General Our Strongest Team...?

Whingit said:
No need for a GK on the bench imo. Was is Wilder who never bothered?

Long's usefulness is highlighted by your point, Negru is a good player capable of starting games, but his lack of versatility and the fact Long can do a job across the back line means it's a no-brainer.
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I think your a little quick to point out Negru’s lack of versatility,
I’d take Trai Hume as an example, has become a very versatile defender along the back line for Sunderland.
Would have no doubt, if you’d ask Negru to do a job at right back in a four. He’d be more than capable, both like to defend and have the pace to cope.
 
Beadle
Negru Moore Brown Leigh
Browne McGaune Brannagan Edwards
Rodrigues Harris
 
Would be looking at bringing in someone like Andres Sondergard now before January.
A young keeper in the Beadle mould, and let one of Eastwood or Mcginty find a club.
 
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Nadi- said:
I think your a little quick to point out Negru’s lack of versatility,
I’d take Trai Hume as an example, has become a very versatile defender along the back line for Sunderland.
Would have no doubt, if you’d ask Negru to do a job at right back in a four. He’d be more than capable, both like to defend and have the pace to cope.
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Negru at full back would surely offer next to no attacking threat though, I'd imagine even less than Brown when he's left back. It makes it a whole lot harder to create when you've got no threat at all from full back, I wouldn't want to see Negru there when we've got Stevens on the bench, it would be madness.
 
Foley said:
Isn't McGinty injured?
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No idea, how would be my next question.
Was always a mistake in my mind,
Maher and Talbot were better in my opinion, and said at the time,. Luke McNicholas who replaced him. May prove to be the better option
 
Joey said:
Negru at full back would surely offer next to no attacking threat though, I'd imagine even less than Brown when he's left back. It makes it a whole lot harder to create when you've got no threat at all from full back, I wouldn't want to see Negru there when we've got Stevens on the bench, it would be madness.
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I’d ask why you’re adamant we need another attacker at full back.
We’ve been at our best this season when allowing Leigh license up the left and Long tucking in alongside Moore and Brown.
The line up I mentioned would allow the likes of Rodrigues, Browne and Edwards freedom to harass the last third in support of Harris. Whilst either McGuane or Brannagan and Leigh back up in support,
 
MustardYellow said:
Assuming all players are fit, what is our strongest starting 11?

Obviously this depends on the system/formation we're playing, but for me it has to be...:

Beadle
Stevens - Moore - Brown - Leigh
Mcguane - Brannagan
Browne - Rodrigues - Edwards
Harris

This leaves players like Mills, Bodin, Goodrham etc who can all make a good impact from the bench.

Would be interested to know what others thinks?
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Mills ahead of Browne for me is a no brainer
 
Nadi- said:
I’d ask why you’re adamant we need another attacker at full back.
We’ve been at our best this season when allowing Leigh license up the left and Long tucking in alongside Moore and Brown.
The line up I mentioned would allow the likes of Rodrigues, Browne and Edwards freedom to harass the last third in support of Harris. Whilst either McGuane or Brannagan and Leigh back up in support,
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It's not even another attacker, it's someone comfortable enough receiving the ball under a bit of pressure and picking a forward pass, rather than dallying and turning inside (something Long is guilty of too). I certainly wouldn't call Stevens or Long "attackers'. It's much quicker there than at centre back where you should really never get caught. I've not seen anything in Negru's game that says he can do that, and that's not a dig at him. He looks to be a good centre back but full back is a completely different proposition. I don't get the willingness of so many to play a centre back at full back. We had plenty of problems last season and among them was being unable to build attacks from the back with Brown and Long.

Agree that Leigh helps massively but that doesn't mean we need to hamstring ourself on the other side. Also is Leigh even likely to be fit tomorrow? He got subbed off limping but even ignoring that his game finished in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Canada, how many sessions will he have had with Buckingham?

Edit - just realized this is the strongest team thread rather than Cheltenham preview so the Leigh fitness is irrelevant. No way Negru at right back is the strongest lineup though.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
No brainer ? Really ? Browne has far more goals in him and as much creativity and threat as Mills does. I like both but to suggest one, Mills in this case, is way ahead is miles off the reality.
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Personal opinion. Maybe I’m basing this a little on Browne’s performances last season where in my opinion he was way off his best. To be fair he started off this season really well playing on the right. I think Mills is going to be a fantastic player
 
dickwalton1964 said:
No brainer ? Really ? Browne has far more goals in him and as much creativity and threat as Mills does. I like both but to suggest one, Mills in this case, is way ahead is miles off the reality.
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I like Marcus Browne. I'm willing him on and always get excited whenever he appears in the starting line up.

