So Kaboul & Bassong for Centre Half then, hope Younes can keep up with the games! Walker and Rose at full back, Livermore and Sandro in the centre with Lennon on the right and Townsend on the left. Up front Falque/Dos Santos and Defoe/Kane I would guess
I'd go for: Carlo, Walker, Livermore, Bassong, Rose, Lennon, Sandro, Carroll, Townsend Gio, Defoe Subs: Gomes, Kaboul, Falque, Nicholson, Kane, Pav, Luongo I wouldn't risk starting Kaboul, if he picked up an injury we'd be f*cked big time, I'd have him on the bench just incase Livermore or Bassong had to go off. Wouldn't want to play Walker either but seeing as Charlie is injured there's no one else I can think of that can play there.
we really should've paid the money for Cahill in the summer, what a mess. I doubt we'll get him at all now.
Great news re the returnees - plus I'm really happy Walker can play I wonder if his wife has had their baby yet? My team Carlo, Walker, Kaboul, Bassong, Rose, Lennon, Carroll, Livermore, Townsend Gio, Defoe Subs: Gomes, BAE, Sandro, Falque, Kane, Pav, Luongo Give Sandro a run from the bench to help his fitness for Sunday I hope Pav doesn't start, I've had enough of him
I still don't understand the Pienaar situation, is he fit or not? If he's fit, I'd play him or at least put him on the bench. Livermore at CB and resting Kaboul might be worth a shout, if RK are going to play defensively, which apparently they will.
I think that this could be a massive game for Pavlyuchenko and we'd be missing a trick by leaving him out. He'll be desperate to perform and he could boost his value and prospects for January. I'd go with: Cudicini; Walker, Kaboul, Bassong, Rose; Lennon, Sandro, Livermore, Dos Santos; Pavlyuchenko, Defoe. Get the ball out to the wings a lot and put lots of balls into the box with pace. Get Dos Santos and Lennon cutting inside and attacking the defence, while the full-backs overlap. If we need more creativity, then bring on Carroll and Falque.
We need to win this game and I think that's a bit too much of a risk to play Livermore out of position. I'd go for Cudicini Walker Kaboul Bassong Rose Lennon Sandro Livermore GDS Defoe Pav I think it'll show how serious we are about the competition when we see the line up. We could well see Walker, Kaboul, Sandro, Lennon and Defoe rested and Fredericks, Carroll, Mason, Townsend and Kane making it another very inexperienced team.
Damnit you got in before me with the same team Forgot about Yago too, he'll probably get on the bench.
I would like to see Townsend play regardless. His second half performance against Shamrock was telling and he deserves a chance against better opposition.
I don't think he has that mentality. He's just more focused in moaning at lack of game time in newspapers and getting his agent to make up rumours rather than get his head down and fight for a place. With that said, he'll probably bang in a hat-trick tomorrow night...
I'd normally agree, but I think that he'll be very aware of how big an opportunity this is to send a message back to his homeland. What better way to advertise yourself for a move back to Russia than to show your class against Russian opposition?
So do I! If Pav wants to move back to Russia in January, then these two games are his best chance to force it through. Put in two good performances and he'll almost guarantee himself a move, especially with the strange season that they've got this year.
Can't wait to see the back of him, never been much of a fan, not even really fussed about the fee we receive now, though if he can bump his value up with the games he plays in then happy days.
I'd got for... Cudicini Corluka Bassong Kaboul Rose Townsend Livermore Sandro GDS Kane Pav If we need to get at them, move Corluka to centre back and bring on Walker, plus put Defoe on up front. Plus we have Lennon, Falque and Carroll in reserve.