On the topic of Bradders, Neil is quoted after the last friendly as saying Johnson was only played at LB because he is naturally left sided, and that he doesn't consider him an option there because "he won't get 15 goals for us from LB". Reading between the lines, that suggests to me Bradley will be used in a similar role to this season. The lack of competition on the left of our midfield helps too!
I think that's right, DH and I suspect that the starting line-up vs. Palace will be close to that against Boro in the final. Obviously may not be ready, so another solution will need to be found. It could be that Andreu is making a case for a start in place of Wes, but AN will have to decide that.
Thought I'd resurrect this thread. Seeing as Olsson is almost certainly going to be unavailable, and provided Jerome and Mulumbu are going to be fit, this is what I'd probably go with for the Palace game: Ruddy Wisdom - Martin - Bassong - Brady Tettey - Mulumbu Redmond - Hoolahan - Johnson Jerome
Yeah, barring injuries/fitness, I think the only two real question marks are whether: Howson will be preferred over Tettey or Mulumbu, or if Whittaker retains his place ahead of Wisdom.
Not bad JK, though I think Howson or Dorrans might well be preferred to Hoolahan and I suspect Grabban will be ahead of Jerome
Quite possibly. Personally I'd still choose Hoolahan, with Mulumbu and Tettey sitting deeper for some proper stability, which will hopefully allow Brady to get forward plenty to support Johnson on the left.
Well, as Mulumbu is out, I'd probably go with this: RuddyWisdom - Martin - Bassong - Brady Tettey - Dorrans Redmond - Hoolahan - Johnson Jerome
It is always a shame to leave out Howson, but if it was my decision I'd probably go for a more 'steady' presence in midfield next to Tettey, i.e. Dorrans. Then Wes can have plenty of freedom. If Jerome is fit enough, I'd pick him to start.
Still not sure what Dorrans is doing that is getting him ahead of any of Howson/Tettey/Johnson. Howson should always be in the team for me, Johnson is probably going to stay on the Left-ish. I'd like us to line up similar to vs Boro with Wes and Redmond playing off Jerome and Tettey, Howson and Johnson across the middle. Just Brady in for Olsson and maybe Wisdom for Whits as Palace's major threat is from Bolasie and Zaha.
Only changes I'd make to this line-up would be to swap Wisdom & Martin, put E. Bennett in for Redmond My subs would be Rudd, Grabban, Hooper, Ofoe, Redmond, R.Bennett, Andreu
AN might prefer the experience of Whittaker, as Wisdom is still very new, but it's a fair point about having to counter the pace of Zaha and Bolasie. I can also see Colk's argument for the 4-3-2-1 used against Boro in the Play-off final. The key to that would be Jerome up front as the first goal will be very important.
I don't see how Dorrans can get the nod over Howson. I thought Howson was superb for much of last season and I can only see him continuing to improve this season. I think he suffers from just doing things well and not being too flashy but he and Tettey being fully fit were key to our strong end to the season IMO. When he is in the team he links play well and is more than capable of tackling back and putting a shift in. I honestly don't think that Dorrans offers the team anything that Howson does not have but at a higher level.
Howson for me is definitely the more exciting of the two players and it loathes me to leave him out of a lineup. However, I think Dorrans is a bit more 'steady'. Call me over-cautious, but as Mulumbu is injured and I want to see Hoolahan start, I just think selecting Dorrans creates a more balanced midfield.
I agree Norfolkbhoy - after Ruddy he's the first on my team sheet and then work the team around from there. I don't see him as competing with Dorrans, tbh - and generally speaking I think I prefer Hoolahan as an impact sub, particularly in the PL
I see Jamie ITK Redknapp is the latest to predict a swift return to the Chumpionship for us, Watford and joined by Sunderland. If it was his old man predicting, I'd find it a bit more of concern, but JR is a shade on the clueless side - Him, Garth Crooks, Lawrenson and Steve Claridge all bound for my extra-large room 101 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/18932/9930347/jamie-redknapps-premier-league-predictions?
It's damn near impossible to predict anything before a single ball has been kicked in anger. Obviously of all the teams we finished lowest last season so the single price of evidence is that we'll go down. The reality is however that that's not how this works. Place and Swansea have both recently managed to cement a solide PL place from the playoffs. The lower half of the league is I feel the weakest it has been in years. Teams like Sunderland, Villa, Leicester and west Brom could easily be relegated with little to no shock.
