Seeing as our preseason is now over and we are a week away from our first game, I think we can assume that no signings will start at WHL. So who do you think we'll start with against Everton and how will we play? According to Physioroom we will be missing Pienaar, Gallas and Jenas(noooooo!) but VDV might be available and I guess that means King is available. After yesterday's performance I think we might well see a return to 4-4-2. It was a bit like they were reminiscing about the "good ol' days" in the second half yesterday, back before the 4-4-1-1 when scoring goals and creating chances was so much simpler and less stressful for all. Gomes vs Friedel is a very tough one to call, I'm sure we all have a favourite but I don't think anyone knows who 'Arry will chose. There's also interesting battles at right back and up front. My preference would be for us to lineup: Friedel Charlie, Dawson, King(if fit), BAE Lennon, Hudd, Whiney McTappedUp, Bale Kranjcar Pav The way I see it, 4-4-2 is the safer option but if we went 4-4-1-1 and gave Niko a chance to play regularly from the off, we could find ourselves with effectively a new player. Also, if Lennon and Bale can push up more and drop inside occasionally so Pav's not so isolated. 4-4-1-1 is still where I see our future so I think we take a bit of a gamble and use it from the start.
I'd like to see Kranjcar given more time in the van der Vaart role too, but I just don't think that we have a striker that can play effectively in the lone role at the moment. I'd go with a 4-4-2 and stick Crouch and Defoe in, I think.
Kranjcar and Modric in the centre could struggle against a team like Everton. Moyes will have them working very, very hard and they've got some quality, too.
Based on yesterday this is the team i'd go for: Gomes Walker Dawson Kaboul BAE Lennon Hudd Modric Bale Defoe Crouch
I don't think we've got a striker who can play any role at the moment. Defoe looks the most likely to provide goals, IMO. From what I saw of Pav yesterday, his first touch was appalling.
Yeah, Pavlyuchenko was dire yesterday, but so was most of the side in the first half. Llorente looked a lot more assured in the lone role, to me. Crisp, simple passing, tracked back well, won headers at both ends, held it up impressively at times. Faded badly in the second half though, as Bilbao were starved of meaningful possession and his support disappeared.
Based on Saturdays game I would guess; Gomes Charlie, Dawson, Kaboul, Benny Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale Crouch, Defoe Assuming no outgoings or incomings before then, and that VDV hasn't recovered, if he has remove JD and slot him in behind Crouch. Can see Niko & Kyle on the bench, along with the Freebie, and whoever else isn't injured (not that I can think of any of them that deserve even a bench role in the squad)
So close to making it a whole post without being negative! That lineup seems entirely reasonable but I'd just prefer it if we kept to the same formation, whether VDV is fit or not.
I can do positive posts, when the circumstances call for it, but you did see the first half on Saturday? Awful, just awful. Niko had a stinker, so unless we play Modric behind Crouch I can't see us playing the same formation as we started. And we were definitely better in the second half, but against Everton we need someone to sit in the middle of the park and without Sandy or Sarge available, it only leaves Hudd to do the job.
