I'm off to the Britannia stadium for the 1st time this weekend. Should be an enjoyable if a little intimidating experience. So how does everyone else feel we'll get on there this weekend? How should we best go about dealing with stoke's aerial threat and physical presence. What sort of starting line up will Jol go for? Personally, I'm quietly confident we can nick a win, the confidence will be high after the last 2 games against odense and QPR and I feel we can use those as a real platform to build on. In addition although there have been internationals this week, we haven't had Europe which means both teams are at a relatively equal disadvantage. Thoughts anyone?
According to reports Ruiz has picked up a knee injury and might be out for a couple of weeks. Frei has an ankle injury and Senderos is out too, injured in the warm-up against Wales. Briggs is out injured I think Hope Schwarzer has fully recovered from his injury. Hughes might be back after injury. I'd hope Jol would keep the same team for Stoke. Stokes creative players might be out injured. Ethrington, Palacious, Pennant could all be out injured if they haven't recovered from knocks. Whelan seemed to come off injured during the Ireland game. But Walters came on for that game so he is back from injury. None of Huth, Woodgate or Upson as blessed with speed, so you would hope AJ's new found form will run them ragged. Wilkinson and Shawcross are normally a tackle away from a booking, so if Ref Atkinson does his job, we could have a few free-kicks around their area. Their most dangerous player could be Walters, do a Stoke on him and take him out early, and there's nothing left in midfield if Pennant and Ethrington don't play. Hangeland should be able to take care of Crouch. Jerome should play as Jones is out injured. Great theory now put it into pratice.
If we do play AJ (which I assume we will) we need to make sure we don't try too much of the long ball game, as this has happened before away from home and with AJ retrieving that sort of service will be frankly like playing with 10 men. But I agree that a similar team is a good idea, just a question of if Hughes is back do we start him straight away. If we do of course then that leads to the question of Baird or Grygera at right back?
I'd keep Baird and Grygera in. Think if their creative players are out injured then it will give us more space to play and attack them on the ground. One thing I'm hoping is Begovic doesn't have a good game, as he can be a match winner for them. Fulham should have a good bench to turn to if needed, Kasami, Duff, Gecov, Etuhu, Hughes and Sa.
I'd certainly go along with having AJ and Bairdinho in the team. Robes - Enjoy the match. We went up for a 0-0 season before last - good atmosphere. (Took my kids into The Harvester - full of Stoke supporters - very friendly to the few away supporters). COYW
Cheers GS, and harvester sounds like a fine shout, the unlimited refills on the salad cart will make the trip worth it regardless of the result!
We were starting to play well just before the international break - hopefully we haven't lost that momentum. I do wish Senderos and Ruiz were playing since they're both tall. This might be a good game for Kasami. With all that pace and aggression, he could get under their noses a bit.
I'm wondering whether this could be a game to bring Etuhu in for either Sidwell or Murphy. Normally, I'd pick the latter two ahead of Dickson every time but if midfield might be more of a battle than usual, maybe we should pick horses for courses. Add in the possibility of lingering resentment after Danny's comments about Stoke, Wolves and Blackburn last season and it's certainly something for Jol to think about. Normally I'm one of the optimists on this board, but I have a nagging feeling about this one. I hope I'm proved wrong.
I'm with you on that one captain, though if we were to leave one of sidwell or murphy out it would have to be murphy. Sidwell has been outstanding whenever I've watched him lately, making fine tackles and showing a very good range of passing. If were to try and match stoke man for man then bringing in etuhu for murphy would be the logical choice for me. That said, realistically I can't see that happening but you never know.
I like the idea of Etuhu playing. There's certainly a place for him against teams like Stoke, Blackburn and Wolves. But with card-happy Atkinsen reffing the game, he'd have to be careful out there. One missed tackle and he's off. Sidwell quietly does a nice job on the defensive side. He gets back; he digs in and fights for the ball. While he's not as intimidating as Etuhu, but I don't think we've lost much on the defensive side when Sidwell pairs with Murphy. The passing is certainly better.
Etuhu's passing is my biggest concern with putting him in (although DR raises a fair point about the danger of getting sent off). While I came to be a big fan of Etuhu in the Roy era, I'm not sure that he is a good fit with the way we are playing these days. I remain to be convinced that he's got a future with us, sadly. In most situations I would take Sidwell and Murphy ahead of him, with Baird and the as-yet unproven Gecov good shouts to be picked before him.
The club site has Jol saying that Hughes is available, Frei and Ruiz both out (Ruiz for a week or more).
Robes, hope you have a good time and, as per the other thread on this topic, please could you keep a note of the time Delap faffs around with the ball and his towel - if it really is 12 mins per game that simply shouldn't be allowed!
There certainly is a good case for Etuhu playing. Murphy may not have the legs for such a physical game and Sidwell has been superb. Dickson can mix it up with the best of them, but I don't think Jol's a fan. And I don't think Etuhu has put in a single good performance this season...
Evening all, Shame the international break came when it did, we could have done with taking the QPR result to the Brittania. For me the important thing that we have to change this season, particularly away from home, is that we take our game to the opposition. Players like Etuhu would certainly provide some strength in the centre of the park but at what cost. Murph's still is majorly influential for us and as Robe said Sidwell has been brilliant both creatively and defensively. We need to try and do what we do well, retain possession and get AJ working off the shoulder of the defenders. This is a real test for us, their place is a tough place to play at, but we are playing very creative football. Creative football should win over physical football if we do it well. Be interesting to see if Dembele gets a game, seem to remember he was mauled by Wilkinson in a cup tie last year. COYW
Etuhu is one of those players who needs to play all the time to be confident and sharp enough to compete. Playing once in a blue moon is the worst thing for him. He's a good defender, but he's such a liability with the ball at his feet, it's hard to justify him being in the starting 11 under normal circumstances.
First off I'd stick with the QPR starting line up. Baird has been playing too well to be dropped, despite Hughes apparently being fit. I'm agreat fan of Aaron but to go straight into this game after a month off? I wouldn't play Etuhu. Stoke have two basic tactics; play the ball wide or hoof it over the midfield. I fear the game would pass Dickson by. The first goal will be crucial. Crouch at Spurs never got a kick against us but seems. so far, to be enjoying Stoke's style. If Etherington plays, sugar injection and all, JAR will have to step up his defensive game. Alternatively, if Huth plays at right back Johnson should be able to exploit him. A penalty early on? Then there is Bobby. Jol at a press conference said, "He returned from International a bit quiet. I had a word". This is when Bobby needs to dispell the silly 'away' rumours and so long as he doesn't get a whack early on, I see him keeping Shawcross and Woodgate very busy. If Jol stays brave, i'm going for that early penalty and a 3-1 win.
So Baird & Hughes start. Sidwell & Murphy, not Etuhu. As expected Dempsey/Dembele/Johnson/Zamora. Could get a result here today! C O Y W !!
Just got back, very disappointing display. Promising start, but no cutting edge. Riise's free kick and zamoras header were our only chances. Stoke conformed to many of the stereotypes aimed at them, taking a long time preparing for set pieces and playing a slow direct game, but credit to them they dictated play and were worthy winners. We looked toothless up front even when the strikers got any service. Need to improve in Krakow on thursday and away from home generally. I thought the end of last season showed we might have finally moved on from such below par away performances, but this match showed that clearly isn't the case yet.
