Carlos Sanchez

[LeeB]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I'd rather one be creator than buzzer, because I'd prefer all of them to buzz as much as possible.

I guess it's more a metaphor for balance than an exact description, but those three together look on paper suited to each other, and I also think there's goals in Westwood if he's freed up to push on.

[silhillvilla]

Is the general feeling that Sanchez will play on Saturday from the off ?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Didn't Lambert say something about seeing how things are by Friday before he decides?

[Olneythelonely]

I would be very surprised if it wasn't an unchanged team. Barring injuries.

[Toronto Villa]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I think I've met all three on a night out at the strippers.

Yeah, but did they gel together?

yes, in the end

[Villa in Denmark]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I think I've met all three on a night out at the strippers.

Yeah, but did they gel together?

yes, in the end

Did they meet a sticky end?

[Chris Smith]

I would be very surprised if it wasn't an unchanged team. Barring injuries.

Me too, we then have the cup game where he can give him a go perhaps.

[Matt Collins]

I'd be very surprised if he starts, he's barely trained since the World Cup

[Toronto Villa]

It will be the same team as Saturday. I imagine Okore and Sanchez will be on the bench. Maybe even Cole after a good run out this week with the U21's

[tomd2103]

It will be the same team as Saturday. I imagine Okore and Sanchez will be on the bench. Maybe even Cole after a good run out this week with the U21's

Lambert was quoted in today's Evening Mail saying how impressed he has been with Sanchez in training and that he could be in contention for Saturday.  Joe Cole also got his aforementioned good run out with the U21s as well.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Who scored.com - Stats
It's little surprise given that Sanchez hasn't committed a single error leading to a goal over the past four seasons.

Can we afford to leave him on the bench with stats like this?

[Clampy]

There is every chance that he may find the english game a bit of getting used to. A lot of players have come over and said how quick it is so let's not get on his back if he looks off the pace at first.

[Brend'Watkins]

I want him to start.  He's undoubtedly a better player than Westwood so will improve the team immediately.  Besides, he's had a few weeks of training to get to know the players and how he will fit into what PL wants from him

There is every chance that he may find the english game a bit of getting used to. A lot of players have come over and said how quick it is so let's not get on his back if he looks off the pace at first.

.

Good ones don't.  He's 28 and at the peak of his game and will know more about the game here than our younger regulars of last season.

[Clampy]

I want him to start.  He's undoubtedly a better player than Westwood so will improve the team immediately.  Besides, he's had a few weeks of training to get to know the players and how he will fit into what PL wants from him

There is every chance that he may find the english game a bit of getting used to. A lot of players have come over and said how quick it is so let's not get on his back if he looks off the pace at first.

.

Good ones don't.  He's 28 and at the peak of his game and will know more about the game here than our younger regulars of last season.

Maybe but look how long it took Petrov to get used to the Premiership although he was played out of position.

Maybe he will settle straight in but i'm just saying that it's possible he might find the pace a bit quick at first.

[RussellC]

I want him to start.  He's undoubtedly a better player than Westwood so will improve the team immediately.  Besides, he's had a few weeks of training to get to know the players and how he will fit into what PL wants from him

There is every chance that he may find the english game a bit of getting used to. A lot of players have come over and said how quick it is so let's not get on his back if he looks off the pace at first.

.

Good ones don't.  He's 28 and at the peak of his game and will know more about the game here than our younger regulars of last season.

Maybe but look how long it took Petrov to get used to the Premiership although he was played out of position.

Maybe he will settle straight in but i'm just saying that it's possible he might find the pace a bit quick at first.

Completely agree. I wouldn't start Sanchez on Saturday. I'd give the opportunity to watch the pace of the action form the bench, and have a couple of full weeks to bed-in at training. The worst thing possible would be for him to go straight into the side, struggle for a bit, and then the crowd start to get on his back.

Aside from that, I think all of the midfield did enough on Saturday to warrant starting against Newcastle.