As we career headlong into our clash with the Old Gold thoughts naturally turn to the starting XI and to which formation Neil Adams will choose.
Will he revert to a traditional 4-4-2? Was his experimentation with the diamond successful enough for it to be his Plan A? Or was last Friday night’s 4-2-3-1 a trial run for Molineux?
And who will be in his chosen XI? Will Russell Martin accompany Michael Turner in the centre of defence? Or will he revert to right-back to make way for Ryan Bennett?
Will Andrew Surman complete his City resurrection with a place in the midfield? Will he partner Bradley Johnson at the base and protect the back four? Or will Adams look to unleash pace, in which case a midfield that includes Nathan Redmond and Elliott Bennett looks a must.
If he opts to play a lone striker it has to be Kyle Lafferty doesn’t it? Or should he partner the Northern Irishman with Lewis Grabban? Gary Hooper may not want to be here, but with his record in the Championship does he not deserve a shot?
With a relatively big squad, even allowing for the departure of Ricky van Wolfswinkel, the permutations are numerous, and it’s a big call for Adams. He dare not hit the ground running.
But we all have an opinion on what his starting line-up he should be. And now we have a chance to test it against the one selected.
MyFootballWriter has been asked to represent Norwich City in a Football Manager 2014 challenge against the other 23 Championship sides. It’s being run by SI games, the makers of FM.
Martin Emerson (some of you may know him as @Klobo15 on Twitter) has kindly agreed to be our ‘manager’. As an FM aficionado Martin is Paul Lambert to my Glenn Roeder. Say no more.
The basic premise is this: we’ll be playing a series of one-off matches against fellow websites representing the other clubs in the Championship. These matches will coincide with Norwich’s real-life fixtures so, for example, during the first week of the season we’ll face a site representing Wolves.
The results will be plugged into a league table that will be continually updated as the season goes on.
They are also planning to feature several themed weeks during the season such as the ability to transfer in one player who Norwich have been linked with in real life to see what impact he might have on our fortunes that week.
Sound complicated? Yes, it does to me too, but Martin assures me all will be OK.
But this is where our readers, come in.
We’d like as many suggestions as possible for a line-up for Sunday and the formation it should start with. Martin and I will then attempt, in the most unscientific way possible, to cobble together an XI in a formation that forms the consensus of opinion. And then we’re off.
Hopefully we’ll start off with a decent outcome on Sunday and go on to give the Championship a good run for it’s money. But we’ll see.
So… over to you. We welcome your thoughts.
4-2-3-1.
Ruddy
Martin, R. Bennett, Turner, Olsson
Johnson, Surman
E. Bennett, Wessi, Redmond
Grabban
Ruddy
Martins
Turner
Bennett
Olsson
Fer
Redmond
surman
Lafferty
Hoolahan
Grabban
In a diamond formation
442 diamond
Ruddy
Whittaker Martin Bennett Olsson
Fer (or Tettey if Fer leaves)
O’Neil/Howson Surman
Hoolahan
Two from Grabban, Lafferty and Hooper
Or 4231
Ruddy
Whittaker Martin Bennett Olsson
Tettey Fer
E.Bennett Hoolahan Redmond
Lafferty/Grabban/Hooper
Depends on if Fer is fit ( and still at the club!) I’m thinking he will e a bit behind with fitness anyway and also presuming Howson and Tettey won’t be fit either. Think he will start with a 4-2-3-1. Same Los back 4 ……Ruddy; Wbits, Martin, Turned, Olsson. Surman and Jonno holding Pilks and Benno flanks. Grabbs supporting Lafferty. Can switch to a more attacking diamond when we are 3-0 up in the second half to hit them through the middle as they play two wingers. Wessi at the tip Jon o holding Benno on the right, surman or Pilks on the left Bosh ….6-0!
Ruddy
Whittaker Turner Martin Olsson
Johnson
Bennett Redmond
Hoolahan
Grabban Lafferty
4-2-3-1 away from home.
