My guess for our best starting eleven. Ruddy Wisdom Martin Bassong Olsson Mulumbu Redmond Howson Brady Hoolahan Mbokani Bench would then be: Rudd, R Bennett, Whittaker, Dorrans, Jarvis, Hooper, Jerome Starting eleven looks reasonably solid, if a bit lacking in creativity, and certainly better balanced than the current team. I'd worry about the bench though, very little game changers there - Jarvis to run at tired defenders the only real hope. And I do think it highlights the serious lack of depth in the defence. Thoughts?
Pretty spot on except I think that AN will,start with Dorrans in place of Howson and Oh Deary Me instead of Wisdom.
It's a tough one, and despite any complaints about transfers, we do have real options. Dorrans has been superb so far, would be harsh to leave him out. I'd probably go: Ruddy Whittaker Martin Bassong Olsson Mulumbu Dorrans Redmond Hoolahan Brady Jerome Howson unlucky to miss out, but he doesn't quite work in a slightly wider role, although he's still played well. If either Dorrans or Hoolahan have a drop in form, he's going to be hard to leave out. Jerome over Mbokani purely down to what we know so far. I really hope Mbokani can be something good up front for us, we need a little more cutting edge.
Mbokani over Jerome? I wouldn't have thought so. What's 'Oh Deary Me's' ban? Wisdom could stake a place I'd say.
It's what the bloke behind me in the Jarrold says whenever Whittaker misplaces a pass or misses a tackle. He says other "less polite" things too !
Whittaker's ban is not nearly long enough! The FA should be pursuading managers to pick players who do not disrupt the game and foul to prevent chances. I was hoping for a good ten matches to make us pick someone else so I can take this blindfold off that I feel compelled to put on every time the ball comes near Whittaker in our half of the field. Mind you if the FA adopted my plan then Lee Cattermole would have to retire!
I'm sure AN & co will be running the rule over Mbokani in the next 9 or so days. Plenty of time to decide who should start up top for the Bournemouth game.
I doubt Mbokani will start straight away, he said himself that he was lacking a bit of match fitness. More likely to get a game or 2 under his belt in the U21's and dependent on those showings and improving fitness, bench and then get some proper game time before starting. Bah!
I would have thought to have added some spark to that position. Our goals have in the main come from defenders so far and maybe a fresh face in the striker role will also help Jerome in the medium term. That is just my opinion of course, but AN has brought him in for a reason and obviously he felt that RVW was not the man for the job.
For me Howson would be one of the first names on the team sheet. Not because I think he's necessarily one of our best players, more because I see him as the glue that holds the others together. I don't think it's any coincidence that our improvement last year coincided with his return from injury.
I do agree and he is the last member now of the Leeds 3 now. I never dim count Becchio if he is still here.
I'm sure AN doesn't envisage a set starting line-up each week. Players will have to fight for the shirt each week. For Bournemouth, injury and suspension make it slightly easier: Ruddy Wisdom Martin Bassong Brady Tettey Dorrans Redmond Hoolahan Jarvis Jerome Subs: Rudd, R.Bennett, Olsson, Howson, O'Neil, Grabban, Mbokani At the moment, Olsson lacks match fitness but could come on as a sub. For me, Dorrans just has the edge over Howson though that will be a battle all season. Grabban would be controversial on the bench, but if football is the only factor, I suspect AN will prefer him over Hooper. Mbokani could be a great impact sub though for that game and then he and Jerome will also battle all season up front.
I think Howson will make the starting 11 over Jarvis. He's been playing a more advanced role recently with Dorrans sitting alongside Tettey, so I see no reason why that would change to accommodate Jarvis.
I did wonder about that JK and you could well be right. I was thinking that Olsson might come on, thus allowing Brady to move forward to replace Jarvis, but it could be that Olsson comes on and Wes goes off, allowing Howson to move into the hole and Brady to move up to LW.
Pure guesswork, but I reckon Jarvis will be used primarily to stretch defences in the final 20-30 minutes. Brady will give Olsson a bit more cover I would have thought. Very tough choice between Howson and Dorrans isn't it!
