What's our best Match day squad?

[Snowflake Royal]

It's a strange question for a team competing for the play offs, but what do you think is our best side with everyone fit?

We've got so many young players, had loads of injuries, people playing out of position etc.

Left back is a particular quandry. It should be Dorsett (who isn’t a LB) but he often shows a complete disregard for closing down or getting to the ball first.

How on Earth do you pick a preferred midfield 3 from Craig, Wing, Savage, Elliott and Knibbs?

I'm not sure I even remember where Knibbs best or normal position is anymore, is it central midfield, behind the striker, left wing, right wing?

At a stab:

.......................Pereira
Yiadom, Mbengue, Bindon, Dorsett
.........................Craig
................Wing,...... Knibbs
Campbell.....................Ehibhatiomhan
........................Smith

Subs: Button, Abrefa, Dean, Savage, Elliott, Wareham



I feel like last season we played with Knibbs behind Smith and then two midfielders rather than a DM... is that better? Should Abrefa get a go as a full back over Dorsett?

.......................Pereira
Yiadom, Mbengue, Bindon, Abrefa
.................Wing......Savage
Campbell.. ....Knibbs..Ehibhatiomhan
.....................Smith



How have I left out Elliott?


The bold bits are pretty nailed down, assuming Yids can recover to a similar level, but choosing midfield is bonkers and LB is an issue.

[Tinpot Royal]

I'd say it was this

Pereira
Yiadom Mbengue Bindon Dorsett
Wing
Elliot Knibbs
Campbell Kelvin E
Smith

Subs: Button, Dean, Garcia, Craig, Savage, Wareham, Camara

Defence pretty much picks itself, we dont have many options (Goalie does pick itself!)
Midfield, Elliot offers something different in midfield that we lack when Wing is poor (like against Stockport), so he's in over Savage, & Knibbs and Wing are the 2nd & 3rd names on the teamsheet (Pereira being the first)
Forward's also pick themselves.
Subs, Button just because CBC is a victim of the behind the scenes mess he needed to go out on loan, Dean is the only option bar kids that arent ready, Garcia over Abrefa purely because he plays on the left, Craig & Savage because they'd be starting in most other clubs in this division, Wareham because we have no one else (I also believe there is a decent striker in there somewhere), Camara over Akande just probably just in the hope that there is still a player in there, although he's made of glass so would soon by injured anyway

[Snowflake Royal]

I'd say it was this

Pereira
Yiadom Mbengue Bindon Dorsett
Wing
Elliot Knibbs
Campbell Kelvin E
Smith

Subs: Button, Dean, Garcia, Craig, Savage, Wareham, Camara

Defence pretty much picks itself, we dont have many options (Goalie does pick itself!)
Midfield, Elliot offers something different in midfield that we lack when Wing is poor (like against Stockport), so he's in over Savage, & Knibbs and Wing are the 2nd & 3rd names on the teamsheet (Pereira being the first)
Forward's also pick themselves.
Subs, Button just because CBC is a victim of the behind the scenes mess he needed to go out on loan, Dean is the only option bar kids that arent ready, Garcia over Abrefa purely because he plays on the left, Craig & Savage because they'd be starting in most other clubs in this division, Wareham because we have no one else (I also believe there is a decent striker in there somewhere), Camara over Akande just probably just in the hope that there is still a player in there, although he's made of glass so would soon by injured anyway

I think if you're going to put Wing in as DM, that is the best XI... I just think Wing is wasted there, in which case you suddenly have to fit in only two of Wing, Savage, Elliott and Knibbs in the more advanced midfielders, and it's hard to look past Wing being one of them. Which means you probably need the athleticism of Knibbs or Savage alongside.

I was thinking earlier there's some awkward overlaps in attributes across the five of them:

Pressing: Knibbs, Savage
Long shots: Wing, Savage
Set pieces: Wing, Savage
Driving runs: Savage, Knibbs
Tackling: Craig, Savage, Knibbs, Elliott
Ball retention: Elliott, Craig
Direct passing: Wing
Short passing: Elliott, Craig
Finishing: Knibbs
Dribbling and beating players: Elliott, Knibbs


Makes it harder to find the right combination or do a straight swap

[Hound]

Maybe John Clarke can finally get fit and take that LB spot? Yiadoms been out for ages now so who knows what’ll he come back like but I’ll go

Perreira
Yiadom Mbengue Bindon Dorsett
Wing
Campbell Elliott Knibbs Ehibhatiomhan
Smith

Button Savage Dean Abrefa Wareham Garcia Craig

[Tinpot Royal]

I think if you're going to put Wing in as DM, that is the best XI... I just think Wing is wasted there, in which case you suddenly have to fit in only two of Wing, Savage, Elliott and Knibbs in the more advanced midfielders, and it's hard to look past Wing being one of them. Which means you probably need the athleticism of Knibbs or Savage alongside.

