Team for Stoke?

I remember last season, we completely out played them in the first half and should of went in at least 2-0 up.

If we can take our chances this time, and defend probably, I think we have a good chance.

 

Raylor will play, and arguably he deserves to with how he's played. BUT, I call that he'll concede a header goal at the far post. Everyone talks about him getting beat on the dribble with pace, but I find his biggest weakness is in the air from far side crosses, there were at least 3 examples of it in the last 15 minutes against Wolves where he lost his man, miss-timed his jump, or simply was out-jumped.

As far as Ben Arfa's concerned, I'm sick of hearing about him having his leg broken again by a physical club. The fact is, it was a freak injury, against Man City of all clubs, and unfortunately that could happen to anyone against anyone. If confidence is what he needs, he needs time on the pitch, he won't gain it back otherwise, especially if every week he's being coddled by the manager ahead of another physical opponent.

 

I'd play:

------------Krul-----------
Santon--Sayls-Collo--Raylor
-----Guthrie---Cabaye-----
Marv------HBA-------Jonas
------------Ba-----------

or, swap HBA for Ober and put Marv in the centre if HBA isn't ready to start yet.

 

I'm not keen on these fancy formations to be honest.

 

Think a draw at HT in last seasons match would have been fair. But then we imploded at the start of the second half.

0-0 would do me tomorrow.

 

Just out of curiosity why does everyone think Marv should play on the right?

Against B'burn he played on the right and he gave us no width whatsoever as he was always cutting inside onto his left. This ruined the shape of the team and was part of the reason Ben Arfa couldn't find space. Stoke play on a small pitch so we need to use our width as much as possible, so putting Jonas on the right and Marv on the left would make more sense to me.

Also, if Best is out we've gotta go with a 5 man midfield. Lovenkrands is anonymous at the best of times, so he wont do much on a small pitch surrounded by 6 foot 5 meatheads.

 

If Tiote is fit I think it will be:

Krul

Simpson - Taylor - Coloccini - Taylor

Obertan - Tiote - Cabaye - Jonas

Best - Ba

if he is injured, Guthrie will play imo

 

This. Marveaux to play on either the left or central attacking midfield - right midfield isn't his position by the looks of things

 

Would definitely drop one of Raylor or Simpson, both poor in the air. Should start Santon over one of them.

 

I believe this solves everything:

Krul
Santon Taylor Colo Jonas
Raylor Tiote Cabaye Marv
----Benny
Ba----​

 

Lol. I would just either keep it as it is or make one or two changes.

 

Now that's very interesting, Gutierrez is very good defensively as we all know, and it would be great to have Raylors deliveries more often from a midfield role, I think you might have been posting that team as a pisstake but I think in theory it could be quite shrewd.

 

I like this.

 

Would love to see it in a friendly, see if it works.

 

Yeah or a FA Cup match for example.

 

Yeah, think it would be risky just to do it tomorrow night lol

Could work out to be class, but could be ****e haha

 

This is the sort of tactical brilliance I pull all the time on FM. Finally, recognition from real people, not my fickle virtual fans.

 

Haha, I buzz when I get praise from the virtual ones haha

 

have you played FM12 yet?

 

Not yet, I cant get into it when I'm playing FIFA this much. Will get it for Christmas.