I am very worried about this game as watching the game against Liverpool they looked a very solid side. I think we deceive people with our attacking play. Sometimes we look very good but actually we aren't scoring that many. There haven't been many games recently where we have scored more than one, and that has been in games where we looked in attack. My major concern is the ref - Clattenberg. In the two games where he reffed that I have watched he has been completely hopeless. We drew all of them so maybe that's a good omen as I would be happy to take one point. Unfortunately I think Stoke are a physical side and we tend to be pushed over by those types of team. Anyone thing Kenwyne Jones will score against us?
Wouldn't go quite that far, but I do agree that we should rest a few, namely Shaw, Puncheon and Lambert, who tend to be the first to tire. Shaw is only 17, Lambert has never been that fit and I think Puncheon still has a bit of a hangover from not playing and skiving off training last season. PL games are a lot tougher than Championship games on both the legs and the mind, so we'd be mad not to use the strength in depth we do have if it doesn't seriously compromise our chances of winning this.
I agree that getting a point against Stoke is difficult but not impossible. But that is just it, it's one point. I would rather try for the three against Arsenal than the one against Stoke. But maybe that's me being naive. Maybe a point away to Stoke is an easier task than three points at home to Arsenal (or maybe even just the one). I know they guys played a lot of matches last season, but that was against sides much weaker than this season's opponents, and generally speaking we weren't chasing after the ball that much last season. I and many others were at Anfield just this month. It was clear to me and many people I spoke to just how tired we looked. We couldn't cope with the same XI for the third time in a week. I'm certain that if we pretty much play the same XI vs Stoke as we did against Fulham, then Arsenal will just walk right over us and there will be no chance at all of us getting three points. But like I say, I didn't expect anyone to agree with me. I know effectively conceding defeat before you've kicked off is highly controversial.
I think you have to play your best available 11 and take each game as it comes. We could rest a couple and they could easily pick up a knock in raining. Look at Rooney!
Interesting to note Tony Pulis saying he personally thinks the game against us will be tougher than Liverpool. Expecting absolutely nothing from this game, so anything is a bonus. We'll go there, get roughed up, but try our best (I hope). It's all I ask. Maybe we can get round them but our link up play will have to be on the money. A bonus that Shawcross is out. I'd go with the same eleven although horses for courses maybe Hooiveld should come in here.
I would like to nominate this as post of the year 2012. I don't think we will get anything against Stoke. I disagree with those saying that we should rest Rickie. If anything, he is our one player likely to stand up to the physicality of Stoke. We also need Morgan and Cork in there, who are used to physical battles coming up from the championship. To throw JWP/Chappers in there would be complete madness.
Some say this isthe perfect game for lambert however I think we should be looking more at targeting Stoke with pace of mayuka Lee jrod And trying to get in behind them because goofing it up to them will play right into thier hands.
I'm not certain that places Boruc above Gazza however. The only time you will need a sub keeper is when yours has been injured/sent off and typically will be facing an imminent penalty, Boruc has the experience to handle the nerve-wrecking moment whereas Gazza is still very young for a keeper and tends to take a while to settle in to games. I wouldn't be surprised to find Gazza still high up in the pecking order.
The interviewer after yesterday's game said it was the eighth game with the same back four. That has coincided with a huge improvement in our GA column. If only Nigel could nail that goalkeeper position, we would be sorted. Anyway I think those four have earned their chance and making a change would just be a risk. It won't be easy for them but we have a chance (it's only Kenwyne bloody Jones anyway).
Boruc Clyne Fonte Hooiveld Shaw Cork Schneiderlin Puncheon Ramirez Mayuka Lambert Subs: Davis, Fox, Yoshida, Davis, JWP, Rodriguez, Guly. Lallana for JWP if fit. Rest Shaw against Arsenal, don't want Arsenal seeing him play!
physical presence of guly could be beneficial. reeves on the left is another option if we are looking for these quick little passes around the edge of the box
Reeves would end up be smashed into the crowd like the ****ty Fifa physics, he is far to light weight.
Talking of KJ, when Berbatov takes his shirt off, he gets booked, when KJ does that ridiculous somersault, it is not regarded as a bookable offence, he wouldn't be the first to hurt himself trying to be too cocky.
