Sources suggest that Aaron Lennon is still struggling after the illness that caused him to miss Tuesday’s game with Real Madrid and led to much controversy.
If Lennon does miss out then any doubts about the formation could disappear and we could see 4-4-2 return for tomorrow’s game with Stoke. The front line personnel in a 4-4-2 have been Pav and Defoe, but many people feel that Crouch will start tomorrow. Maybe the thinking is he will have a point to prove after his performance in the week.
Behind them, Harry may well feel that it’s time for Tom Huddlestone to come back in at the expense of Sandro with VDV, Modric and Bale alongside him. Gareth Bale looked ‘spent’ as he trudged off the pitch on Tuesday, but there’s been no word on any latest injury doubts, so if he’s OK then he should start.
The big question at the back is over Corluka. If he is out then our only options seems to be Gallas or BAE at right back. Somehow you feel the inevitable will happen and there will be less than four available defenders shortly, but for now we just have enough fit players to fill the slots.
Here’s our team to face Stoke, barring injuries. What’s yours?
Kaboul Dawson Gallas A&E
VDV Hudd Modric Bale
Defoe Crouch
Kaboul is fit and should start at right back. He was brilliant there last year!
Gomes, Kaboul, Daws, Willy, BAE, Rose, Hudd, Modders, Gareth, Pav, Kane(could it really hurt?)…
gomes
kaboul gallas dawson assou-ekotto
sandro hudds
modric
vdv bale
pav
This is a problem of our own making last year young Rose came in a scored the goal of the year we only have him and Bostock left but Harry wont risk them so we have no surprise element. Why have we left ourselves bare in the most important part of the season and what the hell is wrong with Kaboul he should be playing by now. This is the only team Harry should be playing Gomes Sandro Dawson Gallas Bale Van Huddlestone Modric Kranjcar Defoe Pavlyuchenko We have to play this team unless Kaboul recovers to play Madrid then we just swap Lennon or van if he doesn’t start playing he looks tapped with every game.Coys
SORRY LADS MIST THE V OF MY NAME NO I HAVE NOT GONE GERMAN.
We still somehow knew it was you mate.
No matter what Harry chooses, I hope he uses all 3 substitutions. I don’t think Bale will play for the full 90, and I don’t think we should push Corluka and end up having to waste a sub when he pulls up with a hurt ankle in the middle of the game. Kaboul is he’s match fit, or maybe move bae to right and have bassong play left back. I didn’t like the lineup when gallas played right back and bassong paired up with dawson in the middle. I would love to see Huddlestone back in midfield and we would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we didn’t play two strikers up top.
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson Ekotto
Sandro
Hudd Modric
VDV Bale
Pav
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson Ekotto
Sandro
VDV Hudd Modric Bale
Pav
Gomes
Kaboul Daws Gallas Bale
Thudd
Lennon Modders VDV
PAV
**Kranj & Pav – obviously we want 11 on the pitch