First Team and Formation

Don't forget that Oviedo is a decent option for left midfield should Pienaar move inside and Deulofeu not working out on the left.

I was reading the other day that in the whole of the 2010/11 season, Wigan didn't play 4-4-2 once, and most of Wigan's goals were scored outside the box or on the counter attack, plus, another fact that interested me, is that Wigan scored just once from corners in that season.

Howard has cost us points on numerous occasions over the past few seasons and is a liability when he comes for crosses. Distin is also liability as he switches off at key moments during a game, eg, yesterday's Blackburn goal. Watch the replay: Distin just walks away with his back to his opponent. The Redshite giveaway at Wembley sill haunts me and I always fear he has more of them in him.

We need to sweep away the old guard and in with the new. Yesterday's fine football display should prove we are in capable hands. We don't need to stick with the players who are past-it anymore. That way of doing things is long gone now and belongs to another era.

Anyway with what we have now:

Howard (soon to lose his place to Robies)
Coleman
Distin (soon to lose his place to Alcaraz)
Jagielka
Baines
Gibson
Fellaini
Pienaar
Mirallas
Barkley
Jelavic

(it's 8 on the bench now, right?)

Robies
Stones
Alcaraz
Oviedo
Grant
Deulofeu
Kone
Velios

But I strongly believe that Felli will be sold and if Bobby gets all the sponds to spend, then this might be the team on the 17th

Howard (soon to lose his place to Robies)
Coleman
Distin (soon to lose his place to Alcaraz)
Jagielka
Baines
Gibson
Boss creative midfielder bought with Felli money
Pienaar
Mirallas
Barkley
Boss striker bought with Felli money

Robies
Stones
Alcaraz
Oviedo
Midfielder bought with Felli money
Deulofeu
Kone
Jelavic

Sorry subs in scenario 2:

Robies
Alcaraz
Oviedo
Midfielder bought with Felli money
Deulofeu
Barkley
Kone
Jelavic

One thing is clear; this is the best bunch of players we've had that I can remember, the team is really solid and we've quality all over the pitch. Best right back in the league, best left back, top centre midfielder, and decent quality on the flanks.

Not to mention a subs bench which also is really strong and gives RM some decent options. I'm really, really looking forward to this season more than any before.

One thing.. I don't see any "boss" striker giving us enough cash for another "boss" midfielder...

I see RM moving for GD start in place of Pienaar who might go more central..

I know you come in for some stick but I do wonder if you ever re-read your posts and ask yourself these questions:

• How come there are no spaces after my commas?
• Why am I using the wrong apostrophe symbol?
• Do I really need a full stop after a question-mark?
• Shouldn't I put spaces either side of a dash?
• Couldn't I hit the Enter key one more time to make a new paragraph?

No? Not to mention all the other typos... Thought not. Ah well...

I know my views don`t meet with your approval but is this an attempt `to warn me off` before the season starts?

`Doddy branded Ossie supporter` is hardly an offence I expected to offend you but you can be quite unpredictable.

Just amazed how many typographic errors you managed to cram into one post!

Nice to see you've mastered the paragraphs now though!

See, it's not really that hard, is it?

As for Howard and Distin, well all players have a shelf-life and these two players have gone past thiers. Why is making a statement which I believe to be true hating someone? Howard cost us many times last season and at times looked shot. Which team above us in the League would take him if he were to want out? Exactly none is my answer.

The same goes for Distin and Osman. All three of these players have had it cosy under the other fella and now it's time to move them on... It's not 'hating', Doddy lad, it's just the brutal truth. If ye ain't good enough, ye ain't good enough... Simple.

He must be good if Robbie replaced Al Habsi and played Joel in the Cup Final, so he' not totally useless.

Joel might be used for the Cup games so we'll get a chance to see him then, but I think he's good enough, yes.

I'm not going mad before you say!

But seriously,Osman has been and still is a top class midfielder and when was 31 seen as ancient?

Yes,I would hope to see a younger group of players but both whilst Howard and Distin can perform as well as they did last season,why change the defence?

With regard to the line up and formation, I think I'd be happy with Sam's suggestion... although Jela and Ossie/Barkley would get my vote for now ahead of thr largely unknown Kone & Defo.

In fact,I might even crank up the old PC when I`m posting from home!

Don`t want to get red carded in the Pre season warm -up, now do I ?

Howard looked just as shite when he was in goal in the first half; the only difference was that he didn't concede a goal and Robles did. That said, Howard didn't have Stones playing in front of him, and I think Stones was at least as much at fault for the goal as Robles, if not more.

If we are going to play 4 at the back and have our FBs bombing on as we are used to, then we require pace in our CBs to allow equip them to come across and cover when the FBs get exposed on the counter - which is a consequence of playing that way. This is where the Distin-Jags combination is teriffic, as they are both very quick and cover their respective FBs very well.

If we are going to seek to play in a more measured way with the CBs starting the play then the need changes to ball playing and passing - which may allow either Heitinga or Alcatraz to come in or Distin to provide for better distribution.

