Match Day Thread vs Liverpool in the Naughty Moose Cup

Central defender Christoph Zimmermann is out with his ankle injury, Prezmysław Płacheta is still trying to shake off the effects of Covid and will return to first team training next week. Todd Cantwell misses the game due to personal reasons

 

Start with the same side that won 6 - 0 against Bournemouth?

 

Yes, I feel that Sorensen and Normann might provide a perfect match: the unassuming but totally steady player alongside the guy who's a mixture of hard man and show off. Of course, I'm probably wrong as usual, but it would be nice to see it tried out at least.

 

Personally I'd still prefer to go with Pukki and perhaps I wouldn't put Lees-Melou in the 10 position, but I like the experiment of Sorensen and Normann, and the introduction of Giannoulis and Gunn.

 

We need to develop defensive solidity and if we are going to play a two man midfield those 2 have to be Sorensen and Normann as the two most defensive minded. Sorensen could sit and Normann could be a defensive deep lying playmaker as I think he has been described, allowing us to play a number 10 which could be Dowell or PLM, someone able to track back and help out defensively when needed but also sits higher up the pitch to receive the ball

 

I suspect/fear that even if it is not Gilmour and Williams tonight, and we go on to score an unlikely victory, it will be Gilmour and Williams again on Saturday.

 

.[/QUOTE]
I certainly wouldn't rubbish ANY player who pulls on a City shirt, but genuine comments and observations are surely the best way to pass an opinion.
Gilmour imo offers nowhere near as much to the team as Vrancic did.
Mario was and is a far superior player.
His distribution, tackling and free kick expertise far exceed anything I have seen from Gilmour.
Time will tell, and I hope he proves me wrong, but I have my doubts.
Never the less I will still cheer him on, whenever he pulls on that shirt.[/QUOTE]


The kind of player that Vrançic was - stylish, considered, having a rather lazy appearance - is always underrated in England IMO. We still prefer the guy who huffs and puffs and 'covers every blade of grass' even if he doesn't actually achieve much while covering all that space. My next comment will be controversial, I know, but I see Vrançic and Snodgrass as my examples.

 

No Zimmermann

 

Oh my goodness that looks a bit iffy.

Sargent not even on the bench

 

Really surprised to see Gilmour starting.

Can't say I like this selection

 

Well DF is as good as his earlier words:

“Yes, it's definitely also an option (to play a three). We are flexible and we want to be more flexible during the season. This was also the reason why we opted to play half of our pre-season games with a three man formation, and within games several times in the past when we are chasing the game we have gone to three at the back. There were a few reasons why so far we haven’t tried it. But if it is going to help defend our goal then I am willing to do it."

https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...-premier-league-formation-explanation-8342078

 

Well, we've all said we liked the selections over the last few games and were proved wrong; maybe this time we're all going to be puzzled or actively dislike the selection and it turns up trumps. One thing seems clear; for whatever reason, Gilmour is untouchable.

One plus for me: glad to see Giannoulis back in the side. I was afraid he was on the naughty step and he was set to become the new Leitner.

 

LpL are fielding a surprisingly strong side

 

I'm hoping we win obviously but left scratching my head as to why Sorensen can't get a game as DM we broke the bank getting Normann in but Rupp gets the start he's not even on the bench.

Sargent was outstanding last game but not in the squad and Gilmore seems to play pretty much every game .

Not moaning just a bit surprised.

If he's resting players why Gilmore and Handley?

 

Maybe he is playing Gilmour as he won’t play at the weekend. Normann is coming back from injury so maybe he is just being eased in. That’s why he only played 70mins at the weekend.
I don’t know what Sorensen has to do to get a game, plays well whenever he features!

 

Well I think we’re all united in thinking that is a weird team and pretty unexpected!

 

But does that signal a manager who is deliberately and cleverly trying various options before deciding on a final one, or a manager who is flailing around in the hope that he hits gold?

That's not an attack on Farke. I honestly have no idea.

 

Well considering how the expected line-ups have gone let's see what he unexpected can do!