Team VS Palace

[sufcintheprem]

I think with our defence it will be a case of horses for courses a lot of the time as a)Prior won't be able to play more than 30 odd games this season and b) each of our centre backs seem professional enough to deal with this rotation. I agree with R_C. I thought Spinner had very little over Barrett's performance other than he could actually beat Sidibe in the air. Scowcroft is pretty handy as a direct striker and Morrison's not too shabby in the air. I'd probably have Prior in to counter Scowcroft and Clarke to try and deal with Morrison's pace.

The rest of the team I would keep the same. Front two were excellent and Gower worked just about hard enough against Stoke to make me think he can do the same job away.

JCR has to start in my book. We can't expect to boss games away from home against a lot of clubs in this league and any counter-attacking goals will be a massive plus. JCR has electric pace and plenty of tricks. If you put him one-on-one against any defender, you would back him to get past or round. I understand that he used to get a few goals like this for Rotherham. Something that surprised me a bit on Saturday was that, at 1-0, we had him back defending the post. I'd have brought Freddy back as he is more competent in the air and left JCR as a threat on the halfway line.

 

[Fish]

Tricky question this, but here goes:

Barrett / Spinner / Clarke. I think weshould go with Spinner and Clarke. Legend as he is, I think Barrett would simply be out of his depth with Morrison. Although Spinner hasn't got the legs, Palace away is one of those games which you need his experience for - large club with huge expectations means a hostile atmosphere the likes of which (Swansea and Forest apart) we had nothing like last season. A great chance for Clarke to develop some leadership potential which we will undoubtedly need once Spinner does hang up his boots, and his pace at the back will be what we need.

JCR has to start for me. I agree with all the comments about pacey counter-option. Added to this, did anyone notice that the left back in the 'sinners' team in The League paper was a Palace left back? Surely ripe for JCR to tear to shreds - as long as he then crosses the ball more readily.

Bradbury / Paynter. We only brought Paynter on on Saturday as we would have looked pretty stupid signing him on loan just for the weekend ahead of todays deal then not use him. I and others thought Bradbury had an outstanding game. Not seen him make such good runs before, and alongside Freddy he will get space to exploit. Paynter for me should bench it tomorrow, but worth a shout at QPR perhaps.

I'd like to see Mitch Cole get a run-out tomorrow, and his pac and attacking qualities may again be very useful on the counter-attack. THis would be at Gower's expense - not sure about this idea!

Another idea is to put Hunt in the middle with Maher, in anticipation of being under the kosh a bit. Would link well with Maher between our box and half-way. Harsh on Gutts though.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Jam_Man]

Quote[/b] (Richard_Cadette @ Aug. 07 2006,12:43)]I do find this amusing that everyone i saying play Bradders to give us a more solid look in midfield.... He's a STRIKER!!!!!!!

In my opinion, JCR tracks back better than any winger I can remember seeing, far more so than when Bradders plays, and more so in one half on Saturday than Gower has done in all his games for us.  Absolute no brainer for me, he was our most creative outlet on Saturday and he MUST start.

As for Bradbury, he played his best game for us on Saturday, and that was as an out and out striker, so again, why would you move him?

Bradbury was a striker. By his own admission he is a utility player these days and has played more as a midfielder over the past couple of seasons.

What he offers in midfield is a more physical presence and the ability to win headers etc.

I agree that JCR does have defensive qualities as well and his pace did allow him to nick the ball a few times.

Personally I agree with you, I would rather them both in their natural positions as with Bradbury on the right we didnt look half as good going forward.

 

[Jam_Man]

Quote[/b] (Fish @ Aug. 07 2006,14:05)]Another idea is to put Hunt in the middle with Maher, in anticipation of being under the kosh a bit. Would link well with Maher between our box and half-way. Harsh on Gutts though.

Thoughts anyone?

Dont understand the logic there and dont see that happening.

Guttridge played well on Saturday and is a better player than Hunt in midfield and is more than capable of mixing it up.

 

[Stoned Shrimper]

I think all of the team that won on Saturday earned the right to keep their place. By next Saturday Clarke and Paynter will have had a few training sessions with their new teamates and that's the time to think of starting with them. But as for starting with Cole and Hunt .... no!

 

[sufcintheprem]

Regarding Hunt and Guttridge, I feel that one of the key things we have to do is to hold the ball when it's cleared and stop them applying pressure. Hunt, for me, has too much of a tendency to play deep when in midfield whereas Gutts likes to play it out of defence and get forward. Has to be Gutts unless we snatch a goal.

 

[royfox]

Prior is well finished. Clarke for a full game Prior on the bench.

 

[royfox]

Francis may well be injured. He was seen limping badly out of the ground after the Stoke match.

 

[shrimper_sam]

Quote[/b] (Jam_Man @ Aug. 07 2006,16:19)]

Quote[/b] (Fish @ Aug. 07 2006,14:05)]Another idea is to put Hunt in the middle with Maher, in anticipation of being under the kosh a bit. Would link well with Maher between our box and half-way. Harsh on Gutts though.

Thoughts anyone?

Dont understand the logic there and dont see that happening.

Guttridge played well on Saturday and is a better player than Hunt in midfield and is more than capable of mixing it up.

Was it just me or did Clarke and Hunt play in midfield when they came on on sat. (not saying that should happen again Gutts maher gower n JCr will do me fine)

 

[eastwood shrimper]

I think we looked a lot less capable when JCR came off against bot Portsmouth and Stoke. I think tilly will swap spinner with clarke for the game other than that i think it will be an unchanged team

 

[Pubey]

Quote[/b] (royfox @ Aug. 07 2006,16:47)]Francis may well be injured. He was seen limping badly out of the ground after the Stoke match.

serious?? limping badly could just be from cramp or a light knock which might be okay. there is nothing on the bbc team news to suggest he is injured

 

[shrimper_sam]

If he was injured they would have said in the match report on our official site like they did when Sodje and Ricketts got injured.

 

[Beefy]

Clarke and AB should start at the back in my opinion. Spinner was quality on saturday but Palace are a different team who will pose different problems up front. Barrett remains, for me, one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Rest of the team picks itself. Bradbury was immense on saturday and is the perfect partner for Eastwood. If he carries on playing like that (which I think he probably will), I don't see where Ricketts or Paynter fit into the equation. Lee does a solid job for us on the right flank, but its a waste of his talent there as he is clearly a centre-forward, and a top-notch one at that.