With the recent international break taking place, what have the players who do not play for their country do ? Of the first team players I think these would have stayed at home: Stockdale Stekers Riether Rise Briggs Déjà gah Sidders Parker Boetang Diarra Tarrabt Berbatov Bent Rodders Looking at that, we have most of the squad have been back at the ranch training. So how will we set up against West Brom ? Hopefully some work has been done regarding the front line and how to get Bent playing with Berbatov. With Ruiz playing for Costa Rica, I would imagine Dejagah might get the nod on the right, with Tarrabt on the left. Parker and Sidders in the middle. Back line more or less picks itself, but Hughes may be replaced by Amorebieta linking up with Brede. Riether on the right but who on the left ? If Hughes is fit will Amorebieta play on the left ? For a team like us the international break may come as a welcome break, it gives us a chance to try some changes that are needed, whilst also getting the new players bedded in a bit. I really hope that the team come out all guns firing against West Brom. Plenty of preparation for this game so there are no excuses for players to not perform to their best ability. I think we will see who are really committed to fighting for the team and their positions. The result is very important, we need a win. More than that though, we need a good performance that shows we have a direction to move in. We have some great players, Jol needs to manage them and they need to dig deep and give it 200 per cent. COYW
The back line for once may be the most dfficult to predict. Richardson is still definitely out but is Riether fit after his knock at Newcastle? And what about Hughes? Has he recovered from the groin/thigh strain that kept him out of the NI squad? Amorebieta played the full game for his country on Tuesday but won't join up with the others until tomorrow. After being out for more than a month. will he be up for a premiership game so soon and after all that travelling? Despite himself having had quite a torrid time in Norway's game on Tuesday, Hangeland is the only certain name on the team sheet at the moment.
This could be a good game to start playing as a team and gain a bit of confidence. I'd say the potential quality of the team has improved since last season but we have yet to see it. Berbatov had an off day at Newcastle and we need him this time put in a good shift. It's early days but I'm always nervous when we are hovering round the bottom of the league. 3 points will be very welcome and will help steady the ship.
