Juventus vs. Sampdoria: BWRAO starting lineup vote results

The 3-5-2 has been dethroned! I guess that’s what a loss will do. The 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 preference is back for this game, and rotation is the theme.

In goal, Neto received a season-high amount of votes at 25 percent, but even with a packed schedule and Napoli on the horizon, Gianluigi Buffon still received 74 percent of the votes. Someone voted for Emil Audero.

In defense, Patrice Evra gets voted into the starting lineup for the first time this season with 54.7 percent of the votes. He hasn’t played much this season, and now is the perfect time to get him some action. At central defense, Leonardo Bonnuci and Andrea Barzagli are the starters, with Medhi Benatia and Giorgio Chiellini likely not at 100 percent. Stephan Lichtsteiner also makes his way back into the starting lineup, with Dani Alves was selected for some much needed rest.

At central midfield, Miralem Pjanic was one of the few near consensus picks of the whole survey with 92 percent of the votes. Sami Khedira was next best with 61 percent. And here is where it gets interesting. In a survey where 203 people participated...there was a tie. Mario Lemina and Stefano Sturaro both tied with 95 votes, or 46.8 percent. Hernanes and Claudio Marchisio weren’t far behind either with 40.9 and 36.5 percent of votes, respectively. It was a very close survey.

Why no Padoin?

Good question, Sampath.

Up front, Gonzalo Higuain is a lock, given the lack of options and how good he is. There were a few calls for Luca Clemenza or Grigoris Kastanos, but Moise Kean makes his BWRAO starting lineup debut with 55 percent of the votes. Here’s hoping there’s many more of those in his career. 79% of readers think he’ll make his debut at some point against Sampdoria.

#MakeSomeMoise

Kean just edged out Cuadrado by a mere twp votes. Did I mention this was a close survey? Alex Sandro is the final player selected up front, with 63.5 percent of the votes.

Sandro as LW in a 4-2-3-1. Will keep selecting this formation until Anthony notices me.

Well, I noticed you. If I’m gonna guess, I’d say it’s Ineednoname. you got close to your wish, Sandro at LW in a 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 is pretty similar.

With Sandro as an attacking left wing and cuadrado as right wing you will feed Higuain with a lot of crosses which he will eventually score on. The width of the 4-3-3 formation would also create room for pjanic to attack in in the middle.

I would agree with that. In a one-striker setup, crossing the ball in to the one striker will probably work if that striker is Gonzalo Higuain.

For my lineup, I think this is a really important game to rotate in, and I think our backup squad should have enough quality to win it. With Napoli coming up this weekend, and Lyon midweek after that, I think it’s very much time to rest the starters. I selected a 4-4-2 based on available personnel and who I want to see rested, not because I’ve been watching too much EPL.

Now is the time for Neto to get a game. He’s not a bad keeper by any means, and I doubt he’d be the difference in winning or losing this game considering how few shots our defense tend to give up. In front of him, Uncle Pat should be fresh and hungry for action, with Barzagli and Mehdi Benatia beside him. I also think it’s definitely time to get Licht some minutes again. In the midfield, Sandro, Sturaro, Hernanes and Cuadrado should lead the way. I think this is Juan’s ideal position, and he could really thrive there. Up front, I would like to see Kean make his debut up top with Higuain. If the rotation isn’t going according to plan at halftime, there will be quite a bench to choose from to shake things up a little bit.

Anthony’s Starting XI (4-4-2): Neto; Patrice Evra, Mehdi Benatia, Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtsteiner; Alex Sandro, Hernanes, Stefano Sturaro, Juan Cuadrado; Gonzalo Higuain, Moise Kean.

BRWAO’s Starting XI (4-3-3/4-3-2-1): Gianluigi Buffon; Patrice Evra, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtsteiner; Miralem Pjanic, Stefano Sturaro/Mario Lemina, Sami Khedira; Alex Sandro, Gonzalo Higuain, Moise Kean.