IMO the point about MH changing systems is a really interesting one. Would he have changed from 4-4-2 if he still had Cisse at his disposal? I can see him keeping to one up front till Cisse is back against Spurs.....then it will be really interesting to see what team/formation he selects!!
Really? Then we will have learnt nothing from our debacle this season or the relative success of Swansea and Norwich. Of course I want our squad to improve but that needs to be evolution not revolution otherwise you are forever starting from scratch. If we stay up Derry and Hill will deserve a knighthood not just a contract extension.
There's a real dilemma surrounding Cisse now, and Hughes will have a few sleepless nights before his suspension is over. All of our 4 remaining games after are vitally important. Does he A) Put him on and pray that the red mist or mania doesn't come over him again and leave us with 10;or B) Take the brave option and leave him benched and only bring him on as a late second half sub He wasn't available for the Arsenal game and MH picked a team accordingly. Cisse has demonstrated that he simply can't control himself on the pitch. Can MH risk our season by picking him, or risk it by leaving him out?
They will be a year older and a year slower, what will they be then, 35 and 36? Its purely an age thing for me. It also looks like Kenny isnt going to get one either, although hes signed until the end of next season, he was supposed to have talks 2 months ago to extend it but Hughes didnt have them.
Great piece, Col - it's good to relive it all over again - think I'll print it out and read it when I'm a bit down (which I hope won't be Sunday afternoon!)
I think it all depends on our results over the next 3 games mate. If we haven't done too well then I think MH will put him straight in, hoping for goals! However, if we have picked up say 4-6 points from Man Utd, Swans and WBA he may start him on the bench.
We looked very solid last saturday. Rem that Arsenal generally create more chances than most other teams, yet we looked comfortable. Don't really want to revert back to 4-4-2. Zamora must stay fit because HH could not put in the hard yards that BZ did on Sat. Zamora really brought the forward 3 into the game. I know some on here can see Cisse playing in the 3, but i just can't. For the remainder of the season Cisse could be a good option for the last 30. Might help him stay on the pitch as well. Zamora is vital to our best system and survival.
Not me Col tbh. Agree with NUTS, one or the other up front suits us better. Superb way to vary our game plan. Zam holding to bring the mids into play. Cisse offering the mids a striking option either earlier or later in games. The different approaches could unsettle some defenders.
We'll need goals to stay up! Love him or hate him...Cisse is our best chance of getting goals in those last 4 games! Could all be irrelevant as I think MH will return to his 4-4-2 wheh Cisse is back. I wouldn't!! I'm also not convinced Zamora will be able to put in the same intense performance every game as we saw against Arsenal!!
Cisse would have been ideal for Swansea and Stoke and WBA. For the rest, Id go with 1 up front unless we need a goal in the last 5 mins. He doesnt deserve to be in the team.
2 times in 5 games and every team will try to wind him up, Id tell my whole team to take turns in kicking him hoping to get a reaction if I was playing against him. Guess how many times hes been sent off in his career?
We will be on a 4 game winning streak by then and MH will not want to change a winning team! But if we aren't surely Cisse will come back in, and he's got to be in the 3 for me. MH must realise at last now that we have not got the defensive ability for 4 4 2.
