Kortney Hause (on loan at Watford)

[walsall villain]

I'd definitely be starting Hause at left back ahead of Taylor at Wembley.  Taylor absolutely refuses to ever, ever, ever attempt a cross.  If he can knock it back to absolutely anybody behind him, he always will.  One of the two weak spots we need to fix for the final, the other being the wide right player up front.

Agree on Hause at LB. Play Kodjia wide left and move El Ghazi to wide right?

Can’t see Hause starting as he’s not had much game time. Taylor is a problem though.

[paul_e]

I'd definitely be starting Hause at left back ahead of Taylor at Wembley.  Taylor absolutely refuses to ever, ever, ever attempt a cross.  If he can knock it back to absolutely anybody behind him, he always will.  One of the two weak spots we need to fix for the final, the other being the wide right player up front.

That's not quite true, he played 1 cross that I remember last night, seem to remember it going about 15-20 yards further than it needed to.

[Steve67]

I think Hause is just a better player than Taylor.  Better option in their box at corners, as well as ours of course. 

[Toronto Villa]

I think Hause is just a better player than Taylor.  Better option in their box at corners, as well as ours of course. 

A fucking road cone is better than Neil Taylor

[Smithy]

I think Hause is just a better player than Taylor.  Better option in their box at corners, as well as ours of course. 

Hause played LB when we beat them 4-0.

[frank black]

He surely got to play after Taylor’s recent performances.

[Risso]

Taylor's been OK defensively, which is a big improvement on his early horror shows this season, but he has absolutely no confidence once he gets past the half way line.  He attempts a cross maybe once in every twenty opportunities, but nearly always turns around and looks for a player behind him to lay it off to.  So many attacking opportunities break down because of him, it drives me mad.  Hause is a much better full back, and just fits in much better alongside Mings.  I can't see Smith dropping Taylor though.

[Duncan Shaw]

West Brom were happy to let Taylor have the ball anywhere in their half....says it all really.

[cdbearsfan]

West Brom were happy to let all our players have the ball if it meant they didn't have to advance three yards further from their own goal line, the negative bellends.

[Drummond]

Taylor's primary role is as a defender and he's done fine. He played loads during our unbeaten run with hardly any complaints. Hause hasn't played in a while and a Wembley Final is an unforgiving place to return.

[achilles]

Taylor's been OK defensively, which is a big improvement on his early horror shows this season, but he has absolutely no confidence once he gets past the half way line.  He attempts a cross maybe once in every twenty opportunities, but nearly always turns around and looks for a player behind him to lay it off to.  So many attacking opportunities break down because of him, it drives me mad.  Hause is a much better full back, and just fits in much better alongside Mings.  I can't see Smith dropping Taylor though.

Totally agree, Taylor gets a nose bleed when he approaches the 18yd box but Smith won't drop him.

[Brend'Watkins]

He won't you're right.  But having Hause to come on if we find ourselves chasing the game could be invaluable with his strength and height.

[danno]

Taylor wasn't the only player to freeze in the final third, but he was our only defender not to concede possession cheaply in his own half. I'm not a fan but I think he's done ok and built up an understanding with El Ghazi, dropping him would be harsh imho.

[Bully2345]

Maybe Taylor is given instructions not to cross it. Just a thought

[paul_e]

West Brom were happy to let Taylor have the ball anywhere in their half....says it all really.

This is the real problem, teams have realised that he's unwilling to even try to shoot or put crosses over so they don't worry about him getting the ball, which makes it easier to get men to Grealish, McGinn and AEG who would all benefit massively from a left back who had to be closed down.

The Baggies did it in both legs but so have a few other sides in the last couple of months. However, as Drummond says, maybe this isn't the time to make the change. Whatever happens in the final I doubt we'll see Taylor as a regular next season and I don't think replacing him with Hause will be the difference between winning and losing in that game so leaving things as they are might be the best course. Oddly if we were playing west brom next I'd definitely bring Hause in and I'd have started him on Tuesday but I don't see the same aerial threat from Derby.