Provisional squad: Kenny, Cerny, Murphy, Young, Gabbidon, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Taiwo, Traore, Hall, Hill, Derry, Diakite, Barton, Buzsaky, Taarabt, Smith, Mackie, Wright-Phillips, Hulse, Bothroyd, Zamora, Cisse. Just looking at the provisional squad stolen from Nines thread, Hughes has got a tough job to pick the right team. We wonât all be able to agree on the goal keeper let along the defence. We would probably all discount Murphy, Hulse, Bothroyd and Hall from the starting 11, but I bet someone could make a case for any of the rest. Iâm not keen on Gabbidon, but I know that others are, whereas I like Tommy Smith, many wouldnât have him near the team. Mackie will also polarise opinion. The options are staggering, and the more you think about it the tougher it gets. If Young returns at right back does Hill miss out? Surely he has been one of our better players of late so maybe Ferdinand should take a rest to enable Onuoha to return to his best position? Taiwo or Traore at left back? The more dependable Derry or the potential match winner Diakite in the centre? Has Hughes got the desire or balls to leave out Barton or SWP? Iâm expecting (not necessarily who I would pick) Cisse and Zamora up top , Taarabt (if fit) and Barton in midfield, Ferdinand in defence and Kenny in goal, the rest is up for grabs. This does give us one advantage, Bolton wonât know who to plan for!
Hopefully Sparky will have a good idea of his starting eleven. I'm sure that by watching them train day in and day out he'll know who's best for the job and the way he wants to play. He can do that now he has choices. Whereas before he had to play whoever was available.
I hope that you are right Nines. The scope for getting it wrong is immense. Presumably and Taarabt's thigh allowing, the team on display tomorrow is our first choice 11.
Sparky is paid a lot of money to train and pick a team to kick a ball about. I'm sure he will do it very well, but find it hard to feel sorry for him Roller.
Kick a ball about, let's see if that is how you feel tomorrow night. You punks, you haven't got the soul of us rockers!!!!!!
I'm getting so nervous about this game. I agree that it's really hard to second guess who MH will select. A few threads have shown many different alternatives and a lot of them are hard to argue against. However, I would leave the back 4 alone, but it's hard to pick the rest of the team, especially with Taarabt a doubt. If he's out, our ability to create chances for Cisse will be greatly reduced imo.
**** me we have too many players now ... This game is NOT the last game of the season we have plenty of time
This really is turning into the NME letters page in 1977 isn't it? Us old rebels just see things clearly, they are only kicking a ball about, doesn't mean I don't take it way too seriously though. I am feeling insanely confident about tomorrow, at last Sparky has choices. Cisse, Taiwo and Diakite for me, don't think all three will start though.....
NME! I read Sounds! No nearer the team selection though. My gut instinct is that Hughes will pick his new players. So I'd agree that Cisse, Zamora, Diakite and Taiwo should start.
This all has to be good news. For the first time this year we have options across the team. Better still, regardless of what team MH picks he will have options on the bench. For the first time this season we actually will look like a Prem team and squad. Incredible to think that many are considering leaving Young on the bench, including Hill and Traore and not a mention from anybody for our best player this season HH. We are deffo looking stronger.
Agreed mate. Although I think HH is still out! I think Young was looking a bit suspect before his injury, which is why I'd keep the back 4 un-changed!
Was he carrying his injury, hence looking suspect? I've forgotten what is was there is so much going on!
