Guthrie/Ireland/Nolan

Think I agree about Lover, we can play a passing game v Blackpool (hopefully in preparation for next season) none of this hoof it to the big man ****e.

 

Put Tiote Centre Back, play Guthrie Ireland and Nolan in the middle.

 

Amen brother

 

Since the big lass left, our record with Shola is alot better than without him!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L54PI98cxbs&feature=channel_video_title

I don't want to be like this against Blackpool

I want to be like this :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfXmAGSt7zY&feature=related

50k +++ Toon fans deserve that!

 

Sorry my bad forgot Lovenkrands was such a good passer, you are completely correct. I mean if we play Lovenkrands we'll automatically become a good fluent passing team which means we are much much more likely to score goals! My bad!

 

We wont play any long balls will we though?

 

Well thats ok we might loose but if we dont play any long balls its fine!

 

I'm just giving examples.

With Ireland, Barton and Guthrie we can afford to play a decent type of passing game and we can mix it up with the likes of Willo in set-pieces/corners or also look to exploit the wide areas with Simpson, Enrique and Guti's pace/trickery.

 

Barton-Tiote-Guthrie-Jonas
-Nolan-

Guthrie deserves to keep his place, and would have Ireland coming off the bench again.

 

What is your point? We could lose with Shola but playing a slow, long ball game against Blackpool is exactly what they want. They will rip us apart on the counter attack. If we play better, passing football and a quicker game we will be better suited to playing them and have better chance. Also its not as if our midfield is set for a big man, Barton's the only one who can put a good cross in, but all of them can play clever through balls for Lover.

 

Completely agree with all of that, but I just dont really rate Lovenkrands too much, he's lost all of his pace and that was his only part of his game. So I suppose we each have an opinion on who to play and mine would be Shola!

 

Even though Nolan's whole game is suited around a big man? By not playing a "big man" your taking the whole effectiveness of Barton on the right. And just because we play Shola doesnt mean we have to play long ball, does it? Weve had plenty of free flowing football with him in the team over the years... My point is I would play Shola instead of Lovenkrands but that is my opinion. Each to our own.

 

Yeah I understand if we had someone of better quality.. someone with decent ability in the air, a clinical finisher, a hard-worker, a speed-machine and good technichal ability then we'll be set and laughing our heads off next season(in a good way). Oh if only we had Ben Arfa!!!

 

I think we need pace in behind (lover) because Blackpool play a high line but we also want to see Ireland and and have Nolan back in the team but then again Lover cant play as a lone striker. So many dilemmas!

After much deliberating, I've gone 442:

Krul

Simmo
Willo
Collo
Jose

Barton
Nolan
Tiote
Gutierrez

Ameobi
Lovenkrands

Subs:
Soderberg
Perch
Saylor
Ferguson
Ireland
Guthrie
Ranger

Bring Ireland on after 60 minutes and Ferguson IF we are winning by 2 or more goals. Then bring on Ranger last quarter of an hour if they're defence is tired.

 

One thing I didnt know was Blackpool have both scored and conceded in every home game this year, quite a remarkable record. So either way we should have an entertaining game

 

This is probably what Pardew will go for, but it would be harsh if Guthrie was dropped after controlling the midfield against manure.

 

This.

 

Interesting fact, you've made me feel alot better about the game now! Heres hoping for 3 pts and wigan beating the mackems!

 

Nolan's game as a second striker is reliant on a big man but not playing in the centre, where he scores from deep, quite often from set pieces or being in the right place for a deflected cross or shot. And Barton can play with a small striker, he happens to be able to cross but is also a good long passer and in the same way as Guthrie, can play the sort of through ball Lovenkrands can thrive on.