Petrov

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Time for someone to take their place in the team and show they're good enough to keep it.

I'm not Petrov's greatest fan, his defending, tackling and pace are not very good at all. His one (and only plus) is his ability to keep the ball, even if 90% of the time it goes backwards or sidewards. I don't think he'll be missed and it gives a big opportunity to another player.

It's a real shame Delph is out.

[Clampy]

I would like to see either Ireland or bannan alongside nige-sidwell has had more than enough chances and is not good enough.

Ireland maybe, but not Bannan. He seemed to enjoy himself more out wide in the Blackburn Cup game. As for Sidwell, this is his big chance to show what what a good player he can be. If he blows it, he's only got himself to blame.

[Shrek]

How many chances does Sidwell need?

Petrov had a bloody-nuff when he arrived.

Sidwell might just surprise us all.

[sfx412]

Always said Mon was a lucky manager. Gabby, now Petrov, not that I'm a great  Petrov fan, but Mon relied on him to the exclusion of anyone else and his departure hasn't altered things.
Replacing Gabby hasn't worked well, this will be a good test on Houllier to sort  as its so long a term and the options remain few.
I find playing Beye, Young, Heskey, Albrighton let alone Croker and getting decent enough performances somewhat of an achievement, sorting this will be special.
It might just prove a turning point.

[PaulWinch again]

Hope Stan recovers soon.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Same here. Hope he makesa full recovery. You never know, the rest might just do him the world of good. Which ever way you look at it, we're going to miss him.

[SoccerHQ]

I don't think Stan's looked at all right this season but still a big blow this.

In fairness Sidwell and NRC played in the 5-1 over Bolton last season so we won't automatically lose every game with them as the pairing. Still another injury and Warnock will be needed in there.

[eric woolban woolban]

Can anyone from the reserves 'step-up'? If the going get's really tough.

[SoccerHQ]

Hogg played against Vienna but seemed to go to the same invisible midfield school as Sidwell.

[Matt Collins]

Increases the need for a central midfielder in January. And hopefully our worse run of injuries this year will see us not fade out at the end of the season as pllayers come back. An energetic Delph, Petrov and Gabby after xmas would be real bonuses. A bit like Everton last season.

[Reality]

How many chances does Sidwell need?

Petrov had a bloody-nuff when he arrived.

Sidwell might just surprise us all.

I feel sorry for the people that think he will suddenly turn into this fantastic player - well worth the dosh we paid Chelsea for him. It looks as if Sidwell going to Chelsea has ruined his career. He constantly looks lost and confused and very often doesn't know how to pass a ball properly. They aren't exactly the attributes of a decent midfielder.

[brontebilly]

Sidwell is far more suited to holding and making a nuisance than the role of Box to Box midfielder that MON played him.
We are pretty short of choices, i think we can make 2 holding midfielders and 4 attackers in front work, we aint going to be any where near the top 4 this season whatever

Agree Sidwell was patently not suited to thee box to box role under MON. He was also unsuited to play on the right side of the three in midfield when we used play 433/451 but I thought he looked decent in the second half at the weekend. This is a huge chance for him now. 2 months in the side until probably Delph and Petrov come back. He was a very decent player at Reading but that was quite a while ago now. But he showed signs of his old form at the weekend - no stupid fouls, running with the ball, won a lot of tackles and got stuck in and once he settled passed it pretty well. Would be great if he went through a Reo Coker like transformation. With Sidwell and Reo Coker in the side, our full backs can afford to push on more and it gives more freedom to our ball players up front.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Sad news for Petrov.

I would like to try this

midfield 5

Albrighton  Reo Coker  Downing Bannan
Young (in hole)

or

Albrighton Reo Coker Ireland Downing

Young (In hole)

or

Downing Reo Coker Ireland Bannan
Young

[VillaZogmariner]

Downing in the middle? He's too much of a lightweight for that.

For me it should be -

--------------Reo-Coker---Sidwell---------------------
---Young-------------Ireland-------------Downing---
---------------------Agbonlahor-------------------------

[N'ZMAV]

If we are going to continue playing 1 up front and 5 in Midfield then I'd go with this.

Albrighton/ Reo-Coker / Ireland / A Young / Downing