Bowyer’s best XI...

ricky_otto said:

AddicksAddict said:

If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:

GK: Maxwell
RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time)
CB: Bauer
CB: Sarr
LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk)
Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination
Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams 
Forwards: Taylor, Grant

Subs: 
Phillips
Dijksteel, Lockyer
Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play)
Fosu, Igor

If it's who we've got now:

Phillips
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Cullen, Williams, Pratley/Davis, Green
Taylor, Bonne

Subs: 
Amos
Field, Hemed, McGeady, Oztumer, Davis/Pratley, Doughty

You would choose Maxwell ahead of Phillips if we had both now? 

Purrington is not in our best side.  

I'm not actually sure we have a 'best' 11 and I'm not sure that is an idea that Bowyer buys into at all. He sets us up with subtle differences for each game based on what he thinks will get the best out of us and exploit the oppositions weaknesses and rotation.

Having said that let's go with it anyway.

I think we are best when we play a back 4 so I'm going with that. The squad looks set to either play Bowyers Diamond or a 4231. I think 2 up top is Bows preferred option so let's go diamond.

Green/Bonne Taylor
Williams
Davis Cullen
Pratley 
Purrington Sarr Lockyer Matthew's
Phillips

Amos Pearce Oshilaja Doughty Field Smith McGeady Green/Bonne

Cant pick up top. Green and Taylor look to be forming a good partnership but so did Bonne and Taylor when they played together. I'd be happy with either they have different strengths and I would pick depending on opposition. In fact I'd be happy with Bonne and Green too if Taylor needed a rest.

William's is obvious at the tip of the diamond although at the start of the season there was a fair amount of talk of him playing a deeper role so against weaker opposition I wouldn't mind him taking Davis role and bring McGeady or Ozzy in at the tip.

Davis in as one of the 2 CMs. But I'm really hoping Smith can do a Gallagher and make that role his own.

Cullen and Pratley pick themselves though we have plenty of options for rest/rotation. 

The back 4 is pretty straightforward. Purrington plays in a 4. Matthews over solly. And Pearce/Sarr as a horses for courses approach. Sarr if we are expecting to have more of the ball and Pearce for games like fulham.

Best he’s had:

Phillips 
Dijksteel Bauer Pearce Page
Bielik
Aribo Cullen Williams 
Taylor Grant

Weaker 11 now but stronger squad? 

Surely 'keepers under Bowyer have be rated as:

Phillips - Amos - Steer - Maxwell

Encouraging to know Chris Maxwell’s dad is a CL member 

Redrobo said:

If everyone is fit, surely Page is left back?

I would yes, reason I put Purrington in mine is cos I don’t see Page as our player anymore as I don’t think he will ever play for us again, as harsh as it sounds.

cantersaddick said:

How is anyone picking Maxwell who never played a game for us???

I can’t get my head around that either. Not really sure what Phillips has to do to convince some people. 

Surprising to see McGeady wouldn't be in most peoples side.

I think he'll be a cracking signing 

AddicksAddict said:

If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:

GK: Maxwell
RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time)
CB: Bauer
CB: Sarr
LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk)
Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination
Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams 
Forwards: Taylor, Grant

Subs: 
Phillips
Dijksteel, Lockyer
Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play)
Fosu, Igor

If it's who we've got now:

Phillips
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Cullen, Williams, Pratley/Davis, Green
Taylor, Bonne

Subs: 
Amos
Field, Hemed, McGeady, Oztumer, Davis/Pratley, Doughty

To be fair Maxwell didn't concede a goal so is a shoe in...

Bowyer loves his 4-4-2 diamond, nice and direct so it has to be:

Phillips

Matthews
Lockyer
Sarr
Purrington

Pratley
Cullen
Davis
Williams

Taylor
Green

It's hard to see where Davis, Smith and McGeady improve us without seeing them. McGeady stepping up at 33 and being asked to work his nuts off for 90mins for a side scraping results doesn't seem like his cup o' tea, but his reputation is probably preceding him for me there.

I agree with @grumpyaddick that our Jan 2019 is better than our current one. Aribo, Bielik, Grant and Dijksteel walk into this side and are big steps up.

I'd say our September 2019 side with Gallagher and Leko is better than this current one too.

Galagher would no doubt improve this side but I'm not sure Leko would. For me Green is better based on what I've seen.

CharltonByBlood said:

I love pratley, but a fully fit Field gets in over him for me.

Field is a very, very good player. I really hope we sign him on a perm.

Someone doesn't go very often...

cantersaddick said:

Galagher would no doubt improve this side but I'm not sure Leko would. For me Green is better based on what I've seen.

Leko was underrated by fans during his time here, so that doesn't surprise me. When you play the system that we play, someone like him is invaluable.

I think technically Green has shown he's probably better technically i.e finishing, but movement and ability to beat a player Leko is miles ahead.

He got 5 goals and 4 assists. A goal or assist every 168 minutes on top of his ability to stretch teams and create by beating players.

Alwaysneil said:

Which without seeing 3 of the 4 January recruits play is quite a bold statement imo

Fair, but I think the chances any of those recruits are of Gallagher standard are low. So whilst the squad is definitely better, but the first XI, not so much.

Obviously time will tell etc. etc.

BenHaimandBikey said:

cantersaddick said:

Galagher would no doubt improve this side but I'm not sure Leko would. For me Green is better based on what I've seen.

Leko was underrated by fans during his time here, so that doesn't surprise me. When you play the system that we play, someone like him is invaluable.

I think technically Green has shown he's probably better technically i.e finishing, but movement and ability to beat a player Leko is miles ahead.

He got 5 goals and 4 assists. A goal or assist every 168 minutes on top of his ability to stretch teams and create by beating players.

Alwaysneil said:

Which without seeing 3 of the 4 January recruits play is quite a bold statement imo

Fair, but I think the chances any of those recruits are of Gallagher standard are low. So whilst the squad is definitely better, but the first XI, not so much.

Obviously time will tell etc. etc.

In no way am I saying Leko was bad. I was a big fan of him. But Green is better in my view. If he keeps going as he is.

Garrymanilow said:

cafcfan1990 said:

AddicksAddict said:

If we're talking about the best we've had under Bowyer:

GK: Maxwell
RB: Matthews (Solly at his best was better but he hasn't been at his best for some time)
CB: Bauer
CB: Sarr
LB: Purrington (Page is a better player but he could break down 2s into the game so is too high a risk)
Midfield: Most likely in a diamond but this lot are good enough to play any combination
Bielik, Cullen, Gallagher, Williams 
Forwards: Taylor, Grant

Subs: 
Phillips
Dijksteel, Lockyer
Aribo, Pratley (this might be Davis when we've seen him play)
Fosu, Igor

If it's who we've got now:

Phillips
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Cullen, Williams, Pratley/Davis, Green
Taylor, Bonne

Subs: 
Amos
Field, Hemed, McGeady, Oztumer, Davis/Pratley, Doughty

To be fair Maxwell didn't concede a goal so is a shoe in...

Yeah, but his shots saved record stands at zero and he's yet to play a pass that finds a teammate.

Shit hair as well.

But did you see the way he put his gloves on on before the warm up away to Doncaster in the play offs? Much better than the way Phillips and Amos do.