It’s terrible news – the worst imaginable but there’s absolutely no point in dwelling.
Declan will be missing tonight and the worst possible scenario is that he could be out for the season although that is considered unlikely.
We are finally paying the price of a gamble which was always going to be a loser in the long run – relying on the continued fitness of the boy wonder and Tomas.
You wonder what the hell will happen if anything happens to the Czech master – sorry don’t even want to think about it.
Let’s for now simply think about tonight although it’s hard because many of us were screaming out for midfield cover back in the summer.
Now we are in the worst possible trouble with only Mark Noble – WHO IS NOT THE ANSWER NOW OR LATER – available as a recognised midfielder.
So where does Moyes go to answer what in reality is a nEAR unanswerable question.
Some have suggested Issa Diop in midfield with Tomas but for me the only serious solution would be to put Vladi Coufal in there with his mate.
He can defend and knows how to get forward – gotta be worth a try hasn’t it and allowing Ben Johnson to return to his favoured position at right back.
So here’s my team for a highly critical game: Fab; Johnson, Diop, Dawson Cresswell; Bowen, Soucek, Coufal, Lingard, Fornals, Antonio.
Looks a good enough team to beat an out of touch Wolves!
I wouldn’t mind going with that. Sadly we all know Moyes will opt for Noble.
Diop or Coufal? in the middle of the park with tomas?
sorry you’re clueless. that’s worse than Mark Noble.
Sadly with your mindset its criticise everyone else without having a solution yourself. That’s called whining
Absolutely not, if you want a defender there put Diop in that slot and Balbuena in the back four, definitely not Noble but we all know that is who will be played and we will be faced with the usual slow play and Wolves playing around him. Imho Fornals, Bowen or Lanzini could also fill in with Soucek playing the holding role. It is not looking too great for CL anymore and yes it does highlight the challenge of a threadbare team. We have been relatively lucky with injuries for a change and typical it comes after an international break… Moyes can’t defend without Ogbonna and Rice, so with the players he has should go on the attack and try to score more than them with a high press COYI!!!
A good shout and I could see this working.
Thanks Hugh – very bad news indeed about Declan – let us wish him a speedy recovery
Your team is interesting – I think that Moyes will play Noble (not that I agree with it) and then I would go for 5 at the back with Masuaku or if not fit then Ben Johnson
In the next few games it might be worth having a look at Connor Coventry – after all he is now a full Republic of Ireland International
We will now be hard pressed to qualify for the Europa League – never mind the Champions League
COYI
Basically anyone who can still run. Shows how utterly past Noble we are.
All we can expect is that whomever is given the opportunity to play gives of their best.
Win, lose, or draw.
Chin up, shoulders back, let’s give it our all.
C’mon you Irons
Enough of the Gloom. !If they are the team we think they are-and i dont see why they arent- they will not let this upset them. Still good enough to finish top 4. If we rely on one player then we are vey foolish- whoever that may be.
Formals for me. Not got the range and quality of passing but work ethic and engine in place.
You know what Hugh, I think that might be a bloody good shout. Johnson or Fredericks could fill in. Get the message to Moyes!!
We all know he will pick Nobes 100%, I love the guy but unfortunately that’s us done for champs league
I imagine, Moysie may see this as a risk given the solidarity of our back 4. I reckon a sensible option would be to go to a 4 – 1 – 4 – 1 set up like this: ]
Antonio
Benramha Fornals/lanzini Lingard Bowen
Soucek
Cresswell Diop Dawson Coufal
Fabianski
An out there suggestion might be to bring in Coventry and to maintain our current system. I think Noble might be the initial plan however, whilst Moyes explores his options.
COYI!
A few options
Maybe Fornals with Soucek and maybe Arthur (if fit), although that would mean sacrificing Bowen/ Benrahma. What really worries me about Nobes now, in addition to his lack of pace, is that he seems to be in the wrong positions and completely changing the shape of the team. He shouldn’t start, although I suspect that he will.
Just awful,,I’m sorry but imo we won’t be half the team without him as we all kniwc..hope im wrong …the thing that is more frustrating was the shouting and shouting for signings from fans me included that it was so obvious we needed players knowing that this could very well happen, and nothing was done about it …if we did do the right thing we would of had a player already in the squad that has trained and been there for a long time so knows what we are about..obviously not as good as Dec but at least a replacement ready to go…now at the crucial point in the season we have noble ..or as some are saying put coufal or diop there …crazy …sorry but only ourselves to blame…sad sad time
SWAP Bowen and Fornals around and I think thats a good solution!
If we don’t give Coventry an opportunity when we’ve got no one else we may as well get shot in the summer
So noble plays, sit back and see if we can get a draw.
Surely it’s time to look forward.
Coulfal could do a job in there but you then weaken the right back or wingback position. I would like to see Conor Coventry or Keenan Appiah-Forson given a chance. I know that won’t happen.
Good shout Hugh, as good as any and better than the almost inevitable Nobes option, loved only by DM sadly. We are without Dec now for weeks – DM must look at the youngsters – why have we got Alves, Johnson, Coventry there if we never give them a chance? If we play Nobes and Wolves fold us like cardboard that is humiliation. Brave and bold please, not negative and cowering.
Lingard was phenomenal last night and was the main reason we won the game but credit to Nobes who proved a lot of you wrong!!!!