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For West Ham: Would not drop Almiron ... Joelinton definitely not a premiership number 9 ... but could play number 10 behind Wilson ....or out wide. Would like to see Joelinton in number 10 role just behind Wilson with Miggy one side and ASM the other. Miggy possibly our best number 10 as great fitness levels and can surge forward link up midfield and attack. Just need to try these variations and see which works the best.

Fair point ! Almiron could well be our best number 10... but I’d still like to try Joelinton behind Wilson with Miggy playing to the right of the three. Think our best team when everyone’s fit could be: Dubravka Fernandez. Lascelles Maquillo. Lewis Hayden Shelvey. ASM Almiron Fraser Wilson Joelinton to come on for any of the three behind Wilson if and when needed. Ideally in the number 10 spot behind Wilson. Also Hendrick could take one of those two central roles.

IF Shelvey and Dummett are injured then can either play Longstaff or Hendrick. Fraser not played in 6 months so bench at most you would think. Could have very pacey team: Darlow Fernandez Lascelles Manquillo Lewis Hendrick Hayden Almiron Joelinton ASM Wilson Bench: Gillespie, Clark ? (If fit) , Yedlin, Longstaff, Murphy, Fraser ,Carroll

Because we defend deep Almiron and ASM have to put an extra shift in covering more ground and will be more injury prone .....and also need rotating more with Lookman (hopefully) and also to a lesser extent Atsu. We need 4 decent players in these positions .... without ASM we have really been a lot poorer and the team has suffered. Lookman could be an excellent player for us coming in for ASM and Almiron when they are injured, need rotating, need resting, have run themselves into the ground, hit a poor run of form etc .... all three should get plenty of game time and Atsu as back up as well. ASM is our best and most important player imo and has missed nine games so far .... of those games we have lost 7 and drawn one of those games. Lookman will plug that gap and more .... if ASM pulls up again in one of our next games hopefully Lookman can help fill the void and if ASM or ALMIRON looks knackered we can put Lookman on rather than risk injuring them.

That’s the spirit !! ; )

I’d be very happy with Babel and Lookman IF we can get them. We can then start defending properly again, be difficult to beat and hit teams with genuine pace when we get the ball. We then have decent Team & squad Dubravka Yedlin. Fernandez. Lascelles. Clark. Willems Almiron. Shelvey Hayden. ASM Babel Darlow Dummett Shah Lejuene Manquillo Kraft Ritchie Longstaff Longstaff Lookman Atsu Carroll Gayle ? Joelinton

3-4-3. In a front three with Joelinton. 3-4-3 worked last season and most of our players know that system. Also don't see the reason to have 3 central midfielders when we play 3 central defenders. I think you get more balance between defence and attack in a 3-4-3 than in a 3-5-2. 3-4-3 is the best way to play football at the moment. I think Rafa Benitez is the last we’ll see of 3-4-2-1 unfortunately Most likely to play his 3-5-2 he’ll rotate Saint-Maximin & Almiron to partner Joelinton. He might go 4-3-3 at some points in the season though(Played it at Villa) We can afford £20 million subs now !! Wow we have come a long way in a very short time !

Given the Shah has been dead for 39 years I think the midfield would be better all standing on the right than the left. 😂😂😂

Assuming we sign N’Soki and Maximin and Bruce sticks to his favoured 352 we could line up something like: Dubravka Shah. Lascelles Dummett Almiron Hayden Shelvey Longstaff N’Soki Maximin Joelinton Darlow # Clark # Lejuene * Fernandez # Yedlin * Sterry Manquillo # Ritchie * M longstaff # Ki Atsu * Murphy Aaron’s # Muto # Gayle * * Injured # on bench

SHOCKING PERFORMANCE BY KENEDY AND WE SHOWED NOTHING IN ATTACK AT ALL TODAY !!! HAYDEN GOT HIMSELF DELIBERATELY SENT OFF TO FORCE THROUGH HUS MOVE - SWAP HIM FOR GOOD SOUTH COAST PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER !! HAYDEN SHOULD NEVER NEXT GAME V CHELSEA DUBRAVKA STERRY LASCELLES CLARK DUMMETT ATSU SHELVEY DIAME MURPHY MUTU RONDON

HAYDEN DELIBRATLEY GOT HIMSELF SENT OFF TO FORCE HIS MOVE THROUGH !!!!! ALL HE DID WAS FOUL PEOPLE WHEN HE GOT ON !!!! A DECENT PLAYER UP UNTIL TODAY .... BUT SHOULD NEVER KICK A BALL FOR NEWCASTLE AGAIN !! SWAP HIM FOR ANOTHER PLAYER IN PREMIERSHIP OR CHAMPIONSHIP !!! HAYDEN OUT !!!

