LS first choice 11

I think Dempsey may end up as a rotation player, and the starting / rotating mids will be Diop Smertin Davis and Davies.

 

ALSO, I'd like to see Baird replace Zat and Rossenior play RB

 

Don't forget Cook, who hasn't been available as yet. There's no way to know if LS envisions him in the starting XI or as a change of pace off the bench.

For now, excluding Cook, my guess is that his preferred lineup is pretty close to yours. I would say:

---------------Niemi----------------
Baird---Knight---Hughes---Konchesky
Davies--Davis---Diop/Smertin---Dempsey
--------McBride----Kamara---------

Deuce has now started 2 games at LW and Davies has been pretty consistently on the right. I would like to see Boca in there instead of Knight and while I like Liam's defending, he's such a bad passer that he can sometimes be a liability at RB. For every beautiful cross he gives away ten easy passes.

 

P.S. As you say, Boca hasn't been used much, which is why I was surprised to see him in your lineup. He'd be in mine, but I don't know about Laurie's.

 

Yeah, after reading people's posts and thinking a bit more, I think the first choice will be like this:

Niemi
Baird Knight Hughes Knchesky
Davies Davis Diop Cook / Dempsey
McBride Kamara

I think Boca and Dempsey may be rotation players this year, which is fine with me (although I'd like to see Boca replace either Hughes or Knight).

I think Dempsey would make an awesome rotation player in his current form, and I'm not quite sure he's consistent enough to be a key player, but coming in as a sub and starting about half the games seems like a great way for him to develop more.

 

Like most of the lineups that I've seen so far, but I would like to see Fulham lineup in a 4-4-2 with Cook on the left and Dempsey on the right wing.

Niemi

Baird, Knight, Hughes/Boca, Konchesky

Dempsey, Davis/Bullard, Diop, Cook

Kamara, McBride/Healy

I am sure Davies and Smertin will feature more than I anticipate, but then again they are simply excelling in exhibition matches... far cry from a prem match.

 

I wasn't predicting this lineup for August 11th, but as LS's ideal lineup when everyone is match fit.

I believe that Dempsey and Cook would be a dynamic duo both drifting in and providing quality service into Kamara, Healy, McB and John. Can't wait to see Fulham's starting XI vs. LS, but I have an aching suspicion that LS could shuffle his lineup in the first few matches ala Rafa Benitez-esque. He has a fair amount of depth and it will pay dividends in the latter stages of the prem season... also in the cups.

 

Did anyone notice our first game was, at some point, moved to Sunday August 12? Noon kickoff.

 

I think he is just giving Boca a breather b/c he has a busy summer but I could be wrong. Dempsey had a goal in one of the pre-season games, and I think he deserves a starting spot.

 

Baird Knight Hughes Konchesky


Davies Davis Smertin Dempsey


McBride Kamara

 

so far im not too happy with sanchez's choices in pre-season i think , he thinks he still managing n. ireland bring in all these players that maybe belong in champions league but not in the preimership. but i dont think he will be starting bocca , in mind i think this is crazy , we need goals and he has proven he can score. if i was bocca and sanchez was not starting me , then i would looking for a team that would . well thats just my thoughts

 

Bocanegra scoring 7 goals in 110 matches is hardly a proven goal scorer. He was simply in the right spot at the right time last season and finished his chances, well done to him for that. Who honestly expects 5 goals out of him again? He is a threat on set pieces, but not a true threat going forward.

LS is testing the waters with his new squad. No sense in having an established starting XI already.

 

well he has one and i know its only a friendly but it shows he still can do it

 

Niemi
Baird- Hughes- Boca- Konchesky
Davies- Smertin- Que (or Cook)
-----Dempsey--------
Kamara- McBride

Subs:
Backup Keeper (We need a new one IMO)
Rosie
Diop
Healy
John

 

I'll be making my way over with a suggestion or two

 

Agreed on the keeper issue. Haven't read any news of a new keeper, but with Niemi's past injury problems it would be a wise decision to improve in that position. 60 goals allowed in 38 Prem matches is unacceptable.