It would have happened against Newcastle, had we not used all our subs up when Bart got injured. Thought Dexter actually did ok, for a striker.
He was considered a bright spark on Tuesday night - did alright from what I hear Hartlepool away in 2009, Bart came on for an injured Kelvin Davis!
A goalie's match fitness is a lot different to an outfield players. Sometimes best to get "match fitness" by playing games for a keeper.
Cheers! Can't see him playing Monday in that case. Hopefully it will be Gazza and not Davis, we shall see.
I would go with 4-2-1-3 ----------Boruc/Gazza------ -Clyne-Fonte--Yoshida--Fox ------Davis------Morgan---- -----------Lallana----------- -Mayuka--Lambert--Rodriguez There is substance to suggest Ramirez might start in which case I'd go for 4-2-3-1 with Ramirez CAM, Mayuka RM, Lallana LM and Lambert. I expect Nigel would start Rodriguez instead of Mayuka or Lambert though in that formation
If we play one up front, which we always seem to away these days will Lambert start? I hope Lallana is played centrally but not sure he will be. If we play well we can get something from this but if we play like we did against Spurs in the first half it may be another painful day!
I went for 4-2-1-3 on the basis of the second half against Spurs when we were 4-2-1-3/4-2-4 at times. If we go 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 not sure if Nigel would start Lambert but I definitely would.
Yes, maybe, but we played our best football in that formation, in our only win of the season so far, against Villa, except we played Puncheon instead of Mayuka and Richardson came on for Fox at half time and Clyne switched to left back and we were superb. I'd prefer this formation to 4-3-3 which doesn't suit us and the fans that go on about 4-4-2 and how we should use it, no we shouldn't, agaisnt top teams who play with 5 midfielders and even 6 we need to pack the midfield, playing 4-4-2 leaves us with spaces to exploit in the middle of the park, only use 4-4-2 if the other team is using it as well, but only as a last resort or as a tactical change. If Gastón RamÃrez plays then he'll play in the hole, as "number 10".
I think a 4-4-2 may work against West Brom, but I am not sure that we will play that way. I certainly think we need a deep lying midfielder to counter all their attacking midfielders such as Morrison and Dorrans who will shoot from range.
Davis is on the bench rather than Gazza because the most likely event of a sub goaly being needed is for a sending off which more often than not means a penalty to save and Davis is a proven penalty saver.
With all these fancy new formations that people throw about, I'm surprised no one mentions a nice old classic such as 5-3-2, particularly considering our shi-ite defence. ------------- Gazzaniga ----------------- Clyne - Hooiveld - Fonte - Yoshida - Fox ----- Lallana - Davis - Ramirez ------- -------- Lambert - Rodriguez ------------- And, the added bonus of no Puncheon!! Also, anyone who thinks the midfield is too lightweight, remember there are five defenders!! And for all those who can't possibly envisage a team without Schneiderlin, how about put him as sweeper insted of Hooiveld or Fonte?
personally if playing 5 in defence then I would play Cork in place of Jos as it offers more flexability. We need to start shoring up the defence somehow
If he plays at all, should Gaston be started then subbed to protect him or should he come on as a sub?
Blacky, the credibility for this team went the moment you left Morgan out. He's been our best and most consistent player this season. Mentioning him in parting at the end doesn't cut it for me. He must start.
