FFS!!!!! Just as we get a settled team this happens. What we really, really don't need now is Bruce making multiple changes & unbalancing the whole team & playing people out of position . Surely we stick to 4-4-2 & there is a logical straight swap for Meyler ? (with Bruce in charge you never know what he's going to do).
I agree. Hmmm so maybe we should move Clucas back into the centre as he is one that is box to box. Bruce has a headache.
Has to be either Hayden as a straight swap or Clucas central and Maloney on the left? Think I'd prefer the former. To accomodate Tom we'd probably need to play more of a 4-1-4-1 with Hayden sitting. Worked in the cup but would like to keep a settled side.
Agree with all those who share worries about bringing Huddlestone back in the middle - he's so comfortable on the ball that it gravitates towards him - everyone passes it to him and he does nothing with it but slow us down. And it would be crazy to mess up the fantastic partnership Clucas and Robertson have - they are so dangerous down that wing together. So has to be a simple Haydn for Meyler for me. Haydn looks a good player.
This. Hayden has looked excellent when given the opportunity recently, and is as close to a like-for-like change as we could make.
A big shame for - we've looked a different team since he was re-instated. A difficult one for Bruce - there's only Huddlestone, Diame, Hayden, Maloney, Snodgrass etc to choose from. If we're going to get injuries then midfield is the place for it to happen!
When George Herbert Walker Bush was President it was said in the event of his death that the CIA had instructions to shoot Dan Quayle the vice President. With Meyler out what is to be done to Huddlestone?
I'd be loath to move around players to accommodate, such as Clucas etc. Bung in Hayden, and leave the rest where they have built up some experience. I'd like to see both Tom and Diame kept as an advanced midfielder behind the striker and keep the two engines in the middle. Hayden is an engine and more of a like for like. Clucas would be too in what I saw when he was in that role with Diame in front (3 4 1 2 with wing backs) but he is working well with Robbo and it may be a change too far. One up top, or two and one subbed for the additional midfielder. Don't mess with the positions and players as its working!
Yes 'like for like' replacement. We have not looked good with Diame or Huddlestone in the middle this season.
I'm already getting a really bad feeling about this when people mention changing our winning formation to accommodate Huddlestone. Why ? What does he bring to our midfield over 90 mins ? Nothing. He slows everything down. He makes no defence splitting forward passes. He makes backwards & sideways passes. I pray that Bruce just sticks Hayden or Maloney straight into Meyler's spot & on we march.
Absolutely this ^. Meyler, as we all know, is a certain type of player, he has a great engine and he'll attack and defend in a game in equal measure, which is why he's been such a great partner in CM for Jake. The only other player in our squad that has any chance of being dropped in with little affect on the current balance is Isaac Hayden, without any shadow of doubt. However will Bruce put his faith in youth? Personally I doubt it but I really think he should. Thudd is a gifted footballer without doubt but he has nothing like a Meyler type engine, Diame only ever looks completely happy when he has a free creative role, a central midfield battle wouldn't suit him at all. Maloney, again he's a creative midfielder, I can't see him sticking a foot in like Meyler, or indeed Hayden, would. So for me it's clearly obvious that it HAS to be Hayden, but I'm pretty certain that Bruce will attempt to shoehorn the wrong type into CM, and in doing so he'll undoubtedly **** up completely what has looked an increasingly balanced side over the last few weeks. I should have really posted this at the start....FOR ****S SAKE!!!
It's not difficult at all, but I won't be shocked to see Bruce make it so, and no we don't have a choice of all those players, logically we only have Hayden. Let's see how logical Steve Bruce is.
