Teams for Next Season

First topic message reminder :

I thought I put a thread up with what you guys see as you're starting 11 for the first game next season. Then we can discuss the pro's and con's, maybe change people's minds with where they need to strengthen. Please give constructive feedback!

If you are unsure of a position, just put a ???. I know a lot of you are going to go for Star Players, so obviously won't mention who.

Here is Real Ale's

--------------------------------Given--------------------------------
Leichsteiner------Smalling/???------------Vertonghen------------Baines
---------------Arteta--------Song/Leiva------Cabaye-----------------
---Hazard------------------------------------------Ramirez/Ben Arfa--
-----------------------------Giroud/Bent------------------------------

OR

--------------------------------Given--------------------------------
Leichsteiner------Smalling/???------------Vertonghen------------Baines
---------------Arteta--------Song/Leiva------Cabaye-----------------
---------------Remy---------Giroud/Bent------Podolski----------------

Twist: I prefer the first option, and if I was looking to improve I'd look to Vertonghen and Given.

Gregers: I'm not really a fan of the midfield, and I'm not a fan of Terry unless you play a deep line tactically.

NCFC: I would go

------------Merieles-----NEW DM
-----------------Nasri
------Pato------------------Johnson
----------------Drogba

Anyone who thinks Pato is a weakness in that side are talking nonsense. I would offer something good for him if you looked to sell, but I wouldn't be expecting it if I'm honest. I would get a new DM like Carrick or Busquets type player, and improve in defense with a couple of signings. You could play 4-4-2 if you put Nasri and Johnson wide and signed someone more defensive alongside Merieles.


Brahma: Looks very strong, not really a fan of Lugano or Ter Stegen though if you're looking to improve. Also see Motta as a box to box rather than a DM. I'd go 4-2-3-1 with Sahin deeper. I don't see Evra as a weakness (yet!)


Marky: Not a fan of the formation if I'm honest, Oxlade would be where I'd look to improve and perhaps defensively? Badstuber and Boateng are known as Bayern's weaknesses.


Olly: Abate and Alaba are both very good attacking full backs, Abate in particular I like. And of the three formations, I like the first one. But the midfield balance needs changing slightly I reckon. Bale isn't great defensively so I'd have him further forward.


Elmo: Assuming you get two good full backs in (perhaps go for Chelsea players to get the full back five?) I would look at improving Bender and Soldado.


Sodhat: I don't really rate Sandro, I know others do though so go for what you think. Maybe a different type of player alongside Ramires who will sit deep and allow him to attack more. I prefer Caceres and Gaitan of those options. Ochoa's not great IMO. You could always play Ozil on the right?


Hero: You should improve on Moura/Giovinco, De Jong and Richards to take your team to the next level IMO. It's a very strong line-up though.

---------------------------Krul---------------------------
------------------Mexes---------Rami--------------------
---Sagna----------------------------------------Clichy---
---------------Marchisio-----------Gustavo---------------
-------Dzogaev-----------Muller------------Di Maria------
------------------------Welbeck-------------------------

Opinions please?

Not a huge fan of the back line, whilst all are decent I don't think they're anything above that. Gustavo is a weak point and Welbeck will struggle to get you goals this season especially if in RL RVP arrives.

Who are the worse players in the back line? IMO Clichy and Rami are my best defenders.

Clichy not a fan of at all. Mexes was decent in football manager games about 5 years ago and for these games has lived off that hype ever since.

Clichy is alright but nothing more, mexes has never been that great. Sagna is average as well. I'd prefer dzagoev in the center and muller on the right

See I can understand people questioning Mexes and Sagna but not Clichy? I see him as one of the best left backs in the world.

Clichy is one of those left backs that does a very good job but does it quietly so doesn't get as many ratings

--------TP1/Lindegaard-------
Debuchy - Terry - Cahill - TP2
--- Biglia/Capoue - Strootman ---
------------- Arteta ------------
Reus -------------------- Schurrle
------------- Eto'o --------------

Hows that looking now?

Real Ale's possible new team:

--------------------------Given----------------------------
-------Smalling----------Coloccini--------Vertonghen-------
------------------Leiva-----------Allen--------------------
---------------------Cabaye/Arteta------------------------
------Hazard----------------------------Ben Arfa----------
---------------------Suarez/Podolski----------------------
----------------------Giroud/Bent-------------------------

Yes that is correct.....3-2-1-2-1-1

Thinking is this:

1. Smalling and Vertonghen are right/left footed, meaning that can patrol the flanks as well
2. Leiva and Allen could play together for Liverpool as the duo in a 4-2-3-1 formation. They would get the ball and release. That would be their main job.
3. Arteta or Cabaye would be my main playmaker.
4. Hazard and Ben Arfa can attack the flanks or move inside.
5. Suarez/Podolski would be second strikers and roam across the final third from either side in a free role
6. Giroud or Bent would be my main strikers and focal point for crosses and through balls.

This means I have the likes of Cleverly, Baines and Leichsteiner on the bench.

Bit mad isn't it

You should sell Debuchy and get a left back

Still think you need a better GK TwisT. I like the madness of it, and the fact that people are gonna use different formations next season. I think it could work

I think you should sell me Arteta TwisT...

Right my most likely starting XI for next season (injuries withstanding)


Thoughts on that?

Would look to improve DM and LB Olly It's a strong side, just would be the next places I'd look to improve.

Also I don't rate Hulk

Lloris can be a bit slow.

Well Trebs, I have Sven Bender and Moussa Sissoko sitting on the bench, so I have options in CM. Just Witsel and Defour have the link.

Also looking to bring in a backup LB in TP's.

An upgrade for my possible 3-4-1-2;

Alternatively;

You have a scary team. If there was one place that I could even slightly see as a weakness it's the wingers.

