Team vs Chelsea

[Kendall]

I disagree. He doesn't work hard enough off the ball for my liking. so if he's not scoring goals, not assisting and has no pace, then he shouldn't be in the team.

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

five man mf with jj in for hudd and nico for keane.

 

[TheGreenLily]

I'm not sure that oomph is a word that associates that well with Charlie.

In truth didn't Charlie actually play there once for Man City?

Not sure if he did play there for ManC, but I remember reading somewhere that he did play in a CM role before his arrival to ManC.

Even if oomph isn't the word, I think he will do a better job than Huddlestone defensively and is about 100X more mobil at the same time. We certainly need to do something so we are not over run in midfield.

 

[Legend10]

Not sure if he did play there for ManC, but I remember reading somewhere that he did play in a CM role before his arrival to ManC.

Even if oomph isn't the word, I think he will do a better job than Huddlestone defensively and is about 100X more mobil at the same time. We certainly need to do something so we are not over run in midfield.

When we beat the Chavs at home a few months back we played Wilson and JJ in midfield and these 2 for 75 minutes dominated Lampard, Ballack and Mikel.

This time around the Chavs will play with only 2 in central midfield in a narrow system with Drogba and Anelka up front. If we tuck our wide players in when the have the ball there is no reason why we will be outnumbered playing 442.

Wilson and JJ have enough energy, mobility and bite to compete in there as long as they receive support from the wider areas.

Personally I think that harry will play 442 with Wilson and JJ but will go with Keane and Defoe upfront and try to drop Keane off onto the base of the Chavs diamond as some extra insurance.

Personally I wouldn't do this as I think its more important for us to be able to compete in Chelseas half as well otherwise we will invite too much pressure. So I would go with Crouch and Defoe and Crouch's ability to hold the ball up and keep it in times in Chelseas half will be critical.

 

[double0]

Keane dropping off, Keane on the left....what a waste of time. The penny still hasn't dropped. Robbie Keane's at his best playing on the last defender...he is a much better striker imo than a creative linch pin.If were hell bent on playing Defoe and Keane (a combination I think can work depending on Robbie Keane) the role should be reversed, Defoe should be playing off Keane or the left.Personally I would like to see Pavluychenko for this game

 

[bubble07]

Gomes
Corluka Woodgate King Ekotto
Lennon Jenas Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch​

Bench: Cudicini Hutton Huddlestone Bale Keane Pavlyuchenko plus either Gio or Bentley

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Keane dropping off, Keane on the left....what a waste of time. The penny still hasn't dropped. Robbie Keane's at his best playing on the last defender...he is a much better striker imo than a creative linch pin.If were hell bent on playing Defoe and Keane (a combination I think can work depending on Robbie Keane) the role should be reversed, Defoe should be playing off Keane or the left.Personally I would like to see Pavluychenko for this game

Fair comment, he does produce his best stuff when being played as an actual striker, rather than in that link up role, but who else do we have to play there? The natural choice would be Luka but that would leave us scratching our heads as to our best choice on the left and Gio isn't getting a sniff of the action.

With Krancjar on board maybe that will change, i dunno, but until we have a playmaker to dump in that position without leaving ourselves weak in other areas, i don't see us with much of a choice. Perhaps Lennon should get a shot there, put Bentley out on the right? :shrug:

 

[northampton_yid]

Crouch has to start for me, we need someone that can hold the ball up and bring others into play. I'd go for something like this:

GOMES
HUTTON
KING
BASSONG
BAE
LENNON
HUDD
WILSON
KRANCJAR
CROUCH
DEFOE

 

[RobinLeonard]

Pretty exciting, it feels like for in ages we have no clue as to what the team will actually be.

 

[phil]

Apart from Cudicini in goal, I got the line-up correct for the second successive week. I even predicted that Pav would not be on the bench.

Problem is whenever I get the line-up correct, we get beaten.