Sounds like three changes; ....................Westwood.................. Celuskta....Diakite....Oshea.....Colback ..................Gardner.. Ki..................... ..Johnson.......Fletcher.....Giaccherini.. .......................Altidore......................... Every time I see it I think that should be a team pushing up from mid table not languishing near the bottom. Saturday is huge for our season, win and it could be the spark we've needed, lose and we could be looking at 1 point from 7 games with Liverpool and Man Utd coming to town.
I'm not sure we will get the best out of Fletcher playing in a deeper withdrawn role personally. He is most effective in the box. He doesn't have the pace to get from deep position to striker IMO.
That for formation can drop to a straight 4-4-2 so if we are on.the front foot he's effectlively pairing Altidore
After seeing SSN and comments regarding Cattermole my team would be.. Westwood Celuskta O'Shea Brown Colback Cattermole Ki Johnson Giacherrini Altidore Fletcher
This I would go with too. If Brown is fit enough of course. If not then Diakite plays. Saturdays game is not about containment it's about chucking the kitchen sink about. It's a very winnable game against a struggling WBA and a win will boost our confidence into the next 3 or 4 difficult games.
Swap Fletch for Altidore, Fletch is great closer to goal, Altidore good for running at & through defenders
Perfect mate. We know what Paolo is like, Fletch and Jozy will also line up straight an switch and swap, much like AJ and Giacc, not saying I would, especially AJ and Giacc but Paolo likes to. Looks spot on mate. Will be there abouts I reckon.
As much as we are saying this is a game we are eyeing up for the win, it is still an away game and WBA will be thinking the exact same things/
No doubt but im hoping they are feeling the pressure with them being the home team. I understand the throw the kitchen sink at them in a way, but I think our key to victory is keeping them quiet and nicking a goal later in the match. If we score too early it'll like Southampton all over again, if thy score first, sorry to say it but I seriously worry for our season,.knife edge stuff.
With Cest on this Fletcher is much better up top as the main striker, I would put in Altidore just behind and they can swap if necessary. Got a feeling Borini will get on again for Fletcher (fitness), and we can go for the old big un little un front pairing. Hopefully Altidore gets his goal this week, would like Borini to get one as well, oh and Fletcher and Ki and Giacharinni. Not an easy game this one but, I reckon we should get at them after a tense 20 minutes then see if we do finally click.
Brown (if fit) in for Diakite. Catts (if fit) in for Gardner. Swap Altidore & Fletcher. Borini impact sub? Those are my initial thoughts.
I agree but I think that's the "old management" way of thinking that a lot of us on here have Bri - Left footer on the left wing and Right Footer on the right wing - nowadays it's the other way around - but what I would like to see is them start like that and swap over from time to time to give whoever is marking them something else to think about. Just an opinion like!!
Catts if fit instead of Gardener and I'd play Mavarias instead of Giac as IMO he played well against the Gooners and deserves to keep his place! Swap Jozy for Fletch! Leave O'Shea on the bench thought Diateke and Roberg did well against the Gooners and could form a good partnership especially with Catts in front of them!
If you think back to the Arsenal game it was Fletcher going to win the headers from keepers kick and Altidore looking to get onto the flick ons. I think he can make that position his own and he'll still get in the box plenty
Fletcher is a bloody good and very intelligent player so perhaps a slightly deeper position would suit him better - and as a natural forward he will get himself into the box - unlike when you play a natural midfielder in that position (or - in short - what you said!!)
My thoughts exactly, just look at his goal vs Palace, started the move then got into the box and got on the end of the cross.
