As Redknapp has declared this tie a nuisance that most of yesterday's XI wouldn't participate in and we seem to have an ever-increasing injury list, who do people expect to play out in Thessaloniki? Who's actually fit and will we see a return from any of our mysterious absentees, like Gomes?
I'd expect Gomes/Cudicini, Bassong, GDS, Livermore, Townsend and Pav all to play. Not sure if any of our Saturday crocks will be available.
Wouldn't surprise me if all summer Harry was telling Gomes he was still his number 1 when he knew Friedel was going to be all along.
It would seem madness for Parker Ade Brad BAE Kaboul Bale King Niko Luka to even travel, let alone play Walker & JD to travel, maybe I'd say Gomes/CC, best youth/academy RB (shame Smith is on loan) Bassong Livermore (shame Caulker is on loan) Townsend Ceballos Falque Bostock/ Parrett GDS Pav Kane - not sure who exactly plays where, but at least no key players are risked IF Corluka is fit, or fit enough for Sunday, then Walker/Corluka at RB, if Hud is fit enough to play then him at CB or in mid - JD on the bench if VDV is fit for Sunday.
I'd go for something like: Cudicini, Corluka, Kaboul, Bassong, BAE Gio, Livermore, Huddlestone, Townsend Pav, Kane That's depending on whether Corluka and Hudd are fit, also if Rose is ready let him start instead of BAE. Subs could be something like: Gomes, Walker, Bostock, Iago, Ceballos, Carroll, Defoe,
Hi SOS. That seems a good team, but it's going against Harry's moans and strategy (although Harry may relent in the end) Kaboul played, I believe, two games for France, now he's being asked to play 3 games in 8 days on top of that, including more travelling. Surely he has to be one of those priorities who can't make the trip to Greece. I don't know if BAE played for the Cameroon recently, but again we're asking so much of him. Our policy of loaning out so many is really hitting us now. Caulker and Smith really need to be with us ATM, and Naughton would be good too (where is he on loan BTW, unless we sold him and I missed it?) We're right in a corner now, hard call for Harry, does he walk his talk and rest players who need resting like Kaboul and BAE, or is he going to run some huge risks. I want us to progress in this cup, but I also want a team that isn't knackered to face Liverpool. Mmmmm
Hi G10, yeah I was thinking the same in regards to the Kaboul and BAE scenario but I think it's a case of there's no one else to play there at the moment, as you said the likes of Caulker and Smith/ Naughton (he's on loan at Norwich mate) could have been used, but I suppose at the same time they are gaining valuable experience playing week in week out competitively rather than being used in a second XI. Perhaps Livermore could be shifted into centre back to play alongside Bassong and then take a risk on Townsend at left back? Though that would be a very make shift defence and PAOK could then exploit the fact we have an attacking winger playing full back. I'm the same, I'd love us to actually win the Europa - as with any other competition we participate in, but for the time being we need to ensure our 1st team don't get any more injuries as we're all ready missing quite a few as it is.
The way I look at it, no one, not one single player who is currently a first choice starter (whether that is because of form or the fitness of other players) should start this game. If THudd is fit, he should play, because he is clearly behind Parker and Modric. Livermore must start. If Rose is fit, he plays LB, but if not it has to be Townsend or another of the kids. If Falque doesn't start, then what the hell did we take him for? If Gio doesn't start, then we should have taken the £3M from Seville. If Charlie is fit, he plays, if not then I don't know who to put at RB. Pav and Kane upfront looks nailed on. Don't risk Kaboul at the back, find someone else to play alongside Bassong.
Thanks for info SOS. I understand there are good reasons for loans, but because of them we have painted ourselves into a corner. AS CN says, and Harry is implying, no first team players should be on that plane to Greece, (unless, possibly, we have good cover available there for Sunday). I's a no-win situation, I desperately want us to win the EL, but at the same time we all know how vital the Liverpool game is. Good luck Harry in sorting this one out. I don't know who is the driving force behind loaning out so many of our best youngsters who would be ideal for this game, but I do know it's a problem. Though, I also accept that the strategy has great plus points too. C'est la vie, etc.
The problem isn't the loans, it's our ridiculous injuries. As I've pointed out elsewhere, if we had everyone available then we could pick two separate teams and both would be very competitive. For Liverpool: Friedel; Corluka, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Sandro, Modric, Bale; van der Vaart; Adebayor. For PAOK: Gomes; Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose; Dos Santos, Huddlestone, Parker, Pienaar; Kranjcar; Defoe. That would still leave us with Cudicini, Bassong, Livermore, Townsend, Falque, Pavlyuchenko, Kane and the rest of the youngsters. Unfortunately we've picked up a ton of injuries again, for some reason.
Isn't it the case that we have a very slender team to pick from for the European 'adventure' unlike in the PL where we can put kids on the bench?
Not really, OODB. The UEFA site doesn't seem to have our proper squad, but Falque's in it and we've named a number of players on the B list, which requires them to be both U21 and having to be eligible to play for the club for the last 2 years, I believe.
Have to disagree there PNP, the problem is precisely the loans. The injuries are what we get on a regular basis, if you don't budget for that at Spurs then you get in the mess we precisely have. We have Gallas and King for example who are high injury risks, so that leaves us with just two quality CBs in Kaboul and Dawson and one good back up in Bassong. That isn't enough to fight on three fronts plus play all the internationals our players do. LB, who do we have as cover, Rose, so if he's injured, because injuries do happen, then who covers? What happens if BAE gets injured/suspended? The squad isn't strong enough. Yes it is if we don't have injuries, but when does that happen at Spurs?
I agree that we're a little light at left-back and I thought that this might be addressed by loaning out Rose and bringing in some experienced back-up for Assou-Ekotto, to be honest. It's especially risky with the prospect of the African Nations, though we could still bring someone in early during the January window and Cameroon might not qualify. Having 5 centre-backs plus others who can play there (Walker, Corluka, even Huddlestone) should easily be enough, though. It probably would have been ideal to bring in someone who can cover the whole back-line, but who?
As long as we play Falque, and none of the expected XI for Liverpool, I don't mind. Desperate to see that guy play! Behind Kane upfront perhaps?
More likely to be behind Pavlyuchenko or even both, I'd have thought. Pav from the start and Kane from the bench, perhaps?
Anyone left worth poaching from West Ham or Portsmouth? As for the team, I think it'll be something like... Gomes/Cudicini Corluka Kaboul Bassong BAE/Randon young right winger GDS Huddlestone Livermore Falque Pav Kane/Coulibaly
I see no point in playing Pav. Yeah, it might 'keep him happy' but in the return game against Hearts he was pretty useless. May as well play Kane, and if possible, Emry Huws or Drury?
