With Injuries starting to mount, and key players starting to get tired, predicting line ups is harder than ever! But what team do u think 'arry will put out against the canaries, mine would be... Freidel Walker Kaboul Gallas BAE Kranjcar Parker Modric Bale Defoe Adebayor
Assuming Ledley wont be fit..... Freidal Kaboul Gallarse Bassong Walker Sandro Bale Parker Modric VDV Adebayor
No VDV I'm afraid, out for a few weks at least. Swap Nico for him, include Benny for Bassong to go back to a back 4, and you are close. EDIT: Just seen he is fit to be play - bonus!
Both Harry and Rafa were quite optimistic about VdV playing on Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start
That's also assuming that Kaboul is fit. Have to ask though, why are most omitting Benny is it this height thing again? Also Parker is 1 yellow away from suspension, why not play Livermore in this one?
I think this is a game where we only need 1 DM, not parker AND sandro or sandro AND livermore. The team almost picks itself except for right midfield, and i dont know who well play there, hopefully rose or townsend will play, as they have hunger and pace, but i expect kranjcar to be picked there. I also hope VDV doesnt play, its too big a risk to force him into matches and Defoe looks like he really needs a game, and hell definitely score if hes playing!
Give Pienaar a chance at right wing. Friedel Walker Gallas/King Kaboul BAE Pienaar Parker Modric Bale Vdv Adebayor
I wanna see modric back in the middle where he belongs and I still think we should try rose or townsend on the wing as bale swaps to the right anyway
If Rafa is not 100% I would put him on the bench and only put him on if needed, like everyone else I think Niko might get a game or Pienaar. But all the same it would seem having Parker & Sandro together for a game like this is counterproductive.
I'm omitting BAE because I don't think he's that good, and he maybe needs a rest. If anything Rose is shorter than him, but I just would like to see a change or two, fresh legs etc. Re Parker, if he gets his card now will mean Sandro or Livermore can cover v Swansea. I'm assuming Kaboul and Defoe will be fit. Bassong for Kaboul if not, and Niko/Townsend/Pienaar for JD if not. The right side of our mid may be problematic, to me Parker should cover and help Walker, but it all got a bit confused v Chelsea. Why VDV was tackling back for that fatal error that set Cole away when we had Sandro and Parker playing as 'cover mids' is beyond me, but hey that's football.
GH10 I take your points about getting some fresh legs in. I would take a different view on Benny, Norwich sometimes take the aerial route and we all know he is not good into air so you omitting him is sound. What is the diff in leaving Parker out now or against Swansea?
Maybe I am missing a trick here. Harry has bemoaned the lack of a pacy alternative to play on the right of midfield in Lennon's absence. He said the balance is not there. As a short-term solution, what's wrong with playing Kyle Walker there? He has attacking instincts, like Bale - and is fast enough and fit enough to track back as well. I'm not saying it would be forever - but for this tricky period of several games and no recognized right-winger worthy of a starting role, then, surely, Walker merits consideration. Vs Norwich: Friedel Corluka Gallas Kaboul Benny Walker Parker Modric Bale Van der Vaart Adebayor
Re. Parker's suspension, it'd be better to have the FA cup 3rd round match as his game to miss, but its 3 games away. He's due a rest imo, and Sandro needs to continue a run of games, tough call.
Walker at RM might work. It probably means 'resting' VDV or JD, but maybe that's necessary. Usually I would see resting VDV as heresy, but he hasn't been his talismanic self of late, so I could easily understand it.
As many have previously said if Rafa is fit he plays,but I think if JD is fit he should get game time and leave Rafa as a game breaker if necessary. Does anyone know if Charlie or Kaboul are fit, if one of them is Walker will most likely play further up.
I'm hoping that Harry plays the same formation that he did for the second half against Stoke (which I predicted he would do), with 3 x CBs and using both Walker and Bale as wing-backs. I'd use Moddy, Scotty, and Sandro at CM, and have Adebayor and Defoe up front.
Agreed, 3 CB`s Bale and Walker at wing back with Sandro, Parker and Modric CM with Adebayor and VDV up front. This keeps our best players in their best positions, BAE was shocking against Abramovich FC and should be rested. Norwich are decent at home and we will need to match their effort and commitment to get a result.
