It would be good to give the new players experience but not if we end up with a cricket score defeat and then loose confidence. Maybe bring Bougherra on as a sub against Chelski and then use him against United as EL K will be banned and have Song on the bench for a 2nd half sub.
Our midfield still look too loose (dont retain possession) to me even with 5 on. If he can improve that situation then yes would be my answer. We still have a lack of firepower problem though, so points against either team is looking unlikely to me.
[cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]No, you don't tinker too much with a team that is regaining confidence.
Stay as we are while we are picking up points.
I agree with you to a point but as razil pointed our midfield doesn't hold the ball well enough. We gave the ball away far to cheaply against Bolton and were lucky to get away with it, I doubt we be so lucky against Chelsea.
I'd stick with the same side to begin with but I'd be looking to give either ZZ or Song half an hour depending on how the game is going.
It's a really tricky one. Out of all the teams down there we have the worst goal difference, which at the end of the day counts as being -1point. We need the three points but going all out to win and a spanking could prove problomatic at the end of the season in the shake up. I'd stick with the same team that got the draw on wednesday
[cite]Posted By: Ledge Knows[/cite]No our goal difference is bad enough
I don't believe we should ever worry about goal difference - it is only one point - what if chasing a game to improve your goal difference cost you two points!? Anyway we can already write off that "point", so definitely no need to worry about it in its own right - of course we don't want to get embarassed tomorrow, which we will if we can't hold on to the ball.
If fit, I'd at the very least like to see Bougherra get half an hour in - next weekend he's in the team anyway cos the Elk is suspended.
As for midfield we haven't got the quality to have a prayer against Chelsea really, so in my opinion the gamble is to NOT play Song - if Pards thinks he is good enough then get him in there straight away.
"If fit, I'd at the very least like to see Bougherra get half an hour in - next weekend he's in the team anyway cos the Elk is suspended.
As for midfield we haven't got the quality to have a prayer against Chelsea really, so in my opinion the gamble is to NOT play Song - if Pards thinks he is good enough then get him in there straight away."
Our tactics away to Chelsea last season weren't pretty but they worked, five in midfield, two playing deep and press up on Makalele and Lampard, stifle them, and try and snatch a goal on the break.
I'd give ZZ and Bogherra a game if only as subs, and I agree with SS...leave Song's debut to a less demanding game. I'd take a draw.
BFR - what I meant is that if Pards thinks Song is good enough then play him tomorrow! More of a gamble to leave him out. I do not get the impression that ZZ is ready for the English game just yet.
Certainly leave the back four alone. Midfield is a concern as they give the ball away too much and put pressure on our defenders, so why not give some of the new boys a go...maybe the service to the front man will be better? That said, some of the old hands might be in the mood to fight a little harder than loan signings.
Up front is the real problem - no cutting edge. Marcus is pretty good at running all day but no so hot when the ball goes near him (the round bouncy thing Marcus) and JFH is so lardy that he's lost his speed and can't get off the ground for a header (easy on the breakfast Jimbo...). SuperKev may well be the saviour..yeah right.
Decisions, decisions - that's why Pards ins the manager, not me.
[quote][cite]Posted By: Salad Spinner[/cite]BFR - what I meant is that if Pards thinks Song is good enough then play him tomorrow! More of a gamble to leave him out. I do not get the impression that ZZ is ready for the English game just yet.[/quote]
Sorry I misread you!
I think it would be a gamble to play him, Song has just joined the club and was away on international duty this week so the amount of time he'd have in training would be minimal, that is if he's even back. For a match like this I think he'd need more time.
[cite]Posted By: Salad Spinner[/cite]I'd definitely play Lisbie instead of Rommedahl.
Why?? I've seen a few people suggest that he should be played on the wing, like it's suddenly going to make him a premiership class player. It won't, he'll still be crap.
Comments
It would be good to give the new players experience but not if we end up with a cricket score defeat and then loose confidence. Maybe bring Bougherra on as a sub against Chelski and then use him against United as EL K will be banned and have Song on the bench for a 2nd half sub.
Stay as we are while we are picking up points.
I agree with you to a point but as razil pointed our midfield doesn't hold the ball well enough. We gave the ball away far to cheaply against Bolton and were lucky to get away with it, I doubt we be so lucky against Chelsea.
I'd stick with the same side to begin with but I'd be looking to give either ZZ or Song half an hour depending on how the game is going.
I thought that Reid had been ruled out.
If fit, I'd at the very least like to see Bougherra get half an hour in - next weekend he's in the team anyway cos the Elk is suspended.
As for midfield we haven't got the quality to have a prayer against Chelsea really, so in my opinion the gamble is to NOT play Song - if Pards thinks he is good enough then get him in there straight away.
As for midfield we haven't got the quality to have a prayer against Chelsea really, so in my opinion the gamble is to NOT play Song - if Pards thinks he is good enough then get him in there straight away."
Our tactics away to Chelsea last season weren't pretty but they worked, five in midfield, two playing deep and press up on Makalele and Lampard, stifle them, and try and snatch a goal on the break.
I'd give ZZ and Bogherra a game if only as subs, and I agree with SS...leave Song's debut to a less demanding game. I'd take a draw.
Up front is the real problem - no cutting edge. Marcus is pretty good at running all day but no so hot when the ball goes near him (the round bouncy thing Marcus) and JFH is so lardy that he's lost his speed and can't get off the ground for a header (easy on the breakfast Jimbo...). SuperKev may well be the saviour..yeah right.
Decisions, decisions - that's why Pards ins the manager, not me.
Sorry I misread you!
I think it would be a gamble to play him, Song has just joined the club and was away on international duty this week so the amount of time he'd have in training would be minimal, that is if he's even back. For a match like this I think he'd need more time.
Why?? I've seen a few people suggest that he should be played on the wing, like it's suddenly going to make him a premiership class player. It won't, he'll still be crap.
He was most definitely a Premiership class player then, more so than Rommedahl.