Thought I'd do it and be positive so much negative **** about at the moment. We'll win . There i said it. We'll do the double over them. I hope our club captain has got his head out of his arse as we need him for this game but i cant see it. Think Mcshane Bruce and Chester will all struggle with Murray in the air. Rosy is a certainty to come in against two tricky wingers, wouldnt be surprised he's either RB or LB. Diame has to play. For me Hernandez does too. I would drop Tom. i'm fine with him not been the quickest but he just doesnt command and his quality as set pieces and through balls just doesnt make up for that fact. A Molby who couldnt pass shoot or direct play wouldnt have been a pro footballer. Tom nneds to grow a pair and quick. Jake should feel more comfortable sitting with Diame making the runs forward. Harper will play but anything to either side of him and its in. I'm going for 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. 3-5-2 will get stuffed against their wingers. I would be tempted to put Chezz to RB to stop Bolassie and Rosy to LB to stop Zaha. With Davies showing his real form at CB with Dawson and dominating the game. I prefer Brady at LB to Robbo as he's a better defender, more aggressive. So Robbo gets in ahead of Quinny just for his pace, he's quick enough to double up on Zaha too. Same with Elmo on t'other side. We have to go for this. We can do this no problem. Harper Rosy Chester Dawson Brady Elmo Diame Jake Robertson N'Doye Hernandez Come on City. 2-0
We need to get to grips with Jedinak. If he controls midfield we'll get beat. I just hope we're up for it. it's about time they stopped saying they're up for it in the papers and proved it on the pitch.
Too true. We'll end up with something like: --------------------Harper Elmo--Chester--Bruce--Dawson--Figueroa ----Livermore--Huddlestone--Ramirez---- ----------------Aluko----N'Doye--------------- Slow and steady in midfield, Aluko dropping deep to collect the ball and N'Doye cut off from everyone else. The difference between us and Leicester is that as defensive as flat-top usually is, he's realised they have nothing left to lose and has allowed them to attack - something they've realised they're better at than defending. Attack is the best form of defence, but Bruce seems scared to try it. I really do hope he doesn't approach the game with caution and gives the players a bit of freedom to attack.
I agree with all this apart from would have Diame in for Ramirez and probably a bit more controversially Meyler or Quinniesta for Huddlestone, I don't think Big Tom is the man for a relegation scrap like this based on this seasons form
Palace like to get the ball out wide quick as poss! So we need to pressure their supply from the back! Close down the backs & we've got a chance.
Just can't see us winning at the moment. So I'd take a point. I'd play N'Doye and Hernandez. Either Bruce's key signings will save us. Or they won't. But if they're not on the pitch, they definately won't.
This is the wrong game to go gung ho at a team. Palace thrive on the counter attack, against teams who sit deep and have the steady approach they seem to find it hard. I'd play them at the own game, park the bus when we don't have the ball and break fast with elmo and Robbo as soon as we do. Press high and we'll come unstuck.
-------------------Harper Elmo Chester Dawson McShane Brady ----- Livermore Hudd Quinn ----------------N'Doye Ramirez
Greegsy Rosenior Chester Dawson Brady Elmo Huddlestone Meyler Quinn N'Doye Hernandez I would have had Robbo left side but with him and Diame being out I'd play Meyler and Quinn I reckon. But I expect to see 3-5-2.
We need energy in midfield - hence Quinn. We need someone up front with a bit of guile -hence Ramirez.
Ramirez is ****e up front, just like all the other wingers/midfielders we play there. I'm not generally bothered about 'correct positions', but strikers are different. You need a very particular skillset. Just being decent going forward doesn't make you a striker. Ramirez, Aluko, Ince, Brady can all be decent players but none of them are strikers.