Everyone fit, who would you pick?

Fit or fit and on form?

I'd swap Smyth for Saito as I feel Smyth has most impact as a sub.

Longer term Varane for field.

Very interesting.

Interesting some of you see Smyth as a starter. Definite improvement this season but final ball still lacking so an impact sub for me. Can Saito play on right? Think he could become first choice but not sure he’s there yet. For me our starting team at home would be:

Nardi

Dunne Cookie JCS Paal

Field Masden

Andersen Dembele Chair

Frey

Away from home reluctantly might start Colback alongside Field, play Masden as a 10 and move Dembele to the right, dropping Andersen

Not strong enough for 90 mins but think he could link well with the more technical players we now have, then replace him with a Saito or a Smyth if we need more energy. Don’t have any stats to back this up but think he does lay on a number of chances.

The positive now is we have so much more competition so likely to see much more rotation. Will Marti even think in terms of “best 11”? Genuine question as don’t know.

Frey now looking first choice but fully expect Celar to get goals and push for a place

I make Chair, Dembele and Andersen our first choice attacking midfielders but we also have Saito, Smyth, EDB, the two youngsters and even Madsen able to slot in there. Heverton also apparently seen as a right attacking midfielder for now.

Walsh now looks able to step up in goal.

Centre half if Dunne no longer first choice right back could see regular rotation with Cook and JCS and Morrison in reserve.

Fox might well challenge Paal for the left back slot.

Defensive midfield the one area I’m a bit concerned about but we are certainly not short of bodies: Field, Madsen, Varane, Colback and maybe EDB.

Even getting on the bench, when squad fully fit, is not going to be easy.

madsen's lack of physicality is one of the main things westerlo fans said about him. on the ball and passing he's great, exceptional vision too but he certainly needs to learn how to get stuck in and use his frame to hold people off.

That would be my team too

Except I'd use the correct spelling for Madsen 😎

With the caveat that this is only for now and I'm sure it will change over course of the season:

Can see Fox, Santos, Varane, Celar and Saito all coming in. 

Yes that is the problem. So in some matches we will need to play Colback or Varane - if he toughens up - alongside Field.

But we don’t spend all that money on Madsen not to play him.

Be mad to drop Chair or Dembele.

So maybe play Dembele right, Madsen centre and Chair left.

But Dembele looks best in the middle.

So a bit of a conundrum for Marti….

Nardi

Dunne Cook Jcs Paal

Saitio Madison Colback Varane Chair

Dembele

Frey

i think it's just one of those things we're gunna have to be a bit patient with. we've been crying out for a playmaking CM and we've got one albeit one who needs to develop another side of his game.

think once chair comes back and with have that front 3 of dembele, chair and saito behind frey we will simply start outscoring teams lol. that's a frightening attack with a link to midfield.

Just we all have an opinion and choose different players and formations makes this the best window in years … not sure where we’ll end up but can enjoy our team playing again!

What's encouraging too is Marti's now on record saying he sometimes likes to play two up top, which he's done a couple of times already this season. #Flexibility

We all want Jimmy to play. Think Ashby will only feature soon is we shift to three at the back.

Nardi
Dunne Cook JCS Paal
Field Madsen
Saito Dembele Chair
Frey

Saito a touch lightweight at the mo but I think there’s a really good player in there.