Ok so the season hasn't even started, and we haven't seen the 3 new lads yet, but who out of the squad are your favorite 11 (one in each position).

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Answers

Assuming a 4-4-2 and judging the new players on quotes from Bobby!!

Harper Barton Howey Goma Domi Bassedas Lee Speed Dyer Shearer Ferguson.

Hey that's not a bad team.....Championship Winners!

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

harper barton domi dabizas goma bassedas speed lee dyer cort shearer

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

So, no Goma? No Cort? A #7 million new signing not getting a game? what about Gavilan and Griffin, are they not fresher than last years, mid table team? And what of Solono? are you sure about that team De Biulder?

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Harper The best keeper, especially on kicking
Barton of course
Domi if he can be consistent
Dabizas Apart from his occasional lapses...
Goma Comfortable on the ball and if he played for Man U people would be drooling, of course he has to play for us more this season!
Solano Is he not the best crosser of the ball in the PL?
Speed 13 goals last season, what more can you ask for?
Lee Will still perform for at least 20 games this season
Bassedas, not sure of his position but Bobby obviously likes him
Shearer can't think why
Cort/Ferguson Robson rates Cort, I don't know much about him, Ferguson and Shearer have the potential. Erm Okay I go for Cort. Because in Bobby I trust.
On the bench Given Hughes Gavilan Ferguson and Gallacher or Griffin.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

HArper,

Barton, Goma, Dabizas, Domi

Solano, Speed, Bassedas,

Dyer

Cort, Shearer

Bench: Cordone, Lee, Hughes, Gallacher, Given

There are lots of people who will only get a chance once the inevitable injuries start accumulating, but that's modern competetive football. Dyer will certainly have to stay on his toes to keep his place. As will Domi.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I've got mine down to 14 players. but can't decide on 3 positions. I would have Cort and Shearer up front, I would have Dyer, Gavilan and Bassedas in midfield, leaving Lee Solano and Speed fighting for the other central midfield slot. In fact I think I would cash in on Solano. I would try Hughes and Goma in the centre of defence, Domi as left back and Griffin at right back slighty ahead of Barton. I would probably use Barton in the first game against Man U and plump for speed and Lee in the first game ,arg why can't they make it 14 a side.......... That would be my prefered players, Solano is surpulus, as is Marcelino and Howey and of course Big dunc, If you could get #12 million for that lot, I'd splash out #8 million for Mpenza as my number 2 striker using cort as my number 3 striker. Good squad players to fill in for injury would be, Dabizas and Glass.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Most on here so far have bassedas in the first 11, are we all presuming that he will play on the left of midfield?

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Excitingly, I can hardly cut it down to 11. How much better a squad do we have now?

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I read a quote in the Chron some time back that Bassedas was a box to box cental midfielder but cud play in any midfield position with ease. Im excited about this season too cos at long last we have a decent striking force and now have various excellent choices for each position...except left wing. Theyre saying Cordone looks so good in training that he cud well be a 1st team regular!

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Harper Barton Dabz Helder/Goma Domi Dyer Lee Speed Bassedas Al & Cort Subs Cordone, Gavilan, Hughes, Gallacher, Nobby

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Harper Barton Goma (Helder if he signs) Dabizas Domi Dyer Lee Speed Bassesdas Shearer Cort

Glass, Dunc and solano on the bench.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Hmm forget my previous posting, I didn't even include Dyer, point proven I suppose. It's going to be difficult for Bobby!

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

Rik,

Too right I'm sure :-)

As your posting highlights there are many grey areas with regards to who plays where.

I've always thought Howey and Goma would do a good job together, better than most other CB pairings on paper (no jokes like "but they play on grass" please!)

Solano doesn't make it due to his impending monthly breaks consistency is the key, Gavilan is still learning although he and his chums beat the Brazilians the other night. Lee and Speed works well as proved last season, if it ain't broke and all that.....

Bassedas and Dyer will do the creative stuff and Speed will get forward as usual.

I went for Dunc because I have assumed, like the rest of the players that he is 100% fit. A 100% fit Dunc is just about as good as it gets in the EPL. Corts pace will be better utilised in the latter stages of games and give Dunc or Al a rest.

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000