The Special Juan wrote:You have a scary team. If there was one place that I could even slightly see as a weakness it's the wingers.

Agree, got a TP or two in mind though.

A couple of thoughts on possible teams next year... Still not sure what I'll play like, it probably depends on the injuries I get.

-------------Ochoa
-----Sakho---Pepe---Ranocchia
Ramires-------------------------Mathieu
-------Moutinho---Busquets
--Sanchez-----------------Ozil
-------------Benzema

--------------Ochoa
Caceres---Pepe---Sakho---Mathieu
-------Busquets---Moutinho/Ramires
Sanchez-------Ozil--------Rodriguez/Gaitan
-------------Benzema

I prefer the 2nd one. The 1st one is very defensive.

Subs: Alves, Vidic, Giovinco, Lucas Moura, Bertrand, Isla, De Jong.

Thoughts?

Cazorla as a CM?

Playing to the right of centre, Cazorla can actually play in any midfield role, last season for Malaga he was even dropping back as far as deep lying playmaker.

I think you should stick with the 4-2-3-1

De Gea
Richards - Hummels - Chellini - Cole
De Rossi - Toure
Cazorla - Pastore - Moura/Villa
Higuain/Villa

Thats what I think would be best for your team

I was trying to not play 4-2-3-1 because you moaned about it being the catch all and boring!

That's just me being petty! I will probably play 4-2-3-1 at points as well

All about having options;


With wide options in Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dzsudzsak and Insigne for different formations.

Options is it?...

Psh you guys have nothing on myself.


And then I am missing out Holty and Nick Powell

I think the 4-2-3-1 brings too many draws so it's good to see more people experimenting this year.

Does this work?

The Special Juan wrote:Does this work?

---------------Buffon---------------
--Piszczek---Pique---Martinez--Lahm(c)--
---------------Alonso---------------
--Muniain-------Fellaini--------Young--
---------------Michu---------------
-------------Lewandowski------------

If you ask Fellani to hold then maybe. I would actually have him next to Alonso, and put a more creative CM in his place

TwisT wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Does this work?

---------------Buffon---------------
--Piszczek---Pique---Martinez--Lahm(c)--
---------------Alonso---------------
--Muniain-------Fellaini--------Young--
---------------Michu---------------
-------------Lewandowski------------

If you ask Fellani to hold then maybe. I would actually have him next to Alonso, and put a more creative CM in his place

Back to square 1 then?

I reckon while it's fresh in everyones mind you should just lump the ball to Fellaini! Alonso could hit him from deep and then he lays off to the wingers or forward. No one really plays long ball here.

sodhat wrote:I reckon while it's fresh in everyones mind you should just lump the ball to Fellaini! Alonso could hit him from deep and then he lays off to the wingers or forward. No one really plays long ball here.

I have done in the past. The Carroll era at Holton

------------------ Patrício -----------------
Debuchy -- Terry (c) - Cahill -- Assou-Ekotto
------------ Biglia ---- Strootman ----------
----------------- Arteta -------------------
Reus ------------------------------- Schurrle
----------------- Eto'o ---------------------

Cup week:
---------------- Lindegaard -----------------
TBA ------- Muniesa - Terry (c) ------ Ansaldi
------------ Anita ---- Capoue --------------
---------------- Verratti --------------------
Moses ----------------------------- Schurrle
---------------- Deulofeu ------------------

Under 21s: TBA, Muniesa, Verratti, Moses, Schurrle, Deulofeu

Thoughts?

sodhat wrote:I reckon while it's fresh in everyones mind you should just lump the ball to Fellaini! Alonso could hit him from deep and then he lays off to the wingers or forward. No one really plays long ball here.

I am going to do that.

Buffon, CBs, FBs and DMs: Lump the ball up to Fellaini.
Fellaini: Chest ball down, control it and pass it to Lewandowski or run through the opposition defence.
Lewandowski: Get the ball off of Fellaini and score.

My tactics:

Defence of Chiellini, Vidic and Hummels
CM of De Jong, Toure & De Rossi

Instructions to all six: Batter the poopie out of Fellaini.

Good luck. Vidic never got anywhere near him last night.

Fellaini would just catch the ball in his afro and run it into the net while the keeper scrabbles to try and dislodge it.

Imagine that scene.

The Special Juan wrote:Good luck. Vidic never got anywhere near him last night.

Probably because Carrick was marking.....sorry "marking".....him

Only at set pieces my dear Twist. Only at set pieces.

The Special Juan wrote:Only at set pieces my dear Twist. Only at set pieces.

Hence the goal......

Anyway, I would play him beside Alonso still. Like with Toure, it gives you an option if you go behind, of making him go further up the pitch. I certainly would not play Everton's tactics. It would be easy to combat, as I think Everton will find if they continue that way

----------------------------Krul--------------------------------
------------------Rami---------------Bonucci-------------------
---Anyukov-------------------------------------------Periera---
----------------Denisov-------------Marchisio------------------
------Dzogaev-------------Muller----------------Di Maria-------
------------------------Ibrahimovic----------------------------

Unsure whether I should start Clichy, Carrick or Luiz Gustavo, any advice there?
And also where should I look to improve next?

Currently the Barearselona side is...

---------------------- Reina
Alves-- Koscielny --- Vermaelen -- Coentrao
-------------- Inler ------- Gerrard
Robben -------------- VDV ------------- Ramirez
-----------------Benzema

Would look to improve on Inler and Ramirez It's a very strong side, that's just where I'd try to improve next.

--------------- Casllias------------------
Pereira----Garay----Godin------Evra
-----------------Motta-----------------
-------------Sahin--Eriksen-------
--Gotze--------------------------Blaczs
---------------Manzuickic---------

thoughts?