I can't really think of anyone else, so you might have nailed it — unless all 300 rumoured links this summer come good?

It does show what a small squad we have though...

Howard
Hibbert Distin Heitinga Baines
Naismith Gibson Osman Pienaar
Fellani
Jelavic

Subs Mucha, Barkley, Neville, Rodwell, Jags, Anichebe

Jelavic

Mucha Neville Distin Coleman Rodwell Osman Anichebe

A right winger is imperative, everyone has included Pienaar too which really has to happen as we have no natural wide men.

Subs: Mucha, Cahill, Osman, Jagielka, Anichebe, Neville, Anichebe

Dunno if Fellaini will be played in an advanced role or not. A few excellent games is not enough for me to be 100% sure. If not then Cahill, Osman and Naismith are choices for the "second striker" position.

For me this is our strongest team.

Jagielka or Distin depends on form and degree to which the opposition is likely to go aerial. I would have Distin in for likes of Stoke, for example.

Osman or Rodwell depends on need for creativity or solidity. When playing lesser opposition likely to park the bus, I'd probably play Osman but otherwise I'm hoping Rodwell really comes to the fore this season in a box-to-box role.

I'd say Anthony Flack (717) is the closest guess although the right hand side is very much up for grabs. Anichebe, Coleman, Barkley or a new signing could all play there, as could Osman if we go for Rodwell in the middle.

Subs Mucha Neville Jagielka Barkley Rodwell Prajnic Vellios

(gradual introduction .... blah, blah)

Howard
Neville Heitinga Distin Baines
Gibson Fellaini
Naismith Osman Pienaar
Jelavic

Subs: Mucha, Rodwell, Hibbert, Barkely, Coleman, Vellios, Rodallega(?)

If the three behind Jelavic and provide good movement (ala Spain stlye - dont laugh!), then I think this would be a progressive attack minded formation whilst still giving plenty of defensive cover with Gibson and Fellaini screening the back 4. Can rotate Barkely for Osman or Naismith for Rodallega to make it even more attacking. Could really do with a pacey RB though..

Above formation will never happen I know...

Howard
Hibbert Heitinga Distin Baines
Gibson Fellaini Rodwell
Naismith
Vellios Jelavic

I would like to see what Coleman could do at right back as neither Neville or Hibbert are good enough but because he's never played there for us I've left Hibbert in.

Osman could play instead of Rodwell as there's not much between them or even take Vellios's place but swap positions with Naismith.

When you look at our squad to decide who were our strongest 11 are you realise how weak we are, a couple of injuries to key players and theres simply no one to replace them.

Assuming that Pienaar is a done deal (and that’s a big assumption) my starting line up is: (roll on the drums)
Howard
Hibbert/Neville Heitinga Distin Baines
Osman Gibson Fellani Pienaar
Messi Jelavic.

That’s spellchecker for ya’ — You put Naismith in and Messi comes out!

If we have no natural width why are we looking at formations that require wingers?.

-----------------Howard------------------
-----------------------------------------
-Hibbo-------Jags------Heitinga----Baines
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------Gibson------------------
------Rodwell---------------Osman--------
-------------------Fellaini--------------------
-------------------------------------------------
-----------Naismith-------------------------
-----------------------Jelavic----------------

The way I see it we have the players for a narrow diamond. Hibbo has been better for the last couple of seasons getting up the wing and Baines obviously offers plenty there to give us some width. Both Rodwell and Osman can run with the ball... Osman gets shoved off it too easily but with Fellaini, Naismith and Jelavic ahead of him he should have passing options.

Off the ball we'd be narrow and a lot would be placed on Gibson, Osman and Rodwell to keep alert and fill in the gaps. We would have decent attacking options though....even without the wide options... from the long ball out of defence up to Fellaini, on the 'point-of-the-lance', for the knockdown or the pass out to Gibbo to go out to either of the running midfielders to carry the ball forward on the ground.

Give Naismith a free role behind Jelavic to receive the knock-on from Fellaini or to be available for the pass from the runners and, very quickly, you are giving the opposing defence a big job covering all the angles. They've got to try and stop the second ball from Fellaini, track Naismith and cover Jelavic and be alert for the goal threat from Osman and Rodwell plus watch out for long-range artillery from Gibson!

Not very fashionable but, if the situation with the wingers doesn't get sorted out, we've definitely got options.

Hibbo Heitiga Jags Distin
Gibson
Rodwell Fellaini Baines
Jelly Naismith

Subs: Ossie, Neville, Barkley, Coleman, Duffy.

