We don't tend to deal well with teams that defend deep and maintain their organization; seems to take the urgency out of the attack, so I can see us with possession for long stretches without generating any meaningful chances. I'll feel much better about our chances if you start Holt as a lone striker, or Holt alongside Becchio...Kamara/Holt up front could mean danger, as we tend to get our fullbacks far up the pitch, and Holt's ability to win headers and hold up traffic alongside a powerful player like Kamara is the sort of thing we struggle with.
My Team: -------------------------Boruc------------------------- ----Clyne------Fonte(c)-------Yoshida------Shaw---- -----------------Cork---------Schneiderlin------------ -------Puncheon-----Rodriguez--------Ramirez------ -----------------------Lambert------------------------ Subs: K. Davis, Forren, Richardson, Ward-Prowse, S.Davis, Lallana, Mayuka. Yep, that's right I'm dropping Adam (even if fit)!!! It's tough choices for those '3' in front of Cork and Spider these days..... Lat
Is Fox injured, or should he won't even make the bench? I really think it's time for an appearance by Forren after 2 defeats and some avoidable goals in the last game. Think I would agree other than that.
Agree if he's fit BassettSaint, got the impression Forren may still be a couple of weeks away from a senior start though after the U21 game. Fox, in my opinion, is sadly in the top 5 worst defenders to have ever played in the Premier League. He wasn't even a great defender in the Championship, it's just that at that level his dead balls/crossing more than made up for his inability to defend at that level. This year though with added emphasis on defending I'm afraid he's been shown up big style. That's my first choice above, but if Shaw's not fit I'd play Clyne at LB and Richardson at RB. If that isn't available I'd put Targett in. If that's not an option I'd put Forren in at LB. If that's not an option I'd put Yoshida out there and Forren inside him. If that's not an option I'd put even put Yoshida out there, and Hooiveld inside him. That's 6 options that are clearly better than playing Fox. Controversial I know, but when you see a spade, you call it one ;-) Lat
May we even see young Omar Rowe on the bench is probably a more interesting question. How likely do people think that is? I'd say about 20-25% after that performance in the U21's. Just depends if any of Puncheon, Rodriguez, Ramirez, Lambert, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis, Lallana, or Mayuka are injured come match day for me, or even if he's now seen as being in front of Mayuka in the pecking order. He's definitely the 'next up' for me if we had an injury in any of the front 4 positions and had to shuffle the pack. Lat
I think Cameron Jerome might have something to do with that stat! Anyway Clattenburg got a lot of praise last week for the Tottenham v Arsenal game. Not sure whether Saints v Norwich is a "reward" for that though...
I'm going for most of the team that beat Man City but with Shaw and Fonte. I think the midfield flows better when Davis plays. Ramirez tries to play as if he is a great player and I feel his ambition is greater than his ability at the moment.
Yeah I think Clattenburg is one of the better refs to be fair. Let's hope I don't have to take that back this weekend!
Neither side gets many bookings so let's hope for a clean game with no dodgy decisions, unless they are in our favour of course!
It will certainly be interesting to see if Rowe has done enough to impress Poch, seeing as one of the reasons we brought him in is because of his youth philosophy. I'd like to see him on the bench for sure. Norwich are pretty good defensively and we often struggle to break teams down and lose the intensity in our attacking play if the opposition are organised and sit back. It would be good to have a quick and direct player on the bench to offer something different and if he can put some good deliveries in the box for Rickie to attack all the better.
Bit odd that Clattenburg gets both Saints v Norwich games this season. Oh well not complaining he is one of the better referees.
-------------------------Boruc------------------------- ----Clyne------Fonte------Yoshida------Shaw---- -----------------Cork---------Schneiderlin------------ -------Puncheon-----Davis--------Lallana------ -----------------------Lambert(c)------------------------ Subs: K. Davis, Forren, Richardson, Ward-Prowse, Ramirez, Lallana, Rodriguez, Hooiveld. Davis has to return for me. Lallana will also play better with Davis shoring up the midfield link. Puncheon and Lallana will play better with a centre mid that passes TO his own team. If Lallana is unfit then Rodriguez. Would also like the 2 'wingers' to swap over occasionally so that we aren't aspredictable. Think it's too early for Rowe although a few more good performances he may get a 'call up' next season. Fox to be put on definite gardening leave (pending transfer) would prefer any of the bench, come to think of it any of the youth, academy setup than fox Worried that it's going to be a close call with relegation. Worried that we are struggling to win games and not confident of this one v Norwich at all. therefore 1-3 to Saints
[/QUOTE] Hmmm, you have 8 subs and you have named Lallana in the starting line up and on the bench. I know he's good, but he can't be in 2 places at once!
I find it interesting that people think Rowe might have a chance on the back of the most recent U21 game; I think Pochettino has been aware of the U21 games when they aren't on TV and at St Mary's, just that people arenow aware of him, they think he deserves a place on the bench!
Lol, the dangers of using someone else's post and replacing things Lallana should be dropped from the bench (but still in my first 1 if fit) And before any Norwich fans do a QPR and start calling us all idiots, my prediction is more hopeful than thoughtful, don't want to predict a loss or draw.
Strange most people on here are letting Jos out of the team, even not on the bench...... Heard he was injured last week so no reasson to me to let him out now if he is fit enough to play. With him in the team we did get some points last weeks, first game without him was last saturday and you all know what was the result..
If it's a choice between Lallana and Gaston, then we have to go with Lallana. Based purely on what he's done for us this season and with no sentiment. Not sure he should remain captain though.
