If Boruc is back fit and Ramirez (he said on his Instagram last week he was hopeful he'd be back for this game) then I'd go with something like this with a formation we played against Newcastle, 4-3-2-1: Boruc Chambers Fonte Lovren Shaw Schneiderlin Davis Cork Lallana Ramirez Lambert
Jay gave us that direct threat and energy that few players could match. We now have 4 very winnable games and I feel a youth player will be given the job, I would probably go for McQueen as he is a wideman yet has a good goal threat aswell. No point in playing Ramirez or Davis out of position when we have the likes of McQueen, Sims or Rowe who play in that position. Cardiff have a shocking defence, so my 4 uptop would be McQueen, Lambert, Lallana and Sam, a mix of guile, speed and ariel threat
Think it is a good time to be integrating players but I'd be focusing on Wanyama and Ramirez personally, if the youth players are good enough they will get their time and if they aren't in the first team they will still be making progress, whilst Wanyama and Ramirez won't get anywhere without game time. I'd also be interested in giving Calum a go at CB at some stage, mainly out of curiosity. I'd probably go with Gallagher, Gaston and Wanyama in for JRod, Davis and Cork, whilst looking to get Reed and JWP on for the last 20.
If gaston is fit then I'd play him. Still think rickie Tue 8 Apr 2014 wreak havoc playing in behind sam.
Just a fun stat I found. £'s per goal at home this season in the Premier League. please log in to view this image
We need to drop Shaw, Lovren, Chambers, Lallana and Morgan as they're all leaving in the summer to joing United and their hearts won't be in it
You probably haven't been following our recent games, we don't get very many decisions in our favour, we get plenty of wrong 'uns against us, we have to asume that we won't get any decent breaks or the run of the ball, luck is in short supply, we have had some, mostly bad. We don't test the oppostion GKs enough, we get oodles of possession, but make some classic gaffs and are very vulnerable on the break. Any team can beat any other team in the Premier this season if it's their day. Having said that, we need a result to ensure 8th position so I think we will at least be trying to win it, and we have to be fair to the other relegation teams. Hopefully it will be a good competitive match with the best team coming out on top.
That's the worry for me with no JRod - if his pace isn't there things could become a bit one dimensional and much easier to defend against - at the moment his pace forces teams to defend a bit deeper creating space for the likes of lallana - he will be a massive miss.
Let's not get carried away and assume we will win - look at the end of last season at home against West Brom and QPR. Cardiff's biggest weakness is their fullbacks while I think they would deal with an aerial threat more capably.
We will definitely miss JRod...he had stepped up recently. Should be careful not to assume that we will win....disrespecting the other team can come back and bite you. However, it is a game I would hope to win.
I agree with your 1st point entirely, but I can't see any mileage in Shaw being a left midfielder. As others have mentioned Lallana, Lambert, Ramirez & Davis as our 4 most attacking players seems a little too compact. When we beat Cardiff on Boxing Day it was Rodriguez stretching the play and catching them on the break which got the job done. Cardiff need three points and I can't see them parking the bus so we will have opportunities to counter them. I'd have Gallagher learning the Rodriguez role all this week. He has the physical attributes for the job, lets see if he has the quality and the football brain
Gazza Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Schneiderlin Wanyama Davis Gaston Lallana Lambert Bench cropper chambers hoiveld reed jwp gallagher mcqueen Can't drop gazza, gaston and wany if fit. Wouldnt start loads of yoof, maybe gallagher instead of Davis to start?
Cropper isn't that good. He also doesn't like people scoring against him. http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/vide...r-after-conceding-injury-time-goal-video.html
I would bring Vic on for the last 30 minutes. I really wouldn't play him any longer than that. There is no need to rush him. Use the remaining games to build him up, make sure the leg is ok and then he can have a month off in the summer and be back for pre-season in great shape. I wouldn't risk anyone who has the slightest knock. Cork has to play unless carrying an injury.
