Hughes says they both picked up knocks midweek and will be assesed tomorrow morning. However Traore is back and will be travelling up with the squad to the Hawthorns. So it may mean Jay Bothroyd up front, but personally if Zamora is out, i'd prefer DJ up top, offers so much more than Bothroyd. And maybe SWP will come back on the right, or Traore going to the left and putting Taarabt on the right and let him have the free role he plays so well.
No No! They are going to be fit - there's not another game for a week, so they can take the hot bath and rub then! Come to think of it !! - I thought Mackie got kicked in the goolies wednesday, surely a pulled one of them is no impediment to belting 3 past west brom!
As discussed on other strands Bothroyd up front is a real problem for us as he simply doesn't have the touch or strength to hold up the ball as a lone striker. I'm kind of hoping that MH learnt that lesson last week even though the circumstances were more difficult that they should have been. If HH is reasonably fit he must surely be first choice should BZ be unavailable. As for Mackie there are no others in the entire squad (and few in the entire league) who can play that harrying role he does so well. Love him or loathe him it is no coincidence our return to form has coincided with his availability.
Think Mackie got a dead leg/numb arse and that's why he was subbed Wednesday night. Jason Manford does a hilarious bit on dead legs in this: [video=youtube;l8GMnN5wu20]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8GMnN5wu20[/video]
i wish someone would tell JB that you have to stay within the width of the penalty area when you play up front on your own, every time he ends up on the wing with no one in the penalty area. That is why we are useless when he plays.
Certainly. It would be great if the Iceman came back in and had a hand in our survival attempt. Bothroyd doesn't seem to have the bottle for the fight.
As HH is not mentioned on the Official as travelling (Traore is) I suppose he ain't fit yet. So if BZ isn't fit, then I guess it's between Betty and Hulse for the lone holding striker role - don't think DJ can play that even if he were fit enough. So who do you prefer Betty or Hulse? I'm guessing BZ will be patched up and play, but if not I'd pefer Betty with Barton kicking him up the ars* all game - maybe then we'd get another Citeh performance out of him!
The discussion seems to all be along the lines of who replaces BZ if he is injured, thats IF MH keeps the same tatics? IF BZ doesnt make it and HH isnt fit enough then he may decide to go with 2 up front and play AT in behind DJ with the midfield feeding AT and DJ making runs into the channels off the shoulder of the last defender. Thats what I would do personally if BZ isnt fit as neither JB or RH can be trusted to put in a shift at this level.
Is that Keith Rickets and Lenny Scurvy Swords? They both have a lot to prove, need the minerals......
JB got a ear full from JB Wednesday night ... its just bull as Roy knows BZ and may adapt to neutralise the danger. Trust in Hughes he has the players trust now they will have been working on a plan for weeks for this match
I think it was his coccyx!! (No rudeness please!!!!!!!!!) If so, that can take a while to recover from!
Not sure why we haven't seen HH in the squad lately. He was supposed to be back in full training a while ago!! Maybe he's had a relapse which would be a shame as he would be a good replacement for BZ.
