PL 1st and 2nd XI

None. End of story.

Two teams - 22 players. You can easily find them from City, Arsenal, Pool, Spurs and Villa.
 
Dalot gets in the 2nd XI I reckon. You could make a case for Martinez maybe too. That's it I think.
 
- Bruno a shout for the second XI (Doesn't get in over KDB but competes with Odegaard)
- Martinez on his day could nab one of the four CB spots

That's pretty much it. De Ligt has the potential and Mainoo maybe in the future but not now.
 
TwoSheds said:
Dalot gets in the 2nd XI I reckon. You could make a case for Martinez maybe too. That's it I think.
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Dalot the 2nd best RB in the league? Not a chance.

Martinez is behind a mimimum of 4 (being very generous) at LCB too. Van Dijk, VDV, Dias, Gabriel.
 
If we are not being reactionary then Bruno and Lisandro have a chance.
 
I appreciate Pogue coming up with new, innovative ways to make me feel depressed.
 
Martínez gets in the 1st XI - first season Martínez that is.

Not sure anybody in current form gets anywhere near them
 
A fully fit Luke Shaw gets in. Shame he is hardly ever fit. When he is, no one matches him in ability. Other than that, none.

I see some are suggesting Bruno. Not a chance. Even City alone have 3 players who would make the play tick better than him in his position. Not to mention Arsenal with Odegaard.

Martinez on his very best form maybe gets in the 2nd XI, just behind VVD, Saliba and Stones, Dias or Gvardiol. But he isn't consistent enough, so... Nope. All those mentioned are more consistent and are monsters almost every week. I know Pep plays Gvardiol as a full back, but he is also an exceptional centre back.

Dalot is not the 2nd best right back in the league, but he is very good and is probably in the top 5. So he doesn't get in either, but it isn't outright crazy to suggest him.

So, that's it. None, except a fully fit, in-form Shaw.

With honorable shouts for Martinez and Dalot, who are just a tier below the very best.
 
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Current?

Alison
Dalot-Saliba-VvD-Gvardiol
Rodri-Rice
Salah-De Bruyne-Foden
Haaland

Ederson
TAA-Dias-Gabriel-Robertson
Caicedo-Guimares
Saka-Bruno-Silva
Jota

Not a great thought that went into it but an unbiased view should have Dalot in the 22 as he can play both sides well and there isn't a great depth of full backs in the league who are above the rest. I think these 4 are the best.

There's about 14 players that everyone would have in their 22. Rest are somewhat interchangeable. Odegaard, Trossard, De Ligt, MacAllister, Watkins, Pacueta, Alvarez, Diaz, Gundogan, Konate, Walker, Martinez, Son, Romero. You get the drift.

As far as United players go you have Dalot and Bruno on merit and you could argue De Ligt, Shaw if you wanted.
 
Leftback99 said:
Dalot the 2nd best RB in the league? Not a chance.

Martinez is behind a mimimum of 4 (being very generous) at LCB too. Van Dijk, VDV, Dias, Gabriel.
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Sounds as though you reckon ETH did ok to get 8th place last season, given our best centre back barely scrapes into a PL 5th XI. And he was injured for most of last season.
 
Shaw when he's healthy is the closest to being an objective starter IMO as I think he's clearly the best left-back in the league based on ability, and would suit every type of approach.

The rest depends on what type of football you want to play and the formation. If you want to play with a #10, Bruno gets into the second XI with KDB ahead of him in the first XI.

I don't think Dalot has a case over Alexander-Arnold, James and White. And then there are players who easily compete with him in Porro, Livramento, Gusto, etc.

Depending on how you set up your defense, Martínez has a decent chance for being the LCB/LB of the team, but then you probably can't go for an out and out left-back, but rather the 3/4 CB approach of Arteta and Pep.

Mainoo has an outside chance for the LCM role, but once again, it depends on how you set up your midfield. Ultimately, though, there are at least 3 or 4 players right now who could do that role better than him, because they are some of the best midfielders in the world. In the future, though, Mainoo could get in IMO if his development goes well.
 
Leftback99 said:
Dalot the 2nd best RB in the league? Not a chance.

Martinez is behind a mimimum of 4 (being very generous) at LCB too. Van Dijk, VDV, Dias, Gabriel.
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Gabriel is nowhere near a top 4 CB in the league.

2 man midfield said:
Martínez gets in the 1st XI - first season Martínez that is.

Not sure anybody in current form gets anywhere near them
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Over van Dijk and Saliba? No chance.
 
Alisson
Walker
Saliba
VVD
Gvardiol
Rodri
Foden
De Bruyne
Salah
Haaland
Bernardo

Ederson
TAA
Stones
Dias
Robertson
Rice
Odegaard
Palmer
Saka
Son
Watkins

A fit Shaw and Bruno would be closest to the 3rd team.
 
this is obviously biased by the teams current form. Theres every chance that in a well coached team the following players have potential to be among the leagues top players in their position. De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Fernandes. Who knows what we'll get from Ugarte and Mazraoui. Garnacho at his best is better than city's wide players. 2 years ago rashford would be in it.

It's grim at the moment, no doubt. But there's plenty of talent in this squad. Yes it's still short, but plenty of talent there.
 
Snow said:
Current?

Alison
Dalot-Saliba-VvD-Gvardiol
Rodri-Rice
Salah-De Bruyne-Foden
Haaland

Ederson
TAA-Dias-Gabriel-Robertson
Caicedo-Guimares
Saka-Bruno-Silva
Jota

Not a great thought that went into it but an unbiased view should have Dalot in the 22 as he can play both sides well and there isn't a great depth of full backs in the league who are above the rest. I think these 4 are the best.

