I don't know what game you lads were watching but I thought he played well and I'd keep him in for Monday night. We kept a clean sheet at Wigan FFS yet people want to tinker with the back four and put a kid in for a big pressure game??? No fellas, we go with the same back four and possibly the same midfield IMO.
Good point - although difficult for me to comment as I wasn't there. Can see Benayoun coming in on the right and Traore starting on the left - Hoilett and Krancjar on as subs.
Exactly what I was thinking. I think Krancjar would be more influential. I am not convinced by Morrison. I think we would have more of a grip of the game by playing Krancjar.
I think they will both play but not at the same time. The question is who starts and who will be the sub. It should depend on the tactics. Push for an esrly goal and then play on the break. Or, have a sound and solid start and then push for a late goal. I admit that for me it would not be an easy decision. Much also depends on the attitude and behaviour of Ravel. He was clearly upset when subbed in Wigan, and should he start on the bench, would he come on ultra motivated to prove a point, or not.
I can't believe people are suggesting that Morrison should be left out of the starting line-up. Sure, he didn't do much on Friday and was rightly subbed, but he's easily the best player available to us and, other than Krancjar perhaps, the only one with the ability to create something out of nothing.
If it was between Morrison and Krancjar to start, I would go with Krancjar. Krancjar contributes more IMO in general play. A compromise is to give Morrison the first half and if he is not on song, bring on Krancjar.
I think I would be inclined to stick with Morrison to start, with the option to bring on Kranjcar. This game could go to extra time and having Kranjcar available would allow us to change the game if our starting tactics haven't worked. Also he would be fresh and able to influence more coming on later, with tired legs around him and possible bookings helping too. It's the decision of who plays with Barton that could also be influential - and I'm still torn on the options tbh.
Yep...........funnily enough we're all pretty much in agreement that it's a difficult one to get right. I agree with Swords that it is a big game to throw Yun into, although I don't agree that Dunne played well. If he plays Barton and Carroll together, I fear the worst!
Even though Hoilett was our biggest threat going forward on Friday? I'd start Traore and Hoilett, but on their correct flanks! O'Neill and Barton holding, with either Morrison or Kranjcar in front of them.
I do wonder about Morrison, he certainly got the sulks when he was subbed and if he doesn't start on Monday he will probably be even worse. Not a good atmosphere for such an important game...
He's been a liability for a long time alright but I can see Redknapp's rationale. He's experienced and I think he played okay the other night and helped us earn a clean sheet. Remember the Wigan player running through on goal in the second half and how Dunne gave him about 10 yards and then just gradually closed the angle to snuff out the danger? Its Redknapp's fault though that he's knackered. There's no way his legs were ever going to hold out for a 46 game season. He was flogged half to death and now he's even slower than usual as a result. Hoilett played well the other night IMO. The couple of chances we did fashion in the first half were down to his good work on the left. There's no way I'd drop him Monday night.
Give him until HT, he was a complete passenger and didnt look interested at all, it wasnt as if he was trying stuff and just being unlucky.
Like this, Nines. And Hoilett brought on in the second half has been a great asset against tired legs in recent games.
--------------Green-------------- Simpson --Onuoha---Hill-----Yun--- -------- Barton-------O'Neil-------- Hoillet-------Krancjar------Traore --------------- Austin---------------
I considered this team based upon O'Neals performance last Friday and would not be upset. But I cannot see Harry dropping Carrol for the home match.
The analysis of Clives from LFW (copied below) I think well summarises our team selction dimemna: "After springing surprises with shape and personnel on Friday night at Wigan, God only knows what Harry Redknapp and his tombola machine will churn out for this home leg. Let’s try again with what we definitely know – Rob Green, Danny Simpson, Joey Barton and Charlie Austin will all definitely start. Ravel Morrison should do as well, although his anonymous performance (admittedly in a very defensive set up ill-suited to his game) and tetchy reaction to being substituted on Friday could have opened the door for Niko Kranjcar or Yossi Benayoun – a real surprise that neither he nor Bobby Zamora were even on the bench on Friday night. Clint Hill has avoided retrospective action for his elbow on Rob Kiernan early in the first-leg so I’d expect the back four to stay the same, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto bombed out altogether for now. Barton will be partnered by one of Karl henry, Gary O’Neil or Little Tom Carroll. Matt Phillips, Ale Faurlin and Jermaine Jenas are the long term absentees." ...in short, there is no other option but to wait and see. Not long to go and I don't think my mind will be fully focused on work today.
Without having even kicked a ball our chances of winning the playoffs have increased significantly since last night. How? Well, before Brighton were sunk each team had a 25% chance of winning the competition, but now that there's only 3 teams left our chances have rocketed to 33 1/3%, so that's surely something to be pleased about!...
