01 Oct 2025 22:45:54
Curious what would everyones starting 11 be on Saturday, what would yours be Ed01 mate?
I would personally go with :
Mamardashvilli
Bradley Gomez Van Dijk Robbo
Grav Wirtz Dom
Salah Isak Ekitike
Some may question the Gomez pick but think he needs a chance while he is fit to show Konate can be not starting every game.
I also wouldn’t be against going back to basics and putting Macca in for Wirtz.
Interesting what some would go with?
02 Oct 2025 02:03:25
The new boys are getting most of the stick but it’s established players that are letting us down right now. Salah and Gakpo have been poor this season, MacAllister has been non existent and Konate dreadful.
I’d go for a similar team if everyone is fit and available.
02 Oct 2025 02:27:56
Mama’illi (B/ c Big Al injury)
Bradley. Konate. Virg. Robertson
Slobs’. Gravs. Ali M
Salah. Isak. Gakpo
Back to basics.
We miss Diaz energy from that front line.
02 Oct 2025 02:41:15
Just go back to last season team. And bring in Gakpo. Wirtz on bench, replace Salah later.
02 Oct 2025 07:25:16
Mamardashvili
Bradley Gomez Van Dijk Kerkez
MacAllister Gravenberch Szobo
Salah Isak Gakpo.
02 Oct 2025 07:29:08
I'd go: mama, bradley konate vvd robbo. Grav szobo mac. Salah isak gakpo. I'm presuming ekitike isn't fit to start or possibly not available at all. Try and give nothing stupid away 1st 20mins which has really killed us last 2 games conceding early, set the game up for opposition and we not playing well enough to overturn a lead whatever about getting a winner. Wirtz to come when opens up a bit.
Big game for us this really need a positive performance and result.
02 Oct 2025 07:29:48
Why would anyone put Konate in there starting side, it’s like putting a 10 year old at CB. Honestly has got to be one of the worst CB in the prem.
02 Oct 2025 07:32:54
Midfield is key, they won the midfield battle last year so we can’t play a three that includes Wirtz in midfield as we won’t win any duels . I’d go for
Mam
Bradley Konate VVD Robbo
Endo, Grav, Wirtz, Dom
Ekitike, Isak.
02 Oct 2025 07:49:34
I’d go with:
Mama
Bradley Virg Gomez Robbo
Jones Grav
Szoboz
Salah Ekitike Chiesa
Not sure why Jones isn’t considered a starter by anyone. He’s been good when called upon and is much stronger in the duel and good under pressure than the likes of Mecca.
02 Oct 2025 07:56:50
Mamardashvili
Szobozlai Konate Van Dijk Robertson
Gravenberch Endo
Salah Wirtz Ngumoha
Isak
Endo in to actually hold back and protect the defence instead of our two midfielders pushing high taking up any space where Wirtz should be receiving the ball on the half turn. Same reason I've picked Ngumoha, we need at least one winger to stay wide as both Salah and Gakpo just keep cutting inside too early instead of staying wide when the ball is in play on either side but Rio has shown he prefers to break into the box higher up the pitch. Wouldn't expect the kid to play the full 90 I know so I would sub both Gakpo and Frimpong in second half to the repeat the same tactics just opposite sides.
02 Oct 2025 08:21:24
I'm wondering whether we should try playing Wirtz as a false 9 either in the first half or second? The way he was working with Ekitike early in the season, with the two of them alternating positions dropping deep and filling the space that the other vacated and his tendency to go forward immediately once we are looking to progress from midfield, the damage done to our shape in transition if he is far upfield or if he loses duels is reduced significantly if he plays up there, particularly if Hugo is injured for the weekend. He is well suited for the role, is a willing presser from the front and it also allows us to manage Isak's minutes.
I just hope that Slot doesn't do what I expect him to do, which is play Dom there for a portion of the match. I'm truly hoping that we don't have Dom starting as right back, switching to one of the pivots, and then playing the last 20-30 mins as a false 9.
