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Best eleven?

With news that Arteta, Anichebe and Jagielka are all back training, it got me wondering. Supposing our whole squad was fit (I know it will never happen), who would you pick for the first team. It's very tough between Distin/Yobo or Jagielka/Heitinga in defense. In midfield do we play Bily/Donovan or Neville/Rodwell?

My first eleven would be:

Howard
Neville
Jagielka
Yobo
Baines
Pienaar
Fellaini
Arteta
Bilyaletdinov
Cahill
Saha

Tom Campbell, Ireland Posted 12/01/2010 at 07:23:19

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Bobby Morgan
1 Posted 12/01/2010 at 09:44:05

There is no problem when Jack Rodwell is back. He can replace Fellaini in the more forward position. He is said to have the best two legs for shooting accuracy, is always looking to get a shot in, can pass consistently and is the right height for this job. Give this a try David!!

Chris Wright
2 Posted 12/01/2010 at 13:21:49

Tom, It is difficult but, let’s be honest, how many times do teams ever have a fully fit First 11? This is why the likes of Osman, Hibbert and Vaughan are so important to the whole squad as players who can come and do a job.

For the record, my first eleven would be:

Howard
Neville (C) Heitinga Jagielka Baines
Pienaar Fellaini Arteta Bily
Cahill
Saha

I really rate Heitinga at centre back, a good old fashioned no-nonsense player.

Ste Traverse
3 Posted 12/01/2010 at 13:31:24

The team above would be my choice, except for the next two months were id play Donavan for Bily, put Donavan on the right and switch Stevie P back over to the left.

Julian Wait
4 Posted 12/01/2010 at 13:47:13

Agree with Chris and Ste. All the players you leave out become potential impact or tactical subs; something of an alien concept to us in recent months but valuable to keep hold of games, deal with lack of form and fitness, and win games we’re not already winning.

e.g. Rodwell, Coleman, Osman, Vaughan, Anichebe, Bily, Yobo, Distin.

When you list who is NOT included in the "first 11" it looks quite promising really!

Kieran Doyle
5 Posted 12/01/2010 at 13:48:40

Tend to agree with Ste, but as much as I rate Cahill in an attacking midfield position, I’d prefer a 4-1-3-2 especially at home with perhaps a 4-4-1-1 away.

Howard
Neville, Heitinga, Jags, Baines
Fellaini
Donovan, Arteta, Pienaar
Yakaubu, Saha

Graham Holliday
6 Posted 12/01/2010 at 13:50:08

2 quick things before I name my XI:

1. I know people will (quite rightly) say that it is more and more a squad game these days, and that this exercise is pointless. But it’s a bit of fun, and if we were to reach another cup final, and all our players were available, this is an example of when this exercise would be valid. We can but hope eh?

2. The central defenders was the toughest pick for me. Personally, I think Heitinga is the most important as he is the least prone to hoofball, and thus encourages us to play a good standard of football. Jagielka partners him on the basis that he warrants a place in the team, but I do think that we would lack aerial strength with those two playing together.

GK: Howard
RB: Neville
LB: Baines
CB: Heitinga
CB: Jagielka

DM: Fellaini

RM: Bilyaletdinov
LM: Pienaar
CM: Arteta

AM: Cahill

CF: Saha

Danny Burke
7 Posted 12/01/2010 at 14:18:20

For me it would be:

Howard
Neville (C)
Yobo/Heitinga
Jags
Baines
Pienaar
Arteta
Fellaini
Bilyaletdinov
Cahill
Saha/The Yak.

Cahill behind the striker. Fellaini holding (on current form) Arteta pulling the strings and Peanuts and Bily getting creative out wide.
For me Yobo/Heitinga dont have much to seperate them, same with The Yak and king Louis.

I was tempted to leave out Cahill and go 4-4-2 with he Yak and Saha up top together.

Baines and Pienaar are a great combo so I would hate to break up a great duo so Bily and Peanuts to swap wings through the game.

It’s easy this management lark!

Rupert Sullivan
8 Posted 12/01/2010 at 15:07:46

I’d go for:

Howard
Neville
Jagielka
Distin
Baines

Fellaini
Rodwell

Arteta
Pienaar
Bilyaletdinov

Saha

I know this leaves Cahill out, but he’d be one hell of an impact sub for my money!