There's about 14 players that everyone would have in their 22. Rest are somewhat interchangeable. Odegaard, Trossard, De Ligt, MacAllister, Watkins, Pacueta, Alvarez, Diaz, Gundogan, Konate, Walker, Martinez, Son, Romero. You get the drift.

As far as United players go you have Dalot and Bruno on merit and you could argue De Ligt, Shaw if you wanted.
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Trent is in a different stratosphere to Dalot. Foden is not even a top 10 left winger in the league.

And Jota up top? Ahead of Isak, Núnez, Hojlund, Watkins, Ferguson, Son, Havertz, Jesus, and Solanke? This is way too reactionary and just based on the last 3 games basically.

But your first XI is bang on other than Dalot or Foden IMO, who funnily enough don't even make the 3rd best XI in the league.
 
On current form none of them. Maybe Dalot and Bruno, but it's very debatable too. Based on talent you could argue for Martinez, de Ligt, Shaw and Mainoo, at least there's not that huge of a gap between them and the likes of Gabriel, Torres, Robertson, Mac Allister who will be there based on form now.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Name a PL best XI. And a 2nd XI.

How many United players in each team?

If you can’t be arsed naming a full team (never mind two) then just name the United player and the team he gets in.
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Zero. End of discussion.
 
Rojofiam said:
Trent is in a different stratosphere to Dalot. Foden is not even a top 10 left winger in the league.

And Jota up top? Ahead of Isak, Núnez, Hojlund, Watkins, Ferguson, Son, Havertz, Jesus, and Solanke? This is way too reactionary and just based on the last 3 games basically.

But your first XI is bang on other than Dalot or Foden IMO, who funnily enough don't even make the 3rd best XI in the league.
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Current footballer of the year isn't in the top 10 best left wingers? He doesn't make the 3rd best team in the league? What nonsense is this?
 
If we don't allow recency bias to dictate absolutely everything then I reckon that Dalot, Bruno and Martinez have a shout for a spot in the 2nd XI. But the fact that you'd have to fight for their case (and probably lose the debate) speaks volumes.
 
KeanoMagicHat said:
Current footballer of the year isn't in the top 10 best left wingers? He doesn't make the 3rd best team in the league? What nonsense is this?
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Players with aesthetically pleasing playstyles tend to get overrated, but in addition to that, Foden is probably the biggest system player in the whole league right now. He's the definition of system player. And left wing is his worst position by far as well.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Sounds as though you reckon ETH did ok to get 8th place last season, given our best centre back barely scrapes into a PL 5th XI. And he was injured for most of last season.
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I think he's overrated and theres at least 4 i'd rather have at LCB.

Ten Hag built this squad.

I don't think there's much to argue with in my two XIs above. Certainly not from our point of view.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Defending.
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Okay, well that's just not true IMO.

And yes, I think Núnez is easily better than Jota. Even if you disregard his superiority in their physical profiles, which you shouldn't, they have pretty similar stats in the league and CL in the last two seasons anyway. Núnez has struggled with finishing, but his ceiling is obviously way higher than Jota's.
 
Martinez has recently annoyed me with blatant aggression outburst. Very little self control.
 
Rojofiam said:
Gabriel is nowhere near a top 4 CB in the league.



Over van Dijk and Saliba? No chance.
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Over Van Dijk yes but not Saliba. That’s the good thing about centre backs though, you’re allowed 2 of them.
 
What does the 1st XI look like? Something like this?

........................ Alisson ....................
Walker - Van Dijk - Saliba - Gvardiol
............... Rodri - Ødegaard .............
...... Salah - De Bruyne - Foden .......
..................... Haaland .....................

Defense is the hardest for me... Midfield and attack writes itself.
 
Scandi Red said:
What does the 1st XI look like? Something like this?

........................ Alisson ....................
Walker - Van Dijk - Saliba - Gvardiol
............... Rodri - Ødegaard .............
...... Salah - De Bruyne - Foden .......
..................... Haaland .....................

Defense is the hardest for me... Midfield and attack writes itself.
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I wish people stopped putting Foden in this. So fecking disrespectful to the likes of Saka, Palmer, and many more players.

Getting 5 scoring chances per game in the most dominant side in the league, where you have time and space on the ball, and all you have to do is turn and shoot, does not make you the best left winger in the league...because that's basically what Foden mostly does. Receive, turn, and shoot in his little 10 meter zone at the edge of the opposition's box.

We saw how he ghosted through every single game in the Euros as well, because the system was shit, whilst Saka was basically running England's attack throughout the tournament. And when Palmer got this limited minutes, it was evidently clear that he's also a much better football who doesn't need every circumstance to be perfect in order for him to be able to shine.
 
Assuming fully fit... Obviously the problem with Shaw but whatever I'm tossing him in. I'll do a third and 4th 11 just cause I feel like a few players deserve to be represented here.

Allison
TAA Saliba Van Dijk Gvardiol
Rodri
De Bruyne Bernardo
Salah Haaland Foden

Martinez
Dalot Dias Licha Shaw
Rice
Odegaard Guimaraes
Saka Isak Son

Ederson
Walker De Ligt Gabriel Robertson
Enzo
Bruno Mac Allister
Palmer Watkins Diaz

Vicario
Mazraoui Romero Van de Ven Calafiori
Onana
Szoboszlai Gundogan
Kulusevski Havertz Martinelli​
 
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