FFS McLean is a striker and doesn't play anywhere else. Koren plays anywhere in midfield. People are saying Koren is out of position on the wing yet they want ****ing McLean there? or Waghorn? Or Cairney? Jesus wept. People have gone way over the top with this Koren in the middle thing, one man does not make a team. We are playing well and on a great run and people want to move players all over the place and change systems just so Koren can play in the middle. Koren played in the middle for two games and did well, that's it. He's not singlehandedly won us the league playing there he's had two good games. He's had many more good games on the wing, something which can't be said for McLean, Waghorn, Cairney or Evans. If Koren was injured it'd be a big blow but he's not, he's just going to play in another position where he is very effective.
"I've been very pleased with the whole team in the last couple of games and the midfield creativity and balance has looked very good. "But we'll have to see who is available and make a decision from there. "I'm not ruling out one way or the other whether Robbie stays in the middle or makes way for someone else to come into the middle." Not giving much away is he?
The defining phrase..... "But having seen the Slovenian's best from centre midfield, Pearson played his selection cards close to his chest."
I think he'll look closely at the opposition and see how various options might be affected by their strengths and weaknesses. I would tend to put Cairney in the middle alongside Evans and shove Koren over. That would be the least disruptive as that formation has been tried before and from the players view, is familiar. Anything else would involve a player playing where he hasn't done before this season, adding an element of unpredictability. This game is MASSIVELY important, in my view. We are a game behind the pack and if we lose, a points gap could open up. Not something we want at this stage in the season.
Someone mentioned there might have been a secret behind closed doors match this week. I know there's probably a 0.1% chance but could NP pull a huge rabbit out of the hat and bring back Stewart!! You now have my permission to shoot my giant rabbit theory down in flames.
There was a behind closed doors game this week, it was away at Bradford and it finished 0-0, but Stewart didn't play and he only got the non to resume full contact training on Wednesday, so he won't be risked this early, he's not expected back until the Derby game and that's still a month away.
As much as I like Koren in the middle, I think moving him out wide is the only option. Ask yourselves the question, do we have anyone else who plays wide left with any success? Answer is no. Do we have anyone else who's played well in the centre of midfield? Answer is TC.
well, having been at the game and also watched it on tigers player it was like watching a different game. so i will say that the reviews are far more accurate. it was bar far citys best performance this season and against a team that has been doing very well this season overall. just goes to show that sometimes the pictures do lie.
My money is on Evans going wide (as he does nor Ireland), and McKenna coming into the CM. Gives us two old heads in the centre directing play.