I was thinking earlier there's some awkward overlaps in attributes across the five of them:

Pressing: Knibbs, Savage
Long shots: Wing, Savage
Set pieces: Wing, Savage
Driving runs: Savage, Knibbs
Tackling: Craig, Savage, Knibbs, Elliott
Ball retention: Elliott, Craig
Direct passing: Wing
Short passing: Elliott, Craig
Finishing: Knibbs
Dribbling and beating players: Elliott, Knibbs


Makes it harder to find the right combination or do a straight swap

Not sure what is but there's something about Wing I don't really like, there's no denying his ability but something just stops me from fully committing to the love in! I think in the longer term should the club still exist & we keep most players, Savage will be the one most suited to the deep midfield role, if he continues to improve at the rate he has this season, then he'll be a more complete midfielder than anyone else in the current squad.
With Knibbs I think he's a victim of everyone playing 1 upfront, I think he's most suited to playing as the 2nd striker, chasing lost causes, setting up chances & poking in the odd rebound, in the good old days of Sir Steve and 4-4-2 he'd have slotted in nicely.
Craig although the best defensively that's about it, he others little to nothing going forward.
Elliot is the one most likely to create a chance out of nothing & is probably the best at the club with the ball at his feet.

But to be fair you are right, they all seem to overlap on skills a little too much, but it's probably still a midfield 5 the a lot of Championship sides would kill for

[Snowflake Royal]

I think if you're going to put Wing in as DM, that is the best XI... I just think Wing is wasted there, in which case you suddenly have to fit in only two of Wing, Savage, Elliott and Knibbs in the more advanced midfielders, and it's hard to look past Wing being one of them. Which means you probably need the athleticism of Knibbs or Savage alongside.

I was thinking earlier there's some awkward overlaps in attributes across the five of them:

Pressing: Knibbs, Savage
Long shots: Wing, Savage
Set pieces: Wing, Savage
Driving runs: Savage, Knibbs
Tackling: Craig, Savage, Knibbs, Elliott
Ball retention: Elliott, Craig
Direct passing: Wing
Short passing: Elliott, Craig
Finishing: Knibbs
Dribbling and beating players: Elliott, Knibbs


Makes it harder to find the right combination or do a straight swap

Not sure what is but there's something about Wing I don't really like, there's no denying his ability but something just stops me from fully committing to the love in! I think in the longer term should the club still exist & we keep most players, Savage will be the one most suited to the deep midfield role, if he continues to improve at the rate he has this season, then he'll be a more complete midfielder than anyone else in the current squad.
With Knibbs I think he's a victim of everyone playing 1 upfront, I think he's most suited to playing as the 2nd striker, chasing lost causes, setting up chances & poking in the odd rebound, in the good old days of Sir Steve and 4-4-2 he'd have slotted in nicely.
Craig although the best defensively that's about it, he others little to nothing going forward.
Elliot is the one most likely to create a chance out of nothing & is probably the best at the club with the ball at his feet.

But to be fair you are right, they all seem to overlap on skills a little too much, but it's probably still a midfield 5 the a lot of Championship sides would kill for

Yeah only points I'd disagree slightly on is I do love Wing, and Savage is too energetic and rampaging, with too good a long shot, to just sit deep and protect.

[stealthpapes]

Craig's the best defensive midfielder, then pick Savage or Wing depending on how much of a scrap its going to be. Elliott/Knibbs the 3rd man. January may be a relatively quiet month but we're going to start getting into 2 games a week territory again.

Smith up front. Kelvin and Chem wide attackers, Elliott/Knibbs can cover, as can Akande and Camara.
We need cover for Smith - probably Kelvin, but he's a very different player.

Issue this season has been at wing back. Dorsett not been to same standard as last season. No-one fit enough to play at right back. But it also means that teams can very easily put pressure on us and play around our midfield.

[Tinpot Royal]

Yeah only points I'd disagree slightly on is I do love Wing, and Savage is too energetic and rampaging, with too good a long shot, to just sit deep and protect.

Like I said I get the Wing love & he's a good player but there must be something that has kept him in League One, Savage I think will calm down as he plays more games

[Tinpot Royal]

Craig's the best defensive midfielder, then pick Savage or Wing depending on how much of a scrap its going to be. Elliott/Knibbs the 3rd man. January may be a relatively quiet month but we're going to start getting into 2 games a week territory again.

Smith up front. Kelvin and Chem wide attackers, Elliott/Knibbs can cover, as can Akande and Camara.
We need cover for Smith - probably Kelvin, but he's a very different player.

Issue this season has been at wing back. Dorsett not been to same standard as last season. No-one fit enough to play at right back. But it also means that teams can very easily put pressure on us and play around our midfield.

Left Back is certainly the main concern, I feel if Abrefa can ever stay fit enough to get a decent run in the team he could be the answer to the who will replace Yiadom question