The Good News is that Cardiff goalie David Marshall is on the verge of signing for West Brom. He's an outstanding keeper at the best of times but always seems to excell beyond that against us. The Bad News is that Luke Garbutt is ruled out with the injury he got against Palace. He tweeted - "Luke Garbutt @luke_garbutt The latest on my injury is disappointing I'm out for 6 weeks, I will do everything to get back on the pitch as soon as possible! #gutted 1:55 PM - 5 Aug 2015"
Ouch 6 weeks out is rough. Who do we play at LB now? Kavanagh? Voser? Richards? Get somebody new in? I wouldn't mind getting somebody else in but I think Voser has waited patiently enough for another chance. I still refuse to believe that he's as bad as he showed last season.
Kavanagh can cover the LB position, I think that's where he'll end up playing given his size. He seems a fairly solid, if unspectacular, player - I'd be interested to see how he developed with a run of games. Voser hasn't done anything to show he's played in the CL, although he's not had much of a run. In the friendly match last weekend he was quite easily skinned and, although I wasn't impressed with Garbutt, Vosers introduction did show a gulf in ability, or form maybe. I would've liked Husband to have signed
I think Kavanagh is unavailable for Saturday with a knock. Maybe Richards at LB and Grimmer at RB is the answer. I'd like to see Kavanagh go out on loan for the season and get regular game time. Voser only played 3 games for us last season, the last of which came in October so it's hard to judge how good or bad he actually is.
I'd been thinking Richards left and Grimmer right, assuming Garbutt's injury doesn't prompt the signing of another left back (Husband?), which I suspect it won't. Alternatively, what's Pringle like defensively? Could he fill in with Kacaniklic playing ahead of him in midfield?
As I mentioned in the 'Palace Game' thread the Pringle did a lot of very good covering for Garbutt in that game. However, I suspect playing him at LB against Cardiff is a step too far for Kit's imagination - even with his penchant for playing people out of position. With Kavanagh injured and Nando missing, it's likely to be a toss up between Voser and Richards. There again, why not give Jordan Evans - a natural LB with a cracking left foot cross - a go!?
I toyed with the idea of Evans at LB, he's another that probably needs a loan spell elsewhere but I wouldn't be too upset to see him play on Saturday. On the subject of Nando, he tweeted a pic of him and Javi Martinez saying: Fernando Amorebieta @la_grulla5 2h2 hours ago "All the best this season with @FCBayernEN. Thank you @Javi8martinez for your visit after de surgery. All is ok" So he's out injured, not just missing. I don't know why the club never divulged that information.
I have read above reports re full backs and to me it looks like sticking plaster over the cracks is Symonds so blind ,or naïve not to see that this is our most exposed, weakest, position
In his press conference Kit at lunchtime confirmed the current list of casualties - Garbutt, Nando and Tunnicliffe (suspended). Kavanagh and Taggart are unlikely to be considered though, neither having had much time training. [Scotty and wee Georgie are still in rehab.] Is Betts now fit (unlikely if it was a hamstring) or on his way? Whichever, expect Lonergan to start. Immediately in front of him it’s incredible to find, after last season’s nightmare, that the choice of a back four is virtually unchanged - and arguably worsened with no recognised LB now available. The fullback options have been discussed already but I’d be surprised if Kit doesn’t go for Grimmer and Richardson. At CB, Dan Burn seems a slam dunk (pun intended). So who partners him? Hutchinson has been the favourite in pre-seasons games but for this awkward away game the odds are on the experience of Budorov. The presumption is that we’ll pack the midfield to protect them. That back four is so vulnerable however that I’d sit two - O’Hara and Hyndman - in front of them. Both excellent passers of the ball which also opens up attacking options. McCormack should be high up front but we seem destined to have him playing deep. So might as well plan for that rather have it happen disjointedly during the game. So stick him in the middle. Either side of him, playing wide will be the newcomers Cairney (on the right) and Pringle (on the left). The lone star up front is yet another area where Kit seems to be struggling. Woodrow is obviously his favourite but frankly isn’t going to be strong enough in this game. Mitroglou will have gone and the untried Taggart is on another sick note. So that leaves Dembele or Smith. It really should be a no brainer - Smith. The starting line-up then: …………………..Lonergan……………… ..Grimmer…Bodurov..Burn….Richards.. ………….O’Hara…..Hyndman…. ……Cairney….McCormack….Pringle… ………………….Smith……… I’m aware that excludes LVC. Well, he’s lacked sharpness and pace in pre-season. And, I’m equally aware that will return only by him playing games. However that just may have to be from the bench for a bit. In this game having both him and Kaca available to come on later in the game, gives Kit a realistic Plan B: be it to hold or retrieve points.
For those travelling down, try to park near the ground and not in the city centre, as the Peanut flickers are playing Ireland, good place for parking, athletics stadium opposite the ground, or Gol near Fitzalan high school. Be safe.
I thought I'd gone back a couple of years when I read that. Presumably you mean Jazz Richards, not our erstwhile Villa misfit.
I like Cottagers starting 11, the defence looks suspect but we can't help that for now the only thing I would say us although I like we won't play that formation we have been playing the 4-1-4-1 in pre season plus Hutchinson appears to have been favoured over Bodurov p, so here is what I think it will be --------------------- Lonergan-------------------- Grimmer------ Hutchinson ---- Burn----- Richards ------------------------- O'Hara--------------------- -----Cairny----------- LVC ----------- Pringle------- -------------------------- McCormack----------------_ -------------------------- Smith-----------------------
I think Jack Grimmer is out with an illness so It'll have to be Richards RB and Voser LB. Evans is playing for the U21s so that rules him out.
Is there a reason why the match is an early kick off tomorrow? As far as I'm aware it's not on live so it's not for tv purposes. Just me being a bit of a traditionalist, I like a Saturday 3pm kick off, especially on opening weekend!
Didn't someone say there's a big Rugby match at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday? It's probably about staggering the congestion from the sets of fans for the two different games.
As expected: --------------------------Lonergan------------------------ Richards-----Hutchinson-------Burn---------Voser -------------------------O'Hara--------------------------- ---Cariney-------------LVC-----------------Pringle--- ----------------------McCormack------------------------ -------------------------Smith----------------------------- Subs: Bettinelli, Bodurov, Mattila, Kaca, Hyndman, Woodrow, Dembele. Going to be optimistic and go for a 2-1 win.
