Injury Worries

[guy5]

I think it horses for courses, so away to fulham id put modric in the middle. Is he better than Murphy? of course so same as Sunday with BAE coming into the side.
If this works stick with it for Blackburn at home. Stoke away is however a different matter and if nobody is fit by then, then Kaboul could certainly do a job in midfield there.

 

[mike_l]

Seeing as it seems we really are short on midfielders for the weekend, if we are to experiment with players out of position, how about BAE in CM? Fullback and CM have generally been somewhat interchangeable in recent years and he seems to have the right sort of attitude to play a defensive role there.

It would allow us to leave everyone else in their current positions andso in a way cause the minimum upheaval.

 

[$hoguN]

Bale's best quality is running beyond the LM into space created by Modric's movement, on the LW he would be marked out of games. At left back, you cannot designate someone to man mark him or double up on him as you would be leaving Modric too much space, therefore Bale is able to get forward far more effectively. However he would be a prime candidate to double up on playing at LW, with defenses being far less bothered by BAE attacking threat.

We should also not be playing people out of position this weekend, we have a squad for a reason, Gudjohnsen can play CM as can alot of our youth players like Parrett and Bostock; it is truly pointless playing some like BAE in midfield as he will lack the vision and distribution required, which may cost us a squad lifting trip to Wembley.

 

[mike_l]

Bale's best quality is running beyond the LM into space created by Modric's movement, on the LW he would be marked out of games. At left back, you cannot designate someone to man mark him or double up on him as you would be leaving Modric too much space, therefore Bale is able to get forward far more effectively. However he would be a prime candidate to double up on playing at LW, with defenses being far less bothered by BAE attacking threat.

We should also not be playing people out of position this weekend, we have a squad for a reason, Gudjohnsen can play CM as can alot of our youth players like Parrett and Bostock; it is truly pointless playing some like BAE in midfield as he will lack the vision and distribution required, which may cost us a squad lifting trip to Wembley.

To me that would be playing someone out of position as much as anyone else though. He hasn't ever played cm in a 442, as someone else already pointed out in more detail, so unless we were to change our entire formation I doubt that as a possibility. Also notice that HR preferred to bring Kaboul on there yesterday ahead of Eidur, so he can't be that keen on the idea.

 

[Kendall]

I think it horses for courses, so away to fulham id put modric in the middle. Is he better than Murphy? of course so same as Sunday with BAE coming into the side.
If this works stick with it for Blackburn at home. Stoke away is however a different matter and if nobody is fit by then, then Kaboul could certainly do a job in midfield there.

He may be a better player than Murphy on the whole, but you have to ask the question "is Murphy good enough to limit Modric's effectiveness and hamper his game, especially in the centre of the park?" That for me is key and I think he is, especially on current form.

Modric is at his best in a free role.

 

[Chimbo!]

Considering we are at the business end of the season I think we have 3 options as blooding a youngster is too high risk.

1. Kranjcar Palacios Modric Bale

This seems the most obvious as each player is comfortable in their position. They have all played well this season and it is a very aggressive midfield full of attacking options. On the other hand it lacks defensive qualities, which could be a problem against any side in the league if we do not attack particularly well. With this midfield, attack would certainly be the best form of defence, as it would need to dominate possession. Ekotto is also a more defensive left-back, who I think would work well with Bale and both have a good delivery.


2. Kranjcar Kaboul Palacios Modric

This would mimick our 1st choice midfield as accurately as possible with players who are available. Harry prefers to play with two strong defensive players in the middle and blend it with creativity on the flanks. However, Kaboul is not a natural midfielder and is also limited in his passing ability, which was the main attribute Huddlestone added to the team. I think this midfield would become too narrow because we would struggle with possession, forcing the two wide players to come inside to get the ball. This would stifle their abilities because they are masters of creating and opening space. We would get a situation, as we have seen all too often at White Hart Lane when we have failed to score.

3. Kranjcar Palacios O'Hara Modric

O'Hara can pass, he has a good left-foot and is above all a very determined player. I feel he is the perfect candidate to replace Huddlestone because he not only reduces the void left by Huddlestone but adds something else as well. He may not be our future 1st choice centre-mid but he is a good squad player because he can do a good job. Whether he plays at left-back, left-mid or centre-mid he always works hard. He can also score a few goals as well. Why not recall him?

 

[Adam456]

Modric is at his best in a free role.

Totally agree. Should be playing in the hole with freedom to go wherever he sees fit.


