Really looking forward to Toon away next Sunday. Confident we'll get a draw or better. For all the doom and gloom merchants - it could be a lot worse - we could have just lost to Vauxhall Motors!
We've just scraped a draw against a League One side with pretty much our first team out there. I have a sneaky suspicion that we'll not be as lucky next week.
Well, we were bigger underdogs when the toon walked the championship and should have won on that day. Guess i'm just refusing to be negative
Knowing us we'll put in a real performance and get something but with no Barton, Faurlin (presumably), Taarabt or Traore we're going to need a massive upturn in performance to avoid a serious defeat even without Ba and Tiote.
Well, I think Hill is a better defender than Traore and Derry has been on better form lately after his dip earlier this season, so he can replace Barton. I guess we'll need to use both SWP and Mackie and add either Buzsacky or Smith to the picture, unless we've bought a new player before then! Buz will have to cover for Faurlin and Smith for Taarabt. That doesn't sound to good but we have no choice, really. Unless.... SWP replaces Taarabt in the free role and Bothroyd goes on the wing, which he has done well for us in the past. I think this is how I'd have it with our current situation: ----------Kenny Young Ferdinand Gabbidon Hill -------Buzsacky Derry -----Bothroyd SWP Mackie ----------Helguson What do you all think about the idea of playing Luke Young in midfield with Derry and then putting Bradley Orr at right back?
Without Taarabt I'd go 4-4-2 with Helguson and Macheda up front. Play SWP on the right and try and have a go.
If anything we looked even worse when we went to 4-5-1. Campbell and Bothroyd just don't look up to it but with Helguson and Macheda I think there's a good balance, some strength and two big blokes to get some crosses to or at least lump 50 yard hoofs at.
GK - Kenny RB - Orr CB - Young CB - Ferdinand LB - Hill RM - SWP CM - Buzsacky LM - Smith AM - Mackie ST - HH ST - Macheda
1st half = 4-4-2 = Awful!! 2nd half = 4-2-3-1 (Machada on left, Smith behind DJ and Mackie on the right) = Better for 15 mins and not out gunned and out passed in the midfield.
Rangers,you cant play 451 all season and then on saturday morning change it to 442 and expect everybody to adapt.
