Sponsored by Toonarmy1892. I think the baldy **** should be straight into the North Sea; but Toonarmy disagrees and wants to have voracious sex with his baldy head. Tash would like to watch. So let's poll it up. Should Shelvey be in the starting 11, as soon as he is is fit and always in it when he is fit?
I have a nasty feeling it will be Darlow, Manquillo, Lascelles, Burn, Targett, Shelvey. Longtaff, Joelinton, Murphy, Fraser, Wood.
On paper it's OK apart from Darlow and Shelvs, but they're also mostly unfit. If we're gonna play the second team then we have to hope Palace but out a crap team too, cos we only just scraped past Tranmere.
We need to take this seriously. We can't just give games to players for the sake of it. That's what we did under Ashley when he had no intention of even wanting to play in the cups.
I mentioned on the match thread, Shelvey came on and just looked lost. This high press, high energy is so far detached from his "game". He needs it slowed down, pure counter attack, get the ball very deep and fire it very long. He should be moved on, with Murphy and Wood, in Jan. Not starting by any stretch.
Wood wouldn't be a bad shout for Southampton I think. I really don't know where the hell you catapult Murphy to, and I just can't see anyone either paying a fee for Shelvey or agreeing his wages. Likewise I'd be shot of Manquillo and Darlow.
Just to clarify, so I know how best to respond, what exactly are we taking seriously here - the cup competition, or winding up DPP about Shelvey starting and getting a new contract?