Good evening.
Time for us to focus our thoughts on what is a massive, massive game. The list of those we failed to replace, the injured and the retired is well documented. The victory against Maribor was welcome of course but needs to be appreciated in the context of – this was an unremarkable Maribor.
That said, it will create a feel good factor. That’s quite rightly how football works.
But how brave will the boss be against the Champions? My suspicion is that the answer is ‘not too brave.’ I don’t believe he’ll play Hugo and I don’t believe he’ll drop Walker and certainly not for Naughton. I believe that showing confidence in players cuts both ways and ‘that’ goal in the Naughton/Lloris fiasco shouldn’t be used as stick to beat either men with.
Carroll has to start. To dare is to naffin’ well do and I think he’s earned this. Against City I believe we need to play with a 3 in the midfield given the resources. Thud and Sandro isn’t enough. It will end up with Mr Beastly doing himself a mischief again. But more so it’s a case of we must be creative and the two Toms between them will give us a fighting chance.
Bale on the left, Azza Lemon on the right and for me it’s Adebayor to start. Do you drop your hat-trick man? The brave do. On the strength of the Europa game Ade is back or at least very close to being back in business. We miss Moussa horribly and between Carroll and Ade we can at least attempt to mend and make do.
I predict a 3-2 win.
He has gotta play Ade up front, he has so much more to his game than Defoe.
For me if my name was Boas it would have to be 4-2-3-1 Lloris in goals purely for his distribution it will be handy for the counter. Then Walker-Gallas-Caulker-Vertonghen familiarity in defence would be nice but wouldn’t be adverse to seeing Dawson in for Gallas. Next Sandro-Carroll was really impressed by the latter midweek. Forward-midfield of Lennon-Ade-Bale. Adebayor gets around and involved so much more involved than siggy or dempsey. Then Defoe the cherry on top
You mean his distribution that put Naughton under pressure from which Maribor scored or his distribution throwing out to an Aston Villa player from which they should have scored?
rather occassional dodgey passes wide than just smacking it up field even when under no pressure at all frequently giving the ball away
…beat me to it.
To date, probably the only two examples of dodgy distribution that can be laid at Lloris’ door.
Offset this against Brad’s hoofs upfield (and consequent loss of possession) and I’d say Hugo fares pretty well considering.
There are two teams; the one most people appear to want to see and the one AVB will choose.
I’d choose Lloris because he needs regular matches at the highest level. Caulker, Gallas and Vertgn pick themselves. I hear the case for Dawson but he is ring rusty and we need Gallas’ experience. I’d have anybody other than Walker but we don’t have anybody.
Without Sandro we will need Thud and Livermore ( I know but we need somebody who can tackle). Defoe will get eaten alive by Kompany and company so it has to be Adebayor for me and I’d pair him with Sigurdsson.
We are due a clean sheet. I am going for 0-1.
Lloris has had 6 starts and 5 mistakes, Friedel has had 9 starts. Friedel starts.
I’d be very tempted to start Ade at City, swap him for Dempsey, Sandro has to play if fit and Hudd over Carroll. Walker Caulker Dawson Vertongen Bale Lennon and Defoe pick themselves.
BIOYMCC’s!
Oh… and Friedel
No,has to be Lloris
why?
The main reason would be his ball distribution would be better than Brads,in my opinion he’s a better goalie,from what iv’e seen of him pre Spurs.I also think we could end up with another nervous unfullfilled goalie if we treat him as shabily as we did Gomes.Time to give brad the Thursday games.
Except Dawson won’t be picked of course.
i reckon The team should be Friedel,Walker,Dawson to counter dzeko when he comes on,Caulker,Ventoghen,Sandro,Thudd,Lennon,Bale, with Ade just behind Defoe and i reckon a 2-1 win or 2-2 draw COYS