James Stewart
9 Posted 12/01/2010 at 14:59:59

Yobo would not get near my first Xl is everyone was fit.
_____________________Howard_________________________
Coleman_______Jagielka____Heitinga_________Baines___
_____________________________________________________
______________________Fellaini________________________
______________________________________________________
________________Pienaar______Arteta___________________
Donovan_____________________________________Bily_____
_______________________Saha__________________________

I would prefer a better Left winger but Bily is all we have so had to play him.

Dave Whitwell
10 Posted 12/01/2010 at 15:06:11

Biggest issue for me is Cahill or Yak; personally, if we are assuming the Yak is fully fit, I would go for him.

Cahill has been fantastic for us in a 4-5-1 but has always been lacking in a 4-4-2, 4-4-2 relies on better midfield players which I believe we now have so I would go with:

Howard
Neville (C) / Jags / Heitinga / Baines
Bily / Arteta / Fellaini / Pienaar
Yak / Saha

I disagree that the defence is hardest to pick, I can’t see how Distin or Yobo are anywhere near Jags or Heitinga!

Anand Rabheru
11 Posted 12/01/2010 at 15:19:41

I know everyone has their opinion, but I can't believe the Yak doesn't get into most of your starting line-ups! For me, he is one of the best strikers/finishers around! His goalscoring record is class... Feed the Yak 'n' he will Score! (anyway, thats my opinion only, not judging others!) ;-)

My 11:

Howard
Neville
Yobo
Jagielka
Baines
Donovan
Fellaini
Arteta
Pienaar
Yak
Saha.

Liam Reilly
12 Posted 12/01/2010 at 15:34:35

Interesting to see Neville in most of the above sides, consider the general abuse he gets on TW.

For me, Cahill would start ahead of the Yak as the Yak and Saha are too similar. Cahill is more of a nuisance and gets under the skin of the opposition, whilst Saha and the Yak are more direct.

That said, horses for courses and all... and it wouldn't hurt to mix it up a bit..

Tony Cheek
13 Posted 12/01/2010 at 15:41:45

Still think that Heitinga is proving to be one our best buys for quite a while and think that he and Neill have done a brilliant job as "stand ins". They have been up against some real class players these last few games and are looking good "intelligent" buys, in typical Moyes style. He will be around for quite a while I am sure, the sort of player DM loves.

Stefan Tosev
14 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:02:21

Hmmm, is it me or for all the boring, dull and negative tactics Moyes is employing, picking his favorites even when they are clearly past it (Cahill), lacking balls and determination to have a “real” go and play attacking football, only 3 out of 12 people chose the “attacking” 4-4-2 formation?

Funny, isn’t it?

Tom Bowers
15 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:12:05

Sorry guys we need at least one taller central defender. Heitinga and Jags would be too similar. Someone has to deal with Carew,Crouch,Adebayor and those kind of players unless you have a dynamic midfield who can shut off the high ball supply. This weeks game may be a test against Adebayor of City.

David Hallwood
16 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:28:55

It will be interesting how Heitinga & Neill cope with Tevez who is on fire at the moment, and I don’t think Adebayor of City will be available despite the withdrawal from AfCoN, but Heitinga over Distin & Yobo every time

Ajay Timothy
17 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:35:38

How can anyone one of you who have only seen Donovan for 70 minutes all of a sudden put him in Everton’s starting 11?

Give him a few games first and then judge.

Duncan McDine
18 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:41:34

I’m surprised Bily has strolled into most people’s starting 11. He’s scored a few, but come on - does he really get involved enough to make it into the best starting line up? Not saying he won’t come good with time, but most of us wouldn’t have had the Big Afro in our best 11 last season for the same reason. He’s come a long way.

I think this team would take the most points in a season, even if not our most attractive footballing team possible.

Howard
Pip, Heitinga, Jags, Baines
Neville, Fellaini
Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar
Saha or Yak (on form alone).

Duncan McDine
19 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:50:37

Sorry, Pip was meant to be Neill
- couldn’t make my mind up!!!

John Keating
20 Posted 12/01/2010 at 16:47:13

On present and recent past form I would play 4-1-3-1-1

Howard
Neville, Jags, Heitinga, Baines
Fellaini
Pienaar, Arteta, Osman
Cahill
Saha

Licence for Peanuts and Osman to change wings constantly; Cahill to do what he does best, roam all over the place and arrive late in the box.

