hi just watched lambert on the canaries player saying the team he selected was just to give some of them a go thats why there was 9 players from last season in the team. he did not say it straight out but he gave a complexed answer when asked about the team selection in that complexed answer. its sounds like he is saying that he gave the team that come up the first wack. so we could have different team out for stoke game i hope we do as i still think we need a better midfield and defence. i say ruddy Naughton (right back), ayala(centre), de leat(anywhere), teirney( left back) crofts, Bennett, Johnson, hoolahan Holt, Morrison
I would say bring in include Jackson & Bennett to give us more pace in attacking if nothing else. Morison did well on Saturday but I think these two would cause defenders more problems.
i think we need a stronger defence with naughton ayala and de leat in it. also the midfield need bennett and johnson in it
Morison was one of the best performances and as Stoke are a physical side he would be ideal with Holt battling it out. I just hope that the Europa League match on Thursday takes alot out of them and acts as a distraction. It could be an ideal time to play Stoke.
agreed with supernorwich re Stoke being physical - i would put in johnson rather than Fox who is prob too lightweight for this one. morro and Holt up front. they are going to kick lumps out of our boys
I am just glad that team selection is in the hands of PL. We are going to play the most physical team in the league who get the ball high into the box to use aeriel pressure to cause confusion between the central defenders and you want to play someone who has only just joined the club, never played with any other of our central defenders and who can't be match fit as he hasn't played since last season? You also want to drop the striker who was our best player on Saturday and who is big enough to come back for set pieces to deal with the extra aeriel threat of the big Stoke defenders who come up. Jackson marking Shawcross sounds a bit of a joke to me. You also want pace up front to get behind the Stoke defence but want to drop Fox who is the best long ball passer of the ball we have in midfield. We get a good point in our first game away from home and already you want wholesale changes - whatever would you have suggested if we had lost!!!
Oh, and also R Martin. I don't think there is any reason to dropping him as well. Also, it's better for the team if it remains consistently the same. Players won't drop in morale and all that.
Send in the bruisers I say!! Sub surman for Johnson and keep Morrison up front with holt. We need height at the back so put Barnett in (heading clearances excellent) and I reckon we'll do okay. Stoke will try and intimidate us so we can't give an inch. If it doesn't work send on the winger boys and maybe give Jackson a go up front for poachability. My two cents.
I can see wht people are saying re Stoke being physical and Morison had a great game v Wigan. But the fact of the matter is, yo need to play football against Stoke. If you try to play the physical game against them, they will beat you simple. This is why we need to play players like Jackson, Bennett, Pikington etc. Players with pace who play it along the ground. It pains me to say i but on Saturdays performance it would be Holt to make way for Jacko, not Morison. My opinion
PS im not sayig Holt was bad! Im saying Morison looked more dangerous with that bit of added pace. Of course I still love Holty, dont get me wrong!
There would be 2 changes i would make, naughton in for martin and bennett in for crofts! Happy with the rest of the team for the time being
In my opinion it is the perfect way to proceed. you keep your starting 11 (well most of them) who you know can do a job together to a certain standard. You watch the new players and those that were challenging for a place last year in training and should one of your regulars be stuggling then you look to give them a break and put a newbie in to see how they perform. This way you keep the spirit of the side that did so well. Those 11 have the shirts now, it is up to them to keep them. One or two did really well on Saturday and so will definately get another shot, most did adequately and so will probably get another go (unless somebody is really flying in training) and one or two might struggle to keep their place based on Saturday. This is the way to man-manage. Everyone knows they have a shot and when it comes they need to make the most of it or risk losing their place. Perfect for me.
I would agree with that Holtys Boots although if Whitbread's knee is causing him trouble then Barnett or Ayala are going to have to step into the breach too!
I really liked what I saw of Bennett and with him on the pitch suplying crosses for Holty and Morison we could be in business. I just hope Woodgate picks up an injury in midweek because he is a class defender when fit.
We still havent conceded in open play and De Laet was unlucky to have a pen against him, i was impressed with everyone that played
When I'm scratching my .... head over the line-up cpl, I think to myself, thank God I don't have PL's job! I'd probably cover my head in raspberry sauce then sprinkle it with hundreds and thousands - you know! Top myself
