Andre Villas-Boas is likely to pick as strong a side as possible for the trip to Elland Road on Sunday but he may take the opportunity to give a couple of fringe players a start.

There’s no news of fresh injuries so it seems the only absentees are injury victims Sandro and Younes Kaboul while Emmanuel Adebayor is still away with Togo at Afcon.

At the back, will Brad Friedel come in for Hugo Lloris once again and will BAE start at left back as he did against Coventry? Jan Vertonghen is expected to return to the squad after illness but will Steven Caulker keep his place for Jan to return afresh ahead of some important league matches?

In midfield, Scott Parker deputised for Sandro in the Coventry game so will Scott be rested now in preference for Jake Livermore? Alternatively, will Moussa Dembele sit this one out with Gylfi Sigurdsson, Tom Huddlestone or Tom Carroll coming in?

The front two will probably pick themselves but there are plenty of questions in other areas of the pitch. Here’s our starting XI but what’s your view?

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30 COMMENTS

    • This – exactly this. Naughton at his natural position, Walker getting a much-needed rest, and Gylfi getting some well-earned playing time.

      • Agreed. I think Naughton deserves a run in the league, Walker has made too many defensive mistakes this season and should be dropped for a couple of games. We might have done the double over Utd if it wasn’t for him pirouetting near RVP cos he was so far out of position!

  4. The only one I might change is the Hud for Dembele as we’ve got a couple of games coming up in a short space of time. You could also see how it goes and give Carroll/Pritchard half an hour.

  6. I agree with siggy/Dempsey on top. Siggy needs games and if I’m in AVBs shoes, I want to see how this combination works with neither Defoe or ade being able to hit a barn door.

    • You’re getting your knickers in a bit of a twist re. Defoe; 14 goals so far in all comps – that’s just 6 short of 20 !!
      Ade can’t hit a barn door, JD struggling to hit a tea tray at the moment – that would be more like it.
      Don’t exagerate!

  7. Gylfi needs a game, and I’d like to see him get a run, better than Dempsey , we need to rest a few with 2 away PL matches coming up, so thudd as well, fit him in, I would take bale and Azza along with Dempsey and also give andros a game

  8. Brad, Naughton, Daws, Caulker, BAE , Lennon, Carroll, Dembele, Townsend, Dempsey, Defoe

    Lloris, Vertonghen, Walker, Siggy, Hudds, Bale, Mason

  11. WORLDS OLDEST,

    NAUGHTS, Caulker, Dawson, BAE

    Huddlestone PNB

    Townsend Siggy Bale

    DEUCE

    Subs: Gomes, Walker, THE TONGAN, Dembele, AZZA, Livermore, Defoe

  12. We have to get the Hudds fixed because Utd have Carrick Liverpool Gerrard Arsenal Whiltshire you need a passer. What the point in having a ball winner if you give it away with bad passing , We had Sandro who could not pass Dembele runs with the ball Dempsey can pass near box we are lacking a creative passer Dembell does running Bale Lennon Hudds is the best passer of all i have mentioned the problem is his Ankle back to where it was when he was a Quarter back hitting missile passes with back spin. All i hear is he is not fast well with saturated midfields you have no space to run especialy with eneregy supplements being used to deny space for the whole game. You can believe this or dismiss it but our top four is under threat from it from Arsenal second half flyers and Liverpool Everton missing Gibson passing. So this my eam and i hope to god is ankle is fixed Friedel Smith Caulker Fryers Ekotto Townsend Siggy Hudds Pritchard Mcavoy Obika

    • I agree on everything yoou said regarding Tom. But the team you picked would have an awfull afernoon against Leeds. No where near strong enough for me.
      And the FA-Cup is special…..
      Rest Walker and Defoe (can not risk him) play the Thudd and we will be fine.

      COYS

  14. Fridel
    Naughton Dawson caulker fryers

    Parker hudd

    Siggy. Carroll. Andros

    Dempsey/obika

    Tbh ive not seen obika play a great deal but heard good things so would be interested to see him get some time

  15. Friedel
    Naughton Gallas Caulker BAE
    Huddlestone Carroll
    Lennon Sigurdsson Townsend
    Dempsey

    Lloris, Dawson, Vertonghen, Dembele, Livermore, Bale, Defoe

  18. We have long moved on from huddlestones slow style. Time to sell I think and make way for rising youngsters like Carroll and Cebelos.

  20. Well we know who will be in goal, benny will start to try regain some sharpness, I hope naughton starts on the right, cm pairing depends on who is rested out of parker and dembele we could see a parker/carroll combo or livermore/demeble .. I heard livermores staying so I’m guessing hudd won’t be! Dempsey and siggi up top? Quite like the sound of that!

    Fridel
    Naughton caulker vertongen benny
    Lennon livemore dembele bale
    Siggi
    Dempsey

    Subs: lloris walker dawson carrol townsend defoe

  22. Friedel, naughton Dawson caulker BAE, lennon parker huddlestone pritchard,siggurdson dempsey, subs lloris stewart livermore bale townsend

  23. —————–friedel——————-

    –naughton–dawson–cualker—-bae–

    ————hudd—parker————-

    lennon———siggy————townsend

    ——————-dempsey————-

    bale, defoe, dembele, vertonghen all on bench incase things go wrong

  24. Cannot risk Dembele or Defoe. Play Dempsey up front with Siggy in behind, Tommy Carroll and Hudd in midfield. Get Bale and/or Lennon off for a rest if get ahead by a couple. Naughton on right, BAE left, Walker rested. No need to rush Super Jan back,keep him fresh. Play Caulker and Gallas if fit.

  25. well, now we don’t have to worry about this cup anymore. don’t have enough players to make a run at two competitions anyway now with injuries and all. Levy needed to buy, but now, it’s ok.

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