Tiote

iS he fit? Does anyone know the latest? I think it'll be really tough for us tonight with him, at the same time if he's carrying a knock, maybe best to rest him. IMO i'd play guthrie instead of Best in any case tonight. Just keep things tight, try to play around them and pass it into Ba. If Tiote doesn't play it'll probably be Guthrie for Tiote ..in which case I'd add Gosling or Ben Arfa in the middle instead of Best. 1-1 would be a good result imo. Stoke have been a dodgy team for us, much like Blackburn. Would be awesome to beat them though, but what are the odds? Looks like Saylor will be playing with a facemask on.

 

Don't think Tiote is going to make it as Pards has been building up Guthrie and telling him to step up to the mark. Alsom I don't think we have a choice with the Best dilemma, he is missing with tonsilitis I believe. Ben Arfa will prob start in place of him.

 

I'd not worry because Gutherie is a good passer and will carry a goal threat from outside the box. We are destined to win this game having sen reports that we have never beaten Stoke in the premier league.

 

We may have Abeid on the bench so we have cover at least, if Guthrie gets injured it's not a bad replacement.

 

Whether the Tiote business is mind games or not, I thought Guthrie was very good last week in the cup and is probably one of the best passers of the ball in our team - second only to Yohan.

 

He's feigning an injury , he has to try and prove he's still human.

 

As people say, think he probably won't play, but Guthrie did excellent the other night

 

Well that's just down to matter of opinion. Ask AH

 

To be fair its not like you need a defensive midfielder against Stoke, they don't have any players that play in behind the striker or anyone bursting from midfield to get into the box. It might be a blessing in disguise for you, which I know sounds weird as Tiote and Cabaye have probably been the main reason behind your good form, having two more attack minded players in the middle rather than having one defensive minded player and one attack minded one.

 

He seems to think he will be playing by all accounts. It'll be a monster blow if he's not. Guthrie was just ok from what I saw last week (cracking goal though). We missed Tiote then and will miss him even more against Stoke. You could of course say your centre midfield v stoke doesn't matter cause the ball spends most of the time flying over their head! We need Cheik to impose our passing game. I don't rate Guthrie at all and I'd be extremely worried about Cabaye having to carry the lazy ****er.