"I'd like to see minimum change to what 'works' in our 4-4-1-1, with Bale still at LM." Agreed. This is a good game to do as little unusual with the formation as possible. No distractions, and leave it up to the players. Form has been good lately. Keep Lennon and Bale on the flanks and hope for the best. I'd be tempted to play both Sandro and Parker except a draw is useless. That being the case, set up for an open game. Having said that, Gallas on the left scares me, especially as he's been playing well with Kaboul in the center. I'd be tempted to risk playing Sandro there, as being less of a threat than playing an aging center back who's likely to get run past.
--------------------Friedel-------------------- ------Gallas-------Kaboul------King--------- Walker-----------------------------------Bale ------------Parker-------Sandro----------- -------------------Modric------------------- ---------------VDV------Ade---------------
Can't believe I'm saying this but I really hope King doesn't play! I'll love for us to try the formation of 3 Cb that wigan have been shoing off to keep them up but it's too risky for such an important game.
If Bale is LB, I'd prefer Parker as DM, being far more disciplined to cover any Bale overlaps. There would seem to be a problem for Harry here, with a few of the suggestions here being pretty good. I really couldn't 2nd guess this, and if I did, it would only be by luck.
I certainly have my doubts around Ledders (although not writing him off completely yet, having heard the news about the recent injury) but there's something about this formation that really appeals.
I'm guessing you mean Andros Townsend, who's currently on loan at Birmingham and played in the Playoff Semi Final last night
That's true, but I still doubt he'll be played. If it's anything involving Townsend, I think it'll be Bale LB and Townsend LM.
Don't know if Harry will risk Townsend- after all how often would he have have trained with the first team recently? If anything he'll be on the bench just in case.
Nothing about King playing appeals to me, he shouldn't even be on the bench. Maybe if his next op is a success, and good luck to Ledley on that, then he can return, but ATM he is a liability. I'm confident Bale will play LB, with Sandro and Parker in the mid, but hey I've been wrong plenty of times before.
it really is a tough one to call, and probably Harry's toughest decision of the season in terms of who plays where. 2 things for me. 1) keeping it similar to how it has been over the last 3 matches. we've picked up 7 points out of 9 and have completely dominated. 2) making sure we have width. that's our style and that's what enables us to dominate games. over to Harry, the master tactician, to work it out!
On talking about the LB issue, Harry has said "It does leave us a big problem, but we've got a couple of ideas". Whenever Harry gets "a couple of ideas", it usually means he fooks up. I am still recovering from the shock of seeing him pick BAE at RB !!! He needs to get it right for this Sunday, let's hope he does.
Oh well, here goes with a further thought.... I'm in the "least-change-the-happier-I'll-be" camp. And I'd suggest a name not mentioned by anyone so far: Livermore. Probably Sandro as DM still, with Parker on the bench. Marginal. Otherwise team as recently selected. Gives us plenty of options if things aren't going to plan. And in that case, I hope Harry makes a change or two (we'd have Defoe, Saha, Parker, Townsend, Dos santos avaulable to come on................. and then there's always Bentley..............???!!!!!!!) much earlier than usual. 10 minutes for Defoe to make an impact, for example, is ludicrous.
Parker's looking like he could be a doubt, apparently. Wouldn't mind seeing Livermore play at all either, to be honest. so who would you suggest at LB? or did you mean Livermore? if so, that might not actually be a bad shout. we've seen him play central defence and he does have a calm nature about him. could work well.
