Tony Cottee has called for Darren Randolph to get a first team call up for the clash against Southampton on Sunday and claims in his opinion he is our No 1 keeper.
TC – as anxious as everybody else at our lack of form – said: “He has never let us down. In fact he has been excellent whenever he appears.
I don’t watch the team every week but whenever I’ve seen him I’ve been impressed. For me he is the better of the two keepers.
“Adrian hasn’t been himself over recent games. That may be down to a lack of communication on the pitch or confidence but either way I think it’s time to bring in Darren.
“He’s a top goalkeeper and, by the way a top bloke, who had a really good Euro 2016. I think the time is right and he has earned his chance.”
TC believes the manager will have had the back four players seriously involved in sorting out the problems we have seen too often this season.
He said: “We have had injuries and unfortunately we may have to experiment again but I think he has to play Reid, Ogbonna and Ginge. Arbeloa should also hold his place.
“It may be a good idea to have Reece Oxford sitting in front of them as he too deserves a chance. Slav has tough decisions to make but I am very pro the manager and I’m sure he will get it right.”
Yes , difficult to argue with . Oxford must be given a chance . He can do no worse than Noble … at least he can run . Zaza Gabor should not start . Doubt he will ever make the grade and we don’t want to be forced to spend the €25m when he is playing so badly. Give Fletcher a prolonged chance .
Bubbles, agree on Oxford big time, Fernandez did well too the other night. And if there is ever a chance of Browne playing at LB then it has to be this weekend with both Cresswell and Masauka out injured. I would be happy even putting Oxford at CB with Reid and move Ogbanna to LB with Browne on bench. However I fear he will play Collins or even worse Nordsvelt at the back – imagine if Shane Long sees Nordsvelt at CB he will think all his birthdays have come on the same day !!!
Correct me if im wrong here Johnham but whenever i have been to RG to watch the dev lads Browne has played CM or on the Wing.Why would he then be played as a LB in a Prem match??
very true but I hope he is on the bench though, because he is somewhat better than Sammulesen.
It is time for Pedro Obiang to go into midfield partnership with Kouyate.
He has the energy and experience to do the screening job in the middle of the pitch.
Oxford had one great game man marking at Arsenal but that was followed by a mare of a first half in the next game. Unless Oxford is given a particular man marking task then it would be better not to play him in a tense and difficult game.
My choice would be for Obiang and Kouyate deep with Lanzini a bit more forward but deeper than Payet and Antonio with Gods knows up front.
The biggest conundrum is what formation he starts with. Randolph has kept a clean sheet so he should start, but then is it a back 3 with wing backs or a back 4 with Byram on Right and Arbeloa on left or the exact opposite Byram on left and Arbeloa on right ? In Midfield if 451 I think you have to start with Payet, Lanzini and Antonio but who out of Kouyate, Fernandes, Obiang and Noble as the two DM’s ? Personally I think Fernandes is guaranteed one slot so maybe he and Kouyate might get a chance, Zaza I think will start up top so then it’s just a question of the CB duo, I would stick with those that kept a clean sheet in Nordveidt and Ogbonna. Fingers toes and everything else crossed we get a result that we can build on COYI !!!