No real surprise that both are out. Gayle a knocking bet to start will be a big miss. Mitrovic lacking match fitness, could have been on the subs bench. It highlights that we still need another Striker, a First Choice one at that.
----------Perez--Armstrong---------- Gouffran------------------------Ritchie ---------Hayden-Shelvey------ Anita----Hanley-Lascelles--Mbemba ---------------Darlow-------------- We look so much better with two up top. I don't know why Rafa goes with 4-2-3-1. Gayle and Perez seem to trouble teams when up top together. We need runners off the ball. I'd give Armstrong a chance up top and try getting one into him. I'd play Mbemba RB as he seems capable and play Anita on the left as he can also play there. Both the right and the left sides look defensively capable. If we can hold out for a 0-0 or 1-1 draw with this team it would be a good result.
This for me. Can't see anything else happening, Gamez not fit enough to start at LB. Only possible change is if there's anything in the Mbemba rumours.
We are going to struggle. I wouldn't be fussed if I was a Brighton fan and saw that team. I just can't at all see where any kind of a goal thereat is coming from.
I agree we needed Gayle and Mitrovic, so I'm hoping it's mind games if you excuse the pun. Our team is getting worse on paper every week.
You're right We attempt to at least I'm finding this thread quite interesting because I've been arguing my point on another thread that we need to exit the cups ASAP. I'm wondering if losing 2 key players for one of our biggest games in our promotion bid via a cup match might allow them people I've been arguing with to see my point. If not musli try crunchy nut granola mix and not the chocolate one guys.
Be interesting if you go 442 as that's how Brighton line up. Don't see two teams go at each other with 442 much these days. Likely to be Murray and Hemer up top so could be a really good battle between 2 big strong CF's and two big strong CB's. Your weakest areas seems to be full backs and that's probably brightens strongest with knockaert and one of Murphy/skalec out wide with luaLua to come off the bench. Think knockaert might have a field day against Anita if he's playing LB
They are some team mind - came 3rd in the 2nd division last year. And they've got Knockaert who is apparently on par with Ronaldo (although I'd never heard of him until about 2 weeks ago).
Calm down guys. We all think we're ****ed for this match purely because no Mitro or Gayle. Mitro has barely played, and Gayle, despite scoring goals, was hardly immense in his games. We still have the same team, practically, except no Gayle. We still have a good chance here, and people in the team that can create and score goals. Perez had a good game vs Chelt and has scored quite a few goals at PL level when up top on his own and in fact that's when he's ever looked his best. We can do it!
