I know it's a way off yet, but I'm sat at my desk, with stuff to read (that I can't face doing), bored to tears. What are people's thoughts on the line-up for the Swansea game? I'm going to say the usual about 4-4-2 and us being too open...
I think it's a bad week to be open, against a good (albeit overrated) passing team like Swansea. I know a few people who support other clubs, who've said they're awful on the road. A Wigan fan I know said they were dreadful (just that Wigan were even worse) in the 2-0 Swansea win at the DW, while a Sunderland fan said they just passed it about the defence and holding midfielders for 90 minutes, without going anywhere. Let's hope it's that Swansea (and the one that turned up against QPR) that shows for our game, and not the one that beat Fulham 3-0 away, which would really bode badly for us. Still, we cannot afford to be open against a team who are that comfortable in possession, for me.
Anyway, 4-5-1 means another start for Darren Pratley, unfortunately. I do think the timing of his runs going forward are good, though, and maybe he'll have a blinder to prove a point to his old team - hopefully scoring again, as he did in the FA Cup.
So, for me, it's:
Bogdan; Steinsson, Wheater, Ream, Ricketts; Ryo, Pratley, Reo-Coker, Mavies, Petrov; N'Gog.
Given my formation choice, the team pretty much picks itself. The only question is whether we go for SKD or N'Gog. I'm inclined to pick N'Gog, although SKD has done better in recent weeks.
Team for Sat
posted on 17/4/12
I am so nervous of this fixture even today! I know its 1 of 6 games, but I think this result will shape the Villa game and then the Sunderland game. A win on Saturday and the momentum going into the Villa game will be with us.
Amongst a few others I am a big abdicator of us playing 4-4-2 to get us scoring more goals, but for this game I too would go 4-5-1 certainly until mid way through the second half depending upon how we are performing.
N'gog has to start for me again and use SKD in the second half when they are tiring.
- We need MON to get one over on his previous employers
- We need Spurs to get back on track at QPR
- We need Fulham to do what Arsenal couldn't do last night
- We need to win on Saturday
COYWM!
posted on 17/4/12
We've got to go 4-5-1 or Swansea will pass thro' us like diarrhea.
I'd go with Kevin Davies up front and a couple of others who remember how to scrap for points.
KD really scared the Toon defence at times so I would go something like this as the midfield picks ityself:
-------------------Bogdan
Steinsson-Wheater-Ream-Ricketts
Eagles-NRC-Mavis-Pratley-Petrov
--------------------KD
I would tend to go with Eagles as Myaichi is a bit lightweight and gets tired after 60 mins. Use him as a sub from now on.
It's time for big hearts & big ballocks!
posted on 17/4/12
I think with a bit of rest behind him, Pratley will see the better form he had before the Spurs injury. I think 451 is the way to go, although I really would like to see 442 with Sordell-Davies/Ngog partnership.
Get Reo-C to man mark Sigurdsson and have the wingers sit back to force Dyer and Sinclair to play narrower. Those 3 being their main threats. Of course we've beaten Swansea already this year so I'm hopefull.
---------------------------Bogdan
Steinsson-------Wheats----Ream-------Ricketts
-------------------Pratley---Reo-c---Mavies
-Sordell-------------------------------------------Petrov
------------------------------Ngog
Ryo looked so much brighter on the right cutting in. Would much rather he go on that side, but with Petrov in the form he is, he's benched. Sordell on instead of Eagles because we can't afford to be carry him if he's having one of his frequent off days.
posted on 17/4/12
Must be 451, as Bricks says.
Bogdan
Steinsson
Wheater
Ream
Ricketts
Eagles
NRC
Mavies
Pratley
Petrov
KD
KD looked good against Newcastle. In fact, we as a team looked good.
posted on 17/4/12
TRR. Yeah we looked good, but wouldn't have scored even if they were still playing today! We need someone to put the ball in the net and its desperate now.
I've had a long think about this and I would now go with 4-4-2 personnel in a 4-5-1 formation as per Woody's post above.
Get Sordell on the right wing. IF he struggles, we can get Ryo on to replace and play a more orthodox 4-5-1.
I'm worried we're not going to score enough. Not worried about the defence as they will definitely concede at least 1, so we have to score more than 2!
posted on 17/4/12
Bogs
Gret - Ream - Wheats - Ricketts
NRC - Mavies - Prats
Ryo - Ngog - Petrov
---------------
My only hope is that if we have to use a plan B, can we at least see Sordell is real and not a tax avoidance tactic..?!
posted on 17/4/12
Just a win, any team any formation. Just a win!!!!!!!!!!!
posted on 17/4/12
Wonder if a fresh Robbie Blake is the answer
But what is the question..?
posted on 17/4/12
Bogdan
Steinsson Ricketts Wheater Alonso
Ryo NRC Mavies Petrov
SKD Sordell