Who would you put in your team to face Bury this evening and why?
Would you want to see some players given an opportunity or would you prefer to put out a "strongest 11" to give them pitch time, particularly given the upcoming international break?
I'd go for...
GK: Weale
RB: Peltier
CB: Mills
CB: St. Ledger (Give him the opportunity to come back after his match-costing mistake against Bristol City)
LB: Ball (See how he goes)
RM: Moussa
CM: Abe
CM: King (Give him responsibility as the "senior" player in the midfield - this will demand that he's more influential, then we'll see how he copes with that)
LM: Dyer
CF: Waghorn (One last chance if Nugent isn't fully fit)
CF: Schlupp
Subs: Nugent/Vassell/Howard depending on fitness;
Gallagher;
Wellens;
Bamba;
Whoever is 3rd choice goalkeeper at the moment.
Admittedly that might leave us a little vulnerable through the centre, but I believe we would have options off the bench to fix this and bring the game under control. Plus it would give several players the chance to show what they're made of for what is far from a definite first 11 against Southampton.
But what would you go for?
Team vs. Bury?
posted on 23/8/11
you like that devil emoticon don't you?
posted on 23/8/11
That me being the devils advocate and Dung is always worth a debate with.
Nev
posted on 23/8/11
I'd probably play our first choice 11 - whatever Sven thinks that is.
The team clearly need time to gel, and the only way they'll do that is game time.
posted on 23/8/11
Adam Smith (Youth keeper) Has been given his new shirt number for tonights game. So expect him to play some part. Would be nice to see how he goes between the sticks.
posted on 23/8/11
----------------------Weale-------------------------
Peltier------Mills----------St Ledger-------Ball
-----------------Abe------Johnson----------------
Gallagher-------------------------------------Dyer
-------------------King-------------------------------
----------------------------Schlupp-----------------
Pretty much a 4-4-2, but perhaps more a 4-4-1-1.
For me the two most important things are trying a 4-4-2, and to get King off the mark and play him in a more advanced role.
As I mentioned on a thread not too long ago. The last time we played our best football against Derby away, we played Oakley and Wellens in the middle and King pushing up behind Yakubu. And importantly, Gallagher and Vassell actually mixed it up, cutting in at times, but importantly, actually getting down the flanks.
People do moan about King's contribution, but I think its important to wary of the effects of burn out; he has averaged FIFTY games a season over the last three years which is extraordinary.
posted on 23/8/11
Keep_the_faith1 - We also played a team that day who let us do whatever we want on the ball and looked completely disorganised. That always helps the opposition look good.
Nev - I don't recall seeing King in a flat 4-4-2 since Pearson's era, at least not from the start of a game. He's matured as a played since then, so I'd be interested to see how he would cope with the lead role in the midfield, i.e. without Oakley or Wellens next to him to take control of things.
posted on 23/8/11
"Keep_the_faith1 - We also played a team that day who let us do whatever we want on the ball and looked completely disorganised. That always helps the opposition look good"
True. But there have been plenty of games where we have played opposition who looked awful and have still looked poor ourselves and/or not managed to get a comfortable win out of the game.
posted on 23/8/11
Kermorgant should play. We miss his craft and guile
posted on 23/8/11
Johnson should start, we need a player of his creativity in the first team ASAP! Get him fit Sven......
posted on 23/8/11
I'd go:
Weale, Peltier, Mills (c), St. Ledger, Ball, Abe, Oakley, Moussa, Dyer, Schlupp, Gallagher
Subs: Konchesky, Pantsil, King, Wellens, Danns, Fernandes, Smith