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Jim Smith

Big team selection dilemmas for Saturday

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Nice dilemmas though. For me Dorrans reverts to the bench (not because he''s done anything wrong just shows on is playing really well and wes is unplayable at present) but how do you decide who gets the nod out of Brady, Jarvis and Olsson down the left?

I think we need to get Olsson back in as our regular left back so a appears a straight choice between Brady and Jarvis.

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[quote user="Jim Smith"]Nice dilemmas though. For me Dorrans reverts to the bench (not because he''s done anything wrong just shows on is playing really well and wes is unplayable at present) but how do you decide who gets the nod out of Brady, Jarvis and Olsson down the left?

I think we need to get Olsson back in as our regular left back so a appears a straight choice between Brady and Jarvis.[/quote]

Jarvis and Brady have to start imo.   Our two best players from recent weeks.   Mbokani needs to start also, imo.  If that means leaving out Jerome and Olsson, so be it.   Howson should probably start too rather than Dorrans imo, although he is excellent too.  It is a real dilemna alright, but shows we have great strength in depth.  When Mulumbu is fit it will make selection even more difficult for the manager. But it''s all good news and training must be quite interesting, as players compete to be picked for a match start.

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Mbokani looks to me as if he''s pacing himself at the moment, which you''d anyway expect. So Jerome to start for me. As to the left side, I''m with LDC: Brady and Jarvis.

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Leicester are set up to counter attack at pace and Vardy needs to be kept quiet so we will need defensive skill and the ability to read the game.  Olsson for me on that basis, Brady at left wing and then Jarvis and Redmond to scrap for the right wing berth.
I don''t think you should prioritise a high performing loan player over a high performing permanent signing when both can do the job.

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I think Brady is braver than Olsson getting up the pitch. Same as I think Whits is braver than Martin on the right. So it''s a real tough one. However Alex Neil is quite happy to change a team after a good performance so I think it will be Brady and Jarvis on the left. I would expect Wes to start in place of Dorans. We may even see a change up front with so many options right now.

 

Nice to see you Jim buddy. I was wondering if 6m for Bradders felt a little like a win on the football pools to you...

 

 

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Ruddy

Whittaker Martin Bassong Olsson

Jarvis Howson Tettey Dorrans Brady

Wes

Mbokani

Redmond and Whittaker far too open for this level, particularly with Vardy drifting central to wide left and angling in from deeper.

Jarvis to keep structure on that side, with Howson augmenting.

Martin drifting into right back areas will be key when opposition strikers drop off and don''t stay central. Timing of forward runs by Whittaker will be key, must wait for turnovers then go hard.

Olsson particularly , and lesserly Brady, to be circumspect with Mahrez. Good player, need special treatment.

Parma

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whenever there is a selection dilemma the easiest option for a manager is to leave the younger player out.

Neil has already paved the way for this by his non inclusion of Redmond on Saturday.

This isnt necessarily what I would choose but I think Neil will go,

Ruddy

Whittaker Martin Bassong Olsson

Tettey

Jarvis Howson Brady

Hoolahan

Jerome

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Fuzz,

I think he will change Jerome, after resting Wes, Redmond and Dorrans he can''t have a feeling I think the squad that players not at the top of their game are untouchable.

There is lots of striker competition and the manager will need to acknowledge this with a change. I didn''t like the way Jerome missed the chance on his left side against West Ham and the manager alluded to it. As all good coaches know, there is a way to miss and lashing near post is not it.

Mbokani runs a lot of angles, gets involved in the build up play effectively and occupies multiple defenders.

Huth is immobile and Leicester concede goals. Mbokani working hard, playing a little false, will open space for Jarvis and Brady breaking from deeper. Allied with Wes dropping further into pockets this is a big - and favoured - overload in the central areas.

It could be Grabban, but I think Mbokani''s deeper running and physical dynamism would be a good combination for this game. It is also a well-timed message that all positions are up for grabs....all the time. It also says "a draw against West Ham was good, but I am looking for wins, or at the least continual improvement". Jerome could have done better. The manage will show that he knows and is watching.

Parma

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Christ , if we play Grabban as a lone striker, I think I might turn around and go home. Surely we''ve now got enough options to never have to see that again?

Has there ever been ,in this or any other Premier League season a more impotent strikeforce than a team playing Grabban up front on his own?

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I think the only questions come on the flanks;   does jarvis come back in for Olsson and should Redmond start on the right.    I think the midfield 3 will remain Tettey, Howson, Wes,   ditto Jermoe up front;   mbokani will start soon,   but not just yet.

 

There is a good strong case to keep the same side;  Leicester are a good open counter attacking side similar to wet sham and we played them well.   Whether we can take the same apporach at home is less known but overall I can see it working well for us.

