So, a sterner test than Rotherham in this week's cup game. We don't have quite so much depth in the squad after loaning out a lot of our youngsters and fringe players, so I'd quite like to see something along the lines of this: Rudd Wisdom - R.Bennett - Bassong - Olsson(^) O'Neil - Dorrans E.Bennett ------------------------ Hoolahan(*) Mbokani - Grabban(@) (^) or Toffolo (*) or Lafferty/Jarvis (@) or Lafferty The Norfolk Cafu can have the week off as far as I'm concerned! I guess Bassong will have to play, unless Wisdom is tried out at CB.
Probably stick with 4-5-1. Wes will most likely start, as will Jarvis, so it'll be a toss up between Grabban and Mbokani. I reckon Mbokani will start.
I wonder what sort of reception Grabban would get after disrespecting the shirt, the club and the fans ?
Lukewarm at best. I think AN put him on at the end vs Liverpool to appease him a little, meaning Mbokani can start vs WBA. Ofcourse that could all be bollocks.
Rudd Wisdom - R.Bennett - Bassong E.Bennett ------------------------------------- Toffolo O'Neil - Dorrans Hoolahan Mbokani - Grabban
I wasn't at the Liverpool game, but from the stream it seemed when Grabban came on he was greeted with stony silence. Did he clap the fans like all the other players at the end? I think we kind of have to accept that this is part of the game now, players do not have loyalty really and you shrug your shoulders if they perform well afterwards.
A lot of fans didn't like Wes when he did not celebrate his goal against Villa a couple of season ago and wanted to leave, but all is forgiven as he has been putting in great performances. Grabban needs to do the same, if he doesn't then I can see the supporters getting more and more frustrated with him.
Pretty shrewd of AN to reintroduce Grabban at a venue like Anfield. Any murmurs of discontent would soon be drowned out - by scousers lamenting their very 'average' start to the season Had to be an away game, in my opinion, and, as mentioned above, had he scored or even got an assist, all would be more or less forgiven next time he plays at home. But - again, mentioned previously, Wes became 'Judas' for a section of the fanbase after Villagate- worth his weight in loaves and fishes these days
Yes, but Wes had been with us for six or seven years by then, and had helped us get back to the Prem from the depths of League 1. He had credit in the bank. So did Bassong, who had been player of the season. I agree it was a very shrewd move of AN to reintroduce Grabban at Anfield, where there was very little to lose. I suspect he won't get an easy ride at Carrow Road, though. Especially when he misses his first sitter.
Press conference from Alex Neil ahead of Baggies clash tomorrow. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0335b20
I really hope we start with Mbokani tonight to see what he can do. And later on give Lafferty the chance he deserves after his international exploits. And make our prima donna sit on the bench for 90 minutes.