I also hope that we start to press with more aggression, at least for spells of the game and not just when we desperately need a goal. I understand we are trying to conserve energy but the half-hearted press from the front is not helping anybody, either we retreat into a mid or low block and defend properly or we commit to pressing with our high line. With Mo not needing to press and Cody usually dropping back to make numbers in midfield, we're pretty much doing nothing to disrupt the opposition's first phase of build up and they can get straight to playing long balls into our final third from deep or playing through balls from midfield. If we are caught between this halfway press with the huge gap between the first line and second then we are just allowing any opposition to choose the kind of pass they want to play in behind for the center forward (typically targeting Ibou's side), it's really not rocket science.
02 Oct 2025 08:58:08
Also that post about Konate being one of the worst CB in the prem. honestly flabbergasted. It's not like he helped us win a title, is it? To some folks on here I'm sure he did absolutely nothing in there and Virgil did all the work.
02 Oct 2025 09:29:02
Mama
Bradley gomez virg kerkez
Dom wirtz gravey
Salad isak rio
Nobody other than rio is running at the fb. Even stevie wonder can see that Cody is gona cut to his right foot and the predictability is making life comfortable for defenders.
02 Oct 2025 09:31:17
On recent form.
Virg
Gakpo Konate McA Mama Mo Jones
Ekitike Chiesa Izak Slot
Frimpong
All in the best possible taste!
02 Oct 2025 09:35:26
Mamardashvili
Bradley Gomez Virg Robbo
Szobs Grav Mac
Salah Isak Ekitike (if fit)
Wirtz on for Mac later in the game as Mac tires.
I like the idea of Ekitike on the left, think him and Isak could interchange a little and he's got the skill and pace to beat a man. I'm one of Gakpo's biggest fans, but he has been poor this season so far. If Ekitike isn't fit I'd even start Chiesa there, you know he'd burst a gut trying to impress, and is about the only player to show that passion to win this season when he's come on.
Salah wouldn't start if there was someone to take his place, he's been pretty poor too, but frimpong up there isn't a good enough replacement for the Chelsea game, and he's also been miles off it the last couple of games (I know he's probably playing his way back from a small injury, but still not the game for him to start) .
02 Oct 2025 10:01:56
I just want to see Chiesa given a run of games. I think he could be the player to link up the attack and get it firing again.
02 Oct 2025 10:04:39
Konate needs to be out the team for a while . Gomez is fit so while he's fit play him . Robbo has to come back in also, mid would be Grav n Slob with Wirtz in front of them . up front is the hardest choice . Gakpo n Salah not firing on all cylinders. Ekitike has been our best forward.
02 Oct 2025 10:19:24
Some interesting lineups there folks,
TheCyKlopps that’s a interesting one mate, something i would be more than happy for us to play, same goes with yours too Warmachine73.
02 Oct 2025 11:01:01
Mama
Bradley Gomez Virg Kerkez
Szobo Wirtz Grav
Salah Isak Chiesa
I'd ideally have Ekitike in there for Isak as Isak is still not up to speed but I suspect he will miss the game judging by how he left the pitch on Tuesday.
02 Oct 2025 12:30:32
Mamardashvili
Bradley, Virgil, Robertson, Kerkez
Szoboszlai, Gravenberch
Salah, Wirtz, Chiesa
Ekitike
Konate has got to be dropped after Galatasaray, and Gomez was equally as bad vs Southampton so he doesn't deserve to start either. Mac Allister and Isak clearly aren't fit, but bring them off the bench to build them up. Chiesa deserves to start, and Salah has too much credit in the bank, so Gakpo bites the bullet.
02 Oct 2025 13:14:43
Gomez being bad in the one game he's started in a much changed team means he should never start and we should put robbo in there out of position with our high line, mk? Players play themselves into form if they are given minutes and rhythm, not when they are called upon sporadically and at random
I personally think Ibou is still going to start though.
02 Oct 2025 13:29:27
I would like to get Ekitike and Isak in the team
So
Mama
Bradley Konate/ Gomes VVD Kerkez
Mo Grav Endo Chiesa/ Dom
Etikite Isak.
02 Oct 2025 14:19:20
TheCyKlopps, I actually thought of a double pivot of Grav and Endo in CM. Very intriguing, sir.
02 Oct 2025 16:20:00
Robbo needs to rotate with Kerkez, happy to see Mama get a few games in goal, pity about Ali, but its Mama who will take over, can't see Hugo playing on Saturday, so it's Isak who plays up front.