Great if true !! Would be pretty happy if we signed Kennedy, Rondon & Hernandez (or similar ) !! ... Over the moon if you added Grealish and Traore to those three!! Kenedy aside, you are ecstatic over 4 championship players? Yes !! Everyone has to start somewhere !! ...Dele Ali was signed from MK Dons and he not doing too bad ? One of many examples !! We are not going to be spending mega money you know ? Who realistically would you like to see arrive ?

Great if true !! Would be pretty happy if we signed Kennedy, Rondon & Hernandez (or similar ) !! ... Over the moon if you added Grealish and Traore to those three!!

Kenedy & new striker(s) have to be priority. Sell Mitro for 15 - 20m. Ideally buy Kenedy or similar for 15- 20m. Sell sels, Mbember, Colback etc and hopefully raise around £10m... Get Hernandez in on free, buy Rondon for his £16m buy out and IF money left a number 10 i.e. Grealish (ok i doubt we will get him but should try) and Traore (has incredible speed and skill but Rafa will need to work on his end ball).

Darlow & Aaron’s have little chance of starting but i’d go: Darlow De Yedlin Lascelles. Lejeune . Clark Shelvey. Merino Ritchie Arrons / Murphy Atsu Joselu Don’t think there is much chance so plan B is: Push Merino forward into number 10 role and play Hayden holding. Darlow De Yedlin Lascelles. Lejeune . Clark Shelvey. Hayden Ritchie Merino Atsu Joselu

I know Elliott and Perez will start. Clark I am a big fan of but he was poor at times last game and very lucky to get away without his mistakes costing us. He could do with being rested after playing for Ireland as well. Lejeune deserves a chance. Aarrons doesn’t seem to be in Benitez good books for reasons unknown. Can’t fault Perez work rate but it’s obvious we are crying out for a better number 10 that is more creative and can chip in with goals. The speed of an Aaron’s or Murphy combined with their passing ability and eye for goal could be a more creative option that leads to more goals. Atsu is our only forward player with pace. Nice to have at least one more for the likes of Shelvey, Merino, Ritchie, Lejeune etc to slot their passes through to particularly if we continue to play on the break. Joselu still has a lot to prove with his finishing but still perhaps our best option. Darlow De Yedlin Lascelles. Lejeune . Manquillo Shelvey. Merino Ritchie Aaron's/Murphy Atsu Joselu

Good team ! Think we are both in agreement we can do better than Perez at number 10 for this one. Whilst I cannot fault his work rate, his deliveries could be better and despite starting every game he hasn't even looked like scoring and with Joselu also wasting good chances this looks like it could be a big problem if it continues. We can't just rely on defenders and Atsu chipping in with goals. Diame could be admittedly fantastic on his day (strong on the ball, good at nicking the ball off the opposition and setting up a forward move for us) , but in other games very off the pace, so very inconsistent for me. Come January a new number 10 and a new number 9 unless the current crop improve !

I agree I think he'd cause them huge problems. But Rafa doesn't seem to rate him for reasons unknown. He's had a few off the pitch incidents I can only assume he's annoyed Rafa in some way. I'd use him and he will win us points before he gets injured. Darlow is another one. Did amazingly well for us last year really took his chance well and it looks pretty harsh that he has been dropped. If Shelvey had started against Brighton could the result have been different? Yes quite possibly. He surely has to start against Liverpool for either Hayden or Perez. Liverpool's defence struggles against quick players. Also I felt we needed to be a bit more adventurous after the Brighton game. Against Liverpool play deep get players behind the ball to try to nullify their threat and soak up pressure then hit them on the break with Shelvey, Merino & Ritchie etc supplying the through balls for Gayle, Atsu & Aarons running through Liverpools defence. If we do end up pushing Liverpool back then Merino & or Shelvey can push forward more. My team for this one with the above in mind would be: Darlow Yedlin. Lascelles. Clark. Gamez / Mbember Shelvey. Merino Ritchie Aaron's. Atsu Gayle Murphy to come on with fresh legs at some point second half for whoever is struggling.

I'd play Darlow, Aarons and Shelvey but the first two are out of favour it seems with Rafa.....Will probably be same team as last time....always does seem to be a surprise or two though : ) .... Shelvey and Gayle to come on at some point in second half and perhaps Murphy as well if needed! Darlow De Yedlin Lascelles. Clark. Mbember Shelvey. Hayden Ritchie Merino Aaron's/Atsu Joselu

This. Watched Brighton against Bournemouth and thought they were poor and lacking at times I really think we can get 3 points here. Our organisation has been hugely impressive and effective under Rafa and no one really deserves to be dropped. Rafa usually throws in a tactical surprise or two though ! Hopefully Joselu's trio of misses last week was just a blip. We also have Lejeune, Shelvey, Gayle, Murphy, Manquillo and Gamez to come on if any injuries or anyone not performing. Love how Rafa brings on Gayle and Shelvey late on when we are defending a lead and the opposition start to get desperate and push players up !

