toptoon

If Yedlin starts at Right Back then Manquillo should be on the bench. Agreed IF Yedlin starts back 4 should be Yedlin Lacelles Lejeune Clark Which is pretty good as Yedlin can then get forward alot !! We will pretty much be matching their 3 5 2 formation then ! I do not think Rafa will bring him on till late on in the game though.

Yes we can play those three in my opinion. Perez has not been overly convincing. They are our best three midfielders. My thinking is which one is best equipped to play the more advanced role. Quite a good team pick and I like the formation just lacks a bit of pace up top though in my opinion. That would be my only real criticism.

I think Rafa might start the above team with the exception of ELLIOTT and Ritchie in for Darlow and Aarons. Will Shelvey come straight back in and if so who for ? Hard to say 50/50 guess. I know he is a lot of Toon fans favourite player but just can't see Ritchie being as effective in the Premiership.... particularly against the better teams Chelsea, Spurs, the two Manchester clubs, Arsenal etc Ritchie is very hard working and very intelligent, good taking set pieces but for all his bluster, puffing and panting he is not particularly big strong or fast or going to beat premiership defensive players. Aaron's and Atsu really are very quick, skillfull, able to open teams up and I think better equipped to hurt premiership defences. Ritchie may prove me wrong some games and he is Rafas choice it seems at the moment. It's just my personal opinion. I think he'll be vital against the bigger clubs, for his graft alone. He'll obviously have less impact going forward but his graft will be invaluable in defence. His a quick thinker too, which will give us an advantage in counter attacking. Remember his pass for Atsu last season. That s*** could win us 3 points after a resilient defensive display. Yes to be fair that was a great assist last season, absolutely sublime and yes Ritchie is a very good passer of the ball as well and he is pretty good at getting back defensively, although not particularly strong or fast player so can be beaten. He certainly had quality. But we have at least Lejeune, Merino, Shelvey, Manquillo who all play in deeper roles and look to be very good passers and looking for runners in forward positions to make those killer passes to. Playing killer passes out to quick runners on the wings can really help us open teams up and my concern is Ritchie against better quality players could be very ineffective in many games this season being up against higher calibre opposition. If Joselu is starting up top that means there is ONLY really Atsu making quick runs up top which opposition teams will start to quickly figure out and look to nullify this. At least if Aarons is playing it gives our best passers another really quick runner to aim for up top. Shelvey has to play for me as he is our best player in my opinion and I have high hopes for Merino who has just scored for the Spanish U21's and Hayden has been fantastic thus far. Perez just hasn't really made that number 10 spot his own and is weak on the ball with frustratingly inconsistent passes that's why I'm thinking Shelvey could do a job for us there but he prefers quick runners like Gayle and Atsu, Aarons in front of him making forward runs could be a quite a lethal combo. Creativity was a huge problem for us and in my opinion cost us the match against decent Huddersfield side and I can see it being a problem again. I could have seen us picking up a point or three with Aarons in the side that day. Ok creativity clearly wasn't so much of a problem in our last game. Albeit against an unorganised woefull West Ham team who have conceded 10 goals in their 3 premiership games thus far.

I think Rafa might start the above team with the exception of ELLIOTT and Ritchie in for Darlow and Aarons. Will Shelvey come straight back in and if so who for ? Hard to say 50/50 guess. I know he is a lot of Toon fans favourite player but just can't see Ritchie being as effective in the Premiership.... particularly against the better teams Chelsea, Spurs, the two Manchester clubs, Arsenal etc Ritchie is very hard working and very intelligent, good taking set pieces but for all his bluster, puffing and panting he is not particularly big strong or fast or going to beat premiership defensive players. Aaron's and Atsu really are very quick, skillfull, able to open teams up and I think better equipped to hurt premiership defences. Ritchie may prove me wrong some games and he is Rafas choice it seems at the moment. It's just my personal opinion.

