Strongest XI

[Unseen work]

With it looking like Magennis is all confirmed what does everyone think our strongest team is?

Lets pretend everyone is fit and on form - I appreciate this will never happen however.

For me it’s very difficult fitting all of our best players in yet having balance in the team - For example I don’t think Doig or Stevenson ability wise or what they offer would be as good as others yet they provide that balance.

Trying to get a team with Nisbet, Doidge, Boyle, Allan and Murphy will be challenging to say the least and you’ve got to say on form they’re all starters.

For me it comes down to Allan or Murphy - Allan behind Doidge and Nisbet in a 352 with Boyle and Doig in a 352 as Murphy can’t play wing back. Or Murphy left midfield in a 442.

The good and promising thing is that there are options both player and formation wise to change it and there’s competition for places with the guys mentioned but also Wright, Mallan etc waiting in the wings.

[yerauldda]

I think we need to figure it out quickly as the semi is a huge game. We can’t lose it. With that in mind I think we need to forget about Allan for the time being and let that situation play out.

The main issues to sort out are whether we play Stevenson or Doig. A really tough choice. The second issue is whether you play a 3 in midfield or a 2. Newell and Gogic would start in a 2. Magennis has it all to do to displace them as they’ve been tremendous this season.

The next few weeks are going to be very interesting! FWIW I see it being between the 3 sides below. My gut feeling would be option 1.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Stevenson
Boyle Gogic Newell Murphy
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon
Boyle Magennis Gogic Newell Doig
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Doig
Magennis Gogic Newell
Boyle Nisbet Murphy

[scuttle]

I would go for option 2 but swap Doig for Murphy

[Souter96Mac]

I would go for option 2 but swap Doig for Murphy

Don't think Murphy has the legs to play that position. Could maybe get away with it at home to some of the poorer teams in the league

[Fergus52]

Don't think Murphy has the legs to play that position. Could maybe get away with it at home to some of the poorer teams in the league

Aye, we want Murphy getting on the ball in the final third as much as possible, not tracking back to mark right wingers. Not got the legs of Boyle to get up and down the wing as a wingback and still be as much of a threat going forward.

He also seems to like the half spaces, coming narrow often which he wouldn't be able to do as often or effectively at wing back.

[Souter96Mac]

I would be interested to see how we got on if we played option 3. I don't think we've played without Doidge this season, could be wrong, but it would be interesting to see how we would play without him in the starting lineup.

[AgentDaleCooper]

really good to see that we've got a bit of depth, albeit not a huge amount. mcginn and gogic can play at CB, lewis and grey covering the wing backs along with boyle if we play 3-5-2, decent depth in midfield and again boyle can cover up front, along with murphy, should anything happen to doidge or nisbet. looks good to me :aok::aok:

[Franck Stanton]

I would be interested to see how we got on if we played option 3. I don't think we've played without Doidge this season, could be wrong, but it would be interesting to see how we would play without him in the starting lineup.

Why ? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Especially not in a semi-final.
There is no doubt as the season goes on we will have to play without him due to injury/ suspension, but until that comes around keep him on the pitch. Just my opinion.

[Unseen work]

I think we need to figure it out quickly as the semi is a huge game. We can’t lose it. With that in mind I think we need to forget about Allan for the time being and let that situation play out.

The main issues to sort out are whether we play Stevenson or Doig. A really tough choice. The second issue is whether you play a 3 in midfield or a 2. Newell and Gogic would start in a 2. Magennis has it all to do to displace them as they’ve been tremendous this season.

The next few weeks are going to be very interesting! FWIW I see it being between the 3 sides below. My gut feeling would be option 1.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Stevenson
Boyle Gogic Newell Murphy
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon
Boyle Magennis Gogic Newell Doig
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Doig
Magennis Gogic Newell
Boyle Nisbet Murphy

I think what a lot of people will forget that our players can afford to is that Hearts actually have a decent squad (on paper) and it will be far from an easy game.

Id be tempted to go with the first team you’ve put down. Obviously the fear is it’s a big pitch and Hearts will most likely swarm the middle of the park. Wouldn’t be surprised to see hearts go with the following injuries permitted;

.....................Gordon................

