Slaven Bilic appears to have two problem areas as he heads into the final Boleyn game of all time.
He has to decide whether Michail Antonio can again be risked at right back after two extremely dodgy performances against Manchester United and whether Diafra Sakho is close to restoring his position as the club’s No 1 striker.
Antonio was given the runarond by Martial at Old Trafford before being in part responsible for one of the goals they scored in the FA Cup replay in the Boleyn replay.
And there have been questions asked inside the club and on the terraces about the manager’s continuing use of the right sided midfielder in the role where yesterday against Swansea he seemed all at sea on too many occasions.
With both Tomkins and Byram fit – and whilst neither may not be the perfect candidate at this stage – another Antonio excursion at the back could turn puzzlement into real concern.
Sakho meanwhile continues to look out of favour as the boss continues to use Andy Carroll as his No 1 option.
Whether the wounds between the two have fully healed following the training ground problems ahead of the Arsenal game is a question exercising the minds of some.
The cat was finally let out of the bag during a TV commentary yesterday when former player and pundit Tony Gale appeared to confirm there had been a disciplinary issue.
Hopefully there is no hangover from that but some insiders feel that the Senegal striker may be the one sacrificed for the “£20 million front man” the club is planning to buy this summer.
If he should he again be on the sidelines for the United clash it may suggest that view has some substance although interestingly Gale added when mentioning the problems that as far as he was concerned Sakho remained the “best striker at the club.”
How’s it an issue, Sakho has started scoring again and Carroll was no good against Manure in the cup,Smalling tied him up all the game,
Byram should play with Antonio in front of him helping out Kouyate and Noble so we don’t get over run in midfield,
Payet ,Sakho and Lanzini should play up top with movement,
Carroll and Valencia should be on the bench
And Moses and Emineke should be in a Taxi
Obiang Ginge and Tomkins with either Oxford or Samulsun should warm the bench
No Issues
Lmfaoo @ ‘moses and eminike should be in a taxi’
Kevin behave yourself now
We all have opinions and can pick what teams we would like to see play
Rads what squirrel ****te look like ? Got to check Kevs Pampers tonight
Can’t believe Liverpoor are only 1 point behind us,they must have got some real good refs decisions because they are rubbish and yet they have got to cup finals,
That’s why I have stopped going to church and even Hippo is going to escape again,
No wonder I drink
my opinion is that the team slaven puts out is similar to the old Newcastle team under kevin keegan, with both noble and kouyate bombing forward at every opportunity we seem to have 8 attack minded players on the field and only 2 out and out defenders. which is great to watch but when the team still isnt scoring enough goals we end up giving to many chances to the opposition. we have been lucky that most teams have not been able to take advantage of the chances we have let them have ( except swansea of course) , i think with a more consistent striker in the team next season we will still win alot more games then we lose and will continue to be entertaining …still trust slaven but my £20 bet at 33/1 to finish top six is looking a bit shakey now..coyi…
Love it Bubs Valencia ain’t scored since Hitler was a corporal so should he be their cab driver?
I’ve always preferred a strike partnership. When you get a good strike partnership like a
Harrison kitson. Macavennie cottee etc then it’s brilliant. At the moment our best partnership is Carroll sakho even though sakho hasn’t done much in the way of scoring for a while. Think that was an own goal on Saturday. I have to say I’m surprised Slav hasn’t tried to recreate the attacking diamond formation that we used last year with Valencia and sakho when they were actually successful as a partnership and back then even Valencia seemed to have something about him. The fast counter attack diamond system wiuld now have payet at the tip of the diamond instead of downing. I would have liked to have seen that system in at least one game because I think it would be really effective with the new players we’ve got this year and also. I think payet is wasted out on the left wing. I want to see him in the middle.