5 first team players out

[Milo]

Don't normally post two threads in one night, but I was reading the Millwall fan forums tonight (mostly drivel otherwise I'd have made a "View from.." thread to share their thoughts).. and one of the posts said:

"This is with 5 of their first team players out"

So it got me thinking, what is our best first team? Who will make the cut when everyone is fit again?

For me it's:

Rodak (over Gazza easily.. talk about dodgy keeper!)
Tete
Tosin
Ream
Robinson
Reed
Seri
Carvalho
D Reid
Mitro
Wilson

With subs off the bench: Cairney, Kebano, Cavaleiro.

[Statto]

IMO you can't count Kongolo because he'll never be fit, and arguably Cairney may be heading the same way. So it should be 3 players out rather than 5 - Reed, Reid and Wilson. I'd have had those three in my best XI.

I also think the jury's still out on the CBs. Not a single Clean sheet so far and we look suspect from crosses. In Hector and Mawson, we've good players that haven't been tested yet.

So...

Rodak

Tete [Tosin/Hector] [Ream/Mawson] Robinson

Reed Seri

Wilson Carvalho Reid

Mitrovic

[millsy]

I second that but they're right, we were a weakened side and I, for one, was concerned about the lack of a ball winner starting tonight. Have to admit I was wrong, Seri was immense and given it was Millwall, I'm even more impressed. Didn't think he had it in him.

[ChesterTheTabby]

IMO you can't count Kongolo because he'll never be fit, and arguably Cairney may be heading the same way. So it should be 3 players out rather than 5 - Reed, Reid and Wilson. I'd have had those three in my best XI.

I also think the jury's still out on the CBs. Not a single Clean sheet so far and we look suspect from crosses. In Hector and Mawson, we've good players that haven't been tested yet.

So...

Rodak

Tete [Tosin/Hector] [Ream/Mawson] Robinson

Reed Seri

Wilson Carvalho Reid

Mitrovic

Sure, we haven't kept a clean sheet - but ALL of them were against the run of play and very fortunate. Only Huddersfield was one where I questioned our CBs, but the defender was a massive unit of player. Boro and Millwall scored on luck. I think our defense has largely been immense and I have not been worried about them in any of our three games so far. In 3 games we have conceded just 5 shots on target - pretty damn good to me!

[toshes mate]

I do believe we will see the 'best team' one game and then another later game will usurp that and so on.  This is currently a side in growth mode and it must feel very new to some of the players in the squad after the past several months.  That effect may also impact upon supporters but I remember talk of a golden goal season DVD running forever after we played Millwall at home and look went wrong then.  This time around does feel to me like the real thing but I am just going to enjoy watching the whole squad growing up with smiles on their faces and enjoying every moment of their first team appearances. How much room for growth is there?   Plenty enough IMO.

[rebel]

I posted this on a thread yesterday before the match. We have 3/4 first teamers out at the moment. We have quality and depth, especially in the Championship. Hopefully we keep building on these performances.

[davew]

I second that but they're right, we were a weakened side and I, for one, was concerned about the lack of a ball winner starting tonight. Have to admit I was wrong, Seri was immense and given it was Millwall, I'm even more impressed. Didn't think he had it in him.

Have to admit I was wrong as well, great performance by the team!!

[Milo]

I posted this on a thread yesterday before the match. We have 3/4 first teamers out at the moment. We have quality and depth, especially in the Championship. Hopefully we keep building on these performances.

Sorry Rebel! I'm getting old and forgetful..!

[The Rational Fan]

Frankly, their are a number of players that have spent a good potion of their careers injuried including fabri, Tete, Mawson, MLM, Kongolo, Robinson, Reed, Onamah, Cairney, Cavelrio and Stansfield. I wonder if it would be more accurate to describe this lot as bonus players rather than best XI.

The real best XI that can be expected to be in the matchday 18 for 40 games are Rodak, Gazza; Christie, Odoi, Bryan; Hector, Tosin, Ream; Francois, Seri, Anguissa, Carvelio; Knockaert, Wilson, Mitro, Reid and Kebano. We really just need one more centre forward and we have a good injury free 18.

[Statto]

Frankly, their are a number of players that have spent a good potion of their careers injuried including fabri, Tete, Mawson, MLM, Kongolo, Robinson, Reed, Onamah, Cairney, Cavelrio and Stansfield. I wonder if it would be more accurate to describe this lot as bonus players rather than best XI.

Not sure about a few of those. Cavaleiro certainly shouldn't be in there. He's been fit as a fiddle the last few years.

[MickyAdamsFamily]

I suspect that Kongolo may prove a lot of doubters wrong.
He hadn't been injury prone at all until he broke his foot (in what, his 2nd game at Fulham?). He has a point to prove, and when at full fitness is a Premier League starting-level center back, who is comfortable playing with the ball at his feet, is 6 foot 4 tall and a true athlete (he's fast!), plus he's a natural left-footed player (which is relatively rare, and a valuable asset for a balanced defense). He represented the Netherlands at every level, and made his debut on the senior national team as a 20year old. He's just turned 27, so coming into the prime years for a center back.
Unlike Cairney (a dodgy knee can haunt a player and potentially end a career; sorry, Jimmy Bullard), Kongolo's injuries could hopefully become an unfortunate chapter in his past.
Fingers crossed....

[General]

Everyone fit

Rodak (not convinced at all by Gazza)

Tete tosin kongolo Robinson

Wilson Reed/Anguissa seri Reid

               Carvalho

          Mitro

Bench: Gazza, Cairney, cavaleiro, Bryan, mawson/hector/ream, neeskens, reed/anguissa


Will be interesting to see what Muniz is like and how he fits in.

[MickyAdamsFamily]

That's a good looking squad, General, and the bench would walk into the starting 11 at most Championship clubs.
It'll be interesting to see Muniz in action. He could develop into quite a player, and potentially give us someone who can step in for Mitro  to give him a rest late in a game and inject some pace to worry opposing defenders, or to play alongside him if (Heaven forbid) we're behind and chasing the game, or if (when) he's suspended...

[MickyAdamsFamily]

Also interesting to note that Fab is essentially playing the position we're used to seeing Cairney occupy, central attacking midfielder. When (if) Cairney regains full fitness, it'll be intriguing to see how Silva incorporates both in the formation

[FulhamStu]

Everyone fit

Rodak (not convinced at all by Gazza)

Tete tosin kongolo Robinson

Wilson Reed/Anguissa seri Reid

               Carvalho

          Mitro

Bench: Gazza, Cairney, cavaleiro, Bryan, mawson/hector/ream, neeskens, reed/anguissa


Will be interesting to see what Muniz is like and how he fits in.

I would go with something like this, I still believe Kongolo will get fit and be outstanding next to Tosin.  Frank will be off for about £20M and we will bring in someone like Grimes and another striker. 

[filham]

I am intrigued by the all important midfield three. I thought that with Cairney out for a long while, Reaid not fit and Seri/ Aguissa leaving we had a crisis but currently the midfield is looking good. When all are fit we have Cairney, Seri, Anguissa, Read, Onamah and Cavalho. It will be hard to select the starters.
No room for an incoming Grimes