Yes, we need a list of birthdays for Gaston's family and play him then. He is an enigma...has the skills, but also manages to be an okay rather than a great choice. Needs the services of a sports psychologist methinks.
I still think Ramirez was never fully healthy last season and not well-suited for the tactics/squad under Adkins. He may still not be fully healthy now, but there is a spot for him if he can play like he's capable of doing. I think he should have to earn his way into the squad and at this point I put him behind Davis and possibly even JWP. I just think he should be getting into games more often off the bench because-- as Merrington kept saying-- he offers that creative spark where he can make a goal out of nothing.
I'd like to see something like this: Boruc Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Wanyama Schneiderlin Davis Ramirez Lallana OsvaldoAs sad as it was to see, I thought we looked better at Liverpool with Davis on instead of Lambert. His performance in the second half against Liverpool gives him enough to warrant him a start in my opinion. I don't think Lambert/Osvaldo/Rodriguez work playing together (they may do if we decide to try 433 rather than 4231...), so I'd like to see Osvaldo lead the line by himself. I'd like to squeeze Ward-Prowse into this team, and he'd be swapped for Wanyama if anyone, but I think Wanyama has plenty of potential to improve and playing him consistently will help him speed up his distribution.
I'd probably swap Davis and JWP for Vic and JRod. The defence picks it self at this point, and I personally think one of the biggest problems we have is a lack of a link between midfield and attack, with our current line-up our shape frequently ends up resembling a 4-2-4, which is alright when you go very direct but it gives us problem when the ball is at the feet of Vic or Morgan in deep positions and they have no forward pass within 25 yards of them. I'd like to squeeze Gaston in but can't really do so without dropping one of the strikers which I don't want to do at this point, I've had reservations about how Osvaldo and Lambert would fit into the team together since the moment Dani signed but now we've set our stall out we need to give them a few more games to gel before benching one I feel. But since I don't reckon Palace pose enough threat in central attacking midfield (touch wood, cross fingers etc. etc.) to warrant both Morgan and Wanyama it makes it a bit easier, as I think putting Davis in to partner Morgan helps us there, as whilst we're in possession he can step up into midfield and be the link man. JWP would come in for me because I think one thing that Rickie and Dani do bring as a partnership is aerial threat, and JWP's deliveries from both open play and set pieces should give us a consistent threat even if we can't find the key to unlock Palace's defence along the ground. Not to mentio having Cork, Wanyama, JRod and Gaston on the bench would also give us very good options for subs late in the game.
Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Louvren, Shaw, Gaston, Schniederlin, Wanyama, Lallana, Osvaldo, Lambert Bench: K. Davis, Chambers, Yoshida, Cork, JWP, S. Davis, Rodriguez
---------------Boruc---------------- Clyne-----Fonte-----Lovren-----Shaw ------Schneiderlin----Wanyama------ Rodriguez-------Davis--------Lallana ---------------Osvaldo-----------------
Nibble Nibble OFC not.... lol Just looking to see how long it took someine to bite. Bit of fun i suppose hehe. On a serious note... --------------Boruc----------------- Clyne --- Lovren -- Fonte --- Shaw ------Wanyama Davis Morgan--------- Jrod --------------------------Lallana ----------Osvaldo Lambert-----------
Couldn't we play a 5th defender too? Why limit our team to 12 players when we easilly have 16 that could do a job!
All in good spirit today Going for a 3-1 win tomorrow! Any thoughts? Im feeling Osvaldo will sneak his first goal too
Not trying to be pedantic but there's a match thread now open- why not discuss team selection there?!
