Aalborg next game

[Houdini]

IMO Malbranque has to be a starter! But having said that, i do like to see Bale going down the left wing but he will be at left back no doubt!
And, as Cynthia Payne used to say, we should be giving someone a spanking soon, maybe it will be Aalborg!

 

[Adam456]

Adam why, what has Malb done recently to be dropped, I still think he has been right up there with Keane as player of the season so far.

Even recently, just the running into blind alleys and the missing out on really good moves due to lack of pace - the ball is put there on a plate and anybody with a little accelaration will be off and away to the byline. Also, after 60 mins the steam really dissapears and we have to waste a sub that could be used tactically,

Wipey and Bale is ideal - both have pace and skill and can cover each other's positions as if they'd been playing there all through the game. And they can last the full 90 mins

 

[Adam456]

Clive hauled Taarabt off in the reserve game last night for being rubbish and getting booked, so no chance of him figuring in the First XI very soon, I'd have thought. What leads you to suppose Prince Bong can play LM? What's wrong with Malbranque?

Ok well I didn't know that Tearab was taken off last night but ANYBODY with pace and trickery to play on the wing when we're at home to inferior opposition. Boateng has at least a bit so why not give him a go

On top of what I said in post above, Steed just misses so much because he can't play with his head up.

Mad as a box of frogs as he was Hoddle made one very, very good point (if you read what he's trying to say rather than the way he puts it):

"Show me a player who can play with his head up and I'll show you a player."

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Even recently, just the running into blind alleys and the missing out on really good moves due to lack of pace - the ball is put there on a plate and anybody with a little accelaration will be off and away to the byline. Also, after 60 mins the steam really dissapears and we have to waste a sub that could be used tactically,

Wipey and Bale is ideal - both have pace and skill and can cover each other's positions as if they'd been playing there all through the game. And they can last the full 90 mins

I loved Steed at Fulham but since his injury their and after his return to the Fulham first team and then his transfer to us apart from the odd glimpse I have been really disappointed with him, especially in the big games.

Im a huge Lee/Bale fan and makes us as good as anyone down the left.

 

[Archibald-CPH]

Surely this should be ours, but if we keep Andreas Johansson and Rade Prica down it will be 3 points.

 

[DC_Boy]

I think we will win and, rarely, am happy to predict this before I've seen the teamsheets. Not that I disrespect Aalborg but I think we have enough in the squad for JR, a coach who I already trust, to pick a team to beat them.

Re Steed, since JR has arrived he's been playing him on the left mainly, and Steed has done very well there. I've no worries if he plays LM or Bale does. We have a massive game on sunday, that's one reason we have a big squad for, so we can afford to rest players.

I am worried about who's playing at CB - Salty Chimbonda Dawson Lee might work, then again zokora helped so much at the back on sunday, 3-5-2 with Lennon/Salty at RWB can easily work too - I guess a lot depends on their left side - but if we can push them back - could be worth a shot.