However, both Kyle Edwards and Stan Mills have offered significantly more than Browne this season. Actually, they've both contributed more than Browne did last season.

I really really want Browne to come good, but the reality is that others have usurped him, whether through injury or poor form on his part - and I expect that trend to continue.
 
SirAndyOfCrosby said:
I like Marcus Browne. I'm willing him on and always get excited whenever he appears in the starting line up.

However, both Kyle Edwards and Stan Mills have offered significantly more than Browne this season. Actually, they've both contributed more than Browne did last season.

I really really want Browne to come good, but the reality is that others have usurped him, whether through injury or poor form on his part - and I expect that trend to continue.
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I am the opposite of you, in that I have never been convinced by Browne - he had moments in games but was never consistent and often felt he was selfish.
At the start of this season I was starting to change my mind as seemed to be more end product and playing for the team. I do wonder with the competition he now has for his place we could see the best of him - even if it is as a sub.

My best xi would be at the moment - with biggest question mark over Mills.

Beadle
Stevens Moore Brown Leigh
Mills branagan mcguane Edwards
Rodrigues
Harris
 
SirAndyOfCrosby said:
I like Marcus Browne. I'm willing him on and always get excited whenever he appears in the starting line up.

However, both Kyle Edwards and Stan Mills have offered significantly more than Browne this season. Actually, they've both contributed more than Browne did last season.

I really really want Browne to come good, but the reality is that others have usurped him, whether through injury or poor form on his part - and I expect that trend to continue.
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I’m not sure it’s even form, he’s just so inconsistent. He has an irresistible impulse to either run into a thicket of defenders or welly the ball over the bar. However he was fantastic the last time we played Cheltenham.
 
Joey said:
It's not even another attacker, it's someone comfortable enough receiving the ball under a bit of pressure and picking a forward pass, rather than dallying and turning inside (something Long is guilty of too). I certainly wouldn't call Stevens or Long "attackers'. It's much quicker there than at centre back where you should really never get caught. I've not seen anything in Negru's game that says he can do that, and that's not a dig at him. He looks to be a good centre back but full back is a completely different proposition. I don't get the willingness of so many to play a centre back at full back. We had plenty of problems last season and among them was being unable to build attacks from the back with Brown and Long.

Agree that Leigh helps massively but that doesn't mean we need to hamstring ourself on the other side. Also is Leigh even likely to be fit tomorrow? He got subbed off limping but even ignoring that his game finished in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Canada, how many sessions will he have had with Buckingham?

Edit - just realized this is the strongest team thread rather than Cheltenham preview so the Leigh fitness is irrelevant. No way Negru at right back is the strongest lineup though.
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Would this be better
Beadle.
Negru Moore Brown
Browne McGaune Brannagan Leigh
Rodrigues Harris Edwards
 
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Marcus Browne was on a pretty strong run of form before he got injured and was looking almost unplayable at times - like when he won that penalty. Sadly, his style of play invites hard, late tackles and his body can’t seem to handle it.
 
IsleofWightYellow said:
Marcus Browne was on a pretty strong run of form before he got injured and was looking almost unplayable at times - like when he won that penalty. Sadly, his style of play invites hard, late tackles and his body can’t seem to handle it.
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He does take hits but I think it’s mostly to do with his knee injury. It was absolutely dreadful - as bad as it can be without him having to retire. I’m still not convinced he won’t end up being another Robbie Hall who doesn’t even make it to 30. Feels like the rest of his body is trying to compensate and everything is wearing away. A hamstring, a thigh, a calf - he’ll probably never be right for long periods before something goes pop.

If he can’t go the rest of the season without breaking down then I do wonder whether we might pass up the option and release him on a free in the summer.
 
For me Browne has a huge amount to prove. So often the final pass or shot is poor, which means a few breathtaking runs (with no end product) do little to make up for it.

Has been desperately unlucky with injury of course, but doesn't walk back into this team when fit and may even struggle to get opportunities off the bench when you consider Edwards, Goodrham, Bodin, Rodrigues, Mills, Murphy and arguably Perkins are competing for 2/3 spots alongside him.
 
The shame is that without his injuries, Browne could be a top Championship player ( in my view)
I remember the game we played at Sunderland ( first game of the season where we drew and really should have won)
He was the best player on the pitch. Sunderland resorted to pulling him down and fouling him at every opportunity- they just couldn't live with him.

Agree with Ryan though. His body just doesn't seem to be able to cope which is a really shame. Manning alluded to this in one if his interviews ( he is a teriffic player- if we can keep him on the pitch)
 
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