Strongest XI?

[KratosBaggie]

Bond would be in my first XI...

I was thinking that, tbh - But the fact everyone else is picking Johnstone, as well as three managers since the beginning of last season, tells me I'm wrong. He was poor against Forest, and doesn't seem to have improved at all.

Johnstone is OK. He'll save points, but will also cost us. We can do better than him - but I guess we could do a lot worse...and TBH I've only seen Bond once, but he impressed me in the cup tie v Brighton.

[Dumbo]

Bond would be in my first XI...

I was thinking that, tbh - But the fact everyone else is picking Johnstone, as well as three managers since the beginning of last season, tells me I'm wrong. He was poor against Forest, and doesn't seem to have improved at all.

Johnstone is OK. He'll save points, but will also cost us. We can do better than him - but I guess we could do a lot worse...and TBH I've only seen Bond once, but he impressed me in the cup tie v Brighton.

Johnstone was not poor at Forest. Were you there?

Arguably should have done better for the goal but i’d argue the player should have been closed down. Other than that he commanded his area well and his kick was replay improved.

[Duffers]

Bond has only played two or three matches, why are people saying he’s the long term solution based on that?

[Statto]

Johnstone is as good as anything in the Championship and will get better.

If we can't be positive about the team right now, we never fucking will be.

[Big Daddy Cool]

Bond has only played two or three matches, why are people saying he’s the long term solution based on that?

It's probably the same people who thought Myhill should play over Foster.

[SW4Baggie]

Johnstone is as good as anything in the Championship and will get better.

If we can't be positive about the team right now, we never fucking will be.

Butland, Bettinelli and even Etheridge are better all round 'keepers IMO... but SammyJ doesn't deserve a lot of the critique he gets... He just needs to be a little less indecisive when balls come into the box... if he can fix that we have a top goalie.

[Remi_Moses]

We have a top keeper in Johnstone, I said before we are quick to point the finger, even when the opposite side score a worldie,  some can't wait to blame him. Tip tap defence last season didn't help, we will get better and his confidence will grow. I would like to see him get more vocal and tell the defenders to close down attackers rather then keep backing off.

[Statto]

Johnstone is as good as anything in the Championship and will get better.

If we can't be positive about the team right now, we never fucking will be.

Butland, Bettinelli and even Etheridge are better all round 'keepers IMO... but SammyJ doesn't deserve a lot of the critique he gets... He just needs to be a little less indecisive when balls come into the box... if he can fix that we have a top goalie.

Etheridge is decent tbf. Bettinelli has been a bit streaky in the past and we'll see how he is after being out.

Butland's basic handling is crap - have said it for years. Makes spectacular blocks but is always fumbling routine stuff.

SJ is in that bracket and hopefully gets backed by our support and we can see how well he performs with confidence.

[Brandywell]

The thing is Bilic prefers the 4-2-3-1 but got really slated for it at West Ham. However,  he has the players to do it now and convert to 3-5-2 mid game if need be.

I'd personally like to see Ferguson and Gibbs utilised in the 3-5-2 with Furlong, Ajayi and Hegazi as the three. But since Heagzi is injured it makes pure sense to 4-2-3-1 moving to 4-4-2.


4-2-3-1:
Johnstone
Ferguson - Ajayi - Hegazi - Gibbs
Sawyers - Livermore
Phillips - Krov - Pereira
Austin

3-5-2:

Johnstone
Furlong - Hegazi - Ajayi
Ferguson - Sawyers - Willock - Krov - Gibbs
Zohore - Austin

Better suited in 4-4-2 (picks itself):

Johnstone
Ferguson - Ajayi - Hegazi - Gibbs
Phillips - Sawyers - Livermore - Pereira
Zohore - Austin

Cant see Bilic favouring a 3 at the back, hasnt in any of his previous managerial positions

[Bob Fossil]

The thing is Bilic prefers the 4-2-3-1 but got really slated for it at West Ham. However,  he has the players to do it now and convert to 3-5-2 mid game if need be.

I'd personally like to see Ferguson and Gibbs utilised in the 3-5-2 with Furlong, Ajayi and Hegazi as the three. But since Heagzi is injured it makes pure sense to 4-2-3-1 moving to 4-4-2.


4-2-3-1:
Johnstone
Ferguson - Ajayi - Hegazi - Gibbs
Sawyers - Livermore
Phillips - Krov - Pereira
Austin

3-5-2:

Johnstone
Furlong - Hegazi - Ajayi
Ferguson - Sawyers - Willock - Krov - Gibbs
Zohore - Austin

Better suited in 4-4-2 (picks itself):

Johnstone
Ferguson - Ajayi - Hegazi - Gibbs
Phillips - Sawyers - Livermore - Pereira
Zohore - Austin

Cant see Bilic favouring a 3 at the back, hasnt in any of his previous managerial positions

Too many of these teams have Livermore for my liking. Would rather have Barry, Harper or even Brunt.
Back 4 looks good though, especially with Hegazi fit and up top we could be frighteningly good if all the new signings come off. I'd get as many of them on the pitch as possible:
451/4141/433
                        Johnstone
           Ferguson Ajayi Hegazi Gibbs
Diangana Phillips Sawyers Krovinovic Perreira
                            Austin