Whilst it's not quite the 'Last Chance Saloon' yet we definitely need to start slurping at some rejuvenatative aperatifs in the shorter term... We appear to have the luxury of a fully fit squad with the only man unavailable the Huthmeister (due to his internet indiscretion) ... this is a game we have to win so I would go for it with as much creativity and attacking flair as we can master - but built on a solid platform of experience and control ... so ... I'd go with Hamer Schlupp Morgan Wasyl Simpson Mahrez Cambiasso Hammond Albrighton Ulloa Kramaric ... plenty of options from the bench ...
Totally agree with that team, perhaps you could write to Nige.... I look at your selection & think, great we could win but come Saturday I'll no doubt look at Nigel's random selection & think 'oh fook, no chance' It's so frustrating!
Riyad Mahrez returns from the African Cup of nations, Matty James returns from suspension but Robert Huth is suspended. Kasper Schmeichel is still injured but other then that we have a fully fit squad to choose from. So here is what I would go with Hamer Simpson Morgan Wasilewski De Laet Mahrez Cambiasso Hammond Schlupp Ulloa Kramaric Subs- Schwarzer, Moore, Drinkwater, Knockaert, Albrighton, Nugent, Vardy
Have merged the two threads ... only one difference from my selection in that I had Schlupp at full back and Albrighton out wide ...
Schlupp has to continue on the wing, playing him at left back takes away his strengths and his current form means he has to play as a winger
Schwarzer Simpson Morgan Wasilewski De Laet Mahrez Drinkwater Hammond Schlupp Ulloa Nugent Too early for Huth? Hopefully Krammy, Albrighton and Vardy can contribute from the bench.
Team picks itself really apart from CM - could be anyone but i would go for Hammond as 1st choice. Would Hammond and cambiasso be too slow? Id be tempted to have James in there
They can sit and hold allowing Schlupp and Mahrez license to get forward without worrying too much about getting caught out of position
Yeah but so can James and i just wonder whether his extra pace and dynamism will get him in there. I think Hammond and Cambiasso are our 2 best, its just whether they can play together or not
Agreed, Ed. If we need that bit of extra pace (and I think we do if we are going to take the game to Palace) then James probably has the edge over Cambiasso. And I never thought a year ago that that is a statement I would ever make! It's a funny old game!
Nothing suprises me more than the fact that i genuinely have Hammond down as the first name on my teamsheet!!
... on the few occasions we have actually been in control of the game Cambiasso is exceptional ... rarely gives the ball to the opposition and his speed of thought and eye for a pass is what defines him ... I like the 'feel' of him and Hammond provided there are younger legs around them ...
Hammond and Cambiasso works as a duo, providing Kramaric or Nugent ahead of them drops back to bring a little more pace. Hammond can win the ball back, pass it to Cambiasso, who can do his stuff. We don't really need to worry about lack of pace between them as we don't need them to be getting forward that much, just lingering on the edge of the box when we're putting some serious pressure on, such as with Cambiasso's equaliser against Man Utd.
All too predictable and very very frustrating .... Wes had a mare and not for the first time this season ... but Nuge lost Hangeland from the set piece allowing him a free header back across the box .... very much like at their place in terms of the goal we conceded (have we learnt nothing?) ... yes we were a little unlucky in the first half but if you don't take chances at this level you get beat ... Mahrez excellent first half but ran out of steam (understandably) ... Jeff Schlupp also good ... We need goals and yet we started at home with our record signing on the bench ... he looked very sharp when he came on ... which begs the question why wasn't he playing from the start? Luckily results elsewhere mean this result, in isolation, isn't disastrous ... but it's another loss against a team we could have, and indeed should have, beaten ... if we don't put our frailties right quickly we will be relegated ... for me I'd drop Wes and Konch ... both are liabilities currently - If Upson is fit play him with Wasyl, who was again impressive... one brilliant block against Sanogo second half ...
Painful very Painful to watch! We huffed and puffed but just no class were it mattered, just wonder why our strikers blast the ball when they should place, it and place the ball when they should blast it!
I can't believe that Kramaric got moaned about by supporters on the radio afterwards, hes doing a job thats been missing for ages, linking up the midfielders to the attackers in a false 9 role, he knows theres no point pushing against the last defender if the balls not going to get thread through to him, therefore was taking it early to get more people involved. Albrighton had another good showing again, so he might make the bench for the next match
One fan had decided Kramaric wasn't up to the job after he played 25 minutes against Stoke! Some fans are unbelievable at times. Regarding Albrighton, he needs to be aware that good crossing is not just about putting the ball into dangerous areas but also knowing where your team mates are. Otherwise, you're just giving the ball away and setting up counter attacks, which seems to be a strength of almost every side in the Premier League. For me, I'd stick with Mahrez and Schlupp playing wide.
...anyone having a go at Kramaric knows little about football ... he had to make himself available to receive (because we were staic and offered little threat) and his link up was excellent .. could well have had a penalty too ... I was impressed with him ... he has a smashinh first touch and quick feet .... ... the service / delivery to the forwards is one of our biggest problems and once behind we resorted to banging it into the box in hope more than expectation - and against a very physical Palace defence who were more than capable to deal with that approach ... we need to get behind the full-backs and be crossing for the forwards (Leo especially) to come on to ... Mahrez ran out of steam but was otherwise great ... he makes things happen ... Schlupp again did well ... but the best chances in the first half unfortunately fell to Nuge ... and I'm not sure what Nigel is expecting from that ... Nuge is a good footballer but average (and that's being diplomatic) where it really matters for a striker ... Kramaric has to start because we have to start scoring goals and he is the best equipped to deliver ... period.
