OK, OK, it’s only Tuesday, but I’m already looking forward to Saturday’s away game against Watford. It’s the sort of game we should be aiming to get three points from. Given that we have virtually all our players available for selection – Sakho being the exception – I thought it would be useful to try to decide what our strongest lineup might be. There are various dilemmas for Slaven Bilic, not least who to play in midfield.
GOALKEEPER
I’m wondering whether Adrian might be nearing a recall given that despite some fine performances there are still the odd doubts about Darren Randolph. I’m probably wrong, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
DEFENCE
Reid and Fonte are the clear first choices as central defenders in a four man defence. Cresswell is first choice left back, although Masuaku is a good challenger for him. At right back it is less clear. Personally, I think Sam Byram is a great player but he never seems to get a run in the side, either because he is thwarted by injury or the manager thinks he’s too young. Kouyate has filled in in this position in the last few games, but he didn’t have a happy game against West Bromwich Albion, and is clearly itching to get back to his preferred midfield berth. I give Byram the nod against Watford.
MIDFIELD
If we accept that Antonio and Snodgrass will play out wide, then there are three central midfield places up for grabs. Kouyate, Noble and Obiang would seem to be the obvious choices, although that might be considered quite a defensive choice. Sofiane Feghouli seems to be getting better with each game, and having scored against WBA he will feel hard done by if he’s dropped to the bench. Lanzini is back in form plus Andre Ayew is back and seems to be raring to go, but I can’t see how he can command a place unless we move to a 4-4-1-1 formation – but even then, that would mean he would play instead of Lanzini or Snodgrass. I just can’t see it.
Of course if we were to play a more attacking formation one of Noble/Obiang/Kouyate would have to be dropped. On current form you’d have to say that Mark Noble’s place might well be in jeopardy, but can you really drop your team captain? I know Zaman got a lot of flak when he retweeted another site’s tweet, which suggested just that, but I’m afraid it’s a route Bilic will inevitably have to consider going down.
STRIKER
Andy Carroll. Who else?
So if the entire first team squad is fit, this is my first eleven and bench…
Randolph, Reid, Fonte, Cresswell, Byram, Kouyate, Obiang/Noble, Snodgrass, Antonio, Lanzini, Carroll
Adrian, Collins, Fernandes, Sakho, Feghouli, Ayew, Obiang/Noble