not a chance we would ever play that formtion ha mcarthur will always start one of our best players

mcarthur is better than shelvy. arsenal are after mcarthur. tells the story.

different kind of midfielders mind. perhaps as an attacking threat shelvy maybe slightly better. but all round game...mcarthur is nearly up there with cabaye.

Point taken. And mine is a 'dream' team from a non-expert. But Shelvey has two interesting youtubes: one showing him scoring great goals and assisting (goals which Macarthur simply cannot emulate), and the second, this one: [Link] which shows his awesome ability to read the game and make the killer passes to strikers we so desperately lack (even better than Cabaye IMO)which at present neither MaCarthur or Cabaye can emulate. Also, my team, I was not meaning to suggest that IMMEDIATELY we get these players in that we IMMEDIATELY disrupt the current set-up by dropping MaCarthur etc and playing these guys. It's a future look that I think would be a very good upgrade to our present team.

[Link]

This although I would swap Shelvey and Cabaye. I keep flip flopping with regards to what striker but somehow Babacar is the one younger player with potential that feels most like cover for Wickham. (And assuming the reports of more established players, Zaza, Austin and Remy that rule them out are accurate)

First time long time.

Dream signings would be Austin to compete and rotate with Wickham, Caulker as cover and Damo successor, Afobi to replace Gayle as a high upside squad striker, and Shelvey to compete with Puncheon and add a 4th CM that fits our system in case of injury, suspension etc.

Would also love to sign Redmond, perhaps in a swap deal with Gayle, but i think that might be getting a bit greedy.

That would make my post January team;

Hennessey

Ward Dann Delaney/Caulker Souare

Macarthur Cabaye

Zaha Shelvey Bolasie

Austin

Subs - Redmond, Puncheon, Wickham, Sako, Afobi, Kelly, McCarthy

Edited by HesJust2Good4You (06 Jan 2016 9.03pm)

So no Souare then?

I don't think Redmond is as strong an option as Puncheon, he's more of a replacement for Wilf or Yannick. Imho

So I manage a Workshop which provides a safe learning environment for blokes struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues. Being a Palace fan isn't listed yet.