We’re writing this some two days before the game so excuse any late developments that we haven’t picked up. There is early news to report on however and it’s mixed ahead of this fixture against our old player Gus Poyet and a club in the relegation zone.
“Jan and Roberto are nowhere near ready, unfortunately,” said Tim Sherwood.
“The good news is that Ade is back in training and up for selection and Vlad played in the Under-21 game against Arsenal at the Lane, came through that unscathed, so he will be up for selection as well.”
Erik Lamela and Kyle Walker are confirmed absentees although there was no update on Etienne Capoue.
The back five essentially picks itself with Sherwood’s only decision coming on the right side of central defence where he has to choose between Dawson and Kaboul. In midfield, hopefully Sandro won’t be left on the bench again but don’t bet your house on it. Meanwhile, fellow Brazilian Paulinho is unlikely to feature after his comments in midweek.
4-4-2 would be the ideal option against the side second from bottom but only if we had any strikers. Sherwood could partner Adebayor and Kane but that would leave nothing on the bench so we suspect it’s Ade on his own up front.
Here’s how we’d like it to start – it seems unlikely particularly as there’s no Bentaleb – but what’s your view?
These teams get worse you pick every week.
4231
Lloris
Walker(if fit)
Kaboom
Chiriches
Rose
Sandro
Paulinho
Chadli
Eriksen
Townsend
Ade
Llores
Naughton
Kaboul
Chiriches
Rose
Sandro
Dembele
Chadli
Lennon
Eriksen
Ade
**Note Eriksen playing the number 10 role off Ade
Does it really matter anymore? Whoever silly ballocks Tim picks is not going to be motivated…….they are all waiting for the next manager. Would probably be better if some kids were given a run out.
For me there would be a couple of changes…
Kaboul has really struggled since being back, so I would give Dawson the nod ahead of him….
And I still think that Zekki Fryers is a better Left Back than Rose… He has better defensive positional sense than rose…
I would probably go for a 4-1-4-1 type formation…
Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Fryers,
Sandro,
Lennon, Paulhino, Eriksen, Chadli,
Ade
This team would never get picked by TS, but for me it would be one of the strongest that we could put out for this match…
With potential to swap out Paulhino for Siggy, if TS still ins’t happy with him!
4-2-3-1
……………………….Lloris
Naughton…Kaboul..Chirichis…Rose
`……………..Sandro…Dembele
`…….Townsend..Paulinho..Eriksen
….`……………….Adebayor
I’ll go with john s lineup
Definitely agree Chiriches should play. Would replace Rose with Fryers, for me he;s our weak link. Eriksen behind Ade, and Chadli and Townsend on the wings.
P.S. My team / preview is on my blog.