ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Starting 11 Against The Gooners!

Just bored in work again refreshing every sports website out there looking for summat to read. Came across opening weekend fixtures and started to wonder what team will Moyes pick with everyone available except for Arteta, Jags, Anichebe?

From reding OS today Yakubu is training so I think he will be available. I'm not going to include any potential new signings because I don't think we will sign any one. Also I will include Lescott in my team even though I think he is on his way. So my starting 11 against the Arse is:

Howard;
Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines;
Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Pienaar;
Yakubu, Cahill

Basically a normal back five minus Jags plus four in midfield including Fellaini with Cahill playing just behind Yakubu. This will leave out Rodwell, Gosling, Jo, Saha, Vaughan etc.
Andy Ferguson, Liverpool Posted 28/07/2009 at 13:26:44

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Michael Kenrick

Where's ya bleedin' subs? If you're gonna play this game, at least do it properly!!! ;) 18 names... nothing less will do!!!

Can't see Cahill being named as a striker with Jo and Saha presumably sat on the bench... Oh and if Yakubu is named to start the game against Arsenal, I will be utterly amazed. Since it's at home, I think he'll start with Jô... although I'm still decidedly unconvinced this lad is ever going to make it in the Prem — he's just not robust enough.

Be interesting to see how much game-time the likes of Rodwell, Gosling, Wallace, Baxter, Coleman, and (eventually) Peterlin get in the early weeks of the season...

Ciarán McGlone
1 Posted 29/07/2009 at 19:11:40

Report abuse

I fear you may be right...a horrible thought.

Poor team..

Stephen Kenny
2 Posted 29/07/2009 at 18:48:27

Report abuse

Andy,

I agree with the team you suggest for the first game, but I have a feeling we will be looking to play a different style when all players are fully fit.

I think neville will move to RB and fellaini will play deeper than he has been. I cant see the point of getting Jo if he’s going to warm the bench.

Unfortunately Tim Cahill could see his time on the field reduced next season, which I think is bound to happen anyway as he gets older. I see a lot of potential in bringing him on with 20/30 mins against tired defender’s when we are chasing games. I think this may well be how james vaughan gets his time on the pitch assuming he can stay injury free next season.

All in all with everyone fit I think we’ve got a good chance of overtaking Arsenal. the only problem being there are a few clubs with a good chance of overtaking us!

Tom Bowers
3 Posted 29/07/2009 at 19:15:06

Report abuse

Yaks, if ready will be the lone front man with support from Cahill and Fellaini. However with that line up we may still have difficulty beating the Gunners.Thought we had it last season until injury time and Van Persie.Going to be a mixed start to the season without Arteta and Jags.Even if Lescott starts his mind may still be distracted by big money being waved around.

Paul Gladwell
4 Posted 29/07/2009 at 19:33:28

Report abuse

I think we may see Neville at right back and Rodwell will start the first few games in the holding role.

Fran Mitchell
5 Posted 29/07/2009 at 20:21:08

Report abuse

Lescott??? There are 20 million reasons he wont be in the starting 11 against arsenal.

Yakubu I can only see being a substitute. He will be edged into competative action over the first 5-10 games, with Jo leading the line.

I do expect new signings, probably 1 defender (I wouldnt be suprised if it was Sol Campbell + 20-22 year old from championship ) who will start the game and a midfielder of some sort, not the speedy winger we crave but a hard working play anywhere competantly type, who will be on bench.

gk.Howard
rb.Hibbo lb.Baines cb.Yobo cb.Campbell (or whoever it may be)
dm.Neville dm.Cahill
atm.Fellaini
lwf.Pienaar rwf.Osman
fc.Jo

subs. Nash, Rodwell,??, Gosling, ??, Vaughan, Yakubu

I do think we can win though. I am exited by the prospect of Jo, and with the Yak I could the sub of Jo being pushed out wide with Yak in the middle, maybe ossie.fellaini going off.

Paul O'Hanlon
6 Posted 29/07/2009 at 20:43:59

Report abuse

Howard
Hibbert Lescott Yobo Baines
Osman Neville Cahill Pienaar
Fellaini
Jo

Exactly the same team that ended our last league campaign...another successful summer eh?!

Paul O'Hanlon
7 Posted 29/07/2009 at 20:46:41

Report abuse

Oh and on the bench...

Yak, Saha, Vaughan, Gosling, Rodwell, Nash...and errrr I can’t actually think of a single senior defender for our bench!

Graeme Bradman
8 Posted 29/07/2009 at 21:00:15

Report abuse

Howard
Neville, Yobo, Wheater, Baines
Rodwell
Dafour, Cahill, Pienarr
Fellaini
Jo

Subs - Osman, Hibbert, Yakubu, Vaughan, Saha, Gosling, Nash

Dave Hewstone
9 Posted 29/07/2009 at 21:26:59

Report abuse

Howard
Hutton, Yobo, Rodwell, Baines
Osman, Neville, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar
Jo

Subs - Nash, Micah Richards/Richard Dunne, Saha, Yakubu, Gosling, + another

John Martin
10 Posted 29/07/2009 at 22:09:21

Report abuse

That poor team finished 5th last year. so i’d hardly call it poor.

Peter Griffin
11 Posted 30/07/2009 at 16:49:21

Report abuse

Howard
Hibbo, Lescott, Yobo, Baines
Pienaar, Rodwell, Neville, Cahill,
Fellaini
Jo

Yak, Saha, Nash, Vaughan, Osman, Michael Ball, Coleman.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.