We played 4-4-2 yesterday so he's hardly got tunnel vision? Rosey and Robertson in for Bruce and Macca and that's just about our best available team.
It seems to me that SB realises that Chester is one of our best CB's and wanted him back in the team asap but didn't want to leave out Bruce Jnr and McShane because they've been doing a decent job. Unfortunately, in our current position we can't afford that level of loyalty. SB has to be brutally honest and pick the best players available in their best positions and within a system that enables us to get a strong grip on midfield but also to have a proper go at teams. Yes we did look the better of the two teams for spells on Saturday, especially in the first half but I'm sure no one really felt we were going to go on and win the game. We might just have pinched a point if Bruce Jnr hadn't made the unnecessary challenge on Long but that was the best we were ever likely to get and how many games have we had like that and come away with nothing other than a further dent in our previously impressive goal difference. I agree with PLT that without Jelavic, two strikers isn't working, so I would revert to one and go 4-2-3-1 with the ball, reverting to 4-5-1 without. Harper Rosie/Elmo Chester Dawson Robertson Livermore Huddlestone Elmo/Aluko Ramirez/Diame Brady N'Doye I'd start with Ramirez and bring Diame on for the last 20/30 minutes. I'd also probably start with a Rosie/Elmo combo down the right but with the option to bring Aluko on and take off one of those two off later in the game. The same would apply with Quinn on the left if necessary. Yes it'd be tough on McShane in particular and Bruce Jnr but this isn't any time for sentiment, we need to get our best players on the pitch in their best positions before it really is too late. With so many of our last games at home, even though the opposition is largely formidable, we can still have a major influence on our own destiny. If we are to go down, let's at least go down fighting!
With a two week break between games, you'd hope that Diame would be challenging for a starting place at Palace.
Seeing him challenge for a 70:30 ball in his favour would be a start. He was a proper fanny on Saturday, and made us a lot worse when he came on.
I agree with most of this. We should have been 2-0 up and game over before the pe I agree totally with your last line - "If we are to go down, let's at least go down fighting" - and for this reason alone it would be madness to drop McShane. Apart from the fact that he's been our best defender for the last 3 games - better than Dawson - his attitude is 100% of what we need for the rest of the season. I'd have him in a back 3 of Chester, Dawson, McShane. Midfield of Elmo, Livermore, Huddlestone, Quinn, Brady, with Aluko and N'Doye up front. Diame is not remotely match fit at present, and Robertson too much of a liability defensively.
Liked the starting team. We played well upto the penalty so all is not as bad as some think. Pelle should have walked. Alex Bruce should have known better than to lunge in on Long who was going nowhere. In fact he looked to have over run the ball at the time. But at least we are not playing badly unlike others around us. Results elsewhere helped as well. All is not as bad as many think. Keep the faith. City need to keep the performance levels up but improve the composure in front of goal. Also, cut out these mistakes that are costing us league points. 2 weeks to re-group for the 6 game season.
Tenerife, Benidorms in August. Dont you know the season tsk tsk. Malaga next week. So someone'll have to do the Palace match thread.
You've got a point and the goalkeepers for the opposing teams seem to be making the difference at the minute
