Slav suggests more players may be dropped
With Mark Noble missing through injury, the boss may be ready to shock one or two other regular first teamers after the dire performance at Bournemouth.
He describes the much called for swap of Kouyate from right back to midfield as simply “one of my options” although it’s natural he refuses to give too much away.
Discussing the team selection issues he said: ““Maybe we’re going to make a few changes, not only because some of the guys didn’t play well but also because some of the guys have been waiting for their chance and when they came on were really good and deserve the chance to start.”
Sam Byram …growing up
The three he is talking about are Robert Snodgrass, Andre Ayew and Sam Byram although the Scots winger was playing with an injury; Byram helped set up the equaliser scored by Ayew, before being too far up field to help defend the winner, and Ayew himself then gave the ball away for the third.
Aaron Cresswell also had a shocker and there have been widespread suggestions the regular left back could lose his place to Arthur Masuaku.
Should Snodgrass play that would presumably mean that Antonio remains as Carroll’s partner rather than moving him back to his best position out wide. There is also the Jose Fonte question – a player who has looked uncertain – and was responsible for a penalty giveaway.
It’s a hard on to call based on Slav’s thoughts but the starting line-up could well look like this (4-4-2): Randolph, Byram, Reid, Fonte/Collins, Masuaku; Snodgrass, Kouyate, Obiang, Lanzini, Antonio and Carroll.