I can see us coming away with something from Palace tomorrow.
The international break came at a good time for the Irons and has given all the gloom and doom a chance to disperse a bit – they can start tomorrow with a clean sheet.
The return of Aaron Cresswell will make a big difference from all sorts of points of view. It alow Arbeola to return to his natural position and will settle the central defenders who have quite possibly become unsettled by the constant chopping and changing at the back.
Adrian has a natural player to throw the ball to and Cressie himself is the perfect bloke to look after Andros Townsend whilst Arbeola is more than experienced enough to look afte Zaha.
Palace are a team who have gone back to basics with speedy wingers wanting to get crosses into the box for big Benteke and we look in as good a shape to counter that.
Id go for Collins alongside Reid bcause I think James is battle hardned against the old fashioned centre forward type.
Cresswell is a very key player for us because he always finds an effective pass when he gets forward – something we have been seriously lacking this season.
I also think Palace will be atetmpting to come on to us given our lack of recent form and that will suit us better than a team that is sitting off – all our best results aslt season were achieved against teams that we could counter attack.
I think Slav should and will go for what he considers his best X1 tomorrow but without Carroll or Sakho I’d forget Zaza or Calleri and go with young Fletcher. That boy has had something about him every time he has appeared for us and is one I really like the look of.
He appears to have a good head on his shoulders and has been entirely unfazed by what has gone on around him so he’s my choice.
My line up would be: Adrian; Arbeola, Reid, Collins, Cresswell; Antonio, Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini, Payet and Fletcher.
I think a draw is the most likely result but wouldn’t be surprised if we nick a 1-0 although I must stress that the most important thing of all is a clean sheet.
COYI
‘Mystic’ Leroy seems to have cheered up a bit this week but he’s expecting a lot from Aaron Cresswell!
I really can’t see Slaven Bilic pitching him straight back in against pacy natural wingers like Andros Townsend or Wilfred Zaha – that would be a real test and you’d really be risking Cresswell coming down with a ‘sympathetic’ injury like a hamstring or other muscle injury. That would be a real risk and I can’t see Bilic taking it – I expect Ogbonna to start at left back and Cresswell maybe given 20 minutes at the end of the game if things aren’t going too badly.
For my next trick I’m just off to pick the winning numbers for tonights Euromillions…
If obiang doesn’t start I will go ballistic (for 20 seconds or so before getting behind the team again)
Obiang for Noble PLEASE!!.Im not against him far from it but he just aint at the racers at the moment.How can you drop Kouyate instead of Noble,total madness & the blinkered view of some fans who will hear no wrong said about Nobes.He aint undroppable no player should be.
I have a feeling based on Slav’s presser that Noble will again captain the team, Obiang will be in maybe for Kouyate, Zaza will also start possibly with Callieri, we need goals, like Leroy I would like to see Fletcher given a chance and unlike Leroy, Noble and Kouyate dropped for Obiang and Fernandes. I am hopeful of us getting a result whatever team is picked but a lot will depend on how well we defend as a team, Palace are in really good form and Benteke should be flying so if we can get our scoring boots on there could be a few goals as I don’t really rate Delaney against pace especially with the ball played behind him, fingers crossed we can win by hook or by crook COYI !!!