What is our best Starting 11/18? (No Injuries)

[ExclDawg]

Still trying to follow Villa over here in the States, although admittedly it's much harder now that the team is in the Championship and Sky wants to block all highlights from being shown.  Admittedly, I'm not as versed on the team as I should be, but I do what I can do reading this forum from time to time and trying to view whatever highlights I can manage to poach from YouTube and other far shadier sites.

This year it seems we've had a few injuries and others haven't played up to the level they have in the past.  Trying to get more up to speed on the team here while in the transfer window, I figured I'd put the question up to our panel of experts (aka: everyone that posts here other than me).  Having just put 5 past Bristol, one might think that would be our best starting 11, but I know there's a few that will be coming back from injury soon.

So, you're the manager.  Who's our best starting eleven? And who would you have on the bench?  And finally, you have 10+ million pounds (my american keyboard won't let me do the symbol), what one position would you upgrade?

Just so you can point and laugh ... in my limited knowledge, I would stick to something similar to the Bristol lineup:
G: Johnston
RB: Elmo
CB: Terry (no injury)
CB: Chester
LB: Hutton
CDM: Jedinak
M: Adomah
M: Grelish
M: Snodgrass
M: Hourihane
S: Kodjia (no injury)

On the bench:
- Andre Green: Seems like he'd be my first guy in, but I didn't know who to take out to start him.
- Samba: Sounds like Elphick has been doing better lately, but Samba would be the safer option.
- Elphick: Because he's been doing better lately
- Davis: Not sure about bench strikers though.  I remember Davis having some good games earlier, but no so much recently.
- Onomah: I remember him doing well earlier as well, but haven't heard a lot since.
- Hogan:  I could probably go with some of the younger guys here, but he had a good last game.  What the heck.
- Steer:  Not that I would know a whole lot about bench keepers.

I have no idea what position would be at the top of the needs list.  Just curious what you guys think?

Thanks!

[Ads]

For me I would say;

Johnstone

Taylor
Terry
Chester
Hutton

Jedinak

Snodgrass
Hourihane
Grealish
Adomah

Kodjia

[eamonn]

I'd have to think about this but ExclDawg, I think you're the one stalwart from the Browns posse that stayed with us through the Lerner years and beyond. Respek'.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Just fyi ExclDawg if you can afford it AVTV is pretty good for catching the games, the full match replays in particular are gold for us in the USA. Now we are past the mid point is a bit cheaper and you get access to the the vault of all the games.

[bobcat]

4-4-1-1

Johnson

Hutton
Chester
Terry
Taylor

Snodgrass
Whelan
Hourihane
Adomah

Grealish

Kodjia

[paul richard]

             Johnstone

Hutton Chester Terry Taylor

              Jedinak

Snodgrass Grealish Hourihane Adomah

                Kodjia

Which still leaves:

                 Steer

Elmo Elphick Samba De Laet

               Whelan

Onomah O'Hare Lansbury Green

                Hogan

and I still haven't found room for Davis, Bree, Doyle-Hayes or Bjarnason, let alone Gabby or Richards.  Not a bad squad at championship level, I'd say.  Which is why it is not unreasonable to expect a place in the top two...

[PeterWithe]

Johnstone

Hutton
Chester
Taylor
Terry

Jedinak

Grealish
Onomah

Kodja
Davis
Adomah

[Percy McCarthy]

Johnstone

Elmo
Chester
Terry
Hutton

Jedinak
Hourihane
Grealish

Kodjia
Davis
Albert

[Comrade Blitz]

For me I would say;

Johnstone

Taylor
Terry
Chester
Hutton

Jedinak

Snodgrass
Hourihane
Grealish
Adomah

Kodjia

Same for me.

[wittonwarrior]

Can I be funny? A team of Paul mcgraths please

[Hookeysmith]

Can I be funny? A team of Paul mcgraths please

Go on them we are waiting

[tomd2103]

             Johnstone

Hutton Chester Terry Taylor

              Jedinak

Snodgrass Grealish Hourihane Adomah

                Kodjia

Which still leaves:

                 Steer

Elmo Elphick Samba De Laet

               Whelan

Onomah O'Hare Lansbury Green

                Hogan

and I still haven't found room for Davis, Bree, Doyle-Hayes or Bjarnason, let alone Gabby or Richards.  Not a bad squad at championship level, I'd say.  Which is why it is not unreasonable to expect a place in the top two...

According to Bruce on Talksport this morning, Kodjia is likely to be out for the rest of the season, so I still think we might be short a central striker (given up hope on Agbonlahor).  A loan signing until the end of the season would be fine. 

[Drummond]

Johnstone

DeLaet
Chester
Terry
Hutton

Jedinak

Grealish
Adomah
Hourihane

Hogan/Davis
Kodjia

[Toronto Villa]

We showed we can score 5 goals playing one up front at home. I think it’s a horses for courses thing. I’m in agreement with Drummond on his 4-1-3-2. In a 4-1-4-1 I’m adding a fit Andre Green down the left, putting Albert on the right.

[Mister E]

Depends on who the opposition is, but my starting 11 - working with those who are fit, or soon to be fit, to play - would probably be:
Johnstone
Elmo, Hutton
Chester, Terry
Jedi, Hourihane
Adomah Grealish, Green
Davis

And, I'd hope that the following would have a part to play:
RHM, O'Hare, Doyle-Hayes, Snodgrass, Elphick, Taylor, De Laet, Hogan, Whelan, Steer