Best 11?

With the season taking shape and players back from injury who would be in our best 11??

McKeown

Back four seems easy..

Pearson
Toto
Thomas
Magnay

Midfield?

Clay
Brown
Neilsen
Arnold

Upfront

LJL
Pittman

Subs

Makreth
Hannah
Disley
Paddy
Bignut


That's a team that should be good enough to get in play offs.

Keep Disley in for me

Macca
Magnay  Totes Pearson Aswad
               Clay
.    Brown Disley Arnold

.              Nielson
.                LJL

Replace Arnold for Pittman when at home ( Up front with LJL OBVS)

I don't personally think we have a " best X1 " as such. Certain positions admittedly do almost pick themselves eg Thomas, Magnay, Pearson, Macca, Brown.  We do have a lot of variety in other areas though and this allows us to be more versatile in our set-up. It often is a case of " horses for courses" depending on the opposition and whether we are home or away.

Macca
Magnay, Toto, Pearson, Aswad... easy

now the struggle begins - Mackreth has been pretty decent in past few matches and is a good crosser of the ball, but at their best he can't dislodge Neillson and Arnold

Depends on formation as well, but would go for

Neillson, Brown, Disley, Arnold
Pittman, LJL

means Clay is bloody unlucky not to get in but Disley at somewhere near his best offers goals and, assuming Neillson, Arnold and Pittman are all fit those three have to play IMO.

Now pick your team based on form or who you think merits a start.

Sorry Meza, I'm doing my best XI...

4-3-3

.............McKeown
Magnay ..Nsiala...Pearson...Thomas
..........Clay....Disley...Brown
Neilson............................Arnold
......................LJL............

Oh hang on I forgot about Pittman...  

4-4-2

..................McKeown
Magnay ..Nsiala...Pearson...Thomas
Mackreth.Clay......Brown......Arnold
...............Pittman..LJL

Must admit longer term I'd be thinking of perhaps sticking Magnay at CB and bringing in a speedy right back.

Same as the OP

Quoted from 120797

4-4-2

..................McKeown
Magnay ..Nsiala...Pearson...Thomas
Mackreth.Clay......Brown......Arnold
...............Pittman..LJL

Must admit longer term I'd be thinking of perhaps sticking Magnay at CB and bringing in a speedy right back.

No Neilsen?

Replace Macreth with Nielson and you've cracked it

Quoted from LondonMariner43

No Neilsen?

Not in a 4-4-2, I guess Mackreth's a better winger. (though not convinced so reserve judgement)
You'll see I'm waffling on about Neilson in the just back thread...

I agree we have a squad that contains too many permutations to have one single best eleven. We have the luxury of width for a 4-4-2 with mackreth, arnold and neilson, and, the ability to play a proper 4-3-3 with our flexible squad. The biggest decision comes with which formation to play against which team, and at home or away. I think along with the insane injury list we started the season with ( in no small part PH responsibilty ) the choice of formation has and will continue to be the defining issue, if PH has all or most of his squad available, choosing the in form ones, in the right formation, will have us there or there abouts. I'm confident of that. If the injuries continue and PH sticks with formations that struggle against the lower "happy for a draw" teams then we won't.

                Macca

Magnay  Toto   Pearson   Thomas

       Clay   Brown   Paddy mc

               Neilson

         LJL          Pittman

It is interesting to read about utilising both 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 systems dependant on who is available or who the opposition is. It's not that long ago that fans were saying we couldn't play 4-3-3 and PH was " a clown " to use it. It just goes to show how one or two additions to the squad can make all the difference to how adaptable a squad we have.

It would be great tio play every game with the strongest and most adaptable team.

We do need a fluid squad that can come in when we have injuries / suspensions, so we need 16 equal players so that we can rotate formations, cover for any eventualities, and stay pacey enough to outwit teams who lay down foundations in their own half.

Parslow returning would be a real bonus if it could be sorted, Boyce is playing regularly now, so no chance there, Brown will be a certain starter once fit again and should be stronger and faster than Disley in that position.

Clay & Brown together have changed the midfield this year - at last some power at the heart of the team.

Disley can still be really valuable as a super sub or occasional player and will score goals in cameo roles, I'm sure !

Best eleven

                      Macca

magnay    toto    pearson    thomas

Nielsen    clay      brown    arnold

         John lewis       pittman

Home 4-4-2

McKeown

Magnay
Toto
Pearson
Aza

Arnold
Brown
Clay
Neilson

The Shop
Pittman


Away 4-3-3

McKeown

Magnay
Toto
Pearson
Aza

Clay
Brown
Disley

Arnold
LJL
Neilson

we seem to be playing better in the 4-1-4-1 which kind of goes into a 4-3-3.

For me LJL plays better in a 4-3-3 or should I say seems more comfortable,  I like pittman and would like to see him play too but in a 4-3-3 with the just one striker it is going to be hard to dislodge benteke LJL.

With so many options available to us,

It should be what is our best 14,

Starting 11 and 3 subs.

We would start with a different formation for home games than when we play away.

Quoted from Mariners_15

                Macca

Magnay  Toto   Pearson   Thomas

       Clay   Brown   Paddy mc

               Neilson

         LJL          Pittman

This for me.

Use Brown to protect the back four.
Give Neilson a free role.

Timmo
UTM