We miss Diame more than we would any other player IMO, Meyler and Livermore are just far too inconsistent. A draw would be a good result but if we had Mo I would have been backing us for a win.
Yeah he's definitely the missing link in our central midfield, if he'd not succumbed to injury we'd probably not have signed N'Doye as I believe we'd have struggled through, but with both of those players are in our first eleven I could see a top ten finish being realistically achieveable.
Interesting point on Elmo Chazz. I've not seen anyone "nullify" Elmo on those long kick outs from Greegsy. The game that sticks in my mind where he won every header was the Cup Final where he beat Gibbs to every ball but we had no one to run on to them until they put two defenders on him in the second half. I'll be watching Pieters tomorrow. Strange though that Elmo doesnt score more from corners. I expect Bruce will stay with the same starting line up. Cant see him sitting out Jelavic after a weeks rest. We need Meyler in MF to make those runs forward which he did frequently last week, while Jake and Hudd lay back . I'll be happy with a draw just as long as Stoke dont score in the last minute again as they did at the KC.
Was hoping Pieters wouldn't play, went off with a nasty looking injury at the end of their game against Villa but haven't heard anything since so I guess he's alright.
Plus they don't have Bojan - who was playing well. Press them and break with pace - 2 up top Jelavić and N'Doye for the win.
Anyone in Canada/US got a stream for this one as this is one of the few weeks that we're not on the regular TV channels over here. I used to use Wiziwig but they shut down on January 1st. Any help appreciated.
Just a little reminder to some of our more poodling fans. These are our players and they have things going on that can affect their performances. Well done Robbie. Hope she's ok. My daughter had the similar thing a few weeks ago and it scares the **** out of you. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-year-old-daughter-s-hospital-bed-Dublin.html Hull City's Robbie Brady set up Dame N'Doye's winner against Queens Park Rangers just 24 hours after leaving his one-year-old daughter's hospital bed in Dublin
Didn't know Bobby had a daughter. I thought Bob had a good game regardless of setting up the winner or not, now I'm even more impressed.
I like how the caption for the picture of the goal tells you which player scored it (in case you were unsure). Either that or we'll get another couple of years out of him.
Heading up to Stoke now, buzzing for the game! I haven't really got a good feeling about the outcome tho. My away record is great tho, only seen 1 loss in 10 away games or so, bloody Leicester away 3 seasons or so ago....
Im going for 1-1. I can see there being an unchanged side. Personally I would swap Bruce jnr for Davies. The only reason for this is when playing Stoke it is like playing the land of the giants. Davies has more height and we need to combat Crouch. I would also swap Livermore with Ramirez who gave us a more attacking option. But I think SB will go for a more defensive set up and possibly prefer Livermore for that.So what do I know? Rely on our manager, he will get us a point (or three)
That old chestnut - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - troubles me a tad. Same side/ same line-up. But against a team playing a pretty different style of football? Could it be a mistake (i.e. - horses for courses)?
I've seen enough to never want to see Dawson and Davies on the same pitch, seperately yes, together no. Same team for me, but maybe Quinn or Ramirez for Meyler if he's having an off day.
Crouch was on the bench last game, not saying he wont play today, but Diouf and Moses may be the preferred options.
Totally disagree. The main cure to our defensive problems has been achieved by swapping Davies with Bruce. To reverse that now would be madness. Also height doesn't change Davies form.
I'm saying 2-1 city. Micky Phelan will come off the bench and score a bullet header from his own cross. Then he'll save a penalty.