Team Vs Liverpool

[ShelfSide18]

Sunday is looming and I think it's time to put on ourselves in front of the tactics board and select our teams for this massive and possible season defining fixture.

It appears that Lennon won't make it, so I have counted him out which is a massive blow. There's been nothing on Defoe after he went off against P'Boro so I'll assume he will be fit - if not, Keano comes in.

Gomes
Corluka King Dawson Bale
Modric Jenas Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch​

Go for it...

 

[NEVILLEB]

Sunday isn't it?

Bale will be the key I think

 

[ShelfSide18]

Sunday isn't it?

Bale will be the key I think

Duly edited!

 

[ginol@14]

Gomes
Corluka King Dawson Bale
Modric Hudd Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch

team picks itself nowdays (apart from when bae & lennon are available)

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

I'm deeply concerned about Lennon's absence.

-----------------------Gomes
Corluka--------Dawson---------King---------Bassong
-------------Huddlestone------------Palacios
Kranjcar--------------------------------------Modric
-----------Defoe---------------Crouch

Subs: Alnwick, Hutton, Bale, Keane, JJ, Giovani, Rose.

I don't trust Bale defensively (Hull at home I have less problem with, Liverpool away is different). He was at fault at Everton and it resulted in them coming back in the game.

 

[TwoSaintsComeMarching]

Its really worrying that we will be missing our two pacy wide attacking threats - Ekotto and Lennon.. Hopefully Bale steps up again, he was excellent against Peterborough. So im more worried about our lack of pace on the right..

Gomes
Corluka Dawson King Bale
Modric Palacios Hudd Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch

 

[spurdownunder]

Gomes
Corluka King Dawson Bale
Modric Hudd Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch

+1

It's tough when your cover at RW for Lennon is someone like Modders!!!

Massive game in the context of our season. Lets do these scousers.

 

[TwoSaintsComeMarching]

I'm deeply concerned about Lennon's absence.

-----------------------Gomes
Corluka--------Dawson---------King---------Bassong
-------------Huddlestone------------Palacios
Kranjcar--------------------------------------Modric
-----------Defoe---------------Crouch

Subs: Alnwick, Hutton, Bale, Keane, JJ, Giovani, Rose.

I don't trust Bale defensively (Hull at home I have less problem with, Liverpool away is different). He was at fault at Everton and it resulted in them coming back in the game.

No pace in that side at all.. Without Ekotto and Lennon we need atleast Bale in there.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

No pace in that side at all.. Without Ekotto and Lennon we need atleast Bale in there.

that is true, although there isn't a lot of pace in the Liverpool side either.

Giovani or Bale can slot into midfield positions if we need pace, later in the game. This is what I would go for on the day.

 

[karennina]

Sunday isn't it?

Bale will be the key I think

This thought occured to me also, how curious!

Maybe his pace and freshness will make the difference, because with Lennon out it was looking a little too close for comfort. Or maybe he's just a lesser known quantity and easier to pin hopes on.

Anyway I hope we obliterate them, pass them off the park, and show that we simply have more quality and cohesion in our play than them these days. For me the key to doing this is Huddlestone, Krancjar and Modric in the same team. That disconcerting, large hole in our midfield reappeared when Jenas played recently. But a lack of cohesion reappeared.

It seems doomed to try and replace Lennon's 10-20 extra quick dribbles each game with JJ's 0-5 fast medium dribbles. Also it's not clear that 'success' is a notion that sits as comfortably with Jenas as 'future promise' whilst I think the rest of the team are ready for this game to define the way in which we're stepping up a level.



Gomes
Corluka King Dawson Bale
Modric Huddlestone Paklacios Krancjar
Crouch Defoe

 

[Luka Lennon]

Gomes
Charlie Daws King Bassong
Modric Hudd Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch

don't think an away day at Anfield is ideal for Bale plus I don't think he has much pace certainly not more than Bassong. I'm still having nightmares about his last EPL cameo against Seamus Coleman. Reckon that team would pass the scousers off the pitch.

 

[mattstev2000]

Gomes
Charlie Daws King Bassong
Kranky Jenas Palacios Modric
Defoe Keane

Subs: Hutton, Bale, Crouch, Hudd, GDS, Pav + Whichever of the reserve keepers is least crap.

 

[jonnyrotten]

Gomes
Charlie Daws King Bale
Jenas Thud Wilson Kranc
Modric
Defoe

Key to this would be ensuring Jenas and Kranc/Bale support Modric and Defoe. Jenas would provide some much needed pace and Modric would play the Keane role, advanced from his normal position tucking in between Pool's midfield and defence.

 

[jonnyrotten]

Oh Robbie Savage where did you get the stat about Lennon having 11 assists as suggested by your sig?

I make it nine from the premier league page, which is already equal to our top assist provider last season (Luka got nine). Check out the link below, it has some really good stats on our goals scored, conceeded, half-time table etc since the premier league started. Lol @ West Ham this season, they are 7th in the first half league!

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html

 

[chrissivad]

Oh Robbie Savage where did you get the stat about Lennon having 11 assists as suggested by your sig?

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html

looks like he is including cup games as well, as Defoe only has 14 league goals, Keane 6 and Crouch 4

 

[chrissivad]

Gomes
Corluka King Dawson Bale
Modric Hudd Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch​

 

[jonnyrotten]

Okay that explains it, cheers Chris. I can't believe how much Aaron has improved this season, 11 assists halfway through the season is unbelievable for someone who apparently didn't have an end product!

 

[gregga]

Gomes​

Corluka King Dawson Bale​

Modric Huddlestone Palacios Krancjar​

Defoe Crouch
​

We have to put Bale in there imo as we need him on the overlap to provide width. Palacios and Krancs will just have to take care and and make sure he doesn't get exposed.​

Would like to see Modders and Krancs swapping wings at will too.​

 

[Kendall]

Okay that explains it, cheers Chris. I can't believe how much Aaron has improved this season, 11 assists halfway through the season is unbelievable for someone who apparently didn't have an end product!

Should've been more as well. Modric missing a sitter at west ham and a couple of instances where Defoe was slow to react to quality crosses against Everton spring to mind.

 

[stemark44]

I am a bit worried about Bale v's Kuyt so I would also start with Bassong at left back.
Even though I am worried about the lack of mobility shown by the Hudd,I would include him for his better range of passing.

The big thing for me is that we ARE a better team than Liverpool and if our lads can go there and believe in themselves then I am positive we will win.
If we play as well as we did against Villa then we are good enough to go there and dominate them with our movement and passing.

Gomes
Corluka King Dawson Bassong
Modric Hudd Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch​

Although this is a very important game for us it certainly isn't a critical one and there will be many more twists and turns for the remainder of the season.