 

Personally I like what I have seen from redmond and jarvis so at home would want them in.   The toughest call is who to drop with Olsson;   Dorrans or Howson;   both are playing v well although both do have quiet spells.  History suggests Howson will keep his place and I cant be unhappy at this.

 

So

 

                Ruddy

Whittaker Martin Bassong Brady

                Tettey

Redmond Howson Wessi  Jarvis

                  Jerome.

 

Subs

Rudd Olsson R Bennett  Dorrans O''Neill Grabban Mbokani

   

 

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It does indeed appear that Howson will always find a place in the midfield but in my opinion in should only be in central midfield if he''s deemed better than Dorrans.

With the wide players we now have to choose from ,Howson shouldn''t be picked out wide to the detriment of a natural wide player, particularly at home to sides like Leicester.

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I''d go the same as GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary with;

Ruddy

Whittaker Martin Bassong Olsson

Tettey

Jarvis Howson Brady

Hoolahan

Jerome

This does depend to a certain extent on exactly how good Jarvis is on the right (I believe he is right footed), I''m guessing AN will have assessed this in training?

I''ve got a feeling Mbokani could be a real handful once he has settled and got his head round the Premier League style of play, although think Cam Jam will start, I wouldn''t be disappointed if Mbokani did.

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Nutty

Contrary to what you believe I have nothing against Johnson although I did used to get frustrated when he was picked at the expense of Tettey last time we were up in the premier league because in my view the midfield combo of Howson and Johnson simply did not work at this level.

Howson I am pleased to say appears to have taken confidence from those around him this season and moved his game onto a different and much more consistent level.

I would also regard the fact Tettey is an important fixture in the team and that Johnson has been allowed to leave (by a manager whose judgment I think we all largely trust) suggests that there was some legitimacy to some of the moaning i used to do when Hughton left out Tettey (and indeed Wes).

I actually probably would have kept Johnson around this season as i think he had a useful role to play coming off the bench in the latter stages of matches but I also think that events since his departure have shown why perhaps him moving on was the best outcome for both club and player. We have moved our game on to a new level this season and our midfield is technically the best i can recall. all the players regularly starting are good passers and players who are able to control and move the ball on quickly even when under pressure. Bradley would not have started very often for us and I think would have been the odd one out in our midfield given the way we are now playing. he no doubt realised this as well and thus maybe was more open to a move to Derby than some of us speculated at the time. In the end it was probably a mutually beneficial move.

As for the weekend I would start Olsson and Brady with Redders on the right so Jarvis is on the bench in my line up. Tough on him but we do now have an embarrassment of riches in midfield when everyone is fit.

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i agree with the comment about our midfield looking the most technically comfortable that we can recall. I was surprised in the role and how well he performed it ,in Tettey''s dropping between the two centre backs to receive the ball to begin a new move. A role that you could never have envisaged him performing when he first joined as his passing wasnt his strong point.

In years gone by ,we would have had one specialised passer of a ball i.e an Ian Crook but all of the midfield look comfortable in receiving and moving the ball on and you can clearly see results of work being done in training.

When Mulumbu returns ,I would probably see him moving into the Tettey role at the base of midfield......Tettey then probably taking the Gary O''Neil role of being bought on to (hopefully) protect a lead and see out a game.......minus the silly concession of free kicks as with the West Ham equalizer?!?

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Parma has a good team suggestion, which I agree to (most of it).

But I am pretty sure Redmond will start on the right, Brady left, and Jarvis impact sub, since he can play on both wings.

Jerome will lose his starting place to Mbokani vs Leicester. Willing to bet a lot on it.

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Can anyone name a better squad at City?....one or two stand out players but such strength in depth.

Summer transfer business not looking so dire now. Plus Vadis getting game time on loan and Mulumbu to come back. Alex has the best headache a Manager can have.

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[quote user="Jim Smith"]Nutty

Contrary to what you believe I have nothing against Johnson although I did used to get frustrated when he was picked at the expense of Tettey last time we were up in the premier league because in my view the midfield combo of Howson and Johnson simply did not work at this level.

Howson I am pleased to say appears to have taken confidence from those around him this season and moved his game onto a different and much more consistent level.

I would also regard the fact Tettey is an important fixture in the team and that Johnson has been allowed to leave (by a manager whose judgment I think we all largely trust) suggests that there was some legitimacy to some of the moaning i used to do when Hughton left out Tettey (and indeed Wes).

I actually probably would have kept Johnson around this season as i think he had a useful role to play coming off the bench in the latter stages of matches but I also think that events since his departure have shown why perhaps him moving on was the best outcome for both club and player. We have moved our game on to a new level this season and our midfield is technically the best i can recall. all the players regularly starting are good passers and players who are able to control and move the ball on quickly even when under pressure. Bradley would not have started very often for us and I think would have been the odd one out in our midfield given the way we are now playing. he no doubt realised this as well and thus maybe was more open to a move to Derby than some of us speculated at the time. In the end it was probably a mutually beneficial move.

