I actually completely forgot about Huddlestone! I didn't know about Dempsey being rested, just assumed he was injured so left him out. I'd put him in the squad over Vertonghen then, let the Belgian have a well deserved rest.
I'd like to see more of a 4-3-3 formation. Jake, THudd and Carroll would retain a lot of possession and Lennon the width. Dempsey seems pretty in tune with JD and can support him coming in off the left? Benny can provide width on the left? Friedel Naughton Gallas Caulker Assou-Ekotto Livermore Huddlestone Carroll Lennon Defoe Dempsey We can play the full first team in Switzerland, as we don't have a game on the weekend after.
Wow, no Bale. You seem to be thinking about a much more weakened side than I was, though I'm not sure it's a bad idea. I do think I'd rest Lennon, though. And while I'm not sure giving Gallas or even Dempsey another start is a terrible idea, I wouldn't go for Huddlestone. No doubt I'd rather have a win against Everton than a win against Basel, though. I know I wouldn't want to be AVB right now. No matter what he does he's going to get a lot of flak.
I know we should treat Everton with caution, but I can't help think that with Fellaini and Pienaar banned, there's slightly less worry.
I would be trying to give Holtby some serious game time and this match seems like a perfect opportunity!! And cannot see Hudd suddenly reappearing for this game not having featured for so long.
I don't think that Villas-Boas will make as many changes as have been suggested (by me, for example), but he does need to make some. I think Walker's suspended, so the full-backs pretty much pick themselves, but he'll probably only make a couple of other tweeks.
I'd added that caveat and then taken it out, partly because he'll get a lot of flack beforehand, and partly because, fans being what they are (though not the ones on Not606, of course!), they'll hold his choices against him even if they work, on the simple grounds that they disagreed with them.
It's game over for huddlestone, he hasn't featured in ages. He's ridiculously short of match practice so he's not even worth putting in a hypothetical line up for debate on here. As I'd like to see us win this competition, I'd go for the following: Friedel Naughton Gallas Caulker Benny Dembele Carroll Lennon Holtby Sig Bale Parker needs a rest IMO and Holtby actually needs to play in his preferred position. He's also a "worker" so I feel centrally he and Dembele will help young Tom Carroll. Dembele is a strong player, who perhaps could be replaced by Livermore if the game is looking comfortable. (dare I use that work when spurs are involved). It'd be interesting to see how Livermore links up with 2 out of the 3 central players I've mentioned. He's always alongside Parker which doesn't work IMO. As you're all aware, I'm close to writing off Livermore as we move forward, but it's only fair he gets some game time with a different name or 2 alongside him. Bale could also make way for Defoe or Ade after a period of time. As I mentioned, I'd like us to win this, so my team might be stronger than some of you have suggested. For this reason, Dempsey would be no where near the starting line up. Like Livermore, he'd be an option if we're winning. Starting him is completely pointless, IMO.
Our Europa league threads are a bit quiet, aren't they? I guess it's often down to knowing very little about the other club so not much to discus in terms of their line up or how we should play against them. Anyway we know a bit more about who's out now and with Carroll joining the injury list it's narrowing the changes we can make in midfield somewhat. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8615279 AVB unsurprisingly is targeting a win with a cleansheet and I think we can expect a degree of rotation with a few big players risked, more than I'd want anyway. I now think it will be Lloris; Naughton, Gallas, Jan, Benny; Huddlestone, Dembele; Dempsey, Bale, Sigurdsson; Ade. I hope I'm wrong though, Bale needs to be wrapped in cotton wool until our strikers start looking like they can score goals too.
the loss of carroll is disappointing. I was hoping he'd get some decent game time and allow us to partially rest Dembele, whilst having another creative option on the pitch. You're right YV, there isn't a great deal of choice and our tactical options are limited, if we wish to rest players that is. I could see it being: friedel naughton gallas caulker benny livermore holtby lennon bale dempsey Ade As i said before, I think we can almost write off seeing Huddlestone. He hasn't featured in ages, there's no way AVB is going to bring him back to start a EL qtr final. He's taking this competition quite seriously.
It's not just the Europa threads which are quiet YV, it seems as if ticket sales for this game have been slow. I guess the reality is this tournament doesn't really excite a lot of people plus money is tight.
