Team to Face Swansea at Home

[timeoutbigbar]

I'd like to see Carruthers go out on loan somewhere in the Championship and play week in week out.  I honestly haven't seen enough of him to make an informed judgement.

[UK Redsox]

I'd like to see Carruthers go out on loan somewhere in the Championship and play week in week out.  I honestly haven't seen enough of him to make an informed judgement.

When Carruthers is fit, I'd have him in the squad ahead of Zog at the moment.

[pedro25]

As people have mentioned the likely squad for Swansea will probably see the likes of Herd, Bowery and Weimann unable to make the squad.  Given the likes of Dunne and Albrighton will soon be back fit I can't honestly see Carruthers, Johnson, Williams, Stevens, Burke etc. getting anywhere near the bench nevermind playing time, so some loaning out may be useful.

[Boz]

I'd keep the same team as at Newcastle subject to no injuries in training as long as we play a similar game. Swansea will want to keep possession as will Villa, could be an intriguing battle, but we need to take our chances.

[Jarpie]

I'm not sure how Albrighton fits the team since Lambert doesn't seem to use wingers, maybe tries to convert him into more central role?

[Monty]

Lambert beat Swansea last year by pressing them absolutely relentlessly all over the pitch, upsetting their rhythm and not allowing them to play use their 'defending with the ball' strategy to calm situations down. You'd think, if we are to try that, Holman would be the first name on the teamsheet.

[not3bad]

Swansea will want to keep possession as will Villa, could be an intriguing battle

Hopefully Swansea V Villa will be as good a spectacle this year as Stoke V Villa was bad last.

[danlanza]

I'd like to see Carruthers go out on loan somewhere in the Championship and play week in week out.  I honestly haven't seen enough of him to make an informed judgement.

Same. He does look a sharp little bugger though.

[fredm]

People have spoken about how PL changed the team/tactics at Norwich depending on the opposition etc.  That was ok there because the basis of the squad had been together for some time and were able to handle changes pretty easily.  At VP he is introducing a completely different style of playing so I think he will keep the team relatively stable for a few weeks, unless anything drastic goes wrong.  There might be the odd change and people on the bench will get 20 or 30 minutes to bed them in depending on the state of the game. So unless there is an injury or someone has a serious loss of form (see Given v Everton) then I think we shall be seeing a fairly settled team for a few weeks.

How things will pan out in the New Year when they are all bedded in remains to be seen.

[eastie]

People have spoken about how PL changed the team/tactics at Norwich depending on the opposition etc.  That was ok there because the basis of the squad had been together for some time and were able to handle changes pretty easily.  At VP he is introducing a completely different style of playing so I think he will keep the team relatively stable for a few weeks, unless anything drastic goes wrong.  There might be the odd change and people on the bench will get 20 or 30 minutes to bed them in depending on the state of the game. So unless there is an injury or someone has a serious loss of form (see Given v Everton) then I think we shall be seeing a fairly settled team for a few weeks.

How things will pan out in the New Year when they are all bedded in remains to be seen.

I think Paul will make changes game by game depending on opposition ,the days of a settled team in mons style are thankfully gone and it's nice to have a modern thinking manager- could be a very enjoyable season ahead.

[gervilla]

Swansea will want to keep possession as will Villa, could be an intriguing battle

Hopefully Swansea V Villa will be as good a spectacle this year as Stoke V Villa was bad last.

I sure hope so as it's my one trip over to VP for the season.

[Matt Collins]

What we did well against Newcastle was we closed them down and did'nt give them time on the ball. Even Pardew commented on how hard we worked. With that in mind, I'd leave the team unchanged.

Hard to disagree with that. Weimann will only need to take a glance at the bench and see Benteke and Gabby sat there to boost his self belief.Play for the shirt lads, give less than 100% and they'll be out of the side and may not get back in for a long time.

Not being harsh on weimann, but gabby created two outstanding chances in 20 minutes on the pitch and I think swansea's defence is ropey. If fit, I think gabby has to start.

[cheltenhamlion]

Don't worry Ger. It can't be as shit as your last visit...

[gervilla]

Don't worry Ger. It can't be as shit as your last visit...

The season before it was the Bolton game.
I'm due a win.

[SoccerHQ]

Gabby will start I reckon.

He looked hungry in his cameo and has still got a fair bit of pace in his locker judging by his run for the Bent chance.

We still need his pace to stretch teams, particularly at VP. I think he'll be a key player under Lambert. Maybe him and Holman either side of Bent. Keep the same midfield trio.