So to try and get someway back to NI football for once:
Watching Russia and Portugal has got me thinking about our up and coming matches. I was having a think at the squad we have available to us for the matches to come. 'IF' we were to have a full squad to pick from and played a flat 4-4-2 formation this would be my team and squad:
GK Camp
DR Baird
CB Hughes
CB Evans
LB McGivern
RM Brunt
CM Davis
CM Clingan
LM Ferguson
CF Lafferty
CF Patterson
Rest of Squad
Taylor
Carroll
McAuley
McPake
Hodgson
C Evans
McCourt
McCann
Little
McGinn
Shiels
Donnelly
McQuoid
That team would be based on playing a 4-4-2, if we were to play McCourt it would be a 4-5-1 dropping Patterson. The main problem with the team I have listed is goals. Healy is finished as a serious threat at international level. Our other strikers are raw so only time will tell with them. I feel Patterson is our best option, playing championship football week in week out.
I think the team is well balanced. We can’t be playing CB at RB just because they play in PL (eg McAuley) I was close in picking Taylor as he is playing at the same level as Camp in the Championship, but I have gone for the younger option. McGivern has to start as he is a natural left back and played well against Norway and I think can link up well with Ferguson going down the left. Hopefully Baird stays on for this campaign as I don’t think Hodgson is good enough. The only player I would play out of his Natural position is Brunt. This is because he plays RM for WBA every week and is one of their best players. Hopefully he can start to preform like that for us.
Im hoping Clingan will also get his linked move to Celtic – would be well deserved in my opinion. Also Hoping Shane Ferguson starts to feature more for Newcastle.
The rest of the squad isn’t in bad shape – we have players playing championship and SPL level as subs or squad players.
All in all I think our squad while not outstanding it certainly isn’t the worst ive seen it. In the up and coming qualifiers 3rd would be a great result buy the away matches to the lesser teams seem like Bannana skins again, where under Sanchez they were expected win’s.
Anyways that my view, looking forward to the up and coming matches.
Looking at what's to come
posted on 19/6/12
Not a bad defence in your starting XI.
I'd be inclined to give McQuoid a starting place - maybe instead of Kyle (or because of a likely injury to him!)
There might still be some life in Maik Taylor yet too. He was outstanding towards the end of last season.
posted on 19/6/12
I would be inclined to give Taylor a chance, even if by and large the manager is likely to want to make a few changes from the old guard. Camp hasn't exactly shone for us thus far.
posted on 19/6/12
See everyone is ignoring Big Roy in nets ,worried he might enjoy the 'attractions' if he is away on international duty again ?
posted on 19/6/12
GAWA:
Good article! Reminds me of YOUR MAN of old. Very knowledgeable. Like you say, not a bad wee squad when you look at it. If all turn up on the day and the tactics used are sensible, you feel they could do quite well. I would go for Taylor rather than Camp. Would also try to find places for McCourt and Sheils, however as you pointed out, the 442 tactics may make this unlikely. Keep them coming Old Son, makes for interesting reading.
posted on 20/6/12
Cheers!
Yes if we get everyone turning up - i feel Baird's decision is a big one as it will mean either playing Hodgson or a CB (McAuley) at RB which hasnt work before for us.
I think Taylor is the better Keeper but just went for Camp due to age which i think the manager will do. Camp will never reach the levels Taylor for club or country. Easily the best Keeper i have witnessed for us, Just wish he was 10 years younger!
I Like McCourt and Shiels aswell, think we can only play one of them. Ideally If we had a clinical striker i would play McCourt behind them, allowing him to do what he does best without having to worry too much about tracking back. But as we don't have a clinical striker thats a pipedream.
BitterMcClean - i like the fact Roy has come back, hopefully the away attractions will lose their appeal now he has to live with them everyday!
posted on 20/6/12
Taylor one of the most underrated goalies ever. Voted both the fans' and players', "EPL Goalkeeper of the Year 2003-4" and included in the "EPL Team of the Year 2003-4"! Our best goalie of recent years after Big Pat!
posted on 20/6/12
GAWA - I like McCourt too , great set of feet and can turn defenders inside out when hes in the mood.
A guy who i work with , who is a WBA fan was sceptical when they bought McAuley. Told me hes been the best signing in a few years for them. Highly rated indeed. Lets hope he can bring that form into his NI games.
Taylor is a great keeper , more athletic than maybe he gets credit for. Camp to me , isnt up to the standard needed and as for Big Roy in nets , lets not go there. Get flashbacks to that Spurs goal that never was at Old Trafford a few years back. Id say go with Taylor!
Great article by the way
posted on 21/6/12
think the general opinion is Taylor in nets and won't be bothered in the slightest if camp gets dropped!
Hopefully McAuley can start to preform at PL for us too - would be great for us to have 3 PL CB fighting for two places. I do worry what will happen in a few years with both Hughes and McAuley being 32 now.
Cheers - good to talk football on here for once
posted on 21/6/12
^^^^^
This is a football chat site
posted on 22/6/12
This is a football chat site
---------------------------------------------------
you wouldn't think so most of the time