Personally I thought our backline was our strength last season and, with RM having a poor record when it comes to conceding goals at Wigin, I would feel better if a known cohesive unit remained in place. Distin had a brilliant season last season; he remains as quick as anyone, is our only tall defender to win the ball in the air (number 5 in Europe for CB headers won) and has experience to burn. You are only too old when it affects something!!

My team for the first game, based on who we have now, would be:
GK: Howard - he hasn't done enough wrong to lose top spot yet (annoying as he is when he stays on his line). He was better after Mucha came in for two games last year so clearly needs competition.
FBs/CBs: Coleman, Jageilka, Distin, Baines (as discussed above).
CM: Gibson, Fellaini.
AM: Pienaar (needs to get more goals and have more end product), Osman (is the best pass visionary we have when not falling over), Mirallas (enough said). [Tough to pick this part of the field actually, as Deulofeu and Barclay could also easily fit in there - and possibly will as the season progresses]
CF: Kone -we bought him for his pace and movement so let's see what it is like. It isn't as if our other forwards were scoring for fun late last season.
Subs: Robles, Oviedo, Alcatraz, Deulofeu, Barclay, Jelevic, Anichebe).

Look at this:

Deulofeu looks fantastic on You Tube (I know - everyone does, but he really looked fantastic - really) - so Pienaar's place on the left side of attacking midfield will be under pressure.

I thought Osman and Barkley were both excellent against Blackburn - you always feel they can create something. Same with Pienaar. I just feel that Barkley has a bit more an edge to him so favour him for the No.10 role behind the striker. Osman seemed to come deep a lot so perhaps might be fighting it out with Felllaini and Gibson for the two DM posts.

Upfront Jelavic seemed to play with confidence, but now we also have the speed of Kone. I am sure Martinez will start with Kone.

But whoever makes the starting 11 we will have a decent bench this year. Our bench was always shown as a weakness compared agains the other top 7 clubs - I think this gap may have closed with the 3 new signings (and one loan deal) made in the summer as all 4 of them will be in the match day squad.

You can put your house on these players being in the team
Jags, Coleman, Baines, Fellaini, Gibson, Ossie, Mirallas and Kone. The rest is where the question mark is for me.

As much as I hope Barkley comes through I don't think he will yet. For him to play, one of Fellaini, Gibson or Osman has to come out and I just don't see it!

At Norwich-
Howard
Coleman
Baines (Oviedo if Leighton goes)
Distin
Jagielka
Gibson
Fellaini (McCarthy- bit of poetic licence here if Fellaini is sold)
Osman
Pienaar
Mirallas
Kone

Almost a Moyes team with the exception of Kone.
RM might play it a little safe with it being the first game and away from home, but then again I might be miles out!
Fascinating aint it.

Osman may be our deepest player alongside fellaini to get the passing going. like what arteta is doing at Arsenal.

I don't think DM for the 2 positions in front of the back 4. It's a champ manager idea and looks great on paper, but it seems to encourage the belief that certain midfielders aren't cut out for that position ie Barkley and Osman. And enforces the misconception that Heightinga or Neville are more equipped for those positions.

In my eyes it's calledCM, especially if its a high tempo pressing and passing game we are playing. Therefore our CM have to be good at keeping possession, have a good work rate, be technically gifted, score a few and be able to pass and tackle.

We have 4 CM then, Fellaini, Barkley, Gibson and Osman. If 3 of them get injured I would start thinking about playing Hieghtinga there and even then Junior might be a better option.

But two from these four would then allow Pienaar to play behind Kone with Deulofue and mirralas either side.

Gibson could come in for Deulofeu in tough away games to pack the midfield. Like when we go away to old Trafford and you just want to get out alive! Nah

Having played the game to a decent standard, I say categorically that Old Distin could very probably give yardage to quite a few younger players than himself in a sprint. His positional sense is admirable and he and Jags are the best defensive pairing in the division at centre back.

They are both hardly ever booked and stay pretty much injury free. When Jags was injured we missed him lots as we never managed to plug the gap he left adequately. Problems we had were when Jags had to move to fullback due to injury and JH deputised dismally!!

So long as we manage to keep Baines we should not tamper with our excellent defence.

I hope and genuinely think that these places are still up for grabs and if the likes of Deulofeu or Barkley really shine in the ICC cup and the rest of pre-season training then they can force their way into the team as others have said.

I like how the front 3 of Mirallas/Pienaar/Deulofeu could all switch and swap positions. You can add Barkley to that too as it looks like he will get a lot of game time under RM

The fans have been fed steady diet of crap teams for many seasons that initially promised so much then fell away disappointingly.

What is needed is for RM to gradually ring in the changes,weeding out the players that Moyes kept faith with too long.

The many bench players who never got a real chance and the newcomers may now take the Blues to the next level simply because of the new manager bringing fresh ideas.

Jelavic against Blackburn did well, Kone wasn't as impressive but I'm sure he will bag goals, we have a strong team this season with more depth than the last, NEED to keep hold of Fellaini and Baines though.