I'd go: Elliott Lascelles. Lejeune. De Yedlin. Clark Merino Hayden. Ritchie Shelvey Aaron's Joselu Don't think Aarons will even be on the bench again, think he will probably go Atsu, but Rafa normally springs a surprise or two and that is likely to be de Yedlin and / or Shelvey ! Woulden't be disappointed if he stuck with the same team as they worked their arses off last week ! I thought Gamez could be our weakest link and the opposition certainly targeted him but he actually did really well !

Their three center backs all 6'2 or bigger and at least two of their midfielders around 6'2 and Tammy Abrahams 6'4. I've been reading they are really big on set pieces and practice them a lot. So expecting a threat from set plays from them. So I hope it's Yedlin, Lacelles LeJeune Clark ..... that would give us the perfect balance of letting Yedlin attack and cause the havoc he does and possibly Clark getting forward as well. Whilst having three CB's on the pitch who are all decent defensively and also good in the air particularly against set plays plus Merino, Hayden and Probably Joselu as well who are decent in the air as well. I just think he's probably not going to start Yedlin because he's not played a single minute for us thus far this season, so will probably bring him on later on. Of their starting midfielders only Fer is over 6', Ki doesn't really a look in these days (it'll be Fer, Carroll and Clucas most likely). I think if you look at the collective height of Lascelles, Clark, Merino, Hayden and Joselu you'll be pleasantly surprised and perhaps a bit less worried. We also work intensively on set pieces under Mikel Antia, so I think we'll be alright. Midfielders Sam Clucas is 6'2 and Fer is also 6'2 Their back three are all 6,2 or above (one is 6'4) and Abrahams is 6'4 So a fairly tall team and dangerous from set plays. That's why I'd play Lacelles LeJeune and Clark for that added security and height. Yedlin I do really rate and although not great deffensively his pace seems to get him out of trouble and he's very effective going forward. As I say not going to be too harsh on Maquillo as has been ok thus far and decent going forwards just think he switches off a bit defensively at times so feel safer with Clark there.

Their three center backs all 6'2 or bigger and at least two of their midfielders around 6'2 and Tammy Abrahams 6'4. I've been reading they are really big on set pieces and practice them a lot. So expecting a threat from set plays from them. So I hope it's Yedlin, Lacelles LeJeune Clark ..... that would give us the perfect balance of letting Yedlin attack and cause the havoc he does and possibly Clark getting forward as well. Whilst having three CB's on the pitch who are all decent defensively and also good in the air particularly against set plays plus Merino, Hayden and Probably Joselu as well who are decent in the air as well. I just think he's probably not going to start Yedlin because he's not played a single minute for us thus far this season, so will probably bring him on later on. Yedlin, Lacelles LeJeune Clark is our best back 4 if everyone is fit in my opinion. Maquillo decent going forward but still suspect defensively for me. Swansea going to be vulnerable down the flanks due to their 3 5 2 formation so Aarons, Atsu, Yedlin and possibly Clark going wide could cause them huge problems. Have a good feeling Rafa will have their system figured out and we wil win 2 1

Decent team would be ok with that. Hope I'm wrong but not sure he is going to start with Yedlin. He'll probably come off the bench later on. Swansea are a big team that play 3 5 2 and Rafa likes his center backs so think it will be Manquillo, Lacelles Lejeune Clark for the extra height and just being better defensively. I'd bring Shelvey in for Perez personally and also Aaron's in. Don't think Aarons will start but Shelvey might just !

Think you Probably have Rafa's team bang on ! Anything else would be a bit of a surprise for me. Merino did play well against West Ham though and played well and scored for the U21's. Think most of us hoping for big things for Merino and to see Merino's name down on starter sheet on Sunday. Then the question is who do you sacrifice for Merino and that has to be Perez for me as he hasn't impressed really, very inconsistent and at times very frustrating even in the Championship. Shelvey would offer so much more in that role especially with his pin point accurate passing, vision, reading of the game and can find space and have a crack himself. Yes ok everyone knows he messed up against spurs big time including himself but time to let our best player from last season make amends. Most will not agree with me on this one but Aarons in for Ritchie for me. Aarons has looked absolutely lethal pre season and against Forest where he made one, scored a screamer and created more chances which could also have been converted by 1st teamers before being subbed. Like many I am not sure what more he can do to get his chance ! Lejeune, Yedlin/Manquillo, Merino and especially Shelvey threading those exquisite balls though to quick skilful runners, Atsu, De Yedlin, Gayle and Aarons is something I'd love to see !