If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
I'm not actually sure we have a 'best' 11 and I'm not sure that is an idea that Bowyer buys into at all. He sets us up with subtle differences for each game based on what he thinks will get the best out of us and exploit the oppositions weaknesses and rotation.
Having said that let's go with it anyway.
I think we are best when we play a back 4 so I'm going with that. The squad looks set to either play Bowyers Diamond or a 4231. I think 2 up top is Bows preferred option so let's go diamond.
Green/Bonne Taylor Williams Davis Cullen Pratley Purrington Sarr Lockyer Matthew's Phillips
Amos Pearce Oshilaja Doughty Field Smith McGeady Green/Bonne
Cant pick up top. Green and Taylor look to be forming a good partnership but so did Bonne and Taylor when they played together. I'd be happy with either they have different strengths and I would pick depending on opposition. In fact I'd be happy with Bonne and Green too if Taylor needed a rest.
William's is obvious at the tip of the diamond although at the start of the season there was a fair amount of talk of him playing a deeper role so against weaker opposition I wouldn't mind him taking Davis role and bring McGeady or Ozzy in at the tip.
Davis in as one of the 2 CMs. But I'm really hoping Smith can do a Gallagher and make that role his own.
Cullen and Pratley pick themselves though we have plenty of options for rest/rotation.
The back 4 is pretty straightforward. Purrington plays in a 4. Matthews over solly. And Pearce/Sarr as a horses for courses approach. Sarr if we are expecting to have more of the ball and Pearce for games like fulham.
agree with Canters above pretty much, Purrington plays in a flat back 4, Doughty if we play wing backs....I'd have Pearce over Sarr but I reckon long term Oshilaja will make a CB spot his own, really think he's gonna be quality.
my 6 guaranteed starters would be Phillips, Lockyer, Cullen, Pratley, Williams and Taylor (and probably Matthews as No 7)....the rest would be built around those.
I would yes, reason I put Purrington in mine is cos I don’t see Page as our player anymore as I don’t think he will ever play for us again, as harsh as it sounds.
Surprising to see McGeady wouldn't be in most peoples side.
I think he'll be a cracking signing
Hard to pick someone who hasn't played for us yet. Even harder if they are competing for the same role as Williams who is one of our best players.
As I said I would like to see him in the team whether we play 4231 or try Williams in a deeper role against weaker opposition. But its hard to put him in our best 11 yet.
If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
Bowyer loves his 4-4-2 diamond, nice and direct so it has to be:
Phillips
Matthews Lockyer Sarr Purrington
Pratley Cullen Davis Williams
Taylor Green
It's hard to see where Davis, Smith and McGeady improve us without seeing them. McGeady stepping up at 33 and being asked to work his nuts off for 90mins for a side scraping results doesn't seem like his cup o' tea, but his reputation is probably preceding him for me there.
I agree with @grumpyaddick that our Jan 2019 is better than our current one. Aribo, Bielik, Grant and Dijksteel walk into this side and are big steps up.
I'd say our September 2019 side with Gallagher and Leko is better than this current one too.
If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
Which without seeing 3 of the 4 January recruits play is quite a bold statement imo
Fair, but I think the chances any of those recruits are of Gallagher standard are low. So whilst the squad is definitely better, but the first XI, not so much.
agree with Canters above pretty much, Purrington plays in a flat back 4, Doughty if we play wing backs....I'd have Pearce over Sarr but I reckon long term Oshilaja will make a CB spot his own, really think he's gonna be quality.
my 6 guaranteed starters would be Phillips, Lockyer, Cullen, Pratley, Williams and Taylor (and probably Matthews as No 7)....the rest would be built around those.
I don't see any areas that Purrington is better than Doughty, including defending.
Which without seeing 3 of the 4 January recruits play is quite a bold statement imo
Fair, but I think the chances any of those recruits are of Gallagher standard are low. So whilst the squad is definitely better, but the first XI, not so much.
