Balls to the wall, go for it, must win = FOUR FOUR TWO. We've played Villa Norwich and Southampton recently with one up top and not looked like winning. Stoke are the worst away team in the league and we have a very tough February so anything less than three points won't do. My team; ------------------Mannone------------------- Bardsley-----Oshea-----brown-----alonso Johnson-----Cattermole--Ki---------Borini --------------Fletcher---Altidore------------ Have the option of bringing Giaccherini on the left and moving Borini up top. Fletcher and Altidore need help, they could help each other Wednesday night.
With the huge amount of football knowledge that I suspect Poyet has, he will not be letting Jozy anywhere near Wednesday's team
I would go with ------------------Mannone------------------- Bardsley-----Oshea-----brown-----Alonso -------------------Catts--------------------- Johnson------------------------------Giacc ----------------------Ki---------------------- -----------Wickham------Borini------------
based on Poyets comments on Borini: 4-5-1 Giacc on the LW, Borini in the middle behind fletcher/altidore. Colback and Ki playing deeper in midfield, behind Borini Also, Giacc and Borini can interchange, hopefully pulling Stoke out of shape Catts to come on if Stoke are too physical
Can't see Wickham getting a start , not good enough for prem, last 4 managers have had a look and come to same conclusion.
------------------Mannone------------------- Bardsley-----Oshea-----brown-----alonso Johnson-----Cattermole--Ki---------Borini ------------------------Giacc.................... --------------Wickham----------------------- The above for me. Wickham is scoring a goal a game at the moment, give the lad a chance.
Knew he needed games under his belt and he was 3rd in line so wouldn't have seen much action here in first half of season.
He won't put two up top. Front and midfield threes of Jack Catts Ki Johno Fletch Borini Back line the usual.
Whilst I hope he goes attacking I do think this is how we'll line up. Just hope if its 0-0 he goes for it early enough with extra forward
Poyet is already trying to stamp his style on this club and that means 1 striker, which is fine so long as the players around that lone striker are attack minded. Gus bases his football on control and although 4-4-2 is more direct and maybe seemingly more adventurous, I haven't seen enough from either Fletcher or Jozy to suggest either of them deserve a game never mind both but I am sticking with Fletcher as he at least has previous good form at this level. Manonne Bardsley, JOS, Brown, Alonso Colback, Catts Borini, Ki, Johnson Fletcher
Mannone Bardo-----Vergini-----Brown-----Alonso Catts Ki-----Colback Johnson-----------------------Mavrias Borini
Think you could be right on the team apart from Altidore, I really think Poyet has seen enough now. I think Connor may get a shout if he isn't on his way. Poyet said he watches hours of dvd's of our games and said he wouldn't watch back the Kidderminster game as it was boring. The most boring bit was where Altidore was.
When I first saw this set up I thought, aye that's not too bad, but the more I look at it, no, no, no! Gotta have Catts alongside Jack, Borini out wide, Ki behind Fletcher up front on his own. Stoke are a big physical team so Catts, Jack and Ki need to own midfield.
We won't play two up front anyway. Poyet has stated this is our set up and we're sticking to it. Lose the midfield you tend to lose the game in this league. Play with a diamond 4 you leave gaps everywhere for a structured 5 man midfield to exploit.
We have to dominate midfield so i would go 4 5 1 that can easily turn into 4 3 3 when going forward. I think it suits our players best.
