2) Play James Milner instead of NRC
3. Pull in Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Ashley Young and Carew. Shout loudly at them for half an hour. Mostly along the lines of 'Get your F****** act together or I'll sell you to Middlesborough.
Firstly. Gabby isn't a target man. Don't hoof it up to him, especially against a team of behemoths like Stoke. Right now I'd make Nigel captain. I thought he did quite well yesterday. He's looked good when he's played this season, and we look better for it. Give the captaincy to someone vocal, with some tenacity and energy. Someone to lead by example. I like Stan, but his legs have gone. He should have been off on 70, but of course the problem is, who was there to replace him? Ireland? Nope. He should be further up field.One of Downing or Young needs to be dropped. Downing had half an hour last night of looking a decent player, so I'd be tempted to drop Ash in the next game just to give him a kick up the arse. Play Ireland in the whole. Unfortunately we can't do a lot about shipping out our crap right now. We have to make do, likely until the summer. Let a few contracts run out, take some serious financial hits. Houlliers drastic 10 in 10 out at Liverpool is a bit far, but something close to that is probably needed.I still rate Big Brad, unless we can get Given. He's probably still overcoming the shame of having to wear that horrific kit. But I give him a grace period because he won us the points against Everton.For me I would play Sidwell and Coker together in CM. Then play Ireland ahead of them as attacking mid. We need to protect our back four better, and that needs two players with the bite and energy to do that. Stan gets overrun too easily. I think we can use him at home, but away from home we needed some added energy and legs. Sidwell's pretty pants, but he's full of energy, and never stops running. Just let him and Cokes look after the back four, then Ireland, Young, Albrighton/Downing can provide the flair.
Quote from: supertom on September 14, 2010, 09:45:12 AMFirstly. Gabby isn't a target man. Don't hoof it up to him, especially against a team of behemoths like Stoke. Right now I'd make Nigel captain. I thought he did quite well yesterday. He's looked good when he's played this season, and we look better for it. Give the captaincy to someone vocal, with some tenacity and energy. Someone to lead by example. I like Stan, but his legs have gone. He should have been off on 70, but of course the problem is, who was there to replace him? Ireland? Nope. He should be further up field.One of Downing or Young needs to be dropped. Downing had half an hour last night of looking a decent player, so I'd be tempted to drop Ash in the next game just to give him a kick up the arse. Play Ireland in the whole. Unfortunately we can't do a lot about shipping out our crap right now. We have to make do, likely until the summer. Let a few contracts run out, take some serious financial hits. Houlliers drastic 10 in 10 out at Liverpool is a bit far, but something close to that is probably needed.I still rate Big Brad, unless we can get Given. He's probably still overcoming the shame of having to wear that horrific kit. But I give him a grace period because he won us the points against Everton.For me I would play Sidwell and Coker together in CM. Then play Ireland ahead of them as attacking mid. We need to protect our back four better, and that needs two players with the bite and energy to do that. Stan gets overrun too easily. I think we can use him at home, but away from home we needed some added energy and legs. Sidwell's pretty pants, but he's full of energy, and never stops running. Just let him and Cokes look after the back four, then Ireland, Young, Albrighton/Downing can provide the flair. Some sense Tom, have you applied for the coach's job?