OK Yeovil up next and a real chance to get into the 5th round. Yeovil are having a poor season but had a good result away at Birmingham so we cant afford to be complacent. Clearly MP has a few injury worries so lots of questions around our line-up. The good news is that Osvaldo is avaialble. I think it's time to give Reed a proper run out so I'd go with Boruc Chambers Fonte Yoshida Shaw Cork Davis JWP Reed Adam Dani Subs KD Clyne Jos Morgan Jrod Rickie Gallagher
You've forgotten Victor will be back Lambie! I'd bring him on for the last 20 - 30 minutes, and give Gallagher more of a run than he's had so far.
It's important that we win this. A good cup run would be the perfect 2nd half to the season, and we don't have much to play for in the League. In fact I doubt we'll move from 9th between now and May.
Mauricio said himself that fact that the cup matches are on a Saturday means he can play a stronger team...however this time we have the Arsenal match on the Tuesday. We definitely have two players missing with Lovren the greatest miss, though Ramirez was beginning to look better. Does he risk Wanyama, does he want to give him at least part of the match to get his eye in. May be wrong but I think Wanyama is the type of player who may lose a lot of match readiness...he could take a few games to get back to where he was. I suspect MP may start with a more experimental side against Yeovil, but still have the big guns on the bench.
I agree, though there are a lot of games still left...would love to be 8th with ManU in 9th (ecstatic sigh)
Not a bad line-up Lamballana. Put Vic on the bench and you are there! Time for a strong team in the cup. A good hour for Dani and a breather for anyone nursing a knock. Apart from that, go for it.
I don't want us to do a Swansea of this season or a Newcastle of last and end up having a hard season because of the Europa Cup. For me I want to be top four and a cup or where we are and no cup final at all.
Like the look of that team. Be a great outcome if Osvaldo gets a goal or 2 and Vic and Maya get some game time and confidence under their belts (God knows Maya needs it!!)
I'd have Wanyama in for Davis so any rustiness goes before Arsenal. Same with Osvaldo who I would like to start against Arsenal.
Agree that the FA Cup is important so that we have something positive to go for so a strong team for me please. Ossy and Big Vic must start to get a good run out before the Arsenal game + Fonte and Yoshie at centre back again ahead of the Arsenal game
I understand th cup is important to us, but I wouldn't go for too strong a team,especially playing Arsenal a few days later. We played a weakened team that won (just about) against a top Championship side, against a struggling Championship side (at home as well) we should have no issue with playing a weakened side. Davis Clyne/ Chambers (depending on whoever MP wants to play against Arsenal) Fonte Yoshida Fox Wanyama Reed JWP Guly Davis Osvaldo Hopefully allowing time for Ghallager to get some game time.
Historically we pick up more points per game in spring (last year aside!). I think we'll have a strong finish to the season, in a way that we didn't see with Poch last season.
I'd have Wanyama involved somewhere but I wouldn't start him against Arsenal. Bring him on to protect our lead for the last few minutes
I'd go with something like: Davis Chambers Yoshida Hooiveld Fox JWP Wanyama Reed Guly Gallagher Osvaldo
Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Fox, Cork, Wanyama, Davis, JWP, Rodriguez, Osvaldo. Reed, Gallagher and Rowe/Isgrove/Guly on for Vic, Jay and Dani in the second half, as early as possible.
