Hopefully someone will remind Kelvin that it gets windy in stoke and not to wander away from his line.
This will be tough, not as hard as the Britannia was a couple of years back. I SAY; DAVIS CLYNE FONTE YOSHI BERT SCHNEIDER TOBY DAVIS LONG PELLE MANE Play toby in the wanyama role. Feel reed is just too lightweight and inexperienced to play that role on his own.
I think if Stoke bring on Crouchie then moving Toby into DM would be a great idea so as to compete with him when the ball is hoofed up field meaning the CB can look to pick up the flick on
Agree Toby is best in defence. But Reed is a long way off filling wanyamas boots. And JWP isn't really a CDM.
Morgan venturing forward more leaving Vic furthest back. How he has been playing all season. I know they are both CDM's. Wanyamas role is the last man in front of the defence.
But I see it that we play with 2 CDMs with someone like Davis in front of them at the tip of a mini triangle, playing forward. Morgan gets forward more as he's more athletic (he's a fitness machine). I don't see that he's played "in front of Vic" and more often than not it is him picking the ball up from the CB's (right next to them). So sorry, I don't see what you've seen and Reed could play with Morgan in my view. Even when Morgan ventures forward, he is always back there breaking stuff up as he is so fit.
I'm not silly enough to say I would play Reed over Wanyama, but of the handful of appearances young Harrison has made he has not looked out of his depth Yes he is small, but as obvious as this sounds, he has been small his whole life. He is not moving into the men's game having enjoyed a physical advantage at youth level. His game has always had to be played in the same style. One thing that impressed me with his performance against Newcastle was the number of second balls he won. He's not going to be able to compete in many aerial 50/50s so he is on his toes making sure he gets the knock downs. I think he is better defensively than JWP & Davis, but seems a little limited in possession compared to those two. I reckon Koeman will opt for JWP, but I won't be concerned if Reed gets the nod
Going to this one - my first away game since that night in Sheffield. 4th time to Stoke - yet to see a win, but yet to see a defeat. 1-1 I reckon.
Reed can do a job for sure. The only slight issue would be making sure we have enough height to defend set pieces.
id put reed in personally he needs experience and I see this as the perfect opportunity along side Morgan. He needs to be ready for next season when he could be on the team sheet every week
AL...did you have to mention"that night in Sheffield"? To those who haven't been to Stoke before, two bits of advise 1. Wrap up warm and be prepared for cold, wind and rain regardless of the weather forecast 2. DON'T buy hot drinks from inside the group. They are the most chemically disgusting tasting things you will ever have the misfortune to try and drink Also I would play Reed from the start
If we win then top 4 becomes a real possibility again. If not, the season is over and hopefully we get Europa league next season.
Going to this game with my lad, we always seem to go to Stoke away games - it must be because its such a beautiful pace to visit ! I never underestimate Stoke City at home so i am thinking it may be a draw as it often has been of late, although a repeat of our 2-3 win there last visit would be great. Ref playing Harrison Reed in place of big Vic - no problem, Reed has proved to be a very effective midfielder when he has played in the team on occasion and you dont need to be a hulking great guy like Vic to be successful in that position. However i think Ward Prowse has earned a start and he does offer other options. I also hope that SKD stays on his line - i just dont understand why modern goalkeepers stray so far forward anyway, as with modern footballs there is always a risk of being lobbed from the opponents half.
Think Koeman might play Yoshida CB and Toby CDM just to compete with Stoke in the air. JWP should start.
