We shouldn't need 3 out and out strikers, although yes rickie is dropping back and acting as playmaker/striker. I think either stick with the same team or gaston to start with Jrod dropped, coming on at 60 against a (hopefully) knackered defence. I don't mind palace but obviously can't stand that t**t Holloway, looking forward to his post match interview!
Because he's a player who tries to find space between the lines and either shoot competently from range (which no-one else seems willing or able to do), play passes between clustered defenders, or embark on dangerous runs with the ball, rather than pass benignly side-to-side. We don't really have another player like him and it is puzzling that when the situation is crying out for a creative player like him (in both our home games so far when teams have basically parked the bus) he isn't used. I don't think it's a coincidence that we are yet to score a league goal from open play.
Ian Holloway wants rope-a-dope style and calls on players to fight like Muhammad Ali: http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/8944158/holloway-wanting-rope-a-dope-style
As in lean back on the ropes, absorb the beating and catch us on the break when we're knackered? Just like every crap team who comes to st Mary's!
They're probably the weakest team in the league on paper so it's a sound strategy. If they went out looking to dominate games they would probably lose 9/10 of them.
I like the way he said when they were promoted that palace were "On a hiding to nothing next year". Covering himself for the (almost) inevitable.
Same team. Gaston has done nothing to oust anyone from the current 11 and is behind Davis on that count too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24292951 Well, from this view I'd certainly say no, not this time, but I don't know whether they went to different venues. I actually don't know where this snippet has taken place. That skyscraper and the block of flats beside it don't look familiar.
Just thought - unless they've upgraded Redbridge Towers..? I'm clutching at straws here. There are flats surrounding the Towers and Redbridge School had a running track, I think. That's the best I can do.
You don't gain momentum by breaking up a winning team and I expect to see the same starting XI, but I can see Gaston playing a role at some point in the match, especially if the scoreline is tight. I reckon we will eventually win 2-0 but may well get a bit frustrated by Holloway's tactics.
To be fair, top teams can change one quality player for another quality player. We do not have that kind of strength of squad so an unchanged team makes total sense to me
