[Albion] Team for AEK Athens

[Bozza]

Who gets to make history, lining up in the Albion's first-ever European fixture?

Steele or Verbruggen?

Veltman or Lamptey (presumably not Milner) at right-back if Pervis returns?

Wee Billy back in midfield, replacing Dahoud?

Solly rampaging down the right, or did Adingra do enough to retain his place?

Two games in a week for Lallana?

Dat Guy or Evan leading the line?

So many decisions!

 

[Badger Boy]

Verbruggen
Veltman Dunk Van Hecke Estupinan
Milner Dahoud
Adingra Fati Mitoma
Welbeck

I think he'll want to put as much European experience into the side so I think Fati is nailed on to start the game, along with Veltman and Milner in particular.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Steele
Veltman - Van Hecke -Dunk - Estupinan
Dahoud- Gilmour
Gross
March - Ferguson - Mitoma

 

[Originunknown]

As good as Adingra was at OT, Solly has to start if fit, it's only right he starts with Dunky in this historic game.

I expect Pervis to come back in at left back, and Billy to start alongside Gross in the middle.

 

[The Fits]

I'd give Mitoma a rest. He plays so much, travels so much with Japan, tired a bit last year and is vital to us in key games.
Apart from that I'd go in very strong. I'd probably play Adingra on the left with Fati coming on again for another run out.
Gross, March and Dunk have to play if fit.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

..............................................Bart ............
Veltman.................JPVH..................Dunk.......................Pervis
..................Groß...........Gilmour...........Dahoud
March (if fit)..........................................................Mitoma
...................................Ferguson................................

But we really are blessed with options.
- Keepers are basically interchangeable at this point.
- Would be quite content with Adingra or Ansu Fati in the wide places, and neither Welbeck nor Joao Pedro are an issue up top.
- Lallana is still as good as anyone in the squad - I've only not included him from the start, as I'm desperate to see him looked after and stay fit over the long season. Milner clearly decent back up.
- Groß could move to RB if he had to, but actually Lamptey was very good on Saturday, and happy to see him cover for either full back.
- Despite people's current worries over his form, Adam Webster is a very decent CB, and I've no concerns about him stepping in if he had to. No opinion at all on Igor yet.

Amazing depth, tbh.

 

[Bozza]

Locked-in starters

..............................................Bart ............
Veltman.................JPVH..................Dunk.......................Pervis
..................Groß...........Gilmour...........Dahoud
March (if fit)..........................................................Mitoma
...................................Ferguson................................

But we really are blessed with options.
- Keepers are basically interchangeable at this point.
- Would be quite content with Adingra or Ansu Fati in the wide places, and neither Welbeck nor Joao Pedro are an issue up top.
- Lallana is still as good as anyone in the squad - I've only not included him from the start, as I'm desperate to see him looked after and stay fit over the long season. Milner clearly decent back up.
- Groß could move to RB if he had to, but actually Lamptey was very good on Saturday, and happy to see him cover for either full back.
- Despite people's current worries over his form, Adam Webster is a very decent CB, and I've no concerns about him stepping in if he had to. No opinion at all on Igor yet.

Amazing depth, tbh.

Agree on all counts.

This thread had me consider how many guaranteed starter-when-fit we have?

I think it's probably only Dunk, Pervis and Groß. Before the arrival of Fati, Mitoma was guaranteed to start, but I think that has now changed given the volume of fixtures. I think March is the next closest but, again, we now have a very capable second option there.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Verbruggen
Veltman
Dunk
Van Hecke
Estupinan
Gilmour
Gross
March
Fati
Mitoma
Welbeck

 

[Live by the sea]

Verbruggen
Veltman Dunk Van Hecke Estupinan
Milner Dahoud
Adingra Fati Mitoma
Welbeck

I think he'll want to put as much European experience into the side so I think Fati is nailed on to start the game, along with Veltman and Milner in particular.

Your’re a brave man to not include Gross in the team . I would say that unless he gets injured in training , Gross is 99% likely to start .

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Solly wasn't in the squad on Saturday. Was anything said about what the issue was with him? I'm leaving Adingra in.

Lamptey to start once more, this time at right back. Look at the pace of those full backs and weep Athens

I'm rotating Gross out. Not because i'm stupid, but, because he's now playing international games and he covers a lot of miles and he's indispensible.

Same with Mitoma

Steele to retain his place, as I guess we're going 2 games in, 2 games out for the keepers.

Ferguson and Fati earlyish subs with a view to getting both ready to start this weekend

--------------Steele
Lamptey Van Hecke Dunk Estupinan
--------Dahoud Gilmour
-----Adingra Lallana Pedro
------------Welbeck

 

[Bozza]

Solly wasn't in the squad on Saturday. Was anything said about what the issue was with him?

Minor something-or-other in training on Friday, so not risked on Saturday with the amount of fixtures ahead.

I'd expect him to be available on Thursday.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Locked-in starters


Agree on all counts.

This thread had me consider how many guaranteed starter-when-fit we have?

I think it's probably only Dunk, Pervis and Groß. Before the arrival of Fati, Mitoma was guaranteed to start, but I think that has now changed given the volume of fixtures. I think March is the next closest but, again, we now have a very capable second option there.

I'd debate whether Solly is still a first choice but it's incredible that we only have 3/4 guaranteed. It seems like it was only a couple of seasons ago, that only City had that sort of depth and options

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Minor something-or-other in training on Friday, so not risked on Saturday with the amount of fixtures ahead.

I'd expect him to be available on Thursday.

March was with the squad at Old Trafford too (visible, walking freely in the 'arrival' bit of the pitch-side video). He wouldn't have travelled if they were at all concerned.

 

[macbeth]

be interesting to see at what point igor is ready to get his first start

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

What a thread. I mean, what a thread. What days we are living in.

 

[Bozza]

I'd debate whether Solly is still a first choice but it's incredible that we only have 3/4 guaranteed. It seems like it was only a couple of seasons ago, that only City had that sort of depth and options

Well, he's started all four Premier League games this season that he was fit for.

I think RDZ very much sees him as his first choice on the right.

Like every manager that preceded him, it seems RDZ sees the merit in Solly March far more than a small section of the Albion fanbase.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

be interesting to see at what point igor is ready to get his first start

Chelsea in the League Cup I reckon. Maybe with Baleba and a return to first team action for Webby

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Well, he's started all four Premier League games this season that he was fit for.

I think RDZ very much sees him as his first choice on the right.

Like every manager that preceded him, it seems RDZ sees the merit in Solly March far more than a small section of the Albion fanbase.

Solly has improved hugely, but so has the quality of his competition. Fighting off Adingra for that spot all season won't be easy and will hopefully take him to even greater heights.

 

[Eric the meek]

Our options up front are insane.

Ferguson, Fati, March, Mitoma, Welbeck, Pedro, Adingra.

Last season we were deafened by the clamour of 'we need a striker'.

Look at us now.

 

[Hotchilidog]

I have absolutely no idea who we'll play.

Steele

Veltman
JPVH
Dunk
Pervis

Mitoma
Gross
Gilmour
March

Pedro
Ferguson

With cameos from the bench for Fati, Baleba, Lamptey