Mane but he creates well from out wide and is starting to link well with Soares, who does that leave?

I'd probably play a mixture of Davis and Juanmi and leave Clasie to tough it out for his own position with Vic and Romeu.

Still a bit annoyed that we didn't get into Europe because I think this squad would of been able to handle it and would of been a good experience for everyone. Just got to try and go for the cups and try and probably fail to improve on last year in the league I suppose...

Still a bit annoyed that we didn't get into Europe because I think this squad would of been able to handle it and would of been a good experience for everyone. Just got to try and go for the cups and try and probably fail to improve on last year in the league I suppose...

A bit? It's still bothering me. Still have the Alan Parsons Project's Eye in the Sky blaring in my head.

A bit? It's still bothering me. Still have the Alan Parsons Project's Eye in the Sky blaring in my head.

Too f*****g right, same goes for everyone I know.

"Still a bit annoyed".

A lot of people are assuming that we will play a system of two defensive midfielders and one in the hole, but I think that should not be assumed. With the players we have now, I suspect we will be able to vary that system a bit with Clasie sometimes playing more of a box-to-box type role. It could be that Wanyama or Romeu play holding player while Clasie plays in a box-to-box role. Alternatively, one could play holding player while two others adopt the box-to-box role.

There is no question that we now have the scope to vary our team line-up according to who we are facing in these ways and also in other ways. So, for example, against teams that are weak at full-back you could imagine Mane and Tadic both starting, whereas in other matches we might play with just one winger and either two strikers or a more orthodox number ten (i.e. Rodriguez, Juanmi or Ramirez).

It could be interesting to see not just who gets selected, but how they are used.

The Squad - as such - doesn't need to include the names of U21 players like JWP and Targett, and will obviously be from those quoted above.

The whole issue about us NOT using Academy lads depends entirely on...1) are they as good / better than those normally chosen, and 2) their capacity to play lots of games.

Matt Targett is still finding his way, and (on past performance) isn't upto Bertrand's standard, but as seen so far, hasn't let the side down, either. He will improve.

JWP is at the top of his game ...and captaining the England U21 side speaks volumes - but he's not an automatic choice for the Prem. side YET by any means. Get the feeling that had he scored a few more goals for the club......fans would have a different opinion, but he DAJFU out on the park when needed.

We are not ignoring the Academy graduates, but like ever other player, they have to be seen to better than the man they are replacing ..so far ...they're not.

I personally think this is the strongest and more importantly most balanced side we could use. More than good enough for another top 8 finish in my opinion.

 

This would be my ideal line up as well. Claise will give us some creativity but not at the expense of our shape and balance which by playing 4 attack minded players does. That is why you cannot have jrod, tadic and mane behind pelle unless we have numerical advantage in terms of number of players on pitch (as per norwich game). Claise would replace Steven Davis. JWP can come in to CM when required but I cannot see him reproducing his performance against norwich consistently especially against better teams.

Once Bertrand fit, Cedric adapts to physical demands of PL football and VVD is up and running then I am quite excited about our prospects especially with the options at our disposal in attack. Jaunmi can only improve. Ramirez may even contribute in cup games. I thought Jrod looked much better against Norwich. First touch still not quite there but he definitely looked sharper.

I do like the look of the squad and think we have done some good business though still need to see how the likes of Van Dijk and Clasie adapt to the prem.

In terms of the lack of English players I do wonder if we have our eye on anyone from the lower leagues that we could pick up in January perhaps? We did well in identifying the likes of JRod and Clyne in the past and though prices for players are getting higher and higher I wonder if there are any gems to be found.

Our squad submitted to the Premier League...

(*=Home grown)

Alves Soares, Cedric Ricardo

*Bertrand, Ryan

*Caulker, Steven Roy

Clasie, Jordy

*Davis, Kelvin Geoffery

*Davis, Steven

Fonte, Jose Miguel

*Forster, Fraser Gerard

Gardos, Florin

Gazzaniga, Paulo Dino

*Isgrove, Lloyd Jeffrey

Jimenez Lopez, Juan Miguel

*Long, Shane Patrick

Mane, Sadio

Martina, Rhu-endly Aurelio Jean-Carlo

Pelle, Graziano

Ramirez Pereyra, Gaston Exequiel

*Rodriguez, Jay Enriqus

Stekelenburg, Maarten

Tadic, Dusan

Van Dijk, Virgil

Vidal, Oriol Romeu

Wanyama, Victor

Yoshida, Maya

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/030915-2015-2016-premier-league-squads-announced.html

Our squad submitted to the Premier League...

(*=Home grown)

 

Alves Soares, Cedric Ricardo

*Bertrand, Ryan

*Caulker, Steven Roy

Clasie, Jordy

*Davis, Kelvin Geoffery

*Davis, Steven

Fonte, Jose Miguel

*Forster, Fraser Gerard

Gardos, Florin

Gazzaniga, Paulo Dino

*Isgrove, Lloyd Jeffrey

Jimenez Lopez, Juan Miguel

*Long, Shane Patrick

Mane, Sadio

Martina, Rhu-endly Aurelio Jean-Carlo

Pelle, Graziano

Ramirez Pereyra, Gaston Exequiel

*Rodriguez, Jay Enriqus

Stekelenburg, Maarten

Tadic, Dusan

Van Dijk, Virgil

Vidal, Oriol Romeu

Wanyama, Victor

Yoshida, Maya

 

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/030915-2015-2016-premier-league-squads-announced.html

Cheers for posting, MLG.

So Isgrove is basically on there to fulfil the home-grown quota?

So Isgrove is basically on there to fulfil the home-grown quota?

Not really. You don't have to name 8 home grown players, what you can't do is have more than 17 non home grown players.

Then why aren't you playing Rodrigues?

Probably because I have **** all influence over the manager's decision

Too f*****g right, same goes for everyone I know.

 

"Still a bit annoyed".

I can't remember being as disappointed as I am now about being out of Europe. Expected a great time

Our squad submitted to the Premier League...

(*=Home grown)

 

Alves Soares, Cedric Ricardo

*Bertrand, Ryan

*Caulker, Steven Roy

Clasie, Jordy

*Davis, Kelvin Geoffery

*Davis, Steven

Fonte, Jose Miguel

*Forster, Fraser Gerard

Gardos, Florin

Gazzaniga, Paulo Dino

*Isgrove, Lloyd Jeffrey

Jimenez Lopez, Juan Miguel

*Long, Shane Patrick

Mane, Sadio

Martina, Rhu-endly Aurelio Jean-Carlo

Pelle, Graziano

Ramirez Pereyra, Gaston Exequiel

*Rodriguez, Jay Enriqus

Stekelenburg, Maarten

Tadic, Dusan

Van Dijk, Virgil

Vidal, Oriol Romeu

Wanyama, Victor

Yoshida, Maya

 

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/030915-2015-2016-premier-league-squads-announced.html

No Harry Reed?

No Harry Reed?

The likes of JWP, Reed, Hesketh, Targett etc will be in the U21 list.