So now we look forward to the mighty Accrington Stanley arriving at the London Stadium and the question is what sort of team will Slav put out.
Just how seriously will he take this game given the current position surrounding our Premier League situation.
It was reflected in a conversation between myself and Sean earlier this morning which went womething like this:
Sean: We need to preview Accrington match
Hugh: Yeah, don’t do much for me
Sean: To be honest I’d stick all the kids out and make sure all the first teamers are ready for Southampton.
Hugh: Can we risk the kids?
Sean: What do you mean?
Hugh: Well, given the way the first team are playing, we may need them for Sunday.
Sean: Good point!
Seriously though, it’s hard to get excited about a match featuring the League Two side although we understand around 40k are expected to make the trip to the London Stadium.
And in the current circumstances we can take absolutely nothing for granted in a match which should be pretty straightforward
For the record Stanley won their third match of the season at the weekend against Portsmouth at the weekend via a goal from Paddy Lacey (pictured above) and sit 11rth in the lowest league on level points (11) along with neighbours Leyton Orient.
Oh dear, given the lack of respect given to them they are bound to beat us.
I’d play all the first teamers who played crap on Saturday as punishment.
and also to , hopefully , show we can defend, if they let us down again then play the youngsters against Southampton and let them show us what they can do, we will support them come what may but the prima donnas can sling their collective hooks and get rid come January.
COYI
We can’t play all the kids. Because if they lose five nil it doesn’t bear thinking about for Bilic. That was the start of the end for allardyce when the kids lost in the cup.
I would play Randolph, Masuaku,Ogbonna, Oxford, Arbelloa, Feghouli, Obiang, Fernandes, Browne, Fletcher and Martinez or Callieri. With Payet and any selected others as subs. Tell those players if they play well they will get a chance starting in the first team against 1 of our next two opponents and if they continue to play well in the first team they will keep their place in it.
I’d play zaza as well as I think he needs game time.
Yeah I thought about Zaza but Martnez has been banging them in for the reserves so give him a shot. I would be happy though to see him swapped in for Callieri.
Martinez and Browne scored earlier for the U23’s so I doubt they will be starting in which case play Payet or Tore on the left and Zaza or Callieri with Fletcher. Hopefully our younger and lesser used players have a chance to prove themselves and we have some strikers getting amongst the goals COYI !!!
I would play Zaza too. He needs a goal to get the monkeys off his back. Can’t wait for big Andy to come back though. Our best striker and best defender carrolled into one.
For me Slav, AC does give a lot defensively at set pieces but he is slow, so slow and other than with his head he is not a good finisher, against good teams if we are to score on the counter we need pacey forwards who can break fast and be very direct.
Why play the Kids
Randolf
Byram,Oxford Ogbonna Page would be a good back 4 and none of them have played to much
Obiang Fernandez need playing time
Lanzini or Payet pick 1
Tore on the left Feggolui on the right,
Calleri up top with Fletcher and Zaza as back up
Reid or Collins on the bench,
Browne Speigle
Rest Adrien Antonio Masuaka Payet or Lanzini which ever need less playing Time,
Noble and Kouyate need refreshing as well
That way we will have a strong team to get us through give players time on the pitch and rest others,
But not all the kids even though they are good enough,
I don’t care if AC scores with his head or his arse 32 as long as he scores. all of Antonios goals have been scored with his head but that’s OK because he’s got pace? Carroll doesn’t have to be fast. He’s big and strong and the fast nippy players can play off of his knockdown and hold up play.