Team v Basel

[EnfieldYiddo]

It's starting to annoy me people continually posting teams with Lloris in. Not sure if you didn't get the memo loud and clear from AVB...Friedel will play every EL game.

Might as well chuck Bale and Sandro in whilst you're at it

 

[ryantegan]

As much as it is a blow to be without Lennon and Bale, this will be the kind of game where we would struggle to utelise their pace anyway. I expect basle to play a little deeper protecting the risk of away goals with little space in behind. We will need craft and patience.

Its not all bad

 

[theShiznit]

My team for Thursday.

------------------------Friedel

Walker ---------Daws----------Jan---------Benny

------Parker----------Sandro-------Dembele

----------------Lennon--------Bale-------

-----------------------ADE

 

[BringBack_leGin]

It's starting to annoy me people continually posting teams with Lloris in. Not sure if you didn't get the memo loud and clear from AVB...Friedel will play every EL game.

Might as well chuck Bale and Sandro in whilst you're at it

You've only been here 10 months so you might not have latched on, but this is a 'what team would you play' thread, not a 'predict the team' thread.

Maybe you could start the latter?

 

[Mr Pink]

It's starting to annoy me people continually posting teams with Lloris in. Not sure if you didn't get the memo loud and clear from AVB...Friedel will play every EL game.

Might as well chuck Bale and Sandro in whilst you're at it

Starting to annoy you? Not sure too many will care in all honesty given people are posting the team they would like to see.

 

[Misfit]

AVB is really sticking to his principle here in playing Brad no matter what. I hope he isn't too heart-broken when players turn around quickly and show him zero loyalty in return.

Sending a powerful message to the younger players anyway. I hope they appreciate it.

That said, his complete refusal to adjust the tactics when Brad is in goal is suicidal and the first proper "what the feck are you doing?" moment of his tenure. Makes zero sense.

 

[felmani26]

AVB is really sticking to his principle here in playing Brad no matter what. I hope he isn't too heart-broken when players turn around quickly and show him zero loyalty in return.

Sending a powerful message to the younger players anyway. I hope they appreciate it.

That said, his complete refusal to adjust the tactics when Brad is in goal is suicidal and the first proper "what the feck are you doing?" moment of his tenure. Makes zero sense.

It also seems to fly directly in the face of 'how seriously AVB is taking this tournament', what with Friedel and Gallas used sparingly for European exploits.

The logic of playing Lloris and the effects on the defence have been played to death and as long as I have a hole in my arse, I'll never truly understand the mindset of AVB for this.

 

[shaqTHFC]

*sigh*

I genuinely don't know if I want us to win this game. We seem to have been such a shower of shit after European games lately that I really do worry that our continuing involvement could completely scupper our top four hopes.

Obviously it's not an issue this time as we have a big gap until our next game, but I just don't know if our squad has the legs for another three games in this competition.

I suppose we have to go for it though so should be our best team available which I think (barring Friedel who will obviously play) is:

Friedel​

​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen Ekotto​

​

Parker Carroll​

​

Holtby Dembele Sigurdsson​

​

Adebayor​

​

Would have thought it'll be Dempsey in for Carroll though.

After the Everton game Andre did say our midfielders stepped up in the absence of Bale and Lennon and went on to praise Holtby, Sigurdsson, Huddlestone and Carroll but made no mention of Dempsey. It might mean nothing, but it seemed to me that he must've been as disappointed with Dempsey as everyone else on here was so perhaps he'll be benched for the game tomorrow.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

You've only been here 10 months so you might not have latched on, but this is a 'what team would you play' thread, not a 'predict the team' thread.

Maybe you could start the latter?

What's got your knickers in a twist?

Starting to annoy you? Not sure too many will care in all honesty given people are posting the team they would like to see.

I take it more as a thread to speculate the team which will be played... Normally people imply if they are stating a team they wouldlike to see.


I'm all for debate over who will be fielded in defence/midfield/attack (although we largely have an inkling who that will be). Just don't see the point in people putting Lloris in their speculative teams again and again for EL matches... Maybe I'm being pedantic but.

 

[Mr Pink]

What's got your knickers in a twist?




I take it more as a thread to speculate the team which will be played... Normally people imply if they are stating a team they wouldlike to see.


I'm all for debate over who will be fielded in defence/midfield/attack (although we largely have an inkling who that will be). Just don't see the point in people putting Lloris in their speculative teams again and again for EL matches... Maybe I'm being pedantic but.

Most people post the team they would play, their choice.

