For fun only.
It’s July 2019, Roman has done what our friends from other boards have been telling us he’d do for the last 15 years and relocated to Israel lock, stock n barrel taking his ball with him.
Most of our valuable assets (and some not so valuable ones) have been squirreled away by Real, Barca, PSG, Yoonited and Juve, leaving a collection of such inglorious names as Alonso, Emerson, Giroud, Drinkwater (although no one knows his whereabouts) and Barkley.
Sarri has left by mutual consent and Buck having read your comments on JA606 thinks you’re the man to take the club forward and appointed you as head coach with the mandate to avoid relegation back to where we were (and had so much fun) before 2003, when we were founded.
You’ve no money to replace the lost players and decided the best way forward is to out shine Docherty’s Diamonds and use ALL academy players.
So, my fellow Blues, your challenge is to put together a team of academy players to keep us in the PL. The only rules are:
1. All players must be our academy players (ie you can’t use Pulisic).
2. You can recall any player you want from loan (although I don’t think we have any on two year loans anyway).
3. You can use any formation you want – or even a 2nd alternate formation if you wish.
Some good news, CHO has made amazing progress since his operation last night and will be ready for pre-season!
Mine would look like this.
………...... Abraham
…………CHO …………C. Brown
…………Mount … RLC… Ampadu
Dasilva…..Tomori…… Christensen…..James (C)
………………………Bulka
Subs: Cumming (GK), Sterling, Gilmour, Musonda, McEachran, Castillo, Redan
Or with 3 at the back:
………. ……......Abraham
………….....CHO …………C Brown
………......RLC……………Mount
Dasilva……………………………......Sterling
........Tomori..Christensen...James (C)
……………………..Bulka
Subs: Cumming (GK) Ampadu, Gilmour, Musonda, McEachran, Castillo, Redan
Imagine the scenario .......
posted on 24/4/19
Fair enough.
In all seriousness though this transfer ban could actually be a blessing in disguise. I personally would like to see if the likes of Tammy and Reece have got the minerals or not and I suppose the only way that they are gna get that chance is if it is physically forced onto us.
posted on 24/4/19
Bulka
James fikayo t chalobah da silva
Rlc baker mount
Musonda Tino
Abraham
posted on 24/4/19
I did consider Trev Chalobah LO but not having seen Ipswich this season to see how he's getting on, I decided against, especially as defenders, we're actually spoilt for.
No CHO for you then?
posted on 25/4/19
3-1-4-2
Bulka
Alna-James-Christensen(c)-Tomari-Dasilva
Ampadu
RLC-Mount
CHO-Abraham
Conte's Juventus style system. Built for Christensen (whose best in a back 3), Loftus Cheek & Mount (who as a partnership need a defensive screen). It's also a system built to stonewall which, lets face it, we'd be doing a lot of with this hypothetical squad.
posted on 25/4/19
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 hours, 1 minute ago
I did consider Trev Chalobah LO but not having seen Ipswich this season to see how he's getting on, I decided against, especially as defenders, we're actually spoilt for.
No CHO for you then?
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He s upset me that much, i forgot him, drop Tino back and bring in Cho for baker,
T chalobah looks a player, seen a few ipswich games(highlight on you tube) and i like him, versatile too
posted on 25/4/19
I find the 3atb formations interesting, probably suits all our full backs a bit more than normal full back other than James;
Bułka
James Christensen Tomori
Aina Mount Ampadu RLC Dasilva
Abraham CHO?
Just realised this is the same as HHBF’s team lol, I guess the only one it doesn’t really suit is CHO
If we did 4atb:
Bułka
Aina Christensen Tomori Dasilva
James Ampadu Mount
CHO Abraham RLC
A bit of shuffling about with RLC wing and James at CM. For the record I hope we develop both in their ‘natural’ positions but especially with RLC I also liked him as a winger tbh, his dribbling in general is just suited to advanced areas. This way able to get all our most senior and experienced young players on the pitch in positions they roughly know.
posted on 25/4/19
I also prefer Ampadu at CB but like others Mount and RLC have to be in the team and he is best option for DM.
On Trev: I believe he’s had kind of an ok debut season with Ipswich. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, high learning curve - similar type of loan that Tomori and Aina had at first in the Championship. Recently he’s been on bench more often than not.
I’m still a bit disappointed he went somewhere where he’d be played as a DM, to me his skillset seems much more suited to CB, but could still help his future development. I see a lot of comments that his passing is inconsistent but I’ve watched him 2-3 times, his agility/mobility on the ball surprised me and he is a good ball winner. Reminded me a bit of Wanyama. Should aim for a much improved championship loan next season
posted on 25/4/19
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 2 hours, 42 minutes ago
I find the 3atb formations interesting, probably suits all our full backs a bit more than normal full back other than James;
Bułka
James Christensen Tomori
Aina Mount Ampadu RLC Dasilva
Abraham CHO?
Just realised this is the same as HHBF’s team lol, I guess the only one it doesn’t really suit is CHO
If we did 4atb:
Bułka
Aina Christensen Tomori Dasilva
James Ampadu Mount
CHO Abraham RLC
A bit of shuffling about with RLC wing and James at CM. For the record I hope we develop both in their ‘natural’ positions but especially with RLC I also liked him as a winger tbh, his dribbling in general is just suited to advanced areas. This way able to get all our most senior and experienced young players on the pitch in positions they roughly know.
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Some interesting points BK. The reason I didn't have James and Ampadu in midfield was I thought it might not be attacking enough. Although James does like to get forward a bit and seems to have the capacity to play anywhere, his natural position is as a defender so went with that. Just seemed a little more balanced to me.
Is HHBF now Devil DA?
posted on 25/4/19
I’m actually quite interested in seeing James as a midfielder with our team Brummie..long term and short still hope his main position is RB but I wonder if he’d fill out better in Kante’s role (just for pure stamina, combatism, work rate) then any of our other alternatives.
Yeah HHBF is DDA, changed names a lot over the years
On the subject of loanees have you seen that Lewis Baker is having a good loan at Reading? At one point after Vitesse it looked like he’d have a smooth ride to top 5 league but it just hasn’t worked. A good example I think that just sending loanees perpetually round the Championship won’t necessarily mean they smash it at every team even if they have the talent to. In theory Baker should be fine, he has good qualities and has proved himself in Dutch league which has stronger teams than Championship..but his loans have had no direction since.
posted on 25/4/19
I haven't actually seen him at Reading BK. I used to have high hopes for him 3/4 years ago, when I actually thought he was better than RLC.
I thought he might go the way of McEkkers and Chalobah though and have the confidence drained out of him with these dreadful, continual loans deals. Would be nice if he could fulfill the potential he once showed.