Team vs Stoke - Carling Cup

[Pringle]

Well Harry has said Gomes will play, Sandro has said he is expecting to be back for the game and Gallas is back in training.........

Gomes
Corluka
Bassong
Gallas
Townsend
Falque
Livermore
Sandro
GDS
Kane
Pav

Carroll was excellent last week by all accounts so i wouldnt be suprised to see him start though (maybe with Sandro coming off the bench)

 

[chrissivad]

VDV could get some game time as well. Shame Rose is still injured, as Townsend isn't a LB.

Will be that line up, or something close to it IMO

 

[Pringle]

VDV could get some game time as well. Shame Rose is still injured, as Townsend isn't a LB.

Will be that line up, or something close to it IMO

Thats a good point. Maybe start with VDV off Pav with Kane on the bench. I hope we take this game seriously as its a real chance for us

 

[chrissivad]

Thats a good point. Maybe start with VDV off Pav with Kane on the bench. I hope we take this game seriously as its a real chance for us

would rather we started with VDV off Kane :wink:

 

[Pringle]

would rather we started with VDV off Kane :wink:

It wouldnt suprise me. I get the impression Pav isnt rated anymore - GDS came on ahead of him today which suprised me.

 

[AJW]

It wouldn't suprise me to see a relatively strong team out

Gomes

Corluka Gallas (or Kaboul) Bassong Ekotto

Giovani Sandro Livermore Townsend

VDV Pav

 

[kaz Hirai]

carrol, kane? a slightly weakened side perhaps, but lets not throw away the chance at winning something

 

[SlickMongoose]

Kane has been better than Pav this season.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Kane has been better than Pav this season.

neither are good enough to play

i would go the same team again with bassong replacing king, and sandro in for modric if he is fit

 

[Pringle]

carrol, kane? a slightly weakened side perhaps, but lets not throw away the chance at winning something

I agree - its about finding the balance. However, I think Carroll & Livermore deserves their chance to play after a couple of really good performances.

I hope all of our fringe players get a run out - Stoke will field a very weakened side as well without doubt

 

[KeaneIsKeane]

I'd like to go for the Europa League, but I really can't say I care too much about this cup or the FA Cup this season. Plus we'll be playing Stoke. I don't want to risk our better players. Send out the kidssss.

 

[TheGreenLily]

I would like to see;

Gomes

Corluka - Kaboul - Bassong - BAE

Falque - Livermore - Sandro - Townsend

GDS - Kane
​

Message to Townsend: You don't have to keep trying to beat everyone, learn when to release early and take people on and whip those crosses in.

Stoke are going to be a tough team to beat, cup games always are, but with Sandro (if fit) and Livermore in CM, our defence will be well protected and the young players have some protection

 

[kaz Hirai]

either way im sure the mutant will score against us

 

[SlickMongoose]

I doubt Stoke will be playing a strong team either.

 

[kaz Hirai]

I doubt Stoke will be playing a strong team either.

why not? dont think they'll want to get knocked out at home, in a competition they'll feel they could win, they arent exactly too good for this competition

sigh. i just hope we dont throw this away, Luka and Bale want medals, give them one

 

[Pringle]

why not? dont think they'll want to get knocked out at home, in a competition they'll feel they could win, they arent exactly too good for this competition

sigh. i just hope we dont throw this away, Luka and Bale want medals, give them one

because they played thursday and today and fielded a strong team in both games - if they do field the same players for the 3rd time in 6 days then they are crazy as the players will be tired and thats how you pick up injuries. Stoke will prioritise the competitions they are in and i would imagine this competition would be lower than the Europa league and the prem.

 

[Legacy]

Gomes

Corluka Gallas Bassong Assou-Ekotto
Livermore Carroll
Falque Giovani Kranjcar
Kane

I'd like to see us have a real crack at winning this cup, but I also don't want us to risk a lot of players.

I'd start Assou-Ekotto at left back, as he is our only real option, plus the guy is an absolute machine. The amount of games he's played for us over the last couple of years is insane. One more won't hurt him (I hope).

I thought Livermore and Carroll did very well on Thursday, so I think they deserve another start, with Sandro coming on for 20 minutes or so at the end.

I thought Falque looked pretty decent against PAOK and Gio seems to have regained a little bit of favour this season, so I think he'll start too, preferably in the centre, just off the striker. As VdV is back now, Kranjcar probably loses his spot in the league team, so he definitely should start against Stoke.

I'd go for Kane up front because I've completely lost patience with Pavlyuchenko now.
​

 

[3Dnata]

I think kranjcar is going to be out for a few weeks sadly.

 

[Pringle]

I think kranjcar is going to be out for a few weeks sadly.

He only had a tight hamstring and made it through to half time so i doubt its a long term issue - that said i dont expect him to be risked on Tuesday

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

why not? dont think they'll want to get knocked out at home, in a competition they'll feel they could win, they arent exactly too good for this competition

sigh. i just hope we dont throw this away, Luka and Bale want medals, give them one

No I think they want CL and we shouldn't jeopardise our chance of 3rd place (yes catching Chelski is realistic) by playing our best players in the CC.