As the title suggests, what would your ideal team and formation be from the current squad? I don't think it's as easy as it sounds as other than defence we actually have a quality squad. 

I would go for at home

                       Carrol

Hewitt     McKenzie   Bennett   Milsom

                      Swerts    

Snijders    Aborah    Noble     Valencic/Campbell 

                     McLoed

 

Away from home the back five would remain the same, I would be inclined to go a little more narrow and play Spencer / Stead alongside McLoed with either one replacing Snijders.

Quite a lot more difficult than I first thought!! ha ha

Edited January 25, 20169 yr by Northants Pie

@Northants Pie What, no place for the energy of Curtis? The jury is still out whether Hewitt is structurally sound defensively. McKenzie and Amevor have performed well for the reserves recently. I am unsure whether Bennett is tall enough to fit the defensive centre half needs

@Northants Pie What, no place for the energy of Curtis? The jury is still out whether Hewitt is structurally sound defensively. McKenzie and Amevor have performed well for the reserves recently. I am unsure whether Bennett is tall enough to fit the defensive centre half needs

Would you object to playing Curtis as a holding midfielder? He certainly loves to get stuck in and last year he was good at holding the ball up aswell, but we do have to remember he is still only young

4 hours ago, Northants Pie said:

As the title suggests, what would your ideal team and formation be from the current squad? I don't think it's as easy as it sounds as other than defence we actually have a quality squad. 

I would go for at home

                       Carrol

Hewitt     McKenzie   Bennett   Milsom

                      Swerts    

Snijders    Aborah    Noble     Valencic/Campbell 

                     McLoed

 

Away from home the back five would remain the same, I would be inclined to go a little more narrow and play Spencer / Stead alongside McLoed with either one replacing Snijders.

Quite a lot more difficult than I first thought!! ha ha

That would be very welcoming to see, Hewitt on the right - two proper CB's and Adams nowhere to be seen. Opps, sorry - kidding aside...

I think Milsom could go back into midfield, rest Campbell and drop Adams as left back.

Thompson could play as the holding midfielder but I think he would be better in Aborah's position. I still don't see what Aborah has done wrong as a DM - I'm not sure I would opt for a lone striker, perhaps 3 midfelders and McLeod being supported by a partner. I honestly feel McLeod would struggle on his own, who could partner him? I am not sure.

Snijders
Ray Trew - Ronan Murray - Branston - Izale
Edwards - Pilkington - Sharpe - Aileen Trew
 Sprockel - Bennett

What could go wrong

Come on peeps lets be seeing your choices, it's not as easy as you think as we have a massive amount of attacking talent.

I've chosen to play Aborah further forward as I think his ability to open up teams is wasted as a holding / defensive midfielder. Goalscoring midfielders are gold dust hence Noble's inclusion and any team would benefit from the pace and crossing ability of Snijders. On the other wing Valencic has lots of ability but lacks pace yet Campbell has pace but lacks the skill.

All in all its a very attacking formation and for that you need experience in the defensive midfield role hence Swerts, Curtis could do the job easily but I had to choose one!

The formation is more fluid than it looks on paper so there is plent of room for adjustments as the game goes on, I would have liked ti have both Stead and McLoed in the team but not sure how you would without losing in the midfiled department

@Northants Pie Far too sensible and logical. Did you apply for the Manager's job? No wonder with such insightful comments, you never got an interview. May I suggest a PowerPoint presentation next time.

Carroll / Loach

Hewitt, Amevor, Audel, Milsom

Curtis

Snijders Aborah Noble Valencic

Izzy

Totally unsure about the central defence, which is the continually highlighted problem. Chosen Audel over McKenzie just based on passing ability. Even Hewitt at Right Back has defensive weaknesses.

Edit: Further thought especially for home, go with a back 3 by putting Milsom alongside Curtis in holding midfield.

Away side:

Carroll/Loach

Hewitt McKenzie Amevor Audel

Curtis Milsom

Aborah Noble Campbell

Spencer/Stead

Come on peeps lets be seeing your choices, it's not as easy as you think as we have a massive amount of attacking talent.

I've chosen to play Aborah further forward as I think his ability to open up teams is wasted as a holding / defensive midfielder. Goalscoring midfielders are gold dust hence Noble's inclusion and any team would benefit from the pace and crossing ability of Snijders. On the other wing Valencic has lots of ability but lacks pace yet Campbell has pace but lacks the skill.

All in all its a very attacking formation and for that you need experience in the defensive midfield role hence Swerts, Curtis could do the job easily but I had to choose one!

