Andy Robertson and James Chester are both fit and available for selection. Tom Huddlestone returns from suspension, while David Meyler starts his. Curtis Davies is still injured and Gaston Ramirez is ineligible(no mention if he's also still injured). On McGregor, Bruce said "We've got to look at the situation", so he may well be dropped. Bruce's comments on Diame suggest he probably won't be starting. please log in to view this image
McGregor Rosenior Chester Dawson Robertson Elmo Huddlestone Livermore Brady N'Doye Hernandez We need our best players on the pitch now. Alex and Paul have been having a good run but they're just no James or Michael. McGregor is ****e but he's the best we have.
At least that should put paid to the accusations we often see regarding rushing players back too quick. I'd expect Diame to either start and do 45 mins or maybe come on in the second half. I just know Long will score then I'll have a frigging week of me dad telling me we shouldn't have sold him. Just hoping our lot are up for it, and go for it rather than play like we did against Swansea.
It's good that we can learn from our mistakes , Diame has been out for a long time it's going to be very difficult for him as he is carrying quite a lot of expectation on his shoulders due to his performances at the start of the season
Mr Hat, You just said you need the best players we have got on the pitch. Do you consider under the current situation that McGregor is better than Harper, just asking like.
Harper hasn't played now for God knows how long, he's looked unconvincing this season struggling to stretch for balls. At WBA in the cup there were a few shots of their narrowly wide which he didn't even move for, 6" in the other direction they'd have been goals that McGregor, for all his faults, would almost certainly have saved. McGregor may well be an accident waiting to happen but I think he's the best option we have. If you ignore the evidence of the last 8 months theres no guarantee he'll have another howler on the bounce.
As much as it seems unfair on the lads getting dropped, I think we need this team playing at the top of their game and taking the game to Soton. Hat has it right!
Harper McShane Chester Dawson Robertson Elmo Huddlestone Diame Quinn Brady N'Doye I do think McGregor needs to be dropped. Quinn deserves to be in ahead of Livermore. If, as has been suggested, Diame is not going to start, put Aluko in there. I think McShane should have the right back starting position for this one ahead of Rosey. He is definitely playing well enough to deserve that chance and in addition he does a pose a bit of a goal threat that you never get from Rosey.
Harper Rosenior - Chester - Dawson - Brady Elmo - Hudds - Diame - Robbo N'Doye - Hernandez Livermore in for Diame if required. Dump the ****e formation and get at them with wingers, overlaps from the FBs and a drive forward from midfield from whoever is partnering Hudds. This way the strikers won't be isolated for a change. 5 at the back just DOES NOT WORK for us.
Completely agree. I've been calling for us to use our variety of wide options to it's potential all season. The left side especially is seriously exciting going forward and gives Robbo more freedom. Rosie is a much better defender than Elmo and it also lets Elmo actually get to the by-line rather than being scared to go too far forward
