Starting 11?

[SpurMeUp]

I must confess I have never been keen on using the phrase "second team"

Fair play. A far more potent 'squad' at Poch's disposal this season. Same number of players, but with youth players developing and 4 fresh signings, on paper at least, it has made a difference. Not sure where that team would finish the PL, but there's a few internationals in there.

 

[braineclipse]

The Gillingham line up will be fascinating!

Rotated fbs that's easy. With Wimmer and CCV?

Winks with Carol or Wanyama (if Dembele displaces him)?

Who from Lamela, Sissoko, Nkoudu, Onomoha, Edwards, Carol for the front 3?

Janssen up front.


Exciting second team. Would they gel and get the result in your opinion?

Depending on fitness and starts against Monaco and Sunderland, but...

Winks alongside Wanyama (or Dier if Wanyama is preferred alongside Dembele) to give us some solidity.

Good game for all of Sissoko, Nkoudou and Onomah to get a game. Perhaps even Edwards. I would rest Eriksen, Son, Alli and Lamela.

I must confess I have never been keen on using the phrase "second team"

Agreed. But surely a game against Gillingham in the League Cup in a season where we're back in the CL is the time to use it?

He needs game time.

His problem in the past has been playing multiple games a week...

If he starts against Monaco and Sunderland I'm not sure what a game against Gillingham will add to his match fitness over and above that.

 

[milo]

Depending on fitness and starts against Monaco and Sunderland, but...

Winks alongside Wanyama (or Dier if Wanyama is preferred alongside Dembele) to give us some solidity.

Good game for all of Sissoko, Nkoudou and Onomah to get a game. Perhaps even Edwards. I would rest Eriksen, Son, Alli and Lamela.



Agreed. But surely a game against Gillingham in the League Cup in a season where we're back in the CL is the time to use it?



His problem in the past has been playing multiple games a week...

If he starts against Monaco and Sunderland I'm not sure what a game against Gillingham will add to his match fitness over and above that.

Agreed on all counts. Of the four competitions that we are in, this must be the lowest priority. Our fringe players need game time to stay sharp, get experience and push for a first team place. We need to use the early rounds of the domestic cups for this.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

He needs game time.

He can get that in the league and in the ECL. It is no coincidence last season that we lost 6 matches and Dembele only started one of them