After a hectic start to the transfer window, things have gone a bit quiet, due, I suspect, to Lambert’s wish to offload as many of the usual suspects as he can before any further new signings are made.
So, what are your views on our starting line-up as things currently stand?
I can see us lining up come first day of the new season like so;
Guzan Lowton Okore Vlaar Luna (?) Sylla Westwood Delph Weimann Benteke Agbonlahor.
Perhaps not too hard to predict.
We’ve as yet seen no real sign of that £10-12 million, go straight into the side signing, so if things stay that way, my guess is that the only definite starter among “the new boys” is our new central defender.
I believe that Lambert sees him as going straight into the side. Luna is a likely starter, I think; I know little of the player personally but it strikes me that Lambert will pick him ahead of Bennett, who showed signs of improvement latterly, but who strikes me as more of a left sided midfielder and who looks a weak link at left back to me.
We have the pre-season and warm-ups for Lambert to look at things, of course, but barring injuries or a superbly impressive display from someone, I think by and large he’ll stick by the players who ended last season so positively once the serious business starts.
Which will put the onus on the new faces and our younger players to force their way in as the season progresses.
Perhaps we now have some decent competition for places again!
That’s my take on things as they currently stand, although it will get very interesting indeed if we succeed in shifting some more dead wood and one or two “marquee” signings arrive.
Do you broadly agree, or has anybody got a different, more radical take on things?
More or less spot on I imagine unless Bacuna looks the part in pre-season and takes Sylla’s spot. Hope Gary Gardner gets a good run as well.
I would be suprised if Sylla, Westwood and Delph start together. I imagine one of Tonev and Bacuna will get the more attacking role. Sylla will cover for the other two.
Interesting. Think you could well be right about Tonev, Benno. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly the new recruits adapt themselves to England and the Premier League. Makes you wonder whether KEA might start to make a real impression in the new season as well after a slow start.
Blue and fucking White???? FFS this it out!
Even- Sort this out!
I can see a lot of claret with the blue. And white is essential for us to write on. Where’s the problem?
Erm hello Its Blue and fucking white!
I agree actually. Being a bit picky but the claret is too close to black, but it doesn’t matter. The site is brilliant 😀
Yeh I think that’s about right.
My thinking is Bacuna has brought in for mutliple cover in a number of positions. Will probably be used realcaement mainly for Gabby on the right winger forward side but also as a CM when needed.
Re Luna I agree and think he’ll go straight into the first team to give Bennett a slight reality check. (I’ve slated him as well I know) I think Bennett can still come good but needs to work on his positioning first and foremost and then bulk up a little, with our new coaching staff I think they’ll recognise this and work on it double quick.
Okore will obviously go straight in alongside Vlaar, will be interesting to see which side of CH Lambert will play them though as they both like the right side. I imagine Okore will go into the left side of the pairing based on the fact that he looks comfortable with both feet and is younger and more adaptable.
Tonev is the funny one for me. I think there is a strong chance that he’ll go straight in as part of a front 3 of Tonev, Tekkers, Weimann with Gabby left on the bench. He looks fantastic cutting in from the left side and offers a lot more opportunity for goals from outside the box which we’ve been lacking for some time now.
Helenius will most likely play second fiddle to Benteke but it’s interesting because he looks bloody good and openly siad he likes to play in the hole behind the CF.
Possibly a right mix up in formation. The 4,2,3,1 could work wonders for us next season. And imo al the new lads should go straight in. With the following..
Guzan
Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Luna
Sylla, Westy
Bacuna, Helenius, Tonev
Benteke/Weimann
What about Chris Herd who i’m pretty sure is due to return from injury soon
will he only ever get a spot on the bench? or do you think he will get another run of starts under Lambert?
Looks a strong side to me. We’re a bit spoilt for choice really! Will have to wait and see how the newbies fit in. Okore and Luna definitely need to go straight in for me. I like the trio of Westwood, Sylla and Delph. Would be hard to drop Gabby after a having a blinder towards the end of last season.
Will be hard to keep Weimann happy too if he’s not playing regularly.