Starting this thread early as can't stop thinking what a big game it is .... The players owe the fans a reaction especially the poor sods who travelled to Hull!! The main question is Clint available or does the transfer window open Jan 2nd???? Not sure where we are injury wise but if everybody was fit you would have to say there would be at least 9 changes from the Hull starting line up Since Meulensteen has taken over Tarbs has been performing well but if Berbatov is back can we fit them both in ..... .................... Stekelenburg.................... Riether..... Amorebieta......Hughes....... richardson Dejagah..... Parker........Karagounis......Dempsey .......................... Tarabt................... .........................Berabtov................. Sidwell Stockdale Dembele Ruiz Riise Kaca Senderos Hughes and Amorebieta are only in because I think Hangeland and Senderos are still injured
Dempsey is not eligible. His first game will be Norwich by all accounts. I would therefore move Richardson to the Dempsey position add Riise and if Senderos is fit play him. Drop Hughes or Amorebieta - both are not good enough in my view. Didn't Rene say Senderos was out for 2 games after the Man City game? I also think its unlikely Stekelenburg will make it either. Hangeland...i'm hearing talks he may not make it back this season which would be a huge blow.
gutted about Brede. Berbatov should play, Taraabt on bench as I don't think we can play both. Kaca in for Demps to add more width. Trimmed my finger nails already.
So from the Hull Starting line up only 3 Dejagah, Stockdale and one of Hughes/Amorebieta will keep there place and two of those three are only staying in due to injuries! Think its harsh if we drop Tarabt, it's obvious Rene has told him that if he ups his work rate and keeps things simple he will get games and so far he has responded well. We need 6 wins to have a chance of staying up and although football is a funny game our best chances are West Ham (h) Sunderland(h) Palace (h) Norwich (h) Hull (h) Newcastle (h) Southampton (h) West Brom (a) Cardiff (a) villa (a) An unexpected win against a top 6 team somewhere would be priceless
Cookie, I like your line up but with Demps not being eligible I'd like to see Kaca continue out on the left. If our wingers would swop with Taraabt from time to time this would give us variation, something we lack at times. Kaca has worked well with Berbs before they have a good understanding when he comes inside with him. Dejagah and his shooting prowess and dribbling skills can also upset sides when he comes inside. Both wide men are good out wide too (thank god) and now giving width to our forward distribution, something that didn't happen in the Hull nightmare where we actually ran the ball back to Stockdale from Hull's corner flag (never to be seen again!) With Kassami coming on for Kara at 60mins, I believe we have a team that can win and win well. Oh and finally we need our twelfth man on the shoulder of every player in our team, and on the backs of the opposition (a must!!!!).
First and foremost we need to recover the midfield and that means going back to three: …Kara….Parker…Sidwell.. [There’s a case for Kasami playing, but that’s worth a thread in it’s own right so I’ll leave it at - not for this game (in a starting position anyway).] Up front we can’t play Taarabt and Berbatov, but it has to be one of these - Hugo is incapable of holding the ball. Which one? Take your pick. As soon as Rene took over a key change was how we switched play and attacked on the flanks. The exception was the Hull game. There’s no point in pretending that match was ‘one of those freaks’. That’s simply unrealistic. A major flaw was that our wing halves did not support the full backs and the midfielders were forced out of position far too often. We need to recover this situation as well. Dejagah just has to be on the right . Wide left? As mentioned here and in the “Dude“ thread, Dempsey is not eligible. So start with Kaca if Berbatov is the choice; Richardson if Taarabt. At the back, can’t see Hughes playing yet another game within 3 days so: ..Riether…Senderos…Amorebietta…Riise..
Harsh on Taarabt if he is dropped after his last two performances but having said that Berbatov was putting in the work rate since Rene came in before his injury and we all know that when he is up for it he can be a game changer! The thing is Taarabt could be an amazing player for us but the kind of personality he is, if he is dropped after playing a couple of good games and working his nuts off it may be a case of three steps backwards! Anyway I'm sure Meulensteen has it all in hand!
Not very good news from Rene's lunchtime press conference. Both Taarabt and Berbatov are to have late fitness tests!!! That would be a big blow since Hugo as I mentioned just can't hold the ball and if anything Bent (even if he were anywhere near fit) is worse. Could this be a time to blood a youngster - probably the Tank since Dembele is not yet recovered? Or see if Kasami can do a Dempsey? PS This will be the third game in a row where Berba has been apparently 'nearly there'. Any conspiracy theorists out and about?
If Berbatov, Taarabt and Dembele are all out I would be tempted to throw Bent in ahead of Rodders both poor but think more chance of bagging a goal from Bent. Not good going into a big big game shame Clint can't play
Time for a youngster I reckon. I know it would be a gamble but worth a punt. Its my gung ho streak in me!
In his internal video, Rene gives no hints what he'll do if either Taarabt or Berbatov don't make it. Sounds as though Senderos is back though. [video=youtube;dd4vQOhRJ3s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dd4vQOhRJ3s[/video]
All the way from Consett, controversial Mr Clattenburg is in charge. please log in to view this image
64% possession in first half with 13 shots, 4 on target. Need to convert in the second half, if we don't it'll be squeaky bum time! COYW
At some point I would like to see Kaca and Dejagah on for Duff and Richardson, think they give us more going forward and we playing ten men at home and need a goal! how's about Dembele on his home debut what a script that would be!
Yesssssssssssss!!! massive win sounded like we played really well for 75 mins hung on a bit for the last 15 but that will always happen when your one goal up in a massive game! the only things I would have preferred is Demebele on instead of Bent, at the time we were well on top at home against ten men perfect oppotunity for to play him for me. Secondly Bent who is desperately in need of confidence missed two one on ones score both of them and a striker like him can be changed over night never mind three massive points COYW
So, so relieved. When spam scored early on I feared the worst, but well done to the lads, onwards and upwards!
Humungous win. So pleased, completely missed the first half as I was in the garden trying to stop the fences blowing away, came in to hear Nolan was off and we were pushing hard. Tense final minutes but relieved we got the 3 points, even if did mean my garden looks like a war zone !!!!
Nails are fine, nerves a little ragged but a massive 3 points. We are out of the bottom 3! Onwards and upwards.