The formation is more fluid than it looks on paper so there is plent of room for adjustments as the game goes on, I would have liked ti have both Stead and McLoed in the team but not sure how you would without losing in the midfiled department

I would pick a team but im finding it very tricky, but I agree, I don't think we have seen the best of stanley just yet, as a defensive midfielder he can't afford to go wandering on massive runs, but when he has he has completely torn teams apart, as you say playing him further forward would be his best position, whether a real manager will ever realise that is soon to be seen

9 hours ago, Super_Danny_Allsopp said:

Snijders
Ray Trew - Ronan Murray - Branston - Izale
Edwards - Pilkington - Sharpe - Aileen Trew
 Sprockel - Bennett

What could go wrong

Had no idea you were Jamie Fullarton

The trouble is that our midfielders are clearly more suitable for a five-man midfield, if you try going with four in the middle virtually any combination will be too lightweight or narrow. At the same time, we don't have the defenders to switch to three at the back, while our strikers don't seem to be suited to the lone role. We somehow have to square the circle of adding a bit more muscle to the midfield while allowing our more creative players to shine. Here's my suggestion, based on the limited football I've seen from this team:

Carroll/Loach

Hewitt - Edwards - Bennett - Adams

Swerts

Noble - Milsom

Aborah

McLeod - Stead/Murray

The midfield is in a diamond with Swerts acting as the spoiler. Don't know if he still has the legs for this, but he's played a lot of his football at Notts out of position so it might be worth a try. For me Thompson doesn't offer enough defensively to play as a holding midfielder, and Aborah and Noble are more creative. The big problem I'd have here is the cover for our full backs - Milsom could protect Adams but Hewitt could end up exposed. And obviously any back four we pick looks pants. Away from home I'd sacrifice one of the strikers for an extra man in midfield.

10 hours ago, Super_Danny_Allsopp said:

Snijders
Ray Trew - Ronan Murray - Branston - Izale
Edwards - Pilkington - Sharpe - Aileen Trew
 Sprockel - Bennett

What could go wrong

I like the starting XI, but I would maybe tinker with the formation a bit.  I would move Aileen from wide left into centre midfield, we need someone with battling qualities in there who would scare the opposition.  I would put Julian Winter on the bench to be brought on to replace Ray when he begins to tire in the second minute.

@Elite_pie @Super_Danny_Allsopp Just to report late change, dietitian and fitness expert Russell King adding weight to the squad. Comes with a "guarantee" for performance, one cannot say fairer than that .

13 minutes ago, Piethagoram said:

@Elite_pie @Super_Danny_Allsopp Just to report late change, dietitian and fitness expert Russell King adding weight to the squad. Comes with a "guarantee" for performance, one cannot say fairer than that .

We could put him in goal. As he would fill the entire goal, we wouldn't have to bother with a defence and could field some of our 142 attacking midfielders instead.

1 hour ago, Elite_pie said:

I like the starting XI, but I would maybe tinker with the formation a bit.  I would move Aileen from wide left into centre midfield, we need someone with battling qualities in there who would scare the opposition.  I would put Julian Winter on the bench to be brought on to replace Ray when he begins to tire in the second minute.

You can see the commentary now.

'Ray Trew begins throwing £20 notes at the ball and acts confused when it doesn't result in a goal. Ray Trew proceeds to blame fans and throws hissy-fit and withdraws from the game.'

'Aileen Trew takes out mobile phone in vain attempt to explain performance on twitter and online forums, this also proves ineffective on the pitch'.

'Guy Branston tries to undermine managers tactics and selections. Fans are surprised Guy Branston ever got paid to play football.'
'Izale Mcleod figures out that diving doesn't work when you are supposed to do the tackling.'

Team loses 20-0 to York City, Leigh Curtis gives them all a 10/10 rating in the NEP and proclaims it's the best game he's ever seen.

              loach
hewitt audel bennett adams

             stanley
noble  thompson milsom
   
        mcleod murray

spencer, campbell, hollis, carroll would be my first choice on subs.

                        Carrol

Hewitt     Bennett   Hollis   Milsom 

Murray    Aborah    Noble    Campbell 

       Valencic/Spencer    McLoed

23 hours ago, Piethagoram said:

@Northants Pie Far too sensible and logical. Did you apply for the Manager's job? No wonder with such insightful comments, you never got an interview. May I suggest a PowerPoint presentation next time.

 

I didn't apply for the job as although statistically hoofball scores more goals than passing football (when it is played with a purpose ala Russel Slade / Neil Warnock, not just wacked into oblivion ala Derry and Fullofbollocks) I would still rather try and win without playing 7 at the back, I know most of us thought we had 8 at the back on Saturday but watching the highlights only showed that we were wrong as Scott "not fast enough to carry a hat at a funeral" Bennett couldn't make it through the treacle in time to make the extra man in defence hence why he just kind if stayed in the same place each half.....

Edited January 27, 20169 yr by Northants Pie

Mike Edwards in all 11 positions. 100% commitment if nothing else

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Carrol

Hewitt Hollis Amevor Milsom

   Smith

Campbell Noble Aborah Snijders or Valencic

 McLeod

Subs  Edwards, Loach, Stead, Murray, Spencer, Swerts, Thompson.

A five man midfield with Aborah giving a roaming role and encouraged to get forward. Smith can  cover for Hewitt and Milsom so they can make some runs forward.

We can try and retain possession in the opposition half with Aborah dictating the play or we have the speed of Campbell to use.

If its not working with McLeod up top then Stead or Spencer to replace McLeod, and it changes to 4 4 2 with Aborah and Stead/Spencer up front.

Alan Smith would be told he only needs to play for fifty or sixty minutes, at which point his work rate should mean he is absolutely knackered. If he has drifted about he wont be starting the next match. Smith would be subbed for Thompson or Swerts.

The idea behind Smith only playing for an hour is that the opposition have got to cope with a 'premier league' player who can get stuck in. They have then got the fresh legs and never say die attitude of Thompson, or Swerts the experienced Belgium international to deal with.