Starting eleven in 2012?

The recent comings and goings at IFK has seen the quality of the squad increase and the competition for a place in Mikael Stahre’s starting line-up increase. At the end of last season, iFKtaktik said it would like to see the following starting eleven if the personnel stayed the same as 2011:

Dahlin

Salomonsson Dyrestam Jonsson Logi(or new)

Haglund Allansson

Barkroth Sobralense Soder

Hysen

Of that starting line-up only Niklas Barkroth has left the club but it is the players that have been bought in which adds to the selection dilemma facing Mikael Stahre. Assuming no more players are bought in and going on what we have seen in the pre-season training and matches so far, we think it is fair to say that the defence will begin as follows; partly due to a lack of defensive numbers.

Alvbåge

Salomonsson Waehler Jonsson Dyrestam

Alvbåge beating off Dahlin’s fight for the gk spot, Salomonsson taking over from Adam Johansson at right back with Dyrestam getting the nod over Logi at left back. The experienced duo of new signing Waehler and Jonsson in the centre. The defence looks solid with an experience middle 2 and gk and youthful, dynamic energy on the flanks. The only worries could be the lack of pace at centre-half and the lack of a left-footer at left back.

The defence looks fairly easy to predict; predicting a midfield and forward line however could be much more difficult with a number of players vying for each spot. Much will depend on the formation Stahre intends to use and how he intends to use the new signings. Are any player dead certs in the midfield or forward line? At this point, I would say only 2: the captain and goalgetter, Tobias Hysen will play up front and Philip Haglund will anchor our midfield. How will the others spots around these 2 be filled? I expect Stahre to go for experience, knowledge and know how and start with Selakovic on the right hand side(with the hope that he forges a similar partnership with Salomonsson as he did with Adam Johansson). I would love to say that Joel Allansson will continue to get the chance in his favoured central midfield position but again i think Stahre will plump for know how and go with new signing Farnerud to sit alongside Haglund. Most thought Stahre would play with a front 2 but I can’t see either of Soder or Stiller starting the season alongside Hysen. This means he will either go with a second striker in the shape of Sobralense or Gerzic or a 3rd midfielder. I think he will go with Gerzic in a half/half role, floating somewhere between midfield and the forward line depending on the game. Lastly, the left hand side. Will Stahre fit Allansson in here? Or will he go with one of the mercurial but unpredictable talents of Sobralense or Sana. I think(as with the 2nd striker/3rd defender position) this will depend on the game but Sobralense will more often than not get the nod to start there with license to drift in field. So here is how I think IFK will start the season:

Alvbåge

Salomonsson Waehler Jonsson Dyrestam

Haglund Farnerud

Selakovic Gerzic Sobralense

Hysen

I am trying to get inside Stahre’s head and go on what we have seen so far in pre-season. However, if I was to take out the team I would like to see, i would go slightly different. Firstly, due to being a believer in giving youth a chance and believing that IFK are a club that always give talented young players a chance and secondly, because I am a big believer in playing football the right way-exciting, attacking football. I have discounted the young duo of Azulay, Sam Larsson and DMK-although I would like to see them given a chance I think it will be a little while before they are given that proper chance, with Stahre needing time to find his feet at the club. So iFKtaktik’s starting eleven for 2012 using the current squad would be:

Dahlin

Salomonsson Waehler Jonsson Dyrestam

Allanson Farnerud

Sana(Sobralense) Gerzic Soder

Hysen

A few comments:

Dahlin gets my pick in goal; after his impressive 2011 season he should be given the chance to continue his growth. I would like to put Dyrestam at centre half but a lack of options at left back forces my hand. Haglund has been omitted in favour of the more technical Farnerud who would play alongside Allansson-another youngster given the chance to continue his growth. Sana or Sobralense would play alongside Gerzic and Soder in a fluid attacking trident looking to create and feed Hysen up top. I have stuck by Soder as I believe in his talent and hope he finds his best form given a run of games. The front 6 would be a very technical and creative bunch allowing the team to play progressive passing football.

That is my opinion, what is yours? Leave a comment with your opinions on the first 11 and how you would have the team line up if you were the manager.

 

 

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