What would be your starting line up if everyone was fit ?

[dannythomas]

What would you like to see in our best team assuming everyone was fit.

For me , I would like to see a defensive mid , a playmaker , a number 10 and wide players that score goals . Maybe it's impossible to have all these things but something like :

Lloris

Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose

Sandro Paulinho

Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Adebayor

This still doesn't give us a number 10 , but Eriksen can't play in 2 places at the same time and I think he is wasted on the left. Against weaker opponents Paulinho could be pushed forward to either the number 10 role or Eriksen , Lamela or Chadli could play there. But I think the question of where Eriksen should play is a pretty key one and I see him as a playmaker not a number 10 and certainly not wide left.

I know Lamela and Chadli have not yet proved they should start but they are potentially goalscorers and we know the goal scoring contributions of Lennon and Townsend are not great. Obviously they could be brought on if Lamela or Chadli don't perform. But would love to see them getting as many chances to prove themselves as Soldado has had.

I couldn't find places for Dembele or Soldado either without unbalancing the team shape. Nor Bentaleb or Capoue.

 

[Metalhead]

What would you like to see in our best team assuming everyone was fit.

For me , I would like to see a defensive mid , a playmaker , a number 10 and wide players that score goals . Maybe it's impossible to have all these things but something like :

Lloris

Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose

Sandro Paulinho

Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Adebayor

This still doesn't give us a number 10 , but Eriksen can't play in 2 places at the same time and I think he is wasted on the left. Against weaker opponents Paulinho could be pushed forward to either the number 10 role or Eriksen , Lamela or Chadli could play there. But I think the question of where Eriksen should play is a pretty key one and I see him as a playmaker not a number 10 and certainly not wide left.

I know Lamela and Chadli have not yet proved they should start but they are potentially goalscorers and we know the goal scoring contributions of Lennon and Townsend are not great. Obviously they could be brought on if Lamela or Chadli don't perform. But would love to see them getting as many chances to prove themselves as Soldado has had.

I couldn't find places for Dembele or Soldado either without unbalancing the team shape. Nor Bentaleb or Capoue.

I'd go with your lineup.

 

[Chris Finch]

Same apart from Townsend for Chadli

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Depends on the opposition, for me. I would adapt the line up based on who we were facing and if it was home or away.

 

[mpickard2087]

Honestly don't know, I think there are a lot of issues about fielding a balanced team. Would probably make changes depending on the opposition.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Depends on the opposition

Lloris
Walker, Kabs, Verts, Rose
Sandro, Paulinho
Lamela, Eriksen, Townsend
Adebayor

or

Lloris
Walker, Kabs, Verts, Rose
Bentaleb, Sandro, Paulinho
Adebayor, Soldado, Eriksen

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Lloris

Walker. Vlad. Verts. Rose

Paulinho. Sandro. Dembele

Lennon. Ade. Townsend

Subs

Soldado
Ericksen
Bentaleb
Dawson
Archer
Coulthirst

 

[absolute bobbins]

Lloris
Walker Chiriches Vertonghen Rose
Paulinho Sandro Eriksen
Lamela Soldado Adebayor
​

 

[Shea]

I think the benefit of having a big and talented squad means that there should never be a "preferred starting line up" as such

In as far as it should be interchangeable to keep everyone fresh and match fit and maybe be dependant on the opposition we play i.e. tayloring a more creative team to play teams who park the bus or a more solid unit of a team to play tougher opponets etc

I'd personally like a system that everyone is familar with and that is not overly reliant on the indivduals as such (so players can rotate and cover one another without too much disruption to our play and cohesion)

That being said I am now going to completely contradict everything I've just said by posting my preferred line up should everyone be fit for the sake of the thread.....




................Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose
..............Sandro
........Paulinho..Eriksen
Lamela...Ade...Townsend



Difficult to leave out the likes of Dembele in favour of Paulinho for example - but this time is working more on my hope that he and Lamela will make themselves automatic starters

I'd also like to put Soldado and even Vlad but so far I have less belief that they will replace Ade and Kaboul repsectively as the best for their roles

Still like I said we don't need to rigidly stick to one "best" line up and rotation will be key

 

[Dougal]

I'd have Soldado up front on his own. How long does it take to recover from a 'shattered confidence'?

