awful news. especially with the games coming thick and fast for the next month or so. but at least JD will get a run in th side, as well as the Hud especially if Zokoras red is upheld. Just heard that Boatengs has been rescinded, not sure if that is good or bad for didier!

Striker Crisis?

So Robbie Keane is out for 6 weeks and with Mido already out we are down to the bare bones up front. Am I alone in thinking this will actually be the making of our team, having to play a settled front two (who just happen to be our two top scorers) so that they can develop a real partnership. Hope Jermain grabs this opportunity at shows us what he's capable of. Could be our best partnership since Sheringham and Klinsmann.

Suddenly, all those central midfielders don't seem so surplus-to-requirements as some people suggested: Ghaly coming back soon from suspension, Zokora suspended (we apparently did not appeal the red card), Jenas out.

Which basically leaves Huddlestone, Tainio, Malbranque, Davids and Murphy to cover two central midfield positions and one left sided position.

Same applies to the 4 first team strikers. I said at the beginning of the season that there would be enough matches for everyone. Seems so.

Could well be mickman. Plus maybe even a regular midfield place for Huddlestone? berbatov has looked class the last few games and JD has looked lively enough, was probably goin to be getting the nod ahead of Robbie, and like you say his scoring record is better, no matter how he has scored them. should stop all this nonsense about Jd going in january too. lets give andy reid something to regret when charlton visit the lane this weekend!

COYS... In Jol We Trust

Really Bad News On Robbie Esp With Mido Out As Well.defoe Starting Regularly Will Show Us He Has Not Lost Any Of His Attributes And Will Bring Back His Confidence.cannot Afford Him Or Berb To Get Injured,otherwise We're Up The Creek Without A Paddle.lets Hope Hudd Gets A Decent Run In The Side,cannot Figure Out Why He Doesn't Get More Games!the Lad Is Class

How long is Mido out for? Can´t be much longer can it?

Berby - Defoe for home games

Mido plus 1 for away games. (Mido Keane is a great away partnership).

Maybe it will give us a chance to play 4-3-2-1 with big man up top and two flyers at the sides of him. Who knows? But we´ll cope. I have no doubt.

big blow but like everybody has said it gives JD a gd run of games 2 prove himself not only 2 us but 4 england as wel, however we need 2 use a reserve striker coz atm we are dwn to two strikers . .which is poor.On the upside im happy huddlestone will get a very gd run of games which obv all the fans are happy about!

It is not that surprising that JJ got hurt. Important players are always rushed back from injury and are prone to other injuries, like Little Mickey Owen.

This really couldn't have come at a worse time, what with all the games coming up. Hopefully Mido will be back soon.
JJ is a bit of a loss as well, especially as we apparently never appealed DZ's red card - I don't know why we didn't and three days for protecting a midget team mate in a mass brawl seems over the top.
It does not do our chances of pushing up the table any favours at all. The only thing that can save us is JD and DB striking a real partnership, but with all the games they have to play and our injury record they'll probably both be on the injury list before long.

Why Are You Using Caps So randomly?

Poor old Jol, he won't be able to tell us he's "not rotating" anymore!

Come on jermain show us what you can do!!!

Give Simon Dawkins A Chance!!

I really hope that neither Berby or Defoe get injured otherwise we are in shit streak. JJ being out is also a blow I think we have missed him in recent games. Be interesting to see who BMJ will play in Midfield centre with Huddlestone in the next few games.

Spurs Mob reported that Mido is back from his injury, so I'm guessing he will be on the bench vs. Charlton.

Anyways, Jenas and Keane being out for more or less a month is a blow, but we'll manage.

So the Midfield will be

Lennon, Huddlestone, Teemu/Ghaly,Davids, Malbranque

so we can change Teemu/Ghaly/Davids/Murphy around ... BUT keep Lennon,Huddleston,Malbranque

Thoughts my fellow faithful ?

I really hope so ... But lets look at the positives ! Berbs & Defoe to GEL ! :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

We're getting perilously close to an injury crisis here. What worries me is that these players are out just as we enter the seasons most hectic bit. With the games coming thick and fast you almost expect to pick of one or two injuries over the next 4 weeks but now in crucial areas we're struggling for cover.

Upfront we are totally reliant on Berbatov staying fit and so to the person who suggested playing him as a lone striker I think maybe its unlikely. In fact I think we may even have to draft in someone from the reserves. I'm not confident of Mido being ready any time soon even if he recovers from his injury. His weight problems even when fully fit and training intensively suggest to me that he's going to be a long way short of peak condtion.

The midfield is more of a puzzle, with several players able to cover several different positions it's hard to see the loss of one man effecting us drastically. I expect to see Ghaly or Davids take on the dynamic central midfield role, with Malbranque carrying on the left with cover from Ekotto perhaps and Ziegler. I know a few think Murphy should be given a go, but i feel he's a bit of a luxury player, someone you can afford if the rest of the side is full hard men.

Finally a question about Zokora... he's going to be suspended for three or four games but does anyone know if that includes Carling and Uefa Cup matches?