I will be very disappoint edit skd plays on his own upfront

I'd be devastated if SKD played on his own. I could be wrong but, hasn't he played every pre-season game and still failed to score?

Afobe and Sordell all day.

------------------Bogdan----------------

Mears-----Ream----Knight-----Ricketts

LCY-----Andrews------Mavis------Petrov

------------------Afobe-----sordell--------------

Our defence has looked a lot more potent with them two on the pitch ....

*attack

You can't play 4-4-2 with Mavis in the middle!! That's what got us relegated, especially if you're putting Knight in there as well.

Using your team though Moses, I would change Mears for Riley, Knight for Mills and Mavis for Vela who we should tell to just sit in in front of the defence and keep it simple. He is incredibly calm on the ball and I think we could easily mould him into the defensive mid we are desperate for.

I've not seen any pre season games.

I'd have

Bogdan

Riley
Mills
Ream
Ricketts

CYL
Andrews
Mavies
Petrov

Sordell
N'Gog*

*if fit. If not then Afobe.

We need wins. It's important that we play to win every game in a league which we should be challenging for title. Hopefully we will have a defensive minded midfielder in there anyway whom I would play instead of Mavies.

Best form of defence is attack.

Correct Mr T
I am sure so of our fans live in some fantasy world thinking we are only going to have the ball for the majority of the game.Bennythedip (a good pal of mine) remarked we need a $h1tkicker and this is a song I have sung to him for many a year.
The team has ability at this level I must agree,but we lack a backbone,in fact we cant bloomin tackle.This is gonna bite us on the harris soon I believe.

Mr. T, the reason I put Mavies in, is because , I haven't seen much of Vela and I have never been that impressed by Pratley.

I think that Mavies/ Andrews are our two best CM's in our team, and have put them there.

Moses- SWA
You must be blind cocker

nuns, maybe try debating without insulting other posters?

so you don't think Mavies/ Andrews are our two best CMs?

I'm happy for either Mavies/ Vela to start, I've just chosen Mavies because I haven't seen much of Vela.

Moses
Calm down lad,what I am saying is we dont have a midfield in what I define is doing a job of controlling/managing a game.OC really needs to find1 or 2 players maybe 3 to help in that department.1996 we had 8 quality midfielders at that level,horses for courses you might say.This squad is ok but expect a play off challange at best .
Insulting is not my style mate.

I don't think this is our strongest XI on paper, but based on performances in pre-season, I'd pick Knight and Lonergan.

------------------------ Lonergan ---------------------------

- Mears ----- Knight --------- Ream ------------ Alonso

-- Lee ------ Andrews -- M. Davies --------- Petrov

--------------------- Ngog ------ Sordell -------------------

Eagles should probably be in there based on pre-season performances too.

I know Ngog has hardly had a kick and Afobe has scored a hat-trick, but I feel Sordell and Afobe will be a bit lightweight for an away game at somewhere such as Burnley, and Ngog has strength and can hold up the ball.

As we enter the new season I personally think that Coyle's first choice striker is Ngog at this moment in time.

bogdan
riley mills ream ricketts
eagles andrews mavies petrov
pratley
ngog
only seen the morecambe game pre season.looked ok with that formation.

Crikey nuns. Just respect others opinion without insulting eh?

As for people 'loving it a fantasy world', I think the suggestion of getting Ray Wilkins in to help us out contains a certain degree of fantasy.

There are 2 ways Coyle can play this game next week. Either to stick 5 in midfield and go for a sneaky win/draw, or be bold, make a statement and come out for a win from the off. Either way, our available squad will be able to carry out both options. Yes you could stil Vela in midfield instead of N'Gog and play with just Sordell up front, or you can play 442 and plan to keep the ball as build pressure on Burnley - which we are well capable of doing.

Either of these options is feasible and realistic and thus claiming someone is 'blind' because they don't see what you see is a little bit abrupt and unjust.

Also, I think we are all aware of your and Bennys loving friendship.

Hi guys long time no post due to financial considerations (ie forking out large wodges for wedding and forgetting to pay phone bill ) so only got back online today. Forgive me sounding dumb but I've been buried under colour schemes for napkins and meeting the lovely wendy's family on what felt like the condemned man's farewell tour

What's with Stu Holden? Is he still our player and is there any indication as to when he'll play again if he is? Thanks guys.

Hi and welcome back lPp. Stuart Holden is still our player. He has indicated he is happy to stay. The most recent estimates I have heard for his next return from injury is October.

goodness knows when holden will be back if ever.its a similar situation to jack wiltshire at arsenal where his comeback keeps getting put back all the time.last i heard holden was due back end sept/beginning oct.i bet come oct they will be saying hes due back in dec.smell another sean davis situation here.

WILSHERE.

Ever the optimist, Benny.

ive still got that bet on muamba will play before holden.

I'd like to see:

Bodgan

Mears
Mills
Ream
Alonso

Chung-Yong
Mavies
Andrews
Petrov

Afobe
Sordell


Coyle will play:

Bogdan

Mears
Knight
Ream
Ricketts

Eagles
Mavies
Andrews
Petrov

K. Davies
N'Gog

I see what you mean Moses, and I have to admit I've only seen Vela play twice but from what I saw he likes to keep it simple but effective and looks calm on the ball. This is why I think if we tell him not to roam forward and give Andrews that responsibility (who scored 9 goals in half a season for Ipswich last season) then we would see a much more effective and stable midfield.

As for Holden, my dad spoke with a drinking friend of Gartside who told him not to expect to see Stu until at least December.

I've got to say that I'm pretty disappointed that we are heading into the season without a Muamba replacement.

After finding cover for Wheater in Mills, I would have thought a DM to be the single most important signing to make as it will shape our midfield for the whole season.

Ream could play there until we get sorted I suppose.

coyle was trying to get carlos sanchez to fill muambas position,cisse was plan b.remains to be seen if he has a plan c.to be fair coyle has got all his signings in good time apart from this one,how good they turn out to be though time will tell.

i dont think reo coker is fixed up yet.he may just come back

----------------------Bogdan--------------
Mears-------Mills----------Ream-------Ricketts
------------Andrews------New Signing
CYL---------------Mavies-------------------Petrov
-----------------Ngog/Sordell