Smith........Popescu.....Halkett.....Kinglsey..... .

.............Haring..........Halliday.....

Ginnelly..........Naismith.........Walker......

......................Boyce........

That’s a better starting 11 than most in the top league.

[Souter96Mac]

Why ? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Especially not in a semi-final.
There is no doubt as the season goes on we will have to play without him due to injury/ suspension, but until that comes around keep him on the pitch. Just my opinion.

True! I'm just curious to see how we would get on, if our team would still be able to perform in that shape.

[MacGruber]

I think we need to figure it out quickly as the semi is a huge game. We can’t lose it. With that in mind I think we need to forget about Allan for the time being and let that situation play out.

The main issues to sort out are whether we play Stevenson or Doig. A really tough choice. The second issue is whether you play a 3 in midfield or a 2. Newell and Gogic would start in a 2. Magennis has it all to do to displace them as they’ve been tremendous this season.

The next few weeks are going to be very interesting! FWIW I see it being between the 3 sides below. My gut feeling would be option 1.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Stevenson
Boyle Gogic Newell Murphy
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon
Boyle Magennis Gogic Newell Doig
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Doig
Magennis Gogic Newell
Boyle Nisbet Murphy

For me there is no decision. Stevenson plays the Semi final. Doig is one for the future for sure but he has played good in some and had hard times in others, obviously against the better teams and quick wingers he has struggled. The semi will be a battle and Hearts will play with pace out wide - we need Stevenson in there for his experience as much as anything else.

Magennis won't play - unless we are without others on the day.

& just a mention, a fit and functioning Scott Allan starts every week IMO. We just haven't seen a fit and functioning Scott Allan this season for whatever reason. The health issue looks like keeping him out the semi anyway.

Hearts will be strong in the semi, kidding yourself if you think otherwise. You only have to look back at the last derby to remind yourself how hard this game will be. Throw in them being supremely confident as usual and their warped fabricated sense of injustice about being relegated for being bottom of the league. They have experience all over and some pace now. We can and should win this game but it will be extremely tough and can't help feeling it'll go the way it has done in the past. Hope to be wrong on that.

[mayo hibee]

I would be concerned going into the Hearts game if we only play two in midfield and one of them is Newell. With Gogic very much a sitting midfielder the second midfielder is going to have to get through a huge amount of work and while I like Newell I think that's asking too much of him against their likely three man midfield.

I think that's why Magennis has been brought in, to try and give us a box to box midfielder who gets through enough work to still allow us to play two up front. So if he's fit and ready I'd start him - if he isn't I think we need to look at matching their three man central midfield and sacrificing a player somewhere else.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Stevenson
Boyle Gogic Magennis Murphy
Doidge Nisbet

[danhibees1875]

I'm starting to think football should be 12 a side. There always just seems to be something missing from any option presented.

I can't decide between Doig and Stevenson but I think this could be the team, although I'd like to have had Murphy in there.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon
Boyle Magennis Gogic Newell Stevenson
Nisbet Doidge

[jeffers]

I'm starting to think football should be 12 a side. There always just seems to be something missing from any option presented.

I can't decide between Doig and Stevenson but I think this could be the team, although I'd like to have had Murphy in there.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon
Boyle Magennis Gogic Newell Stevenson
Nisbet Doidge

Murphy for Newell and that would be my team.

[SHODAN]

I think we need to figure it out quickly as the semi is a huge game. We can’t lose it. With that in mind I think we need to forget about Allan for the time being and let that situation play out.

The main issues to sort out are whether we play Stevenson or Doig. A really tough choice. The second issue is whether you play a 3 in midfield or a 2. Newell and Gogic would start in a 2. Magennis has it all to do to displace them as they’ve been tremendous this season.

The next few weeks are going to be very interesting! FWIW I see it being between the 3 sides below. My gut feeling would be option 1.

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Stevenson
Boyle Gogic Newell Murphy
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon
Boyle Magennis Gogic Newell Doig
Nisbet Doidge

Marciano
McGinn Porteous Hanlon Doig
Magennis Gogic Newell
Boyle Nisbet Murphy

Option 2. Similar team to the all-conquering side under Lennon in early 2018.