With the new season fast approaching the team here at MotD would like to know the first choice mapleleaf team for the coming season.

Taking into account all factors who do YOU - the hard working players/manager/assistant manager/bucket holder/social event organiser/disciplinary team people/sponsorship guy/linesmen/luxury players/part time players/part time linesmen/ringers/people not even involved in the club/retired players/shingo - want to see turning out for maple in the first 11 next season.

Here's the lineker line up:-

Goalie - Gater - but on the proviso that he has a loud speaker surgically attached to his mouth.

Left back - Kettle
Right back - Kirby
Centre backs - Hillier & Millership
Right mid - Horse
Left mid - Dean
Centre Mids - Lewis/Mitchell
Centre forwards - Homer and Glover

Good luck lads

Gary '48 goals' Lineker

---------------- Ev -----------------

- Kirbs --- Tony --- Matt --- Geoff -

- Mitch --- Ade ---- Sag ---- Dean --

---------------- Edd ----------------

---------------- Rob ----------------



Though I doubt we'd be able to play that XI many times given injuries and absantees.

It'd be beneficial to see some tactical awareness against the better teams this season and switch to 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1 etc when needed.

This is want you want for your starting 11...

GK - John
RB - Barney
LB - Geoff
CB - Matt
CB - Gaz
RM - Kirby
LM - Dean
CM - Ade (or Sag when he returns)
CM - Mitch
CF - Eddie
CF - Rob

Just a thought...

No, no, no, NO!

This is what you want:

DREAM TEAM:

---------------- Evans ----------------

------Kirbs ---- Paul H --- Geoff K-----

- Rob --- Tony/Ade --- Sag ---- Deano --

---------------- Mitch -----------------

------------ Ed ----- Fisher ----------


LIKELY TEAM!:


---------------- Evans ----------------

-- Ade --- Tony ---- Matt --- Geoff K -

- Kirbs --- Mitch ---- Sag ---- Deano --

------------- Edd -- Rob --------------



Definateley agree formation should be flexible depending on how match develops too - ie not just sticking to agreed formation before kick off and hoping for the best!!

Suggestions for the all time Maple greatest 11? Pick from any player to have ever pulled on the sacred red/black/yellow/green/white strip of the mighty Leaf!

Could it be?

GK - Kain
RB - Kirby
CB - P Homer
CB - Randle
LB - Geoff K
RM - Terry
CM - Homer
CM - Mitch
LM - Deano (has anyone else EVER played left mid!!??)
CF - Ed
CF - Greavsie

Any takers?

Go on deny it, I should have been your manager.......

GK - Evans
LB - Kettle
RB - Varles
CH - Matty
SWEEP - Kirby
LM - Deano
CM - Mitch
CM - Ade
RM - Horse
CF - Ed
CF - Glover

1st sub Gaz for Glover
2nd sub Sag for Ade
3rd sub Barney/Randle to shore up the defence

Phil Varley would definately have to feature in the strongest Maple starting 11 but his average of 2.7 appearances per season is a problem!!

No, no ,no you're all wrong best starting XI is;

GK Evans

RB Liccle Timmy
LB Mr Kettle
CH Grrrrrrr
CH Kirby

RM Horse
CM(luxury) Mitch
CM(water carrier) Ade
LM The other Mr Kettle

CF Dennis Riceclip
CF Sure Shot

BEST EVER XI

CK Kainey

RB Kirby
LB Geoff
CH Saggys mate (Dave I think)
CH Paul Homer

RM Glover 7 or 8 years ago
CM Homer (the original)
CM Mitch
LM Deano 4 or 5 stone ago

CF Terry
CF Greavsie

I think it's about time for a change as the current first 11 just aren't performing...

GK - Glover
RB - Lycett
CH - E.Homer
CH - Mitch
LB - Brooks
RM - Sid
CM - Chubbs
CM - Andy Kaye
LM - Barney
CF - Lewis
CF - Shingles

PS - I'm currently out of work looking for a sleeping giant of a club to re-start my career. Interested? You can reach me at pisspoorenglandmanagers@FA.co.uk.

Thanks.

^ No little Ste or Scott featuring there?

Or Andy's son Mark, or his mate Blind 'anti-ginger' Ste?


Absolute disgraceful selection policy - seems the chairman is picking the team for you, Mr Taylor...


Some people are are showing their lateness into the Maple fold on here with their Best XI selections - no Woody who played for Dudley Town, or Frank the CB from Delph, or rightback Mark who played for Hales Harriers, or Dave who placed centre back in the Mid Com leagues, or Fraz, or Dave Randle? Dave Dixon of years ago when he was very decent player? Not even Pike who only played well when the pitches were firm - and was useless when on heavy fround - should have been a horse, though our current in-team Horse can't play well on any pitch!

Or am I getting old and senile? Probably so - more vinegar on those chips please, luv

Best Current Maple 11.

GK: Evans
RB: Kirby
CB: Gaz
CB: Matt
LB: Goeff
RM: Ade
CM: Glover
CM: Mitch
LM: Sag
CF: Deano
CF: Eddie

Gator

Stu
Matt
Tony
Geoff

Kirby
Sag
Ade
Mitch

Rob
Eddie

^ I only agree with the Horse on choice of substitutions.

How about trying new things - in all the threads above kirby is either right midfield or right back - how about defensive midfield (whilst sag is recovering)?

Ed is always upfront - how about as a link man in some sort of 4-5-1 system as his passing is usually pretty good?

In games where we get run over in midfield the usual response has been for us to revert to 3-5-2, which is totally alien to us - why not switch to 4-5-1 which would be a lot easier for our defense to adapt to (as they wouldn't have to do any adapting!)

We seem to like switching to 3-5-2 if the opposition is playing 3-5-2, maybe this doesn't have to be the case, just assign people different tasks when attacking/defending e.g. when attacking the two wide players offer the width, when defending the two wide men tuck in a little to stop us getting overrun in centre midfield and let the fullbacks handle the opposing wingbacks.

Just a few ideas.