I think this will be the team
Gomes
Walker Gallas Bassong Rose
Sandro
Livermore Carroll
GDS------------------Lennon
Adebayor[/CENTER]
I think corluka if fit may come in for walker and whoever is fit will play in gallas position if he isn't fit, if sandro play tomorrow i expect and townsend to come in and GDS in the middle of a 4-2-3-1, or if lennon plays on today then townsend for lennon
Agree with most of the above. Harry says he wants to send a very young team out, but there's only so many kids he can play, seeing as none of them are defenders.
Cudicini and Bassong probably wouldn't make the bench v Fulham anyway, Pav has to play in Russia, and it would be good to give Pienaar this one if he's fit. The likes of Livermore Rose and Gio aren't PL starters either and should play in my view, which only leaves about 4 places for Carroll, Kane, Townsend, and whoever else (Fredericks? Luongo?).
I think the bench will be much weaker this time round though, possibly one or two completely new names.
The main difference to previous games will probably be that he leaves Walker and maybe Kaboul at home, and plugs these round holes with square pegs.
If this team could manage a PAOK style stalemate or sneak a win that would be a mighty impressive feat - though a 2 goal loss would mean we have to hope, realistically, that Rubin slip up in Greece to give us a chance of topping the group.
EDIT: forgot about Falque, who in relative terms is one of the more experienced players. We're not going to field 11 teenagers, basically...
Adebayor is not registered for Europa League.
I wonder if OP meant to put his team in the QPR thread - if we played that team in Russia the players would be too knackered to play against Fulham next Sunday.
mg:mg:mg:
Adebayor?! Are you mad?
Didn't Harry say he was glad that we won the last EL game so he could just send a load of kids over to russia?
Didn't Harry say he was glad that we won the last EL game so he could just send a load of kids over to russia?
Yes he is, its VDV that didn't make the group squad
Apologies you are correct, but I still wouldn't take Adebayor to Rubin Kazan and risk him being knackered against Fulham next Sunday. We need to have a fully rested team to be available to play Fulham where 3 points are possible for a similar team to that which faced QPR today.
A team of youth, reinforced by two or three first teamers not essential for the Fulham game such as Gallas, Bassong, Sandro to stiffen the centre with Pav as striker would, realistically be capable of a draw or better in Russia.
This team selection ensures we have a rested first class team to play Fulham whilst giving a reasonable chance against Rubin :
Cudicini/Gomes
Fredericks, Gallas, Bassong, Rose
Parrett, Sandro, Carroll, Townsend
Giovani
Pavlyuchenko
Subs : Cudicini/Gomes, Barthram, Stewart, Livermore, Falque, Kane, Pritchard or Nicholson.
Looks about right to me - only thing I'd question is bringing Livermore in for Sandro and leaving Sandro at home. I think we could see Sandro against Fulham, alongside Parker, shoring things up. Not sure we'd want him travelling to Kazan, but think he does need some game time.