If all fit,

[Caton83]

And on form, what IS the best starting 11

[tim-sanchez]

My starting 11 would be:

Halstead
Mellor Lavelle Davies Gibson
Kenyon
O'Sullivan Phillips Wildig Mendes-Gomes
Stockton

If I had to pick a weakpoint it would be right-wing. I think O'Sullivan works hard but doesn't offer much creativity, but I'm not sure who else we'd put there. I'd like to see Pringle, McAlinden & AJ play more but I can't say they'd be in our best 11 because they've not played enough to show that.

Songo'o and Kenyon make a good partnership as well, but then I think you have to take off one of Phillips & Wildig, who are both undroppable right now.

[Slanester]

Halstead

Cooney Lavelle Davis Gibson

Kenyon

O’Sullivan Philips Wildig Carlos

Stockton.

[vanillaturtle]

Halstead

Cooney Lavelle Davis Gibson

Kenyon

Phillips Wildig Carlos

Stockton AJ

would be mine similar to slanester but move phillips over in place of o sullivan and start AJ. We pay him a lot of money and he's a quality scorer. Can sub on Price/Pringle/Osullivan for phillips and carlos when they get tired.

[RapidShrimp]

Halstead

Cooney Lavelle Davis Gibson

Kenyon

O’Sullivan Philips Wildig Carlos

Stockton.

Spot on. Good to see Gibson back on the bench after a length absence. Mellor’s not been looking great recently so it’ll be nice to see Cooney back at RB.

[Little Shrimp]

For the most part, I'm not 100% (in a good way).

Halstead
Mellor/Cooney Lavelle Davis Gibson/Cooney
Songo'o/Kenyon
O'Sullivan Wildig Phillips Mendes-Gomes
Stockton

Would love to have AJ in there but I really like the above shape with Wildig and Phillips in those roles and think they're such a great threat, they're pretty much undroppable. Ideally, I'd like to see him pushing CMG for his spot and cutting in from the left, but I'm not sure if he's up to the defensive aspect and the sheer amount of running he'd have to do. 'Definite' picks for me though are Lavelle, Davis, Wildig, Phillips and Stockton.

Think we probably need another winger with a bit of speed and trickery. At best, Slew 'does a job' on the wing and is probably most valuable as backup to Stockton. I like O'Sullivan - he works hard defensively, is good in the air and has a bit of quality. He's not particularly dynamic though and I think we need another option.

Our only real dribbling outlet is CMG. He's not played as well this season and I think his confidence seems to be going a bit - not sure if it's the sheer volume of games and responsibility he now has suddenly, or maybe other teams are starting to target him more. I think we need another option to take that pressure off CMG and sometimes challenging for his spot.

Maybe Pringle can step up as an option on the wing? Not particularly prolific dribbling but technically proficient and creative. I feel his struggles are in large down to there not really being a good spot in the side for him though. Price could potentially offer a good alternative on the wing too. His dribbling style (from what I've seen) is very different to CMG's - a bit more direct and would provide another kind of threat.

[Castaway]

I'd either play one of these two sides:

------------ Halstead -------------------

Mellor - Lavelle - Davis - Gibson

---------- Songo'o----------------------

Sullivan---Phillips---Wildig----

-----Stockton ---CMG----------------

(CMG in a free role between dropping deep and going beyond Stockton)

OR

------------- Halstead ----------------

----- Lavelle-Davis-Percival--------

Mellor --------------------- Hendrie

---------Songo'o-Phillips--------------

--------------Wildig---------------------

---------Stockton--CMG---------------


- I am adamant that CMG is far more effective down the centre. I haven't seen him have a good game out wide this season and looks far happier getting on the ball in the middle. Recently, on occasions, he's been given more of a central role and has been more involved and produced the goods (won the penalty in the 1st round of the fa cup, goals against Barrow and Newport). I also believe the power of Cole and the pace of CMG is a difficult proposition for a defence to deal with, particularly if CMG plays a free role.

- It pains me to leave out Cooney in both lineups, but Mellor has steadily improved from the start of the season. Mellor makes smart decisions defensively and is becoming more active in going forward (I've got a feeling he's gonna score a wonder goal at some point this year). Cooney is arguably a better player, yet Mellor has every right to hold down that position as he's barely put a foot wrong. On the other side, we have Gibson and Hendrie. Gibson looks sold defensively in the few games he's played in whilst Hendrie looked shocking positionally early on this year but before his suspension was starting to show better signs. Cooney can play left-back, but I'm not a fan of players playing on the opposite side to their natural foot and Hendrie looks comfortable in a wing-back position (getting up putting in crosses and we have decent centre backs to cover him).

