Absolutely 100% agree with all that mate, and your earlier comments about Whittaker being better than Martin. Don't know if you were around last week but that pretty much sums up exactly what I was saying to Carrabuh the other day. I'm not criticising Martin, but the stats show that with Whittaker in the side we'd conceded 10 goal in 9 games (5 wins, 3 draws and a loss against WBA after he'd gone off injured), only conceding more than two goals once - against Swansea when he scored in our 4-3 win, while Rusty has played at RB in each of the six games when we've been tonked and we let in on average two goals a game. I'm not saying Rusty is a bad player, I've always been a fan of his and still am, I just don't think he's quite good enough to be our regular full back and that Whittaker is a better player. Carrabuh chose to ignore those fairly convincing stats and said it was purely down to Bassong. Of course Bassong has been massive for us, and I totally agree that Turner has been excellent after a few shaky early games, and they make a superb partnership together, however I also think we'd be stronger with Whittaker in as I think as well as being technically better he also links up better with Snodgrass and gives us more options going forward. Playing him at LB is an option I suppose, though I don't think Garrido has been as bad as some have been making out - I just want him to take a few free-kicks around the box as I don't think I've seen him take one. I don't understand the talk of leaving Bradley Johnson out, he has been much better than Tettey over the past two months, though I did actually think Tettey had a decent game on Saturday. I'm not sure Fox is the answer either, he wouldn't make us play any further up the pitch - which has been our problem - as he's not exactly known for his quick bursts from midfield to support the attack. I'd probably keep the centre-mid personnel the same, just ask Tettey to get forward quicker as he has shown he's got a bit of pace and a good engine on him. I'm also happy with one up top
I feel that the 2 DMs helped us massively when that started. We became much better defensively so I feel that dropping one of them would do more harm than good. Hoolahan has the freedom to help us when attacking with the two central players supporting behind while we still have width. We lose a player up front but it's more important to stop conceding goals before we can worry about scoring goals. I wouldn't mind seeing Surman back with Pilkington out for more than one reason!
rusty is a bit of a cult hero, but whittaker is the better player from what i have seen. it's a shame he has had the injuries really. i'd expect him to play against Everton if he is fully fit again.
On form I'd drop Tetty and keep Johnson in the side if we are to lose a DM. I respectfully disagree that Turner has been our best player recently. For me Snodgrass has been outstanding but the CB's are both doing a good job.I think that obth Pilks and Wes have been a little off form recently - whather this is fatigue or carry knocks others will know better than me.