 

[brasil_spur]

Lloris

Walker | Kaboul | Vlad | Verts

Sandro | Paulinho

Lennon | Erikssen | Lamela

Adebayor

Personally i like the three behind the sriker there, and Erikssen can potentially swap around a bit with Lamela. Also allows for Dembele to come in for Paulinho or Erikssen and Lamela to switch to Right. Capoue would be back-up / rotation for Sandro & Paulino, as would Bentaleb.

For me Verts has to be LB until the summer when we MUST buy a new LB.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Lloris
Walker Chiriches Vertonghen Rose
Paulinho Sandro Eriksen
Lamela Soldado Adebayor
​

I'm on board with that with the exception of Chiriches. I'd have Kaboul in.

But you win A&C's cigar

 

[Buggsy61]

Lloris
Walker Vertonghen Kaboul Rose
Sandro Dembele
Townsend Eriksen Paulinho
Adecashwhore

 

[Scottish Spur]

Lloris

Walker
Chiriches
Vertonghen
Rose

Sandro
Paulinho
Eriksen

Lamela
Townsend
Adebayor

 

[CowInAComa]

If by fit you also mean not completely off form then Soldado must get in.

 

[absolute bobbins]

I'm on board with that with the exception of Chiriches. I'd have Kaboul in.

But you win A&C's cigar

I've heard that's just like the ban stick but with a cuddle afterwards

 

[Xeeleeyid]

_______________Lloris

Walker___Chiriches___Vertonghen___Rose

_________Sandro_____Dembele

Lamela_________Eriksen_______Townsend

______________Adebayor

You have to pick the team rather than individuals sometimes (someone tell the past few England managers who insist on picking Gerrard & Lampard in the same midfield when the evidence shows they don't work together).

Sandro & Dembele just work together. They just do. Whatever you think about them indivdually versus others, they are a great PAIR.

Townsend is just a constant threat/outlet and yes, he shoots too often and yes, he sometimes takes on that one extra man too many, but he'll learn this with time and the way he just gets the ball and drives at the opposition shouldn't be underestimated. Walcott does this for Arsenal, with a lot less skill than Andros does and he wins them a lot of goals/free-kicks/penalties because of it and is generally vital to their play when on good form.

Lamela is hopefully the more refined version on the right-side and Eriksen is just quality.

 

[dannythomas]

_______________Lloris

Walker___Chiriches___Vertonghen___Rose

_________Sandro_____Dembele

Lamela_________Eriksen_______Townsend

______________Adebayor

You have to pick the team rather than individuals sometimes (someone tell the past few England managers who insist on picking Gerrard & Lampard in the same midfield when the evidence shows they don't work together).

Sandro & Dembele just work together. They just do. Whatever you think about them indivdually versus others, they are a great PAIR.

Townsend is just a constant threat/outlet and yes, he shoots too often and yes, he sometimes takes on that one extra man too many, but he'll learn this with time and the way he just gets the ball and drives at the opposition shouldn't be underestimated. Walcott does this for Arsenal, with a lot less skill than Andros does and he wins them a lot of goals/free-kicks/penalties because of it and is generally vital to their play when on good form.

Lamela is hopefully the more refined version on the right-side and Eriksen is just quality.

Yes

 

[DaSpurs]

I really struggle to make these because I think we're so unbalanced at the moment. With this fact and consequential rotations due to players struggling in positions, Soldado forgetting how to play striker, and our players struggling to hold onto the ball in the midfield I'm honestly quite impressed our lads have forged out a legitimate top four fight. They should be incredibly proud of themselves for what they've come through to be able to do so.

That having been said, our left winger situation is a real problem and exacerbated by Lennon getting more and more anonymous with every start. I know some of you will disagree and cite the LB, CB, and striker needs, but browsing through some of the lineups in this thread (not that it's any of your faults) I think it's absolutely imperative we address our winger situation in the summer. I mean a vast overhaul. Ha only then can I psychologically handle making one of these without growing frustration with every key pressed.

I know I know, TL;DR /rant #shutupyouemoc@nt n all that jazz.

 

[dannythomas]

I meant yes I agree Sandro and Dembele combine well but who is to say Sandro and Paulinho won't combine better ? I don't think they have played for us together as holding midfielders many times yet. For me Dembele hasn't really performed this season despite being an automatic choice most of the time. Plus again Paulinho can be relied upon for the odd goal here and there.

I half agree about Townsend. But we are very dependent on our lone striker for goals and if he could actually make the keeper work sometimes instead of all his shots being blocked or landing in row J then I would definitely agree.