- I'm sure a lot of people would prefer to have Kenyon in for Songo'o and I wouldn't be upset if that happened. Kenyon has been like a new player this season and deserves the accolades. That being said, Songo'o looks like the type of player we've been missing for years. He is strong, gets really stuck in and offers us someone who gives us protection ahead of the defence. His passing is questionable at times, but his job is to break up play and in my opinion, he looks the better man to do that.

- I'm very content with our centre back options between Lavelle, Davis and Percival. Lavelle and Davis are a good foil for each other and Percival came in and was very steady. In the sticks, Halstead deserves his chance to make his mark, but I still think Turner is more than capable. As Derek has said, hopefully, this time out of the team can give him some time to focus and work on his game.

- It's amazing the quality of players that are not getting a runout. Diagouraga is a quality ballplayer, but can't get a sniff at the moment. I'd like to see more of McAlinden from off the bench as he brings us something different. For some reason, Derek hasn't seemed to trust him too much so far however he has shown glimpses of promise. I haven't seen a lot from Pringle to suggest he'd improve our first 11, but he hasn't had a lot of game time. When he gets his chance, he really needs to make an impact like Sullivan did on Saturday. I love how Derek makes every player earn their starting positions - regardless of reputation or previous connections. Price looks very lively but got an injury setback at the wrong time. I'm sure his chances will come and looks a great prospect. Everyone knows AJ has the quality, but he has the question mark about whether he can stay fit. I hope so as he can bring something different to our forward options. I just realised I haven't mentioned Slew. I don't think he's as bad as some have made out and I believe Derek picks him for his work rate. He's always in and around the play and gets stuck in. He can do a job for us. That being said, I think we could try some different options as an alternative who have had less of a chance so far this season.

I've no idea how we are our financially in the current climate, but if we could bring someone in I'd like a natural wide player for the left who enjoys to stay out wide and give the opposition full-back havoc. CMG looks timid in that position and often passes backwards or hesitates when he has the opportunity to go 1 on 1.

Overall, I'm delighted with how the squad has come together this season and also how it is being managed from week to week. I may not agree with every individual decision, but you can see a clear strategy and vision behind what we're trying to achieve in terms of a system and how Derek manages a squad of players.

[Keith]

I'd either play one of these two sides:

------------ Halstead -------------------

Mellor - Lavelle - Davis - Gibson

---------- Songo'o----------------------

Sullivan---Phillips---Wildig----

-----Stockton ---CMG----------------

(CMG in a free role between dropping deep and going beyond Stockton)

I agree with this version of Tom's line up and assessment. I definitely prefer to see Carlos in a central/free role. Phillips & Wildig look like they are developing a real understanding. O'Sullivan & Wildig were both players who I wouldn't have been sad to see leave last season, but are both playing so much better now. Along with Kenyon, they are massively improved.

Alex is the conundrum. In keeping with Tom's view, Songo'o has the position at the moment and deserves to keep it. He does the 'break up play' job really well. With Diagouraga also not able to get in to the side, I wonder if one of the three would be best leaving for regular football elsewhere and bring in another player in a different position? I like all three of them but there isn't enough between them to say one is definitely first choice.

I've said it before, I'd quite like to see Slew up front with Stockton rather than on his own or on the left. They'd certainly leave defences knowing they'd worked hard!

[marky No.1]

I'm just happy be have viable options all over the park. Derek doesn't seem to play his 'mates" regardless of form although Slew has fitted into this category at times, I think his ban may well leave him adrift as he will have to prove his worth.
Really hope we can keep getting points on the board over the busy Xmas period and after our cup run maybe we will have a bit of loose change to stir up the forward line.
As has been said AJ is a luxury and I can't see a defined conclusion to Alex v Songoo, they both show different qualities.
Good to see Gibson back. Philips and Carlos have to be in there as they can showvreal quality at times even tho both have been off the boil compared to earlier days.
Cooney, Sam, Harry, Gibson, Wildig
I think Halstead should remain keeper