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.
It would be a shame to drop Guthrie, but since i see Nolan being in the starting lineup:
Barton - Nolan - Tiote - Jonas
------------Ireland----------
-----------McLoven---------
Ireland + Loven offer more pace and movement upfront to drag their defence about, then Nolan can pop up from deep unmarked and slot it home.
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.


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!

Barton-Tiote-Guthrie-JonasWe have Nolan back next week and as captain, having played well this season, he comes back into the team. But Guthrie has done a very good job his last few games, getting a lot of plaudits for last nights and even a couple of MOTMs. So do we find a way to keep Guthrie in the side (4-5-1) or has he not impressed you enough? Then there is Ireland, who should be ready to start.
So basically what I'm asking is who do we play next game, more specifically midfield?
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.
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.

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.
Barton Tiote Guthrie Jonas
-------Nolan
--------Ameobi
Ireland could come on for either Guthrie or Nolan, depends on how the game is going.
4-4-1-1 might be seen as negative considering we are going to Blackpool, but Nolan is our biggest goal threat, and Lovenkrands (despite having a good game against Man Utd) is past it.

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![]()
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.