I hope Crawley play him. He's not a bad little player, but does need regular football as he missed a lot of playing time last season through injury.
With the suspension of the U21 game against the Saints, I'm hoping to see something along the likes of: Lloris A. Smith Dawson Caulker Naughton Huddlestone Carroll Falque Dempsey Townsend Ade With a mix on the bench: Carlo; Verts; Walker; Bale; Mason; Ceballos; Defoe
I hope Falque doesn't start, Mason Pritchard JJ, all before him for me It would be great if Ade and Naughton can make it.
Ade, nose slightly out of joint through not walking back into the team, playing away at Carlisle in the CC? Hmm. Not convinced that will work as well as it should. I have no better suggestions, though.
Bajan- completely understand that, but doesn't he need match practice and he is a part of the squad therefore is obligated to play if AVB picks him.
Well I think it's even more wrong playing Lloris up there, and I don't suppose he will be too happy playing at Carlisle instead of OT, but if needs must. Ade has been injured, so it's not like he's been ready to play - had he been I think he would have started in the Prem by now it may be of course not a good idea to play either Ade or Lloris up there, more tricky calls for AVB
If Ade is anywhere near fit maybe if he starts just a half or 60 mins. Don't want to seem churlish but if these players need matches,surely it would be better than nothing. Can't see them playing for the Spurs XI.
He has to play at sometime otherwise he'll never get his match sharpness back. If he's available I'd start him, if Defoe starts and gets an injury we'll only have Adebayor with zero match practice or Dempsey, who's also backup/competing for the 3 positions behind him in our formation.
Am I right in thinking Dawkins is still our player - apparently doing well in the States, scored a cracker recently Once again no team news so far- we didn't get any for the QPR game, I wonder if this is a new tactic? on the weather front, the rain should have stopped and winds dropped by tomorrow night, (bbc forecast).
Notably he says a strong squad, so I can see Dawson and Caulker at the back, Huddlestone (or even Carroll) for Dembele, and Townsend for Bale, plus Sigurdsson starting.
Provisional squad: Lloris, Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini, Smith, Gallas, Dawson, Walker, Vertonghen, Caulker, Falque, Huddlestone, Mason, Bale, Lennon, Sandro, Jenas, Dembele, Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Carroll, Townsend, Defoe, Obika.
Do we really need to take all 4 'keepers? I guess Adebayor, Livermore and Naughton are still not over their injuries then. That squad doesn't give away much about the level of the team we could start, if it's a weak one we might end up with Jenas as captain
There's two ways to look at this, though just about everyone has gone for option 1, which is: the team needs a break, if non-starters can't win a game when needed we're in too many competitions. The other view is: things are turning around in the Prem, but we need a win in a cup. Play a reasonably strong squad, get the win, and don't skew everything towards having the perfect squad for a game we haven't won in eleven years. Lloris A. Smith Dawson Caulker Vertonghen/any other option? Huddlestone Carroll Jenas Gylfi Townsend Dempsey
