There are no fresh quotes from Andre Villas-Boas following Thursday’s Europa League game but the boss was hoping that Danny Rose would be fit again and ready to take his place on the left side of defence. Danny’s return should lead to a familiar back five but what about the rest of the side?
Lewis Holtby continues to stake his claim for a starting berth but Gylfi Sigurdsson’s goal against Chelsea last week is likely to see the Icelander keep his slot while Andros Townsend should fight off the challenge from Erik Lamela.
Questions remain up front where Jermain Defoe’s seventh goal in eight games threatens Roberto Soldado but AVB’s comments post Anzhi suggested that the Spaniard would start.
“We have to judge recovery and the fact that JD was involved today and Soldado wasn’t,” he added.
“Everything will come into consideration.” We have been extremely happy with the performances of both. It is a question of deciding what is best for the team.”
So there may be few surprises this afternoon – here’s our prediction but what’s your view?
……………..lloris………….
walker……dawson..jan…..rose
………dembele…paulinho…….
lamela………eriksen……sigurðsson
…………..soldado……………….
Switch Townsend and Gylfi and you most likely have it.
I think Fryers is rapidly starting to look a better proposition than Rose at LB.
Only change to your line up – I’d start Lamela on the laft and Siggy on the right.
Do you mean Lamela on the right and Gylfi on the left? Gylfi has been great cutting in from the left and Lamela excelled as an inverted winger/inside forward on the right for Roma last term.
If Soldado doesn’t find the net or look impressive then I would honestly give JD a chance in our next PL outing. His form of late has been outstanding.
Defoe should start. He’s earned a start in the Premier league and always scores against West Ham. Lamela deserves to start a game or two in the Prem’ also. Townsend’s pace is a good asset to use late in a game when we’ve already scored and then he can try as many pot shots as he wants. Sooner or later he has to score…right?
id rest lamela , dembele dawson
come in – vlad siggy holtby ,
dawson prob start after signing a new contract which i see as a bad mistake.
would like to see defoe soldado start game together once lennon comes back play with 2 wingers crossing them in . until then we still play slow with few chances created last 3rd need to start killing teams off.
The truth Personally I don’t think we should ever play 442with Defoe and soldado, it’s not slow it’s called build up play, keeping possession until the right moment comes rather than running around like headless chickens like Tottenham did under Harry at times! I agree that at some point we need to add more goals it that will come in time
4231 or 433 formation
Lloris
Walker
Dawson
Vert
Rose
Paulinho
Dembele
Townsend
Eriksen
Siggy
Soldado/Defoe can’t decide on then two.
we played some good stuff under arry with worse players, we could try 442 in a cup game carling cup as its the worse,
so you rather have 20/30 passes than 3/5 killer passes ?. buildup play so overrated why have loads play and only create 1 or 2 chances rather be bit more direct.
dembele just passes plays it safe slows us up. holtby more direct looks for that killer pass. – townsend direct but needs to learn when to shoot/pass.
Lloris
Walker
Dawson
Vertonghen
Fryers
Paulinho Dembele
Townsend Eriksen Chadli
Defoe
In terms of form and fitness, that’s my team.
I think the way we play is excellent at the moment obviously there is room for improvement goal wise and more time to gel! Tbh I’m a massive fan of holtby and would not argue if someone suggested he was in the team! Maybe replace siggy but he is gettin goals at the moment! Sayin that if holby and eriksen played maybe soldado would get an abundence of chances.
Dembele for sandro
fed up with one up top especially at home against poor opposition, look at bot Liverpool and Man City.
Play one holding player in Sandro, with Paulinho, Eriksen and Siggy behind Defoe AND Soldado and go for it. If you want width then bomb on the full backs.
well, there goes that. we suck.