First starting XI after the window

[Kid Dynamite 7356]

Won't happen but for me it's

 

Sels

Gamez, Mbemba, Lascelles, Lazaar

Richie, Hayden, Diame/Shelvey, Atsu

Gayle, Mitro

 

That's 8/11 who weren't here last season

Edited August 31, 2016 by StraightEdgeWizard

[Howay 12496]

I think that's about what we'll see, no idea who will become 1st choice out of Yedlin and Gamez but either way I think we're going to see a lot of rotation throughout the season as Rafa seems to like competition for places.

[TheGingerQuiff 2412]

Rafa once went 90 odd games without naming an unchanged side. We won't have a first 11

[David Kelly 1309]

Aye I think we'll see a lot of changing of the team.  I would think that Gayle, Ritchie, Mitro, Lascelles, Hayden, Mbemba, and Sels will play the majority of games with Shelvey, and Diame not being far behind.  The likes of Gamez, Anita, Lazaar, Dummett, Colback, Perez, Atsu, Hanley, Yedelin and Clark will all get plenty of games but I don't think any of them will be a real first choice unless they come in and do better than expected.

 

I do also think he'll try and keep a few of the players in from last season for now until the new lads have time to settle in.  Rafa won't want to be playing a team of nearly all new faces at this stage.

[OTF 7902]

I like the fact that the team will change, I always find it annoying when a side remains unchanged because last start they got "a result". Plenty of the time there are weak performers that hold their spot without reason other than someone jagging a goal, or a keeper having a blinder.

 

This should also keep them keen and competing for places. It's nice to have what seems at this stage like a pretty well balanced squad.

[Alex 35991]

Nice to feel like there are genuine options. For too long the side's more or less picked itself.

[rogerbarton 24]

We've genuinely got a squad now. I can't remember the last time we had that. Agree we won't have a first XI, and I like that. Just running through the squad...

 

GK: Sels, Elliot, Darlow

 

FB: Gamez, Anita*, Yedlin, Lazaar, Dummett, Haidara

 

CB: Lascelles, Mbemba, Hayden, Clark, Dummett*

 

Wingers: Ritchie, Gouffran, Atsu, Aarons, Yedlin*, Diame*

 

CM: Hayden, Tiote, Shelvey, Colback, Anita, Diame

 

ST: Gayle, Mitrovic, Perez, Murphy

 

That's 3 or 4 players for every single position. All of whom you'd trust to do a job. Brilliant. I must say that Tiote staying is a bit of a boon for me, so long as he reacts like he did after January. Because other than Hayden we don't really have anyway to take on that holding midfielder role.