It's ages since I posted on here. Like for the other exiled Adiicks, we have little coverage of the Championship. I used to downoad the ITV programme but CAFC's indifferent form has really put me off watching! So, basically I have had little to say.
From reading various comments, reports etc. it does seem to me that Pardew has been spoilt for choice in the number of players he has had to pick from and I reckon that this inability to know his first team, as well as what formation to play for which game, unfortunately, must be one of the major factors in the disappointing season.
During a few idle moments today, I thought that it would be possible to pick three teams that could hold their own in this division form the squad that we have at our disposal, and based on a 4-4-2 formation and a bit of licence with injured and loaned out players, it's true.
1.
Weaver
Moutaouakil
Bougherra
McCarthy
Thatcher
Ambrose
Cook
Holland
Zheng Zhi
Gray
Iwelumo
2.
Eliot
Sankofa
Monteiro
Gibbs
Youga
Semedo
Christensen
D. Sinclair
S. Sinclair
Lita
Varney
3.
Randolph
Halford
Sodje
Fortune
Basey
Sam
J. Thomas
Racon
Arter
Dickson
McLeod
I have not even considered long term injured Todorov, and season loanees Bent and Faye. No room for Powell either. Also nearly all of these players have made a first team appearance so it's not full of young pros making up the numbers.
Competition for places is good but how many other teams in this division could provide three teams of this calibre?
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Comments
I think the key phrase is 'hold their own in this division'. Wouldnt disagree with that but the key is picking an 11 that can get promotion. Apparently Pardews style is to trade heavily in players.
Just goes to show that you can have as many or as little players as you want, but if they're not good enough you'll go nowhere fast.
Randolph
Bougherra
McCarthy
Zheng Zhi
Youga
Ambrose
Arter
Holland
J. Thomas
S. Sinclair
Iwelumo
Seven of that team played at full international level with the other four all representing their country at U19 level.