Team for Stoke?

Krul
Simmo Taylor Colo Santon
Jonas Tiote Cabaye Marv
----Benny
Ba----

like to see this
but it will more than likely be

Krul
Simmo Taylor Colo Raylor
Obertan Tiote Cabaye Jonas
----Lover Ba

 

Yeah me too ^.. I have a feeling Pards will play Lover :/

 

I think we're focussing too much on Stoke's strengths and not our own. Why shift around the defence (which has been consistently solid this season) just to counter Stoke's ariel threats? Last year when we played the 3-5-2 we concentrated on our opponents and not ourselves, and look where that got us! Sure, not preparing for their physical style of play would be naive but to compltely rearrange the league's best defence because they play hoofball is showing them too much respect IMO.

I say we stick with the same back 4 as always.

 

I think if it ain't broke, don't fix it - keep same team

I have a feeling Obertan will have a good game

 

Game's tailor made for him if you think about it.

- He's big and powerful
- He's quick and Stoke have ****e full backs (said the same before the Wigan game but Figueroa is decent)
- He doesnt need to float crosses as they have huge CBs, his **** crosses might actually be effective.

 

Oh and I don't think we should play Santon. From the Blackburn game he looks like he needs to be eased in, he's still very young and English games are a lot faster than in Italy. He did go down a couple of times against B'burn expecting a free-kick but didn't get one. I think it's a bit of a culture shock to him, and making his PL debut away to Stoke is not exactly 'easing him in'.

Also, what have Raylor and Simpson done do warrant being dropped?

 

Yeah I thought exactly that because they will either play Huth or Wilson left back who are slow centre backs

 

Leon Best reckons hes fit so it will definitely be Best and Ba up front if thats true.

 

Agree with all of this. Give him some games in the busy winter period, he's a player we brought in with the long term in mind.

 

Maybe, just maybe, if Best is out we could use him up top. He could easily exploit Stoke's slow defence with his pace. Just a thought.

 

Yeah possibly, but who would play right midfield?

 

I think if Best is out then Ben Arfa will play

 

Gutierrez, with Marv on the left maybe?

Anyway, I say Obertan would be able to cause problems with his pace, I mean he should be able to cause problems with his pace. But he probably wont, as he's just like Routledge; loads of pace but doesn't know how to use it. Surely there's enough space in that enormous head to fit a footballing brain?

 

I love Jonas on the left tbh. Wouldn't change it.

If I was manager tomorrow night and Tiote/Best were out I would go with:

Krul

Simpson - Taylor - Colo - Taylor

Obertan - Guthrie - Cabaye - Jonas

Marveaux

Ba

Think Marveaux deserves his chance and would do well in that position imo

 

I'd be surprised if Santon plays, he went down too easily at Blackburn and was easily pushed off the ball, Stoke is not a place to risk this happening again. We really missed Taylor at full back so he will come back in.

Even if Tiote is fit, a three man midfield with Guthrie could be a good shout, considering stokes love of bypassing the midfield it's our best chance of controlling the tempo of the game, and I think Obertan and Jonas will start to test their full backs.

I think we can get something out of this game if we play well and don't get intimated by stoke rfc. Whether we can do that is a different matter.