Benny at CM is surely a joke ? As comfortable on the ball and quick as he is, his 3 worst features are exactly what you don't want in a CM:

1. He's incredibly one-footed
2. His passing is not great
3. He's small and so will struggle with the physical side (and won't win many headers). Yes I know there are the odd excpetions like Strachan, Zola, Makalele but Benny is not one of them

 

[EastLondonYid]

Out of all the availible players to perform what is largely a sitting midfielders role given how Palacios harries forward, I'd choose Corluka. The basis is that he's already done this to high standard for Citeh, which is something none of our other players have as far as I know.

To replace him at RB - Kaboul. The basis for this is that he's already performed this role to a very high standard, by very many accounts of Pompey fans I've read.

So no need to throw anybody into a situation we don't already know they can cope with:

Gomes
Kaboom Doors SeaBass Monkey
Kranker Charlie Sarge Modders
Pav JD

mg: sorry mate.TOTALLY disagree!
can you honestly see charlie coping with all that goes with playing in the middle of midfield?
he is far too laid back to risk playing him there.
and with wilson?:shrug:
that for me would be one of the worse midfield pairings we will ever see.
not a slur on wilson..who is top def.mid...wouldnt work with charlie.
and Shogun ..
sorry fella.cant agree with youse either mate.
playing an attacking fullback,at LM..imo.
makes far more sense(IMO) than as you suggest,
throwing in a younster to play in a F.A.cup 1/4 final:shrug:
i think bale and ekkoto COULD do a one off job Vfulham
they could even share going foward..one stays when one goes,alternating.
surely less risk playing two proven players,rather than kids,
especially for such a BIG game.
i mean...they both play on the left..its hardly alien to them.

 

[Kendall]

So we have Fulham away next, best to keep it tight.

I think we'll probably end up playing Kaboul next to Palacios, with a view to keeping it compact and trying to win by the odd goal, even maybe getting a draw to stuff them back at the Lane.

At home against Blackburn though, if our kids are really as good as has been made out, Parret and Bostock surely wouldn't be too much of a risk to blood in if they're playing with Palacios?

They both have good techique and are both strong and agile, no reason why they can't do a Huddlestone/Jenas type role, especially with the support of Wilson, Modric and Bale around them

Much like we did with O'Hara the other year against Arsenal, throw them in at the deep end, we might just get another full blooded performance.

 

[Hoowl]

Totally agree. Should be playing in the hole with freedom to go wherever he sees fit.


Benny at CM is surely a joke ? As comfortable on the ball and quick as he is, his 3 worst features are exactly what you don't want in a CM:

1. He's incredibly one-footed
2. His passing is not great
3. He's small and so will struggle with the physical side (and won't win many headers). Yes I know there are the odd excpetions like Strachan, Zola, Makalele but Benny is not one of them

In a 442 Modric has more freedom when plays on the left than he would if he played in the centre. Playing in the middle would burden him with a lot more defensive repsonsibility and limit his chance to wander. As for changing to 5 in the middle to accomodate Modric behind a single striker, I can't see it happening as it would probably mean leaving out Defoe.

 

[nicdic]

So we have Fulham away next, best to keep it tight.

I think we'll probably end up playing Kaboul next to Palacios, with a view to keeping it compact and trying to win by the odd goal, even maybe getting a draw to stuff them back at the Lane.

At home against Blackburn though, if our kids are really as good as has been made out, Parret and Bostock surely wouldn't be too much of a risk to blood in if they're playing with Palacios?

They both have good techique and are both strong and agile, no reason why they can't do a Huddlestone/Jenas type role, especially with the support of Wilson, Modric and Bale around them

Much like we did with O'Hara the other year against Arsenal, throw them in at the deep end, we might just get another full blooded performance.

When we blooded O'Hara against Arsenal our central midfield pairing was O'Hara and Boateng. Playing alongside Palacios isn't definitely going to be more help!

 

[mike_l]

Totally agree. Should be playing in the hole with freedom to go wherever he sees fit.


Benny at CM is surely a joke ? As comfortable on the ball and quick as he is, his 3 worst features are exactly what you don't want in a CM:

1. He's incredibly one-footed
2. His passing is not great
3. He's small and so will struggle with the physical side (and won't win many headers). Yes I know there are the odd excpetions like Strachan, Zola, Makalele but Benny is not one of them

Wasn't a joke, I said earlier that my first choice would be to play a youngster there in his preferred position rather than a more experienced player out of position, if not in a scenario like the current one then when are they ever gonna get there chance?

