Strongest XI?

[photographer]

IMO I think Van den Berg and Williams are better as defensive midfielders, so I would prefer this formation than a 4-3-3:

Al-Habsi
Gunter, McShane, Obita
Van den Berg, Williams
Norwood
Beerens, Swift, Meite
Rakels

[Mike Hunt]

I'm not sure if they have released the stats, however I think Gravenberch would be definitely be up there. the Guys a tank

[royalp-we]

Al Habsi
Gunter McShane Cooper Obita
Williams Norwood Swift
Beerens Kermorgant Quinn

[Nameless]

Impossible to judge not having seen half the squad play a meaningful game !
Can't see us playing a bizarre formation. One at the back is just not going to work is it ? A '3' with two attacking full backs is not going to work....

A guess would be
al Habsi
Gunter
McShane
Moore
Obita
McLeary
Norwood
Evans
Williams
Swift
Kermogant

I'd rather Swift played centrally, I'm not convinced Kermogant is our best option, too many unknowns still !

[LWJ]

Williams isn't a defensive minded player. Thankfully it's up to JS's opinion not yours.

[Top Flight]

I'm glad I'm not the one having to figure this out.

Working out Reading's strongest 11 seems like the hardest job in the world at the moment.

[SCIAG]

Currently:

Al-Habsi; Gunter, McShane, Cooper/Gravenbech, Obita; Swift, Norwood, Quinn; McCleary, Rakels, Beerens
Subs: Bond, Cooper/Gravenbech, Keown, VDB, Evans, Meite, Samuel

Hopefully by the end of the season some of the less inspiring players (particularly that second central defender) will have been replaced by academy players.

[MJ1871]

Nearly impossible for us to say considering the majority have seen virtually nothing of any new signings.

Based on the players we know and what I've heard/read about the new signings I'd say:

Al-Habsi
Gunter McShane Cooper Obita
Norwood Swift Williams
McCleary Kermorgant Beerens

Hopeful to see Moore in for Cooper and a new target man in for Kermorgant, with Jaakkola replacing Ali during the season.

[Royal_jimmy]

Al-Habsi
Gunter McShane Cooper Obita
Norwood Van der Berg Williams
Beerens Kermorgant Swift

Bench; Jaakola, Moore, Watson, Evans, Barrett, Meite, Rakels

McCleary and Samuel probably wont be fit for a few weeks. When McCleary is fit id swap him for Williams and him on the right in front of Gunter and Norwood in a left central midfield position

[Ian Royal]

GK: Al-Habsi
RB: Gunter (by default)
LB: Obita (by default)
CB: McShane
CB: oxf*rd knows
CM: Norwood
CM: Quinn
CM: Swift?
RF: Beerens?
CF: oxf*rd knows
LF: oxf*rd knows

[Top Flight]

You're all choosing our strongest 11 within Jaap Stam's favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Maybe our strongest 11 is in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 / 4-3-2-1 set-up.

Finding the right shape to make this group of players click seems to be very difficult. Only Steve Clarke managed it briefly until injuries ruined the balance as others couldn't come in and continue the rhythm.

[Ian Royal]

You're all choosing our strongest 11 within Jaap Stam's favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Maybe our strongest 11 is in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 / 4-3-2-1 set-up.

Finding the right shape to make this group of players click seems to be very difficult. Only Steve Clarke managed it briefly until injuries ruined the balance as others couldn't come in and continue the rhythm.

Given we have no good genuine strikers, no experienced genuine wingers, limited central defence options and a plethora of forwards and central midfielders it's the obvious formation.

Plus what's the point of picking a different formation without seeing how 4-3-3 plays and what the new guys are like when you know 4-3-3 is what the manager plans?

[Maneki Neko]

Gunter McShane Moore Obita
-----------Van der Berg ------------
----------Norwood Swift-----------
----Beerens Kermorgant Meite------

Bench Rakels Cooper Evans Mcleary Williams Quinn Samuels Gravenberch

an embarrassment of riches

[Top Flight]

I'm just saying Ian....

The question was: What is our strongest 11?

It doesn't necessarily have to be in a 4-3-3 shape. Unless the question was, what is our strongest 11 within Jaap's favoured 4-3-3 shape.

Working out our strongest 11 must be one of the toughest questions in football right now.

Whose to say that this wouldn't be our strongest 11 in a 4-4-2 formation:

GK: Jaakola
RB: Gunter
LB: Obita
CB: Cooper
CB: McShane
RW: Beerens
CM: Quinn
CM: Evans
LW: Fosu
CF: Kermorgant
CF: Mendes

This is the question of our season!

[SCIAG]

I could maybe see us play a good 4-2-3-1 (we've certainly got the players for it), but we've got about fifteen realistic midfield candidates, one proven centre back, and no strikers who have scored more than a few goals for us. At this point, nobody's going to suggest playing with a back three or more than one striker. The team's been built around 4-3-3/4-5-1 variants for years, it's no surprise that people are picking teams based off it.

We could even make a team entirely of midfielders and goalkeepers:

Al-Habsi; McCleary, Evans, VBD, Quinn; Beerens, Norwood, Williams, Swift, Meite; Tanner
Subs: Bond, Stacey, Kuhl, Kelly, Fosu, (Barrett/Rakels), (Obita)

[LWJ]

You're all choosing our strongest 11 within Jaap Stam's favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Maybe our strongest 11 is in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 / 4-3-2-1 set-up.

Finding the right shape to make this group of players click seems to be very difficult. Only Steve Clarke managed it briefly until injuries ruined the balance as others couldn't come in and continue the rhythm.

no experienced genuine wingers

Seriously Ian, where the oxf*rd do your sprout this shit from.

[TBM]

Having seen the game Friday - Swift has to start, as does Norwood....

Not sure on anyone else

[Lower West]

Meite hasn't even kicked a ball yet.

Mendes shouldn't be under estimated.

Both Norwood and Williams will be gone by next summer. So unlikely to be key players later in the season.

Evans , Swift and Berg would be my long term midfield trio.

[Ian Royal]

You're all choosing our strongest 11 within Jaap Stam's favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Maybe our strongest 11 is in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 / 4-3-2-1 set-up.

Finding the right shape to make this group of players click seems to be very difficult. Only Steve Clarke managed it briefly until injuries ruined the balance as others couldn't come in and continue the rhythm.

no experienced genuine wingers

Seriously Ian, where the oxf*rd do your sprout this shit from.

Sorry. I omitted 'left'. Obviously we've got McCleary and Beerens on the right.

Swift hasn't seemed to be a left winger from what I've read, maybe a forward, but more a central midfielder. Fosu, isn't really experienced and I think might be more of a forward anyway. Kanu's gone. John's gone. Obita's left back. Quinn's not a winger.

[Rea Ding]

GK: Al-Habsi
RB: Gunter (by default)
LB: Obita (by default)
CB: McShane
CB: oxf*rd knows
CM: Norwood
CM: Quinn
CM: Swift?
RF: Beerens?
CF: oxf*rd knows
LF: oxf*rd knows

Try going to a few games then you will have some idea