True, this season has probably seen the most noticable change in the stands and I think we've seen the costs reach the tipping point, where sell outs become rare and the atmosphere suffers too. It's a shame as we've probably had better value for money this season in the Europa League than any other season with stronger sides being put out and against strong, big name opposition and some good games(at home at least). As much as costs have played a part, I agree that there's a lack of enthusiasm for the tournament and that's probably played the biggest part in it. It wasn't even that long ago that there was a real buzz around the club after getting back into Europe and there were several great nights in the UEFA Cup at WHL but when you bastardise the tournament to the extent that it's litterally unrecognisable as the name is even changed then it takes the shine away from what's still a decent tournament. As much as I prefer us to play teams elsewhere in Europe, it would be interesting to see what happened if we got past Basel and got Chelsea in the semis. I expect that would wake our fans up and get the interest going
The place will fill up for virtually all league games and they'll just have to drop the price to a sensible level for unfashionable cup ties. They should be doing that anyway, as it's the most sensible way to attract the next generation of fans. People just can't afford to take their kids to games nowdays.
Making this the '2nd Chance' Tournament has gone a long way to lowering the status of the EL in my opinion. CL rejects entering the fray mid-tournament does nothing to help maintain the cups own identity. And I agree the cash aspect cannot be discounted either.
Danger men are striker Marko Strellar, been around a while, 31 I think, but is having good season, 16 goals and at 6ft 5in, a handful in the air!...oh great! Valentin Stocker chips in with a few from MF. They've played mainly with Streller and Frei as a front two, so I assume 442 or similar, but Frei is leaving now. Anyway, found this match report and the scoreline doesn't reflect the game oddly... Edit - wrong game!
I can only find one in German, the translation is funny to read, its like a Two Ronnies sketch! no idea how they played, just that they pissed it! Before 17 '000 spectators in the sold out Swissporarena the FC Basel 1893 was able to expand Lucerne at the Easter Monday in the game against the FC its table leadership. The FCB dominated the game from the beginning and celebrated deservedly a 4:0 (1:0)-Sieg. In the first half-time, Geoffroy Serey encountered that into the gate, in the second increased Marcelo Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Philipp sword to the 4:0-Endstand. For the first time, the strongly deploying FCB remained therewith under Murat Yakin in an away game in the championship without against gate. Further it goes for the Basler-quarterfinal in London against Tottenham Hotspur FC (21.05 clock, live SRF information) at the coming Thursday with the Europe-League. Home in the St. Jakob park had to accept the FCB under Murat Yakin never an against gate. Abroad the situation in the championship exactly was reversed; the FCB to zero in a strange stadium never played. That changed with the 4:0-Erfolg in the Swissporarena now. Although it in this discussionless abroad victory an against gate cannot probably also would have bring out of the draft. The Basler entrance was to dominant – especially in the second half. At the end resulted, is this only as an incidental remark, 60 percent ball possession for the Basler and, this much more important, a 4:0-Sieg. The FCB made the game of start away and possessed already in the star quarter of an hour a multitude of chances, failed however also due to the well playing Luzerner goalkeeper David Zibung. This defended first a direct removal Marco Strellers and rescues demand end shortly on that Mohamed Salah against that alone on it. After a good half hour, however also Zibung was impotent: A breadth passport played itself Valentin canes along the punishment room line, Geoffroy Serey the erlief this and encountered directly corner in that lower left. Trainer Murat Yakin was done of the achievement of its team: "it a dominant and concentrated achievement of the first second was on. I hope, go on can that we this rhythm". Also Lucerne trainer Ryszard Komornicki saw that so and congratulated the FCB to its strong achievement. It remained had appeared it also almost nothing other, to dominant the Basler at this Easter Monday afternoon. The 1:0 for the guests fell calculated into the phase when the interior Swiss was able to free herself shortly of the pressure of the FCB. And fell therewith to a good moment for the guests. Two shots at the gate border In the second half, the Basler let arise then quite no more doubt, who will win these three points. Aleksandar Dragovic encountered practically was decided in the first Basler conclusion in the second 45 minutes to be sure only the post, when however Marcelo Diaz only little later on 2:0 increased the game, played to strongly the FCB. The wage for that was a 4:0-Erfolg that also in this height its authorization had. Not only because Diaz in the first half had encountered also once the slat, but rather also, there in the second run only a team played – and that was the FCB. In the 3:0 Salahs and in the 4:0 of sword, the Luzerner resistance was limited then also. Seemed almost so as would have this abandoned itself. And the FCB optimally was able to exploit that and was able to do another thing for its gate ratio. The good goal difference had been until there yes the base for the table leadership of the red blue. After the defeat of the Grasshoppers on Saturday in Thun the FCB will lie now however also point moderate before the residents of Zurich. The three points advantage are a calming cushion for the coming severe weeks. Course training and departure The first of three away games innert seven days successfully was able to form the FCB therefore. The program plans now an easy course training on Tuesday before the team will take leave toward London at the Wednesday morning. Where it will go on on Thursday with the Europe-League-quarterfinal against Tottenham Hotspur. There it counts to go on the rhythm addressed by Yakin and to put the base for a further severe program in this spring. (Caspar Marti) The telegram: .
