OK no Dani and assuming still no Vic or Boruc. Otherwise hopefully injury free. Who should we start with? Think the defence picks itself and Rickie has to be up top so the only question for me is in midfield do we start with Gaston JWP or Davis? I'll go with Kelvin Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Cork Morgan Jrod Davis Adam Rickie Subs Gazza Chambers Maya Reed JWP Gaston Gallager Thoughts?
-----------------Boruc/Davis-------------- ----Clyne----Fonte-----Lovren--------Shaw--- -------------Cork-----Schneiderlin----------- -----Lallana-------Davis-------Rodriguez----- -----------------Lambert------------------- Subs: Davis/Gazzaniga, Chambers, Yoshida, JWP, Ramirez, Reed, Gallagher
The same as Lamballana then, eh Tom? Looks about right. If they are unhappy with Shaw's knock, then if happily switch Clyne over and play Chambers. Seems tough on young chambers as he has been very good, but I would bring Clyne back.
Yeah apart from keeper. Boruc must be close to returning now. If he does miss Saturday it should be the last game he misses.
Until Victor, Ozzy and Boruc return, I think the team pretty much picks itself…with you Lamballa
Agree with everyone else, pretty straight forward at the moment. Hope Boruc returns soon and is back to his usual self straight away!
Think I'd actually play Chambers right and Clyne left, and drop Shaw. He's not doing enough at the moment to keep both of them out of the side.
Yes, with you on that. Chambers had been excellent, and Clyne us more than capable at left back. Needs fitness too.
No sorry. Clyne is nowhere near as effective going forward down the left as he is down the right. He keeps checking back on to his right foot. Clyne has got to be right back when Shaw is fit.
Some time ago on a long lost thread I saw someone suggesting that Chambers could play right midfield, ahead of Clyne. Maybe not yet, but I could see it work in the future.
I think Shaw should do more going forward. He makes a few surging runs in a game, but i think we should expect much more because his ability is obvious. Chambers is at it all the time on the other flank, he seems more industrious and I like it a lot.
I think Clyne has the more obvious qualities to advance his role to a midfield/wing - better at going past people and with greater pace. Chambers quality is in his solidity and physicality, so for me fits the defensive duty better (should we ever decide to go down that route).
I appreciate peoples thinking but considering we are in the middle of the January Transfer Season, I think dropping Luke is a little shortsighted. However, I do like the idea of moving Clyny into wide right midfield but who would you drop to bring him in?
Shaws lack of forward running has been in the last 6 games or so, which is the same time that we have had an unsettled back 4. Lovren is the man that covers for Shaw and Vic covers the middle, yet Jos has been playing on the left. Can you blame Shaw for not wanting to push up leaving the left hand side in the capable hands of Jos. Against Chelsea Lovren was out of sorts, but he did get headbutted in the face within the first 5 minutes so I´m letting that one slip.
I think in time Chambers might be able to play right back/right midfield and even cover for right centre back and as a central defensive midfielder. He has pace, skill and at 6 feet tall is not too shabby in the air.. Just give him another year or two to 'grow into his body' and he might be the best of the young bunch..
I agree that Shaw hasn't been quite up to scratch, but I think we're in the unfortunate position where no one else is challenging for his position. Clyne can defend just as well on the left but is limited going forward. Either Targett becomes a good second choice soon, or we buy someone to be. At the moment I think Shaw just has to keep playing regardless of form.
Seems to be a consensus that Clyne is limited going forward on the left side. Maybe he is better on the right, but comparing him to Shaw in the Chelsea game he was a lot more effective than Shaw was, and has always looked effective when playing on the left before. Out of the the options we have (Chambers right, Clyne left, Clyne right, Shaw left) Shaw is currently the least effective in an attacking sense. I appreciate Shaw is a good player with the potential to be very good, but right now he's in pretty mediocre form. No player should be un-droppable and right now I don't think his form justifies keeping Chambers or Clyne out of the team.
