Stevenage aren't a bad cup side, so will be well up for it. Winning this is important for confidence as Man U and Arsenal will be tough games. --------------------Gazzaniga------------------ Richardson-----Fonte-----Hooiveld-----Shaw ------------Hammond-----JWP---------------- --------------------Chambers------------------ Puncheon----------------------------------Lee ----------------------Sharp--------------------- Stay solid at the back and we've got the quality to grab some goals. With Sharp upfront, we're more likely to see how the 433 should work.
It will take a couple of days to sort permit/clearance/paperwork etc, so he won't play. Outside chance of him being there to watch though.
Don't think Fonte Hoovield or James Ward Prowse will be involved. Think it will be made up of the bench players so far. Would like to see: --------------------Gazzaniga------------------ Richardson/ Butts-----Butts/Stephens-----Seaborne-----Shaw ------------Hammond-----Chaplow----------------. Puncheon----------------------------------Deridder Sharp Lee Not sure if Steve Deridder will be involved as he hasn't been on bench yet ? Would like to see him play.
I'd like to see JWP start this one. It's an opportunity for him to do what he's good at and actually dictate the game. City's midfield are beasty and he wasn't going to do it in his inside-out-right-central-attacking-defensive midfield role that he got deployed in against Wigan.
My starting 11: Gazzaniga Richardson Stephens Seaborne Shaw Ward-prowse Hammond Chambers Puncheon Sharp Lee Subs: K Davis, Hooiveld, Clyne, S Davis, Lallana, Guly, Lambert Score prediction: 2-1 Saints, Lee to open the scoring and Stevenage to equalise just before HT. Then five minutes from the end, Sharp gets on the scoresheet.
Would like us to play 4-4-2 diamond. I see no reason to have an additional midfielder against lower league teams. Sharp and Lee up top and a similar midfield/defense to everyone else's predictions
I'd use the 433 for match practice. The main reason it's been touch and go is because we have to crowbar Lambert in somewhere and he's not the sort of striker who gets beyond defences. Lambert will probably be rested for this one, so it's a good opportunity to see what other options we have.
I would like to see a mix of the youngsters like Chambers and Stephens with a couple of fringe players like De Ridder and Sharp. Maybe change formation to 4-4-2 with Sharp and Lee up front.
These games are good...do plenty for confidence but not the end of the world. Only begins to be serious as you get closer to the final.
