Trying to pick myself up still but lets have a change of topic with the team for Sunday. I pray that we dont go for the 4-5-1. Hopefully O'shea will be back to strengthen up the defence and Bardsley moved out onto the left. If I see one long long ball against Stoke I will be fuming as this is not the way to play these guys. I am playing Ricco on the left as he has pace/skill and can get to the line and deliver a pull back, which is exactly what we need on both flanks. Sessegnon through the middle as Stoke have not got the players to go through us and they play through their wingers or by long balls from the back so I think Sess would cause damage from central midfield. I was thinking about starting Whickham but with Ji's goal on Saturday I would give him a start as he will have some confidence then maye bring Whickham on for Ji later in the game. --------------------Mignolet-------------------- O'shea---------Brown-------Bramble-----Bardsley Larsson----Sessegnon----Cattermole----Richardson -----------Ji Dong Won------Bendtner------------ Thoughts?
Why no Larsson IBWT? Thought he had a good game at the weekend personally (and think he'll be important to us on Sunday) Think I'd agree with most of your team but put Sessegnon on the left and Larsson on the right - Richardson hasn't done it for me this season (stressed as he hasn't really done it for much of his SAFC career!!) Ji took his goal really well at the weekend and, if I'm honest, I would definitely play him or Wickham up front with Bendtner at the weekend - but of height to deal with the stoke threat. We'll see eh!
Actually marcus i have re-edited my team and put Larrson on the right and Sess through the middle. Stoke tend to play on the flanks so I would think we should be ok in the middle of midfield to allow Sess to play in there.
About Larsson, I am less certain he had a good game. Undoubtedly his dead ball kicks are very good, but I think he may be even slower than Catts! So he is no winger and therfore where to play him is a problem. You have put Vaughan in, my understanding about him is he is a creative goal scorer so personally I would like to see him there instead of Catts to see what he is like. I also see what you are doing with Rico, a left footer on the left wing, good logic but is he better that young carrot top. Sess on the wing, spot on, we have tried him behind a striker it has not worked hopefully even SB has seen that. Against Stoke we have to try two up front and we will also need Bentdner to help defend in our own box.
Because its Stoke I would put Westwood in, I have no faith in Mig with crosses and Westwood has had Championship experience with for of a physical presence. Would also go with Vaughan so for me it would be WESTWOOD OSHEA..TURNER..BROWN..BARDSLEY LARSSEN..CATTS..VAUGHAN..SESS BENDTNER..JI Turner is a better defender than Titus and Ji is our only goalscorer so far, and big
Ah cheers IBWT - for not making me look like a twat for that comment!!! One thing I hope we do is leave a player on the half way line for Stoke dead balls - I hate having 11 men in the box - causes more problems than it solves and leaves no outlet when we get the ball. We owe Stoke (and should, if things ar to even themselves out after last season down there, get a couple of decisions going our way) I would play westwood too - Mig's shot stopping is excellent but on Crosses he's more like Dracula
My feelings as well. Bramble was woeful against Chelsea, makes me wonder why we sold Anton when I feel he is better than Bramble. Mignolet needs the drop, while he may be good for the future, he is not good now. His fault for both goals. Let the ball go under his body for the first (while the defence was to blame as well), and anybody who gets backheeled needs dropping! Ji also needs to start 4-4-2 is the only way forward!
Sorry dude! haha Yeah I think as long as we defend the set peices we can use Sess/Ji & Riccos pace to break and hopefully catch them on the counter a score this way as they will have nearly 11 men in the box as you say. Just wish we had a bit more pace in the team up top and in midfield.
I don't know why a new contract wasn't discussed (or if it was and Anton knocked it back) but this was the only real reason to get rid - he was in the last year and we got a few million for him so we had to make the decision IMO - Brown has looked good so far (top defender) - but I notice he occasionally will look sideways for a ball to a fellow centre half or towards the centre circle for a midfielder to drop into - and there is no-one there - I HATE THAT!! Play FOOTBALL!!
mignolet o'shea brown bramble bardo larsson cattermole vaughan sessegnon ji bendtner subs: westwood turner richardson colback gardner mclean wickham
Agreed Marcus. The midfield is woeful. Larson was piss poor on Saturday (granted service was crap) so no idea what people are watching. Colback looked OK when Catts went off so would play him. Get Mclean in. F**K Richardson right off the pitch and get Vaughan in.
The Stoke yeam that just beat Liverpool. ....................................01 Begovic.......................... 20 Upson............04 Huth..............17 Shawcross.........12 Wilson Pennant...........18 Whitehead........24 Delap ...............26 Etherington ...........................19 Walters...........25 Crouch Or something like that. Then they brought on Jones and Palacious as subs.... Match your choice of our team one on one with Stoke, make no mistake it aint gonna be an easy game.... Pennant down that right hand side! Its no time for Mc'Clean to make his debut.
So lets start the game off worrying what they will do! Why not start with a positive attacking line up. We're at home. Let them worry about us FFS. 2 strikers, 2 attacking wide players and at least 1 center midfielder who knows how to FORWARD PASS. A player who is a winger. IN A WINGERS POSITION. Debut or not, he's 22. (One for the future my fooooking arse) We have tried Sess, not much good, we have tried our future England left back, not much good, we have tried Colback, not much good. Give him a go and if it works, great. If not change it.
I like the look of McClean, I watched him during the warm up on Sat. I know you can't really tell much from a warm up but the lad did seem to have a really assured touch on the ball, when there were a few players at the end taking shots he buried every single one with good accuracy. Others like Larson and Bendtner missed several. I would go like this ..............Migg................ Oshea Bramble Brown Bardo .........Catts Colback......... Sess......................McClean .........Richardson............. .................Bendtner......... Larson was terrible on Sat, he gave the ball away loads and did not clear the first man on several set pieces. I would certainly not drop Colback he looked very lively and passed the ball very well. He just needs to add goals to his game. Before I get jumped on, we need some pace up front and someone running off Bendtner, Ricco did that well last season against Blackpool and the 1 weakness Stoke have at the back is a lack of pace, Get Sess, Ricco and McClean running at them and we will do well. At the back Oshea, Brown, Bramble and Bardo are all good in the air and strong so we should be ok.
I think Bruce will pick the same team that started against Chelsea, with maybe O'shea coming in for Rico if he's fit. Bruce knows a defeat will see him out the door so his first thoughts will be do not lose, hence a 5 man midfield. He'll then hope we sneak a goal from a larssen set piece so we have something to hang onto.
Stoke fan here.. Just popped in to see the lowdown on our next opponents and firstly OFF TOPIC... I came onto the board last week re the GNR fellas? Now, I did say that I would not make the game but.. change of plans. My family who live in ********* on T*** have invited me and the missus up North for a long weekend so, I will be coming to the SOL. Ticket's I do have but ANY advice on travelling to the SOL from the above direction would be welcome. Coming in by car, at least that's Plan A and since the K.O. time has been changed, will I need to take extra time for getting to the ground. Didn't catch our game v Liverpool, me Daughter got married at 4 on Saturday So I'm guessing the Stoke team might be along the lines of.. Begovic Huth,Shawcross,Upson,Wilson Pennant, Whitehead, Palacios, Etherington Crouch, Walters I think T.P. may leave out Delap if Palacios is fit now.. Whelan may re place Whitehead as we don't have internationals this week.. Will wait and see but, that's more or less our team is my guess anyway. THANKS in advance for any travel/directions/parking etc and I will enjoy the game... always a good atmosphere at the SOL.. After Sunday Good luck Pott's
