[Albion] Our strongest xi

[Comrade Sam]

My 15 year old son and I have spent a while discussing things this afternoon and we are not sure. If everyone was available and we had the Europa Cup final, what would our line up be?

I think we are looking at the following. I have put an asterisk next to the ones I don’t think are particularly debatable.

Bart
Hinshelwood JPVH* Dunk* Pervis*
Gross* wee billy*
Adingra Pedro* mitoma*
Welbz

The issue is that this means no enciso or Facundo (who is fast becoming a favourite in our house). No Fati. No fergie. No solly. No Veltman (who I always like in big matches).

Would Pedro start up front and someone instead of Welbz?

It made us wonder if RDZ knows his best side given they have never all been available.

We agreed we don’t really have a clue. What do others think?

What a 2nd 11 though:
Steele
Veltman, Webster, Igor, Lampty
Baleba, Lallana
March, Goodnight, Enciso
Ferguson
Fati, Barco, Moder, Milner and the kids on the bench.
What a time to be an Albion fan.

 

[Milano]

Solly, when fit, comfortably ahead of Adingra.

This, with bells on.
I’m not ‘that’ convinced with Adringa, yet. He runs down blind alleys and when dribbling he loses control of the ball too often. He’s got massive potential though and I’m glad he’s in the squad.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Verbruggen
Lamptey-Hecke-Dunk-Estupinan
Gross-Gilmour
March-Enciso-Mitoma
Pedro
​

I'd love to see that team all fit and on form. The bench would also be insanely strong with everyone back.

This best XI is where I’m at too.

However, Welbeck and Ferguson are close if they find consistent form and fitness. Steele only just misses out. Hinsh and Buonanotte will be in this team once they have a season or two under their belts. Fati has the potential to be our best player and the likes of Adingra and maybe Barco could yet command starting XI status this season. I wonder if Palace have the same issue picking a best XI?

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

This, with bells on.
I’m not ‘that’ convinced with Adringa, yet. He runs down blind alleys and when dribbling he loses control of the ball too often. He’s got massive potential though and I’m glad he’s in the squad.

I like Adingra and as you say, think he’s got massive potential but the one thing he struggles with at times is physicality as he’s a little weak. If he can build his upper body strength (which with our physio’s you’d think would be a given!) it will help him hugely. He gets pushed around a bit too easily at times which is why he loses the ball, he can’t hold defenders off at the moment. Real talent though.

 

[dazzer6666]

I like Adingra and as you say, think he’s got massive potential but the one thing he struggles with at times is physicality as he’s a little weak. If he can build his upper body strength (which with our physio’s you’d think would be a given!) it will help him hugely. He gets pushed around a bit too easily at times which is why he loses the ball, he can’t hold defenders off at the moment. Real talent though.

Our hench physio and doc are no longer at the club - left months ago

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Verbruggen
Veltman-Hecke-Dunk-Estupinan
Gross-Gilmour
March-Enciso-Mitoma
Pedro​

 

[7dialssouthpaw]

very happy someone started this thread. The double-helix formation.

for me, incl. recent performances, it's this:


bart


Veltman Dunk Igor


gross billy stupi


fati JP mitoma


welbs

we're pretty close to fielding this, too.
fati over solly (just); billy over moder; Stupi is close to being caught by Lamptey; Veltman ahead of JPVH (for now).

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Our hench physio and doc are no longer at the club - left months ago

Oh really, that’s a shame. Maybe they were jealous of Igor

 

[chaileyjem]

Our fit squad for Spurs (A) is currently

Verbruggen / Steele
Hinshelwood, JPVH, Igor, Dunk ,Webster, Lamptey, Estupinan
Moder, Gilmour, Gross, Baleba
Mitoma, Ansu Fati, Buonanotte, Lallana,
Ferguson, Welbeck , Pedro

for Sheff Utd (A) - you can add
Adingra, Barco.

Injured: Milner, March, Enciso, Veltman

 

[Marshy]

I honestly could not give you a strongest 11. It really does depend on who the opposition is.

We have 18 players I think you could make a strong argument for to be in that 11.

 

[GJN1]

The attacking riches when all players are fit is sensational really. Mitoma, March, andringa, Fati, Pedro, Welbeck, Ferguson, Facundo, Ensico, Lallana all fighting over 4 spots and that’s before we decided to add some depth on deadline day signing 3 talented youngsters that maybe knocking on the door for a spot next season.

Lallana. Yeah, right.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

To me, the more interesting question is who doesn't make our matchday squad.

So if we assume a first team something like ....

Verbruggen
Veltman Van Hecke Dunk Estupinan
Gilmour Gross
March Fati Mitoma
Pedro

That leaves a bench something like .....

Steele / Lamptey / Igor / Barco / Baleba / Adingra / Buonanotte / Ferguson / Welbeck

Which leaves the following not even making the squad

Webster / Moder / Milner / Lallana / Hinshelwood / Enciso

That's right. Enciso not in the squad. I know what you're thinking. "Are you stark raving mad Cybergoat?!" I've not even put Hinsh in the squad. And he's been incredible for us. But what am I meant to do?

