Here’s how TheSlaven would have the team if he was in the gaffer’s shoes….
Name: TheSlaven
Player of the Year will be: Afonso Alves
Top scorer: Afonson Alves – 20 goals
Newcomer of the year: Didier Digard
Young player of the year: David Wheater
We will finish:
In the Premiership: 9th
In the FA Cup: lose in the quarter final to Liverpool
In the Carling Cup: lose in the last 16 against Chelsea
Players I will sell: George Boateng (£3million), Gary O`Neil (£4million), Julio Arca (£2.5million), Adam Johnson (£4million)
Players to be promoted: Josh Walker, Seb Hines, Nathan Porritt
Players I will buy with my £21.5million (8 off the chairman and 13.5 from players going out): Didier Digard (£6), James Harper (£3million), Paul Robinson (£4 million), Jermaine Pennant (£6million)
My squad (25): Robinson, Turnbull, Jones, Young, McMahon, Taylor, Pogatetz, Grounds, Wheater, Huth, Hines, Bates, Digard, Porritt, Digard, Shawky, Pennant, Walker, Cattermole, Downing, Harper, Aliadiere, Tuncay, Mido, Alves
We will be playing: Strongest possible team in Premiership and FA Cup. Use a selection of fringe players in the League Cup
We will use the formation: 4-4-2
My starting XI and Subs: Robinson, Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, Digard, Harper, Downing, Pennant, Alves, Mido
Subs: Turnbull, Huth, Shawky, Tuncay, Aliadiere
Comments: I would get rid of the dead wood in the squad i.e. Boateng (because of his age), Arca (hasn’t really got a settled position), O’Neil (wants to move back down South). It would be sad to let AJ go but unfortunately we will be hindering his career if we just keep him on the bench.
My starting eleven will probably change throughout the season depending on the opponents. I would play Mido ahead of Tuncay for games against the more physical sides like Everton, Portsmouth, Chelsea, Blackburn and Arsenal. Aliadiere and Tuncay will be used as impact players next season, offering width and pace.
It’s going to be difficult decision to leave Huth out of the back four but I think as far as his injuries have gone so far at the club he won’t be handed a starting role straight away. He will be brought back into the frame as the season goes on.
Tough call between Huth, Pogi and Taylor when it comes to the centre-back and left back positions……wouldn’t like to be Gareth when he makes that decision.
I know, I think when Huth is fully match fit he will play instead of Pogs at centre back. The left side will be really tough decision.
No chance would i sell Adam Johnson. If any left winger should go it is Downing. Adam is 10 times the footballer Downing is, period! Even so, O’Neil isnt even a natural right winger, id rather have Johnson on the right alternating right to left with Downing, and O’Neil in the middle, where at pompey, he was brilliant. And Johnson for £4m ? Give me break. I dont mean to be rude but thats just the most ridiculous sum ever, he’s worth twice as much. The kids got everything, theres no way he should be leaving, and definately not for £4m. Im glad your not the manager, lol.
Yeah ok , you got me there, I was a little hasty with £4million. I had the £1.5million sum in my head from the Rangers inquiry (now that was ridiculous). I just can’t see both of them staying together. He might be a better player than SD one day but at the moment he’s not been given the chance to prove his talent.
great to see the format is working for you guys!