On a serious note, its the players on the pitch, their commitment and attitude non existant, not the team we played! they should still try for the club, it seems only JT drives them on in this respect.
Chelsea are still in the FA Cup, so that one's rightly ruled out for offside. Everton went through despite resting Cahill, Pienaar being cup-tied, with both Coleman and Barklay being benched until the second half when they were already 2-0 up. So that's 2-1 to me. Besides, I'm not the one advocating Sandro and Livermore in central midfield - we're playing Stevenage, not playing a second leg against Benfica looking to defend an aggregate lead.
Yeah, I don't blame AVB really. He could've done with a few more years in an easy job like Porto anyway but managing the Chelsea players is an impossible job at the moment.
Fabio Capello: Tells his players what he wants them to do, they decide they know better and ignore him Andre Villas-Boas: Tells his players what he wants them to do, they decide they know better and ignore him You'd think there was a disruptive influence within the squad wearing the captain's armband or something...
Dos Santos can't even get on the bench for this one... Cudicini; Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Nelsen; Rose, Livermore, Parker, Bale; Defoe, Saha. SUBS: Friedel, Lennon, Kranjcar, King, Khumalo, Dawkins, Luongo.
Slightly odd starting XI. Who's playing left-back? Might actually be a 5-3-2 or something. Cudicini Walker Kaboul Dawson Nelsen Rose Parker Livermore Bale Defoe Saha Width provided by the full-backs. Distinct lack of creativity. No experienced striking option on the bench. Hmm....
Bale's the one player I really didn't want to play. I think we're giving Walker a go on the wing and going 442.
I think Rose is playing on the wing, with Nelsen as a utility left back (or Walker at left back, Nelsen at right back?) The lack of creativity through the middle is a concern - we let Watford back in the game with a central midfield of Parker and Livermore. Parker/Sandro and Kranjcar, with with two of Bale/Lennon/Rose on the flanks, would be better for dictating play. Looking at the bench, I wish we'd kept Carroll as well: Modric and VDV left out, Huddlestone injured, Kranjcar benched - Chelsea showed us yesterday what happens when you have half a dozen box-to-box or defensive midfielders, but none who can control play.
As I advocated, a strong side both in teams of ability and physicality. Far preferable to the weakened selections advocated by some Spurs fans. Great to see Kab back, well done Harry on picking the right type of to minimize the chance of humiliation on national that we would have seriously risked risked had we played the type of weakened team as advocated by some. My guess is something like 3-5-2, but the key is lots of strong players, lots of aerial ability, lots of pace. Top team for this type of game, which I expect us to win.
Slightly concerned that Sandro isn't even on the bench - hope his recovery hasn't been delayed. Also worried for Bale - just have a feeling that he might be subject o some over-exuberant lower league challenges....... Mind you he gets that in the PL I suppose (Adam etc) Crossing fingers and any other parts of the anatomy that we come through unscathed.
I have to say, I'm not impressed with this selection. This is one area where I feel Redknapp lets himself down, where he selects very strange and unbalanced line-ups for cup games, when key players are missing. Hopefully we'll be able to get past Stevenage anyway, but this side looks wonky to me.
I'm not getting drawn on specific players, I find the whole thing futile, I'm also not sggesting anyones 'team' won't win either, as long as a strong similar looking team pummels Stevenage then the Goons, I'm happy. If we don't...i shall have something to say!
Someone tell Dawson to stop missing out our strong point...the bloody Midfield!...stupid diagonal hoofs!...Crouch has gone! ...rant over!
