So do we change things for Saturday? It's been suggested we rest Rickie? Bring in Boruc/Jos? For me it's going to be a hard game but we shouldn't be scared of them. They are overdue a home loss! Without Shawcross their defence will hopefully be badly disrupted. Assuming Adam is still out personally I'd go with the same 11 as yesterday. Views?
Goalkeeper a real issue...I don't think we can keep swapping around. Davis made a blunder, but then so did Gazza. Boruc I know nothing about, other than the fact that Nigel doesn't seem to fancy him. I don't expect too many changes...Adkins seems to have decided on starting 11 and is only making changes because of Adam's injury.
I would be inclined to put Gazza in for this one, just because he is taller! I don't think there is a lot of difference with our GKs, they all have good points, all have flaws although I haven't seen enough of Artur Boruc to form a real opinion. If Ramirez is selected he should be in the danger area around the goal, not wasted out on the wings, and Rickie needs to push up more, and they need to practice anticipating his knock downs. It's the sort of game that would suit Hoover, but how could you fit him in at the moment? Like the rest of you I find it amusing to speculate but it will be down to NA to make his mind up, based on what he sees on the training ground. This is going to be a real tough one.
My team for the Stoke game would be: Burridge Hollywood McGrath Watson Dennis Case Hurlock O'Neill Paine Davies (R) Davies(K) They might just about match them phsically. I don't think our team of very polite nice well brought up boys will stand much of a chance.
Can't see Shaw playing at Stoke, possible Hooiveld at the back Clyne left-back and Richardson right-back sounds good to me
The trouble is Godders, nowadays that team would all get sent off by the end of the first half! Definitely a case for Hooiveld, he has the presence to handle Jones more than any of our CB's. Goalkeeper? Haven't got a clue, glad I can leave that to Nigel.
Shilts over Burridge, Gabriel over Hurlock.. Subs bench of Burridge, Huxford, Steve Williams, Fred Kemp, Killer, Benali, and last but not least Gentleman George Kirby... Not a squad of shrinking violets !
Player for player Stoke should not be much better than us. Who would you swap? Maybe a CB but certainly not Morgan Cork or Ramirez. Not Crouch or Jones. If we go there confident we can get a result!
Shaw is stronger and better in the air than Clyne. If anyone was to drop out due to physicality, I'd say Clyne. Maybe we might even play 3 at the back with wing-backs though. Something like: Davis Fonte Hooiveld Yoshida Clyne Cork Schneiderlin Shaw Ramirez Rodriguez Lambert
I can see us resting a few for this one with the intensity of games around Chrstmas and New Year. -----------------Davis Clyne-----Fonte-----Hooiveld-----Fox ---------Morgan-----Cork ---------------Ramirez Mayuka--------------------------Guly --------------Rodriguez If we put the same team out that we did against Fulham, they won't be fully fit for the Arsenal game. We need to keep the squad fit.
---------Boruc/Gaz Clyne Fonte Yoshida Shaw -------Cork-----Morgan --Guly----------------Puncheon ----------Ramirez ----------Lambert Must play Ramirez in his best position. This is actually the same side I wanted for Fulham apart from wanting Davis in goal for that. I'm not dropping him for poor performance. I feel we need a tall keeper for this particular game or they will cause Davis massive problems on set pieces.
I'd go with that team apart from the keeper. Just think you have to try to stabilize not change every other game.
Was thinking this. 3-5-2 might actually suit us. It (kind of) worked for Villa for a few games. Failing this rather drastic approach I'm in aggreement with ---------Kelvin Clyne Fonte Yoshida Shaw -------Cork-----Morgan --Guly----------------Puncheon ----------Ramirez ----------Lambert
Yeah, I've seen a lot of teams use it against Stoke and you get an extra centre back for the set pieces and long throws.
I'm starting to favour: -------------------Davis Richardson-Fonte-Hooiveld-Shaw ------------Cork-JWP-Davis ----------------Ramirez ----------Rodriguez-Mayuka I think we have to attack from the off and get a lead, in a defensive game Stoke will win, they are very good at wearing down teams and getting goals, and even better at protecting leads, thus I believe we need to score first to coax them out from their shells and then hopefully this will open them at the back whilst our boys can hold firm. We wont get much change off them in the air whoever we select, hence my lack of widemen and Rickie being given a rest. However, all of the front three are able to play out wide, so that's not to say we would play with no width as I would expect them to drift out there from time to time along with Davis and Cork and the full-backs to ensure we are not too narrow. Stoke's likely CB pairing will be Huth and Upson, two players you can get behind and this is what Mayuka and Rodriguez will be tasked with, lots of movement and lots of runs to hopefully drag the Stoke CBs around and put them in the kind of situations Suarez put Shawcross in for the penalty, with Gaston the man to supply them. The three central mids are all very mobile and will be asked to cover the full-backs outwide whilst also supplying the attack and doing their normal jobs. That's the thought behind the formation, Morgan is rested as Stoke lack the kind of real central playmaker or slippery dribbler that he feasts on, and he will put his feet up on the bench awaiting Cazorla. Puncheon, Lambert and Clyne all also get rests and Hooiveld comes in for Yoshida to aid our aerial defences. Simple!
People slate Davis, however since he returned we have conceded two goals in the last three games. A lot of keepers struggled yesterday: Green, dee Gea, Hart etc and I don't think all of them are poor. I think Shaw will be rested, I assumed for Fox, however we could shift Clyne across and have him and Puncheon on the left. I feel we have to play one of Rodriguez or Guly and I might consider resting Ramirez for this one, I am not sure he will enjoy the physical challenge. So perhaps Shaw and Ramirez for Richardson/Fox & Guly/Rodriguez.
