Team for Sunday

With Long and Jelavic cup tied what would be your team for the semi-final?

I'd go:

Harper
Elmo, Chester, Davies, Rosie
Meyler, Thudd, Livermore, Boyd
Aluko
Sagbo

Subs: Jak, Faye, Bruce, Fig, Quinn, Koren, Fryatt

 

OK, that - but is Thudd fit?

(Actually, I'd play Fryatt up front, with Sone on the bench....)

 

Harper

Rosie Chester Davies Figgy

Elmo Hudd Livermore Meyler

Fryatt Sagbo

or

Harper

Chester Bruce Davies

Elmo Livermore Hudd Meyler Rosie

Sagbo Fryatt


Think we'll go 3 at the back.

 

Harper
Rosie Chester Davies Figueroa
Elmo Hudd Meyler Boyd
Aluko Sagbo

 

go 442 I imagine, similar team to Swansea with some obvious changes

Harper
Rosie Chester Davies Fig
Elmo Thudd Meyler Boyd
Sagbo Fryatt

 

Either of those looks ok to me, long as Fryatt starts, and I'd leave Aluko on the bench too but Boyd would be my first choice sub when Sagbo doesn't perform. Actually, Boyd or Fryatt could start for me.

 

I'd be very surprised if SB doesn't go 3-5-2 against Sheffield. They have scored 14 goals in 20 away games against Division One opposition and averaged one goal a game overall so they can hardly be viewed as an attacking threat. We need to get after them early with a quick goal and I'm sure that will be Bruce's tactics. Score 2-0 win for us.

http://espnfc.com/tables/_/league/eng.3/english-league-one?cc=5901

So I'd go

Harper
Rosenior Chester Davies
Elmo Livermore Thudd Meyler Boyd
Sagbo Aluko

Subs : Jakupovic Bruce Figueroa Quinn Koren Fryatt...with Faye or Dudgeon as the final sub depending on latters fitness.

 

Boyd has to start. Elmo has to play on the wing, not in defence. Aluko... not sure, he's done nothing since the newcastle goal...

 

Sagbo is better with a partner up front that he can lay balls off too.Fryatt would be the better choice and leave Aluko on the bench.Boyd has to start on the left and 4-4-2 formation.

 

Fryatt has earned a start for me with his contributions thus far in the Cup. Him and Sagbo up top with Aluko off the bench second half to replace Fryatt once he's got his hat trick...

 

Possibly 4-3-3?

---------Harper--------
Elmo-Chester-Davies-Rosenior
---Meyler-Thudd-Livermore---
---Aluko--Sagbo--Boyd---



3-5-2 would likely see either Boyd or Rosenior dropped, which would be very harsh on either.

 

any of those combinations should be hungry enough to want it - thankfully we won against Swansea or we would lose a fair bit of fight IMO .
4-4-2 for me with Aluko and Fryatt up top

 

--------------Harper--------------
-Rosenior-Chester-Davies-Figueroa-
-Elmo----Hudd----Meyler----Boyd-
---------Fryatt----Sagbo

Jakupovic
Bruce
Faye
Quinn
Livermore
Koren
Aluko

 

I take it the ones who would have him in their team haven't seen Aluko since he came back?

I wouldn't even have him on the bench.


Get Koren on.

 

A player coming back from injury is never going to be at full speed straight away. He is the most talented attacking player we have so getting him back to fitness would be huge, and the only way that will happen is through game time.

 

I would deffo play Matty Fryatt..

 

It's not his speed that's been the problem, though - it's been his appalling decision-making and lack of awareness. The body looks perfectly willing - it's the brain that's letting him down.

 

He's been poor since he came back from injury... but a player like Aluko on a pitch that big? I'm sure even in poor form he'd exploit the free space, which is why I suggested him in my team selection, but can also see why others would rather have someone else in the line-up.

Gamble time in a sense, as 4-4-2 means dropping one of Huddlestone, Meyler or Livermore. 3-5-2 means dropping one of Boyd or Rosenior. Tough decision for Brucey as they all deserve a game.

 

No Livermore?