If krancjar plays as he did against Wigan then he might, agreed benayoun isn't much of an impact player. Will be interesting to see what sort of team HR picks. Does Doyle start?
I like your team Nines, but I feel we have to stretch Derby, and so need eitrher Traore or Hoilett on from the start. We cant expect Yun, to take on that responsibility by himself.
If Yun has gone, which I assume as BAE is back, then I assume the back four will be Simpson, Ned, Dunne, Hill the only person Hill would lose his place to is Yun If some one (Hill Hughes, Dunne) breaks their leg before and we are in deep trouble That is what I hope BAE is there for only I hope!
I hope your right! Harry seems to be a massive fan and I seriously think he would play BAE left back even if Yun is fit and ready to go.
My team in an ideal world. With Bobby and Ravel to come on to influence the game along with Niko. please log in to view this image
I'd be hugely surprised if there weren't just two places up for grabs......left back and LM/CM. For me, the nine below are absolutely guaranteed to start. Then you're just looking at Yun (if he's there), BAE, Hill, Morrison, Benayoun, Traore and Doyle to fill the two spots left. I can't call it myself. Green Simpson Dunne Onouha ??? Hoilett O'Neill Kranjcar Barton ??? Austin
Nines, It is a very good team, possibly our current strongest on paper, and I would have no objections if it were selected. However I have the following comments: Back 4: That would have been my selection of back four for some time, but it has not been Harry's, and I am not sure if a Wembley final is the correct time for another "tweek". I just hope that he does not decide to play BAE, or drop Onuoha (and play Hill and Dunne as CB's) or go for the wing-back option and play three CB's. Offensive midfield: Your selection is strong and allows for Zamora and Hoillet to come on as subs. I just am not convinced that Krancjar and Morrison work together best in one team and would personally interchange them. Also, this choice very much depends on the tactics of the match; "go for it" from the beginning or start conservatively and "crank it up" as the match goes on. I think that Harry generally prefers the latter. Anyway, the very good news is that we have real OPTIONS and real CHOICES. Let's hope that we choose the correct one.
Kranjcar played well against Wigan and showed great commitment by playing on with a tight hamstring, as we had no subs left. I don't think there is any way we should play him and Morrison in a starting 11. I wouldn't mind which one started and I'd have him in behind Charlie. Hoilett MUST start as he's been excellent recently and ran his bollocks off for 120 mins in the semi at LR. I think the starting 11 will be very nearly the one that started against Wigan at LR.
Big pitch and different match IMO Derby are a fresh bright football team with two main dangers Hughes running midfield and he does exactly that... Run Martin is a very good player Cut off both these heads we can win this match Kranky can be world class and he has played in bigger matches than this he has to start No idea if Harold will pick a team to let them worry ... I would **** or bust game Morrison Traore Kranky BAE would all play IMO Green Simpson BAE Dunne or Hill Onunha Barton Traore Hoilett Kranky Morrison Austin Barton to snuff out Hughes Replacements Ben O Neil Henry to come on when we are three up
There's not a chance in hell Dunne won't play though I'd drop him for Yun myself (assuming Yun can play). It will be Green Simpson Onuoha Dunne Hill Hoilett O'Neil Barton Morrison Kranjcar Austin If Traore is fit I'd have him in for Hoilett personally. If Yun can play I'd have him in for Dunne.
Richard Dunne is absolutely key to this game. He has to start ahead of Hill purely because he's better in the air and more physically dominant. You have to believe that Dunne and Onouha have the strength and pace to keep Chris Martin quiet. Other than that, they've got a very strong midfield 3 of Bryson/Thorne/Hughes or Hendrick and if we can win the midfield battle then the game is ours. Simple as that. You need Barton and O'Neill in CM to run their socks off and keep possession for us, and hope that one of Kranjcar or Morrison can provide that bit of magic in the final third. With Austin up top we've always got a chance, and we've certainly got better options on the bench than Derby have. Throwing on 3 of the combination of Zamora/Morrison/Traore/Benyaoun/Doyle/Kranjcar depending on who starts will certainly give Derby something to worry about.
Agree with this. Away at Derby, Kranjcar and Barton got overrun in the middle and we looked out of our depth with Maiga and Doyle upfront. I'd go with: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Onuoha, Yun Hoilett, Barton, O'Neil, Krancjar, Traore, Austin
Green Simpson, Ned, Clint, Yun Barton Henry Houlett, Krancjar, Morrison Austin For me. They should carve Derby open. But we need Henry protecting the back 4 and giving a base for attach further forward especially with the backs getting forward.Bench: Murphy. Dunne and BAE back up for the back 4. ONeill back up DCM, Traore back up wide midfield or LB, Benny back up forward mid.BZ up front.
Given the way they played in the fixture at Pride Park (now called the iPro Stadium ) I'd very much like to see eighteen stone of pub landlord Dunne steam through Martin, who is Grant Holt without the charisma.
I actually don't think there's anyone in the squad better than Hill in the air, defensively anyway. Having said that I thought Dunne had his best game for months in the semi at LR. I'd start with this: ----------------------------Green------------------------- Simpson--------------Onuoha----------Hill-------------Yun ---------------------Barton-------O'Neill------------------ Hoilett-------------------Morrison-----------------Kranjcar ------------------------Austin---------------------------- There's no way we should play Kranjcar on the left if Clint starts at LB. We'd be sooooooooooo slow sown that side. If Clint starts at LB I'd play Traore in front of him and start Kranjcar in the centre with Morrison (sulky bollocks) moving to the bench. Does anyone know how we're doing on injuries? Traore wasn't fit for the semi at LR and Kranjcar was carrying a hamstring injury at the end.
