So who should we play? Personally I would give Reeves, JWP and some of the other youngsters a run out? We can't afford any injuies before Villa. Views?
Gazzaniga Richardson Yoshida Hooiveld Fox JWP Cork Puncheon Reeves Lee Rodriguez Subs: K.Davis, Stephens, Chambers, Hoskins, Sinclair, Isgrove, De Ridder
Like you said, we can't afford any injuries. On the other hand our players haven't performed so well lately after they have had a break from games, so maybe it is best to keep them ticking over. Chelsea are going to put out a strong side, and I don't want to see a side of our reserves taking another battering a la Leeds. Being a realist I could see the goal tally reaching double digits if we put out the same team we did at Elland rd, and I don't think that would be good for anyone at the club.
Boruc must stay in goal, that should give him the confidence he needs to stop making stupid mistakes and get back to being a great keeper. Rest more important players and give the youngsters a go. The cup shouldn't matter at all, prem safety is all i care about
Boruc- think he needs a run of games if he is going to now be our number 1 Richardson Hooiveld Yoshida Fox JWP Davis Chaplow Guly Reeves Rodriguez Subs: Gazza, De Ridder, Lee, Fonte, Chambers, Ramirez, Cork.
Youngsters and reserves for me, De Ridder has to start as he has given his all both times he's been on as a sub of late.
I'd go with: Boruc; Richardson, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fox; Ward-Prowse, Davis; Mayuka, do Prado, De Ridder; Rodriguez.
I'd agree with most of these line-ups, especially DTLW's except I'd keep Fonte in the side instead of Yoshida. I think Yoshida has shown earlier in the season to be a bit more vulnerable and his confidence was very down and only really once we'd strung a few results together did he settle down and look comfortable. For that reason I wouldn't really want to expose him to a possible battering, I think Fonte would be able to take it in his stride a lot better and of course he and Hooiveld are the more experienced partnership whereas I don't believe Yoshida and Hooiveld have played together at centreback. Hopefully Chelsea trot out the reserves, they've got a days less rest and then the League Cup Semi first leg three days later, then Stoke away three days after that. So out of the three I'd expect our game to be the one where Rafa rests players. Unless he wants to take a gamble against QPR and risk a huge loss.
Boruc needs to start. A bit of continuity with someone that is our most experienced and probably best keeper.
'I'm sorry but I wouldn't play any first teamer apart from Boruc. What is the point in playing Yoshida if he gets injured we are screwed.We only have 3 cb's as it is atm no point risking our first choice.
No need to be sorry Beefy. This thought did cross my mind too, however I'm not sure about throwing Stephens or Seaborne to the wolves.
Saints team: Boruc, Cork, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Shaw, Puncheon, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Guly, RamÃrez, Lambert
There won't be many opportunities to rotate the squad and quite frankly the cup is pretty low down our list of priorities. Chelsea are likely to rotate too, so we'll still have a chance of getting something. ---------------------------Boruc Richardson-----Stephens-----Hooiveld-----Fox ----------------------JWP-----Chaplow -------------------------Reeves Mayuka-------------------------------De Ridder -----------------------Rodriguez K.Davis, Fonte, Cork, S.Davis, Hoskins, Chambers, Lee
The only worry with playing Boruc behind a second choice team is that if he has to pick the ball out of the net 6 times, it won't help his confidence. We'd have to set up defensively, so I'd have something like; Boruc Yoshida Fonte Hooiveld Fox Cork Spiderman Guly Chaplow DeRidder Rodriguez