Ruddy
Whittaker-Martin-Turner-Olsson
Johnson-Surman
E Bennett-Hoolahan-Redmond
Grabban
Ruddy
Whittaker Martin Turner olsson
Fer gary’o Neil
Redmond wes Murphy
Grabban
4-1-3-2
————-Ruddy———-
Martin-Turner-R.Bennett-Olsson
———–Johnson———–
E.Bennett—–Fer——Pilkington
——-Lafferty–Redmond—–
Or
4-1-4-1
————-Ruddy———-
Martin-Turner-R.Bennett-Olsson
———–Johnson———–
E.Bennett–Fer–Surman-Pilkington
———–Lafferty———-
As Adams is a former winger, I’m guessing he will pick a formation with width but still pretty solid away from home.
4-2-3-1
Ruddy
Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson
Fer (if fit & still at NCFC), Johnson
Redmond, Hoolahan, Grabben
Lafferty
If Fer is unavailable then either Surman or Tettey (if he’s fit)
Ruddy
Martin, Turner, Olsson
Johnson Fer
Bennet Wes Surman Redmond
Grabban
Considering that its on FM,
Ruddy
Martin Turner R Bennett Olsson
Johnson Redmond Pilkington
Hoolahan
Hooper Grabban
(Wide diamond)
Ruddy
Martin, R.Bennett, Turner, Olsson
Fer, Surman
E.Bennett, Hoolahan, Redmond
Grabban
(3-1 Win, Grabban to score first)
Ruddy
Whittaker Martin Bennett Olsson
Redmond Johnson Grabban
Fer
Hooper Lafferty
Definitely, definitely, definitely…
4-2-3-1
Ruddy
Martin, Bennett R, Turner, Olsson
Surman, Johnson
Bennett E, Hollahan, Redmond
Grabban
Bench : Rudd, Whittaker, Fer, Tettey, Lafferty
Ruddy
Whittaker Martin Turner Garrido
Johnson Surman
Bennett Hoolahan Redmond
Grabban
Ruddy
Whittaker-Martin-R.Bennett-Olsson
Johnson
E.Bennett-Fer-Redmond
Hoolahan
Hooper
formation should be 4-1-2-1-2
Ruddy
Martin-Turner-R. Bennett-Olsson
Johnson
E. Bennett-Pilkington
Hoolahan
Lafferty-Grabban
Ruddy
Whittaker – Martin – Turner – Olsson
Johnson – Surman
E Bennett – Hoolahan – Redmond
Grabban
Ruddy
Whittaker-Martin-Turner-Olsson
Johnson—–Surman
E.Bennett–Wes–Pilkington
Grabban
Subs: Rudd,R.Bennett,Garrido,Tettey,Lafferty,Loza,
Hooper
This is not really a game for inexperienced players like the Murphys. I would expect to see Tettey come on for Wes if things get a bit tasty too.
Good old fashioned 4-4-2 for me:
Ruddy
Whittaker Martin R Bennett Olsson
E Bennett Johnson Surman Redmond
Grabban Lafferty
Let’s catch them on the hop and resurrect the Christmas tree (4-3-2-1) – they won’t be expecting that in August!
JR
RM – MT – RB – MO
EB – BJ – AS
WH – NR
LG
4-2-3-1
Ruddy
Russ, Bennett, Turner, Olsson
Tettey, Fer,
Grabban, Hoolahan, Redmond
Hooper
4231. Ruddy Whitts RMart Turner Olsson EBenno Johnson Surman Redmond Wes Grabban.
Subs. Rudd ONeil Hoops Lafferty RBenno JMurphy Garrido.
OTBC
Ruddy
Whittaker. Martin. Turner. Olsson
Johnson. Fer.
Hoolahan
Redmond. Grabban.
Lafferty.
Take the game to them…..;) OTBC
Ruddy
Martin, R Bennett, Turner, Olsson
Fer
Murphy, Howson, Hoolahan, Redmond
Grabban
Ruddy
Whittaker. Martin. Turner. Olsson
Benno, Murphy, Redmand,
Wez
Hooper and Lafety
In a 4-3-1-2
Or
Ruddy
Whittaker. Martin. Turner. Olsson
Johnson
Fer Tetty
Grabban
Hooper
Lafety
We should then be bagging goals in for laughs and not have to worry to much about defense
Has to be 4-2-3-1
————–Ruddy—————
Whits-Martin-Turner-Olsson
——-Johnson-Surman——-
E.Bennett–Wes–Redmond
————Grabban————-
4-2-3-1 most likely formation for me.
Ruddy
Martin, Bennett R, Turner, Olsson
Howson, Surman
Bennett E, Grabban, Redmond
Lafferty