Obviously time will tell etc. etc.
In no way am I saying Leko was bad. I was a big fan of him. But Green is better in my view. If he keeps going as he is.
Are either Green or Leko better than Bonne? Especially for the system we play, and how Lyle likes to play which is to run into wide areas, where you need a proper striker in the box to be on the receiving end?
Bonne may be less technically good, but is a more natural striker and finisher.
If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:
GK: Maxwell RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time) CB: Bauer CB: Sarr LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk) Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams Forwards: Taylor, Grant
Subs: Phillips Dijksteel, Lockyer Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play) Fosu, Igor
Comments
Having said that let's go with it anyway.
I think we are best when we play a back 4 so I'm going with that. The squad looks set to either play Bowyers Diamond or a 4231. I think 2 up top is Bows preferred option so let's go diamond.
Green/Bonne Taylor
Williams
Davis Cullen
Pratley
Purrington Sarr Lockyer Matthew's
Phillips
Amos Pearce Oshilaja Doughty Field Smith McGeady Green/Bonne
Cant pick up top. Green and Taylor look to be forming a good partnership but so did Bonne and Taylor when they played together. I'd be happy with either they have different strengths and I would pick depending on opposition. In fact I'd be happy with Bonne and Green too if Taylor needed a rest.
William's is obvious at the tip of the diamond although at the start of the season there was a fair amount of talk of him playing a deeper role so against weaker opposition I wouldn't mind him taking Davis role and bring McGeady or Ozzy in at the tip.
Davis in as one of the 2 CMs. But I'm really hoping Smith can do a Gallagher and make that role his own.
Cullen and Pratley pick themselves though we have plenty of options for rest/rotation.
The back 4 is pretty straightforward. Purrington plays in a 4. Matthews over solly. And Pearce/Sarr as a horses for courses approach. Sarr if we are expecting to have more of the ball and Pearce for games like fulham.
agree with Canters above pretty much, Purrington plays in a flat back 4, Doughty if we play wing backs....I'd have Pearce over Sarr but I reckon long term Oshilaja will make a CB spot his own, really think he's gonna be quality.
my 6 guaranteed starters would be Phillips, Lockyer, Cullen, Pratley, Williams and Taylor (and probably Matthews as No 7)....the rest would be built around those.
Phillips
Dijksteel Bauer Pearce Page
Bielik
Aribo Cullen Williams
Taylor Grant
Weaker 11 now but stronger squad?
Phillips - Amos - Steer - Maxwell
Would have Purrington at Left-Back in a flat four
Page would replace Doughty in the Wing Back role
I think he'll be a cracking signing
As I said I would like to see him in the team whether we play 4231 or try Williams in a deeper role against weaker opposition. But its hard to put him in our best 11 yet.
Would love Bielik, Aribo and Grant and that was a division below under the hated Roland.
Phillips
Matthews
Lockyer
Sarr
Purrington
Pratley
Cullen
Davis
Williams
Taylor
Green
It's hard to see where Davis, Smith and McGeady improve us without seeing them. McGeady stepping up at 33 and being asked to work his nuts off for 90mins for a side scraping results doesn't seem like his cup o' tea, but his reputation is probably preceding him for me there.
I agree with @grumpyaddick that our Jan 2019 is better than our current one. Aribo, Bielik, Grant and Dijksteel walk into this side and are big steps up.
I'd say our September 2019 side with Gallagher and Leko is better than this current one too.
Shit hair as well.
I think technically Green has shown he's probably better technically i.e finishing, but movement and ability to beat a player Leko is miles ahead.
He got 5 goals and 4 assists. A goal or assist every 168 minutes on top of his ability to stretch teams and create by beating players.
Fair, but I think the chances any of those recruits are of Gallagher standard are low. So whilst the squad is definitely better, but the first XI, not so much.
Obviously time will tell etc. etc.
Bonne may be less technically good, but is a more natural striker and finisher.