With Sundays tough trip to Spurs looming what will MON do? Go for an attacking 4-4-2, a semi defensive 4-4-1-1 or a hit them on the break 4-5-1. Do we stick with O'Shea at RB or move Bardo there and Richardson to LB. Then we have midfield, bring back Catts or bring in Gardner. Do we find a place for Mclean? Bendtner up front or stick with Wickham. I know the questions and if we still had Bruce I would be sure of the answers but, we don't so neither do I. What would you do and more to the point what do you think MON will do?​
I Have no idea what MON will do. But I would drop Oshea and move ricco to LB and Bardo to RB. Bendtner in for Wickham, cos Wickham is not match fit - bring him on later in the game. Midfield of: Larsson, Colback, Vaughan, Maclean Sess
Why not westy bardo..bramble..brown..richardson oshea..catts larsson..vaughan..sess bendy No, well I'm not sure either
If I were MON, I would be tempted to play Maclean from the start, such was his impact...I would also consider using Noble at some point as he will be an unknown quantity which could give us that element of surprise that we may need.
One thing is for sure, we can't let Tottenham have too much possession. They don't like to be rough handled, as Stoke proved last week. If we were to sit back and do a Blackburn, we would get beaten. They have too much quality in their squad. Our best bet would be counter-attacking football, trying to keep possession, and use the wings. Bendy might come back into the squad, but he needs to work hard to make space and get in the box.. none of this hangin around outside the box ****e he has been doing. We will have to close them down when they are on the ball, and play close attention to Modric if he's playing. We can't go out on the pitch with the play to draw mentality because we will lose. Just need to be tough in midfield, keep Modric in a defenders back pocket, and play very disciplined. Stoke proved they can be beaten, but once they went 3-4-3 at the end of Stoke, they were a real threat. I feel MoN might play Catts for his tough tackling, but will be very wary of his ability to get sent off. Just my own view though.
I think you have to plan to contain Bale and Lennon. O'Shea to be frank seems slow, maybe Mcbardo and Rico are quick enough? Then there is 'I'm a fart 'perhaps young Jack c/b detailed for him? I do not know if Bendtner is fit, some have said he is in Denmark trying to be the big I am, I would play therefore play Connor and 5 in midfield, Larsson, Sess Vaughan (and Jack as above) plus either Ji/Ryan/McClean. It may be of course we will go with two defensive midfielders and Catts/Meyler may come into contention. Spuds are a decent side and it will not easy to get any result but I am sure MoN will give it ago.
While no one can doubt Maclean was great when he came on I would advise a bit of caution. His debut keeps reminding me of Jamie Lawrance. Came on, turned a game and proceeded to do nada from then on. Hopefully Maclean is the real deal though.
I wouldn't put it past him to go with Bendtner and Wickham up front to put them on the back foot from the start rather than allow them to settle. He will leave O Shea, Brown, Bramble and Bardsley as they did okay and a midfield of Larsson, Vaughan, Richardson and Sessegnon. That is a midfield with a bit more pace to it with Richo and Sess. Then again, that might just be a load of ****e. Lol PS - I agree with the McClean situation and keep him as an impact substitution, along with Noble.
O'sheas experience would be good but quite frankly he has been absolutely abysmal so personally i would drop him. Stick bardo RB, ricco LB. I would play both Wickham & Bendy, if fit, and go for it. We cannot defend for 90 mins. Not sure about McLean from the off. Lets see how the game progresses and if necessary bring him on.
I particularly want to see McClean start this one. Spurs are very fond of fast, direct wing play - but do they like it when someone else does it to them? I'm not so sure. The problem with him was, the opposition knew all the bloody answers too! Ain't life good without him?
If it was me I would keep and unchanged side to build confidence, but I am not MON so who knows. I like the fact McClean gives us a very effective plan B. Ricco should never play LB again, keep him in midfield he is much better there.
O Neill said he would be giving everyone a chance over the Christmas period. I think he will want to look at Cattermole and Bendtner as soon as possible to establish whether rthey will be part of his longer term plans; so my guess is - Westwood O'Shea, Bramble, Brown, Bardsley Larsson, Vaughan, Cattermole, Richardson, Sessegnon Bendtner Subs from Carson, Kilgallon, Meyler, Colback, McClean, Noble, Whickham, Gardner