Assuming De Yedlin and Dummett not fit yet but LeJeune is (if not fit move Clark across to CB and Mbember LB again: I'd go with this: (Rafa will almost certainly go with ELLIOTT). Shelvey a deeper lying no 10 slotting his perfect though balls to our players making forward runs past him and even getting forward himself to have a crack if space opens up. Darlow Manquillo Lascelles. Lejeune. Clark Merino. Hayden Shelvey Atsu. Aaron's Gayle/Joselu

I suspect your right tomorrow. Ritchie and Perez will probably start. Both very disappointing thus far for me and I feel they lack the pace needed to hurt top quality premiership defences. Atsu not too bad but has been expected to do too much by himself with little support. Aaron's looks like he's on fire at the moment and our best chance of creating a goal. Murphy looks good from the little I've seen of him thus far. Early days but deserves a chance whilst the others are faltering. Those top four will certainly cause West Ham problems and more chance of scoring, winning penalties, free kicks or getting a West Ham player sent off when they are beating them for pace.

I feel the need ......the need for speed !! ......(Up top any way) ELLIOTT (Darlow if fit) Manquillo Lascelles. Mbember Clark. Merino. Hayden. Atsu. Aaron's Murphy Gayle I really do not think that Ritchie is going to be as effective in the Premiership : ( ...I know it's early days) but I suspected this before the first game and has offered very little in the two games he has played thus far ! Time for Aaron's and Murphy to show what they can do. If Gayle fails his fitness test then I'd give Joselu his chance ! If it all starts going horribly wrong for us PLAN B = stick Mitro and Joselu on up top together !

Yet another outstanding performance !! My favourite player, easily our and this leagues best player and our most important player. Give him space to play and he'll punish you. England is crying out for this type of player. Dictates the game, turns defence in attack almost effortlessly with his superb vision and sublime range of passing. No one else quite like him currently. Won't get this much space every game to operate in but he's an absolute Joy to watch !

Doubt it will be but this would be my preferred team. Darlow Anita Lascelles Clark Dummet Ritchie Shelvey Colback Gouffran Diame Gayle This is more likely. Although there is usually a surprise or two. I am hoping that is as we are at home Yedlin will come in at RB and Atsu in for Ritchie again.

Like Gayle's movement and pace. But he does seem to need at least three good chances to score one at the moment. Hoping he becomes more clinical in his finishing as the season goes on. Good enough for this league yes. Has potential but not a premier league player though yet unless his finishing improves imo. Yes one step at a time i know i know !

Lascelles bar one costly mistake V Fulham first game he has been very very good ! Mbember has been poor at times and was atrocious V Wolves (not just the own o.g.) and rightly lost his place. Clark - Wow !! Really surprised how good he has been so far. Rightly kept his place. Hanley - Has been ok the little i have seen him. Feel sorry for him as hasn't really been given a run in the team as yet.

Perez was poor and pretty ineffective against Fulham so really looking forward to seeing what Diame can do for us powering into the box, shooting and creating. Very hopeful here. Gayle also very quite but had no service to be fair to him. Shelvey and Aaron's need to start. Shelvey could be such a massive player for us if Rafa gets him playing to his best. Shelvey and Aaron's perhaps not the best subs when you have just fallen behind. Be positive start them and we'll be the ones going ahead. Hanley did quite well I thought and Lacelles at fault for the goal.... No where near smith. Lacselles can talk the talk but he has something to prove now in my opinion. Hayden did OK need to see more of him though. Sells Jaanmat. Hanley. Lascells Dummett Shelvey. Hayden/Colback Ritchie Diame. Aaron's Gayle With this forward line we should cause problems and win.

Lacselles was poor and was at fault for the goal. Not even close to Smith. Worrying sign. Seems to talk the talk. Hanley I thought did very well and I'd have him man mark 'big man' strikers. Perez was very poor and just doesn't look up to it and should be replaced by Diame who I'm hoping can make a big difference to us behind the striker. . Shelvey could be a massive player for us this season if Rafa can get him playing at his best and control games for us and bring the best out of our pacey front men. Shelvey and Aaron's should start as not ideal subs when your behind. Gayle did nothing but we didn't really create anything for him either to be fair to him. One terrible shot aside I thought Armstong looked lively.

I'd be happy with that ! Those front 4 in particular should cause Fulham a lot of problems with their pace and movement! Hope Aarons starts but have a feeling he won't and Anita will. We have to be a real danger with our height from set pieces with big powerful Lascells & Hanley in particular and should be able to defend them as well. Diame is a big lad as well when he comes in. I'd also start Shelvey if he's looking sharp. He has the talent to control games like this, feed our quick front 4 with killer precise passes and be the difference between the two sides. Looking forward to seeing more of Hanley and Hayden. Diame should come in to the starting 11 next game and should be on the bench at least for this one. He could well take Perez's attacking midfield role behind the striker if Perez doesn't look up to it. Its going to be very interesting !