Big Fella doing a great job at present in his preferred role. Heitinga superb recently at centre half. Great subs bench: Yobo, Distin, Rodwell, Yakubu, Vaughan etc.

James Jackson
21 Posted 12/01/2010 at 17:00:00

For me the way we play and the way we should play are two different things. For me my XI would be;

Howard
Neville Jags Hetinga Baines
Fellaini
Rodwell Arteta
Bily Pienaar

Saha / Yak

Like others have said, massive impact subs (Cahill, Anichebe, Vaughan, Osman, Gosling...).

However, this really is Championship Manager stuff — we would never have this luxury!!

Alex Kociuba
22 Posted 12/01/2010 at 17:30:52

At Goodison Park playing Hull etc:

Howard
Neill, Yobo, Jageilka
Rodwell, Fellaini
Arteta, Pienaar, Bily
Yak, Saha

At Old Trafford etc:

Howard
Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Baines
Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar, Bily
Yak

Tom Campbell
23 Posted 12/01/2010 at 18:37:31

I would put Yobo and Jagielka as my first choice any day.

Andy Morden
24 Posted 12/01/2010 at 18:51:04

I love these ’Best XI’ discussions. They take no account of players form, or loss of, player development (i.e. Felli coming on leaps and bounds the last couple of Months), the impact of the system we play and the need for tactical variation depending upon how a game is going and even the opposition. I.e. They are static!

Carry on boys!

Yusuf Bobat
25 Posted 12/01/2010 at 19:38:22

This would be my 1st XI playing a wing back system.

GK: Howard

CB: Jagielka
Sweeper: Heitings
CB: Distin

RWB: Coleman
LWB: Baines

DM: Fellaini
CM: Arteta
CM: Pienaar

CF: Saha
CF: Yakubu

John Lloyd
26 Posted 12/01/2010 at 22:38:50

Wouldnt it be better termed as your favorite 11? Because the way I see it, the amount of games played plus the amount of players in the squad, then there is no such thing as a best 11.

For example, if you had 3 games in the space of 10/12 days which were Hull (A), Arsenal (A), Birmingham (H) I could very well play 3 different line-ups in all of them games.......you see my point?

If not, what I am saying is in our position right now we can only pick a best 11 for the game we are playing that day. I don't think we’re good enough yet to have the mentality of saying ’whoever we put out should be enough to win’.......not yet anyway!

John Lloyd
27 Posted 12/01/2010 at 22:48:23

I will also throw this in, with a full squad we should be playing a 4-4-2 for the majority of our games maybe reverting to a 4-5-1 in the odd game.

Player wise I think that the spine should consist of Howard, Jags, Fellaini, Arteta.

The only other players I would be reluctant to leave out are Pienaar, Neville, Baines, Saha. but even saying that no-one is undroppable.

Pat Finegan
28 Posted 13/01/2010 at 00:32:28

Not including Donovan,

Howard
Neville, Jagielka, Heitinga, Baines
Fellaini
Billy, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar
Saha

Someone will always be hurt though. so...

Bench: Coleman, Osman, Hibbert, Vaughan, Nash, Rodwell, Distin.

Brian Baker
29 Posted 18/01/2010 at 09:18:02

When all of our injured players return what is our strongest XI? This is my choice: Howard Neville, Hettinger, Jagielka, Baines Osman, Felliani, Arteta, Cahill, Peinaar Saha Subs: Nash, Distin, Coleman, Yakubu or Jo, Yobo or Hibbert, Vaughan or Gosling or Anichebe I have chosen Hettinger above Yobo and Distin, as he has proven to be solid, reliable and good reader of the game. Yobo and Distin can blow hot and cold, with Yobo liable to make telling errors at the wrong times. My other hard choice was Osman or Bilyatinov? I opted for Osman as he has a better work rate, is two footed, able to switch flanks with Pienaar. It wouldn't make a huge difference to play Bilyatinov instead of Osman. Hibbert, I think will struggle to make the side even as a sub, unless we are hit by injuries, with Coleman now being my preferred 2nd choice at RB. If I had to point out any weaknesses, then its the lack of a good replacement for Baines at LB and a longterm replacement for Nash.

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