As for the weekend I would start Olsson and Brady with Redders on the right so Jarvis is on the bench in my line up. Tough on him but we do now have an embarrassment of riches in midfield when everyone is fit.[/quote]

 

LOL Jim. I was only having a bit of fun. Having read this I''m half expecting you to tell me you voted Bradders for POTS........

 

 

 

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[quote user="GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary"]Christ , if we play Grabban as a lone striker, I think I might turn around and go home. Surely we''ve now got enough options to never have to see that again?

Has there ever been ,in this or any other Premier League season a more impotent strikeforce than a team playing Grabban up front on his own?[/quote]

This

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[quote user="GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary"]Christ , if we play Grabban as a lone striker, I think I might turn around and go home. Surely we''ve now got enough options to never have to see that again?

Has there ever been ,in this or any other Premier League season a more impotent strikeforce than a team playing Grabban up front on his own?[/quote]
I remember a team once playing RvW up front on his own.

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[quote user="Two Seats"][quote user="GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary"]Christ , if we play Grabban as a lone striker, I think I might turn around and go home. Surely we''ve now got enough options to never have to see that again?

Has there ever been ,in this or any other Premier League season a more impotent strikeforce than a team playing Grabban up front on his own?[/quote]

This[/quote]

 

RVW on his own[*-)]

 

 

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[quote user="nutty nigel"]

[quote user="Jim Smith"]Nutty

Contrary to what you believe I have nothing against Johnson although I did used to get frustrated when he was picked at the expense of Tettey last time we were up in the premier league because in my view the midfield combo of Howson and Johnson simply did not work at this level.

Howson I am pleased to say appears to have taken confidence from those around him this season and moved his game onto a different and much more consistent level.

I would also regard the fact Tettey is an important fixture in the team and that Johnson has been allowed to leave (by a manager whose judgment I think we all largely trust) suggests that there was some legitimacy to some of the moaning i used to do when Hughton left out Tettey (and indeed Wes).

I actually probably would have kept Johnson around this season as i think he had a useful role to play coming off the bench in the latter stages of matches but I also think that events since his departure have shown why perhaps him moving on was the best outcome for both club and player. We have moved our game on to a new level this season and our midfield is technically the best i can recall. all the players regularly starting are good passers and players who are able to control and move the ball on quickly even when under pressure. Bradley would not have started very often for us and I think would have been the odd one out in our midfield given the way we are now playing. he no doubt realised this as well and thus maybe was more open to a move to Derby than some of us speculated at the time. In the end it was probably a mutually beneficial move.

As for the weekend I would start Olsson and Brady with Redders on the right so Jarvis is on the bench in my line up. Tough on him but we do now have an embarrassment of riches in midfield when everyone is fit.[/quote]

 

LOL Jim. I was only having a bit of fun. Having read this I''m half expecting you to tell me you voted Bradders for POTS........

 

 

 

[/quote]

I didn''t vote for anyone Nutty but had I done then yes I would have voted for Johnson. He absolutely deserved it last season for what was an excellent season. I doubt he will have a better one. Great attitude and never have anything less than his all.

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I would guess we will start with GJL''s lineup. Redmond to come on later if needed. I am afraid I do not rate Grabban as a premiership player. Certainly as a lone striker.

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An excellent thread and comments. Clearly, AN could almost put out two separate sides such is the strength in depth when everyone is fit and that is something we got nowhere near last time out.

I loved Jonno but couldn''t see him getting a game and his transfer now looks tremendous business as it almost paid for Brady who looks to me like the real deal.

Wes is in the form of his life. Who else saw how his reverse pass to Redmond had the whole West Ham defence going the wrong way? He has to start.

Howson is finally putting his foot in and I thought he played really well in both away games.

But, we concede too many goals. We need 10 to 11 wins and for that you need clean sheets. This is one dilemma. The second is being clinical up front. Such a side would have nailed West Ham inside half an hour.

With this in mind, Wes aside, I just want us to start solid against Leicester. I never mind a 0 - 0 or parity at half-time and wouldn''t be worried by this on Saturday.

This is a game to keep it tight and tactical and hope to take the ''Grabbanesque'' opportunity because we have so many options to employ should we need to be more expansive.

I loved AN''s pre match comment ''we know West Ham''s strengths and weaknesses'' which is probably a reflection of his thoroughness but also his psychology. He will have a plan for Leicester too.

We do need to win this one. If we do then the last two draws are enhanced and our results and points takes on a more balanced look. But we mustn''t snatch at it or feel overly rash because we''ve been playing well.

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