No messages from Kit today since presumably all his talking to the press was done after the Leeds game. He’ll bring in Amrebieta for Stafylidis at left back mainly because he has so few options in midfield that he can’t afford to pt Kavanagh there. Personally, I’d just as rather have ’that pigeon’ who did so well for Derby as left back but as I said Kit’s choices are so limited. Parker has to be a question mark and as Kit himself said, “ideally he would have come off after 70mins. [against Leeds]. I think Kit will let his heart rule on this one though and he'll play in a flat four in the middle as per Sheffield Wednesday - to start with at least. Up front, McCormack will be out. Smith had a bad day at the office on Wednesday with only 2 of his 13 shots being on target (and limp ones they were). However nobody in living memory has had that many attempts so he must stay. Even if in the hope that something will go his way tomorrow. So, who to partner him with? With so little creativity in our midfield I reckon Bryan will get the nod over Woodrow and the ‘threat’ of Hugo returning. My starting line-up, that is the one I think Kit will go for, is: ………………..Bettinelli………….. ..Richards…Turner…Hutchinson….Amorebieta.. ….Tunnicliffe..Hoogland..Parker..Kavanagh.. ………………….Ruiz….… ………………..Smith……… That then gives him the opportunity to change the system and/or replace tiring players (Parker) with Fofana and Woodrow.
Think I'd go with ………………..Bettinelli………….. ..Richards…Turner…Burn….Amorebieta.. …........Hoogland..Parker..Kavanagh.. ………………….Ruiz….… …………Woodrow……..Smith………
Funny that I wouldn't disagree with either selection of players but find it remarkable how much better we would look if we went with the same group of players just in a different formation. If we went with the wingback system that SuperBri and a few more of us haver been advocating recently we could set up like: -------------------------Bettinelli-------------------------- -------Hutchinson------Turner--------Amore--------- Richards--------------------------------------Kavanagh ----------Hoogland-----Parker----Tunnicliffe-------- ----------------------------Ruiz--------------------------- ---------------------------Smith--------------------------- Or -------------------------Bettinelli-------------------------- -------Hutchinson------Turner--------Amore--------- Richards--------------------------------------Kavanagh -------------Hoogland-----------Parker----------------- ----------------------------Ruiz---------------------------- ---------------Woodrow--------Smith------------------- Same players but with the ability to get crosses in for Smith and still have cover at the back. Hopefully Amorebieta will be sharper than he was against Bournemouth (funnily enough if Amorebieta was playing instead of Staf against Leeds I don't think their striker gets to the cross for the first goal). I think Amore's best position is left side of a back three but we'll never know. If Dembele is fit then I think he'd be a good partner for Smith. I was going to say anyone but Hugo but I'd be tempted to see how Hugo would do when he's not the target man, he's been so poor lately because we were trying to lump balls up to him that he was never going to win. Perhaps he has the positional awareness to take advantage of knock downs and pace to get to flick ons?
Don't think he will make any changes beyond the ones he has to, expect Hugo for Ross and Amo for Staf.
Bettinelli, Grimmer, Hutchinson, Turner, Richards, Hoogland, Tunnicliffe, Kavanagh, Kacaniklic, Smith, Woodrow. Very strange selection. Not sure who plays left back. Possibly: ---------------------Bettinelli-------------------------- Grimmer------Hutch-----Turner-------Richards --------------------Tunnicliffe------------------------ ------Hoogland--------------------Kavanagh----- --------------------Kacaniklic------------------------ -------------Woodrow--------Smith---------------- Subs: Kiraly, Fofana, Bodurov, Roberts, Rodallega, Burn, Donnelly. So arguably 3 right backs in the starting 11 and one on the bench?
Squad looking pretty paper thin. Just wondering if Richards or Grimmer plays in midfield and Kavanagh at LB. The three centre backs on the bench looks odd. I don't think this is going to be pretty. The best I can say is that these are XI honest players who'll give it 100% and hopefully scrape together a result.
We score after 2 minutes and defend for 88. We don't even have enough pace to counter. This can't end well.
I agree but will help if we can go 1 Nil up at half time it will help a lot. Could be a reverse of Wednesday night.
You seem to have nailed it, somewhat. Not sure how I feel seeing us going into games in Championship with the idea of getting ahead and then defending for our lives. It's one thing in the Premier League, its quite another against Huddersfield. Anyway, three points is three points. Well done to the lads.
Earlier Brenford got 2 late goals to draw with Milwall and Sheffield Wednesday have just scored 2 in injury time to beat Rotherham. Good results all round.
Wednesday: #FFC 27 shots, only 7 on target – woeful waste. #LUFC benefit. Saturday: #HTAFC 31 shots, only 13 on target – woeful waste. #FFC benefit.
Indeed, especially if you add in the Wigan v Bolton draw. Now 8pts clear and 2pts off 16th. But boy was it stressful though. No doubt who was MOTM - eh, what Cookie - please log in to view this image
That was a bizzare game, came away from the ground laughing, couldn't believe it. It had a bit of everything. Goal direct from a corner, two missed penalties, sending off the wrong player, both team hitting the post and missing open goals. Break away goal at the end after our goal had been peppered. Bettinelli did well on some things like the penalty, turning a few shots onto the post, but was a nightmare on other things, I thought he caught the ball outside his box in the first half and was lucky not to get sent off. Other times it was like the ball was a bar of soap.
Just had a look at some short highlights, I don't know how we came out of that with a clean sheet. Betts is undoubtedly a good shot stopper, it's crosses and his general organisational ability that concerns me more. Glad to see Seko get a goal, he's been getting himself in good positions and running beyond the attack for a little while. I'd quite like us to get him permanently, it would give us good options in the centre for next year (along with Hyndman and LVC) and if we could bring in one more DM who plays the enforcer role our midfield, should in theory, be a strong area next season. Haven't seen a good angle on the handball, is it cut and dried? It looked like it hit his shoulder in the replay I saw. Good to get the points and should let us start looking forward a bit. I'm in favour of moving Kit on now, giving Curbs an interim role and getting some game time to our younger players who we want to feature next season, Roberts expecially - I really don't know what happened to him this season, he's not had a sniff.