And next season we'll have to make squad decisions on players like Moran, Sarmiento, Rushworth, Sima. They are the only 4 I can see who have any chance of getting a squad place for next season. Plus RDZ clearly wants an experienced CM. Maybe we'll sell one or two. But maybe we won't.

It's been such a wield season how we've barely been able to put out a team for months and conceivably now can't even put star players in the matchday squad

 

[Brian Fantana]

To me, the more interesting question is who doesn't make our matchday squad.

So if we assume a first team something like ....

Verbruggen
Veltman Van Hecke Dunk Estupinan
Gilmour Gross
March Fati Mitoma
Pedro

That leaves a bench something like .....

Steele / Lamptey / Igor / Barco / Baleba / Adingra / Buonanotte / Ferguson / Welbeck

Which leaves the following not even making the squad

Webster / Moder / Milner / Lallana / Hinshelwood / Enciso

That's right. Enciso not in the squad. I know what you're thinking. "Are you stark raving mad Cybergoat?!" I've not even put Hinsh in the squad. And he's been incredible for us. But what am I meant to do?

And next season we'll have to make squad decisions on players like Moran, Sarmiento, Rushworth, Sima. They are the only 4 I can see who have any chance of getting a squad place for next season. Plus RDZ clearly wants an experienced CM. Maybe we'll sell one or two. But maybe we won't.

It's been such a wield season how we've barely been able to put out a team for months and conceivably now can't even put star players in the matchday squad

I agree with your broad assessment, but on the specifics of your suggested squad I couldn’t see Enciso being left out in favour of both Welbeck and Ferguson on the bench. It’s a minor nitpick though.

 

[tigertim68]

My 15 year old son and I have spent a while discussing things this afternoon and we are not sure. If everyone was available and we had the Europa Cup final, what would our line up be?

I think we are looking at the following. I have put an asterisk next to the ones I don’t think are particularly debatable.

Bart
Hinshelwood JPVH* Dunk* Pervis*
Gross* wee billy*
Adingra Pedro* mitoma*
Welbz

The issue is that this means no enciso or Facundo (who is fast becoming a favourite in our house). No Fati. No fergie. No solly. No Veltman (who I always like in big matches).

Would Pedro start up front and someone instead of Welbz?

It made us wonder if RDZ knows his best side given they have never all been available.

We agreed we don’t really have a clue. What do others think?

Veltdman instead of Hinshlewood

 

[Machiavelli]

Veltman for Hinshelwood, Solly in for Adingra. Enciso in the 10 role with Pedro up front.

Hell of a subs bench to choose from.

Precisely this.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Verbruggen
Veltman-Hecke-Dunk-Estupinan
Gross-Gilmour
March-Enciso-Mitoma
Pedro​

I think that is probably our strongest XI (with all the caveats of formation / opposition strengths, etc).

I think my only question mark would be Veltman or Hinshelwood - which is an incredibly testament to Hinsh's progress, because I flipping LOVE Joel Veltman.

In time, I think Baleba should take Gilmour's spot, too. But not yet.

 

[GloryDays]

IMO Steele is our strongest goalkeeper.

A bit of recency bias I think with Bart getting the nod for a lot of people. JS has displayed great experience and skill with his general performances. Perhaps this time next year Bart will be ahead but I think for now, based on what our style and manager look for in a keeper (which isn’t necessarily saving the ball ) JS is comfortably on the team sheet.

 

[Oh_aye]

I think that is probably our strongest XI (with all the caveats of formation / opposition strengths, etc).

I think my only question mark would be Veltman or Hinshelwood - which is an incredibly testament to Hinsh's progress, because I flipping LOVE Joel Veltman.

In time, I think Baleba should take Gilmour's spot, too. But not yet.

I was with you until the Baleba for Gilmour business! I'd imagine agewise it's more likely to be Gilmour and Baleba together at some point.

The fact that Gross seems to be some kind of machine that never ages or gets tired notwithstanding.

 

[chaileyjem]

To me, the more interesting question is who doesn't make our matchday squad.

We would have up to 5 players who don't make the matchday squad of 20, every game, if everybody bar March was fit. (which might be the case in a few weeks) . Currently we have 20 fit first team squad players available for selection for Spurs (A) . With Milner, Veltman, March, Enciso being unfit and Barco, Adingra unavailable on international duty.

 

[JBizzle]

It’s harsh on Hinsh, given how well he’s done since he came in but IMO he doesn’t get near our starting XI when everyone is fit. Veltman and Lamptey ahead of him at RB for me.

Although I'm minded to agree, all three are very different options:

• Veltman is our best defensive RB, and probably the "big game player";
• Lamptey is our most attacking RB, who's great on the assists;
• Hinshelwood is probably the most all-round RB. Defensively sound, likes scoring a goal.

So as with almost every position, the "best" RB depends on who we're playing (and who's available for us).