However as people seem obsessed with shifting players about in order to keep an experienced line up, I don't think it is a ridiculous proposition, certainly no more so than playing him at RB as was done against Bolton.

I think the fact that he is defensively disciplined, pretty comfortbale on the ball and has a good engine go in his favour for the role, I don't think his passing is as bad as you suggest, yes he is prone to the odd hoof to no-one from LB but I'd be surprised if he tried that from cm and he is capable of a pretty tidy short passing game.

Certainly his performances at LB don't suggest to me that he would struggle with the physical side, if anything he gets stuck in more than many of our other players. The one footedness you mention didn't stop Redknapp from playing him at RB, where you would expect it to be exposed most of all, so I don't really agree with all your concerns.

I will just clarify though, I would much rather play a youngster there who normally plays the role, but I would rather play BAE out of position in CM than shift both Bale and Modric out of their favoured positions where they are currently excelling.

 

[mike_l]

So we have Fulham away next, best to keep it tight.

I think we'll probably end up playing Kaboul next to Palacios, with a view to keeping it compact and trying to win by the odd goal, even maybe getting a draw to stuff them back at the Lane.

At home against Blackburn though, if our kids are really as good as has been made out, Parret and Bostock surely wouldn't be too much of a risk to blood in if they're playing with Palacios?

They both have good techique and are both strong and agile, no reason why they can't do a Huddlestone/Jenas type role, especially with the support of Wilson, Modric and Bale around them

Much like we did with O'Hara the other year against Arsenal, throw them in at the deep end, we might just get another full blooded performance.

We won't, he is cup tied.

 

[jondesouza]

So we have Fulham away next, best to keep it tight.

I think we'll probably end up playing Kaboul next to Palacios, with a view to keeping it compact and trying to win by the odd goal, even maybe getting a draw to stuff them back at the Lane.

Kaboul is cup tied.

 

[jondesouza]

3. Kranjcar Palacios O'Hara Modric

O'Hara can pass, he has a good left-foot and is above all a very determined player. I feel he is the perfect candidate to replace Huddlestone because he not only reduces the void left by Huddlestone but adds something else as well. He may not be our future 1st choice centre-mid but he is a good squad player because he can do a good job. Whether he plays at left-back, left-mid or centre-mid he always works hard. He can also score a few goals as well. Why not recall him?

Every time someone suggests we play O'Hara this season a puppy dies.

 

[michaelden]

O'Hara Will Only Be Playing In Midfield For Pompey - Geddit!!

Every time someone suggests we play O'Hara this season a puppy dies.

mg: :rofl:



I hope that Bostock or Parrett are given a chance to shine

 

[guy5]

So we have Fulham away next, best to keep it tight.

I think we'll probably end up playing Kaboul next to Palacios, with a view to keeping it compact and trying to win by the odd goal, even maybe getting a draw to stuff them back at the Lane.

At home against Blackburn though, if our kids are really as good as has been made out, Parret and Bostock surely wouldn't be too much of a risk to blood in if they're playing with Palacios?

They both have good techique and are both strong and agile, no reason why they can't do a Huddlestone/Jenas type role, especially with the support of Wilson, Modric and Bale around them

Much like we did with O'Hara the other year against Arsenal, throw them in at the deep end, we might just get another full blooded performance.

I think he is cup tied, so thats not an option.

 

[tRiKS]

Corluka next to wilson with BAE or which ever of the Sheffield lads we've got ... i get confused.

 

[tRiKS]

mg: sorry mate.TOTALLY disagree!
can you honestly see charlie coping with all that goes with playing in the middle of midfield?
he is far too laid back to risk playing him there.
and with wilson?:shrug:
that for me would be one of the worse midfield pairings we will ever see.
not a slur on wilson..who is top def.mid...wouldnt work with charlie.
and Shogun ..
sorry fella.cant agree with youse either mate.
playing an attacking fullback,at LM..imo.
makes far more sense(IMO) than as you suggest,
throwing in a younster to play in a F.A.cup 1/4 final:shrug:
i think bale and ekkoto COULD do a one off job Vfulham
they could even share going foward..one stays when one goes,alternating.
surely less risk playing two proven players,rather than kids,
especially for such a BIG game.
i mean...they both play on the left..its hardly alien to them.

Has played ther for city a few times and once against Gerard, alonso and Masherano and came out with great credit. That performance was floating around on youtube not so long ago.

 

[jondesouza]

Corluka next to wilson with BAE or which ever of the Sheffield lads we've got ... i get confused.

Walker - except he's cup-tied as well.