Wouldn't be much fun posting the team AVB is likely to play, and not that difficult either on most occasions!!

 

[felmani26]

After the Everton game Andre did say our midfielders stepped up in the absence of Bale and Lennon and went on to praise Holtby, Sigurdsson, Huddlestone and Carroll but made no mention of Dempsey. It might mean nothing, but it seemed to me that he must've been as disappointed with Dempsey as everyone else on here was so perhaps he'll be benched for the game tomorrow.

Dempsey isn't a midfielder though, he's a forward - well, in principle anyhow.

It's debateable whether he's actually a footballer but then that would be really bitchy of me!

 

[shaqTHFC]

Dempsey isn't a midfielder though, he's a forward - well, in principle anyhow.

It's debateable whether he's actually a footballer but then that would be really bitchy of me!

I looked at the quotes again and he also praised Ade. So, the whole starting front 4 bar Dempsey and the two subs he brought on got mentioned. It's probably meaningless in terms of future team selection but I found it interesting nonetheless.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Can we please not get into an argument over what the thread is actually about.

You know...because it's jeffing boring.

 

[felmani26]

I looked at the quotes again and he also praised Ade. So, the whole starting front 4 bar Dempsey and the two subs he brought on got mentioned. It's probably meaningless in terms of future team selection but I found it interesting nonetheless.

Maybe it's stating the obvious but I think Andre would be taking he piss praising Dempsey for his abject display and we can all but hope he doesn't utilise him as a 'goal threat' against Basel as that will diminish our chances of progression right from the outset.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Dempsey will start

 

[shaqTHFC]

Maybe it's stating the obvious but I think Andre would be taking he piss praising Dempsey for his abject display and we can all but hope he doesn't utilise him as a 'goal threat' against Basel as that will diminish our chances of progression right from the outset.

He's used it as a form of man management in the past hasn't he? It's taking the piss to compare JD to Falcao and he praised Lennon after a poor game when Bale was out injured. Hopefully, the lack of praise for Dempsey means Carroll will get a chance as I'd like to see how he'd do in a midfield with Parker and Dembele with Holtby and Sigurdsson as the attackers supporting Ade, but as I mentioned earlier I'm probably reading too much into the post match comments.

 

[felmani26]

He's used it as a form of man management in the past hasn't he? It's taking the piss to compare JD to Falcao and he praised Lennon after a poor game when Bale was out injured. Hopefully, the lack of praise for Dempsey means Carroll will get a chance as I'd like to see how he'd do in a midfield with Parker and Dembele with Holtby and Sigurdsson as the attackers supporting Ade, but as I mentioned earlier I'm probably reading too much into the post match comments.

Oh I definitely advocate Carroll being given a chance in a midfield trio - certainly over Huddlestone, but the wide right spot is open to suggestion it would seem.

Even though it's the most unlikely scenario, I went for Cebellos as this is a game we need to win and by doing so, we need more than Adebayor with some attacking nous and some much needed creativity in the final third. Holtby will likely start though but I fear there won't be enough impetus in our attacks to create enough but it goes without saying, we need Adebayor to be on song and continue his Everton form over to Switzerland if we are going to have a chance of progressing against a very well drilled outfit.

 

[mpickard2087]

If/when Friedel starts, its going to be the first time I'm angry with AVB.

 

[Kendall]

Can we please not get into an argument over what the thread is actually about.

You know...because it's jeffing boring.

What's this thread for? Predicting the team, or the team you'd like to see?

Because it's annoying EnfieldYiddo when people pick Lloris and he needs to get help.

 

[mpickard2087]

Oh I definitely advocate Carroll being given a chance in a midfield trio - certainly over Huddlestone, but the wide right spot is open to suggestion it would seem.

Even though it's the most unlikely scenario, I went for Cebellos as this is a game we need to win and by doing so, we need more than Adebayor with some attacking nous and some much needed creativity in the final third. Holtby will likely start though but I fear there won't be enough impetus in our attacks to create enough but it goes without saying, we need Adebayor to be on song and continue his Everton form over to Switzerland if we are going to have a chance of progressing against a very well drilled outfit.

I agree with you about a central trio with Carroll in. I think AVB needs to do something at this stage given our recent results. We need a shot in the arm and something different, Carroll may help us move the ball around with a bit more tempo.

I think then you have Holtby right, Sig left and Adebayor up top. So Ceballos on the bench rather than start, but we shouldn't be afraid to use him and I'd put him on ahead of Dempsey. We're pretty much guaranteed some enthusiasm and he'll take some risks in trying to impress, could be the wildcard we need.