Thats exactly what I said, you can lose this game, you only have to get your 3pts v disrupted Everton at home. The toffees are at home to Wet Spam first, 3 points there and Pool can't catch them. Pool are away to Fulham, and if they don't get 3 there they can't catch Everton.
He was injured last week but was 50/50 to be available this. Probably not worth putting him in for one game as he hasn't had any game time recently, even with Parker being so poor last night.
I'm a bit "meh" on Livermore and i'm totally over Parker. If Dembele is fit then i say stick Holtby in along side him. If Dembele isn't fit then have Holtby and Carroll. Neither are known for their defensiveness but they'll work their arses off. Plus, we need to win.
we need creativity against stoke, as well as some brute force. Holtby or Carroll for me. Livermore offers us nothing and there's other "strong" players who can play, such as Caulker.
Play Caulker at the back and move Verts fwd into MF? Give us more creativity than Parker or Livermore and more presence than Carroll against a side like Stoke??
Play Caulker at the back and move Verts fwd into MF? Give us more creativity than Parker or Livermore and more presence than Carroll against a side like Stoke??
could be an option Relayer. Verts looks comfortable in MF. on a side note... these double posts are doing my head in! I'm sick of all this "Leave page" bullshit. might have to start using JA606.
I like playing Carroll and Holtby. I'd picked them for the Chelsea game as well. At least we know they'll work their asses off, and Carroll's been good at playmaking on the few chances he's been given. I've thought for a long time that Jan has it in him to be an excellent DM, but I'm not at all sure he can or should just step in there now, with little or no practice. I'd rather have healthy players, though, so that means playing him there, or starting Parker, Dempsey, Huddlestone or both Ade and Defoe. Walker Caulker Dawson Beni Carroll Jan Gylfi Bale Holtby Ade Huddlestone in at 60 minutes if we're tied or behind. Cheers, THFC!
Given Assou-Ekotto's performance against Chelsea and Stoke's aerial presence, we might see Vertonghen in at left-back for this one. Caulker's probably going out of his mind on the bench, too.
hmm good point. we might end up seeing something like this then lloris walker caulker daws verts huddlestone holtby bale dempsey sig ade/defoe
As far as i'm concerned Bale can play left, right or central with almost equal success. So i'd look at which part of the stoke defence is weakest. I don't think its their CBs. I have no idea about LB/RB. I'd put Bale up against the perceived weakest one from the start. It'll either work early with goal(s) or we could end up against 10 a bit later.
I agree but you know what you are going to get with Everton, they will come and park the bus/play for a 0-1. It will definitely be a tight game even with the disruption. Everton lose very few games. At least with Villa we know they will be open.
I suppose I seem derogatory to Everton, not at all, a stark reality check has slapped them in the face the last two days, it will have sunk in by then, players will have talked, some will leave, thats inevitable, so that unity will not be the same. They'll be a lot of bluster and lip service saying they won't be affected, be professional blah blah, but deep down can't see the heart being in it for some. They are by Moyes own words, an ageing squad that needs some work...he's not wrong!
They will probably be playing for a new contract somewhere, so a (very) good game for one last effort this season. Villa are finally playing well, so could be a potential banana skin.
In addition to the points I want revenge for that match at Stoke which was IMHO the worst set of refereeing decisions there's ever been in a PL match.
Indeed, so many **** decisions. Woodgate (playing for Stoke) booting it out, the ref giving a goal kick (to stoke) sticks in my mind. Even woodgate looked confused.