He's better than anything we currently have on the left wing ? Would be another good signing ?

Don't think Saivet will start as well as Shelvey as he has no prem league experience. Thauvin i am not sure we will be seeing him in this game ...or for a while. Possibly being sent back to France.

Colback will probably start and Saviet will probably come off bench late in second half. Perez i really think has great potential but agree he may need a rest. Save for an impact sub role. Aarons could be immense and is definitely worth another shot while he is fit. Elliott Mbember Colo Dummet Jaanmaat Shelvey Colback/Tiote? Sissoko Aarons Gini Mitrovic

When we get the ball break foward fast with speed and purpose. Krul Jaanmat. Taylor. Colo. Mbember Sissoko. Colback Thauvan Wjnaldum Aarons Perez

I have included Mbember at left back in my team as i do like him a lot and prefer him at left back defending against Ramsey and co to Haidara. Just for now it seems a shame to break up the defence that did so amazingly well at Old trafford!…but at the same time Jaanmat is a top quality player who looked superb in midweek…. Colo and Taylor played so incredibly well its hard to just drop one of them after performances like that. Mbember and Colo also looked far from convincing as a partnership and have conceded 4 goals in the two game they played together ! I think that was more to do with being up against forwards who were much more of a threat in the air. Man U and Arsenal don't really have those type of strikers. To be fair Giroud is expected to start on saturday he's 6'4 and pretty decent in the air ! V Man u Fellani was very fortunately for us suspended and could have murdered colo and mbember in the air just as Southampton did ! Start of the season i wanted Mbember plus a new tall quick CB ! Not sure 100% sure Mbember plus Colo who isn't very commanding either in the air is the answer. Williamson is very good in the air but not so good on the deck. We still need a big commanding CB ! Based on last week Colo and Taylor are the best combination we have at this moment in time.

I have included Mbember at left back in my team as i do like him a lot and prefer him at left back defending against Ramsey and co to Haidara. Just for now it seems a shame to break up the defence that did so amazingly well at Old trafford!…but at the same time Jaanmat is a top quality player who looked superb in midweek…. Colo and Taylor played so incredibly well its hard to just drop one of them after performances like that. Mbember and Colo also looked far from convincing as a partnership and have conceded 4 goals in the two game they played together !

I think we are playing Arsenal at a really good time. They are not playing well and have CB's out. Mitrovic has scored against them before we just need to get him good service and i am sure he can score again and/or create havoc in their back line. Our confidence is up after two good results and performances. We should really go for them from the off. Harsh to drop any of the defenders from old trafford and i am not sure he will. Thauvin has to start, as does Perez and stick with Mitrovic up top. I'd go with our best available players: Krul Janmaat Taylor Coloccini Mbember Sissoko Wijnaldum Thauvin Perez Aarons Mitrovic I think SMc will go: Krul Mbember Taylor Coloccini Haidara Anita Colback Thauvin Wijnaldum Obertan Mitrovic

We need to just go out attack score goals and win this game. Our starting XI v arsenal needs game time to gel (minus sissoko who I assume needs rest time). Once we are comfortable maybe bring on tiote, de Jong, cisse etc Krul Taylor Colo Jaanmat Mbember/Dummett Colback/Anita Georgino Thauvin Perez Aarons Mitrovic

Not anti Obertan as he turned a corner last year but why the on fire Aaron's not only didn't start but didn't even get on as sub ? Plus we need a cb who is dominant in the air ! Colo and mbmemba as a cb pairing are going to get murdered every game in the air based on today !

Lets have a real go at them ! Krul Jaanmatt Wilo Colo Raylor/Jonas ? Obertan Sissoko Colback Sammy Cabella Perez If riveirie plays and Cabella doesn't we are surely doomed. The above team can at least fight for the ball and offer Everton real problems when we have the ball with real pace going forward.

With the players available we may as well go: Krul Wilo Colo Jaanmatt Haidara ? Abeid Sissoko Obertan Perez Sammy Cisse