Unless anything changes we don't have Pienaar and we do have Baines and Fellaini. So I had to include them and leave out Pienaar. Obviously Pienaar would replace Gueye if he joins and form a nice attacking 3 behind Jelavic.

4-4-2 is completely dead can't understand why people put it down. No one plays a flat 4-4-2 anymore.

No-one has got Dempsey yet have they?

Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Osman Gibson Fellaini Neville Pienaar
Jelavic

Naismith is very unlikely to start, as is Rodwell, but both will be on the bench.

The team he put out at Old Trafford was complicated by Baines being absent (Neville played LB), but he put Heitinga into midfield with Jags/Distin at the back. Fellaini went up with Jelavic in that game too.

It being an MU game, Neville is almost certain to start, so I won't be expecting any changes. But let's see what happens in the pre-season games - if anything!

We need a new RB and RM. Just as we have for the last decade!

Still think a new RB is needed soon.

Since when did we 'often' play that formation, with both Gibson and Fellaini being DMs and no Cahill in the side simply there to be a nuisance?

I can't remember us ever playing a proper 4-2-3-1 formation, with every player involved playing in his correct position. I could be wrong but I can't remember it. We've been playing 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 for as long as I can remember.

Playing 4-2-3-1 would at least mean we don't necessarily need wingers (which we don't currently have as it is).

If Rodwell can start playing well instead of being injured/negative crab then I'd like to see him with Gibson with Coleman at right back. Playing Coleman is a risk, in the same way baines was a risk and why lescott kept him out the side for so long. Rodwell should provide the legs to compensate that Coleman will get caught out of position. If both can't deliver they need to be sold with the funds raised to bring players that will. Keeping Neville, hibbert and Osman out of the side has to be there.

howard
Coleman
Baines
Distin
Heitinga

Rodwell
Gibson

Pienaar
Fellaini
Naismith

Jelavic

I would like Donovan or someone who can play that role too.

He is wasted at right midfield. His best quality is coming on the overlap at pace, rather starting static moves in a more attacking role. He's an attacking right back, that only gets in the team if you have legs in the middle.

Howard
(New signing) Distin Heitinga Baines
Fellaini Gibson Osman Pienaar
Naismith
Jelavic

Subs Mucha, Barkley, Neville, Rodwell, Jagielka, Gueye

In my view we need a balance for Baines at right back that gives us an attacking option on both flanks. I'm not sure Moyes would agree with me though.

Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Gibson Fellaini
Naismith Osman Pienaar(hopefully)
Jelavic
Subs: Mucha
Neville
Cahill
Distin
Gueye
Rodwell
Anichebe
So there's quite some depth in the team. This particular line-up not including the likes of Barkley, Coleman, Vellios etc. Hopefully one or two more signings and the competition for places in the team should be fierce!

Bench: Mucha, Distin, Gueye, Rodwell, Vellios/Barkley, Neville

Osman is the most creative player we have and Hibbert was outstanding for most of the last season. The problem is with the bench.

The problem is that, while Cahill is in the squad, Moyes will play him. That means one of the youngsters will have to sit out. The best solution is to sell Cahill and invest it in buying Pienaar.

I'd play a 5-3-2 with wing-backs, Coleman and Baines.
Three centre-backs - Heitinga, Rodwell(as a sweeper in the middle) and Distin on the left.

Gibson and Fellaini -centre mid

Then Pienaar ahead of these two (with Barkley to maybe come off the bench and play here)

Then Jelavic and Naismith up front, with Naismith drifting to find space and link up with Pienaar and the wing-backs.

It's attacking but also flexible, it could easily become very defensive, which Dave should love. Rodwell's never going to be a midfielder, he could be an elegant defender in the Pique mould though. This is all a pipe dream though, Moyes isn't going to change his methodology

Probable team:
Howard
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Osman Gibson Rodwell Pienaar
Fellaini
Jelavic
Subs: Mucha Hibbert Heitinga Barkley Naismith Prajnic Rodellega

Hopefully the peripheral players like victor, yobo, cahill etc will generate some funds, in which case I would love to see Dempsey or Donovan (permanently) sign on

Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Duffy, Cisco, Barkley, Anichebe, Naismith.

But its more than likely going to be:

Howard
Hibbert -----------------Jags--------------Heitinga--------------Distin
Osman-------------Gibson------Neville------------Fellaini-----Pienaar
Cahill
Jelavic

He doesn't even play for Spurs anymore. Some thought a masterstroke when Harry redkknapp nabbed him in exchange for Pienaar on loan (remember?)... but it never really panned out for them.

Read the site every day... it's remarkable how much more you will know about Everton!