Stevomanila

Quick question and apologies if covered already, prior to today am trying to think of our youngest captain?

Am on phone so excuse typos/format please but yeah I wondered about 3 at the back too at least against some oppositin as it negates our weaknesses at fullback...when all fully fit I would like to see the following line up with Green as a right wing back..he has the energy and McGinn as a left wing back..we would miss him in the middle but he could be a huge asset both defensively and offensively to us down the left..bags of energy and can whip a good ball in too.. Kalinic Tuanzebe Chester Mings Jedinak or Carrol depending on opposition Jack and Hourihane until we sign a better replacement for the latter.. Green right, McGinn left Abraham and Kodj up top Regardless though we may just see Mings deployed as a left back as he has played there before anyway.. I do trust DS though to find the right formation for getting as many of our best players onto the pitch at once..we cannot afford to keep having our weaknesses exposed..

Yeah come on Steve don't leave us hanging..we are desperate for news here...something marginally exciting would be nice..

How about instead of an inanimate carbon rod... 'Jedinak...put these on'... 'What are they?' 'Goalie gloves'...

Yes I want to hear the words coming from his mouth too...and then put on a big banner...

Firstly I think this kind of post warrants a 'love' option...I liked it..but could the mods add a 'love' option please?! Secondly, mods can you also provide a 'red card' or at the very least a yellow for anyone who uses the terms 'there or thereabouts' in any post or any use of the word 'wor' as in 'you put wor boots on'...thanks!!

Always puts a smile on my face!

Yep how true..they just take it in turns to see who picks up the first yellow, clatter, rotate, repeat...

Wow what a start, good goal? Someone talk us through it...

I posted this again in the Dean Smith thread but it's well worth a watch if you've not yet seen it...some good insights shared about Smith... ..he certainly highly valued Hogan but I agree, not sure he will start right away but I think he will definitely get some minutes today. I wonder too if Smith may look at using McGinn as more of a left wing back due to our lack of options down that side...perhaps how the likes of MIlner and Young have evolved a defensive side to their game too. Anyway, hopefully exciting times ahead..

I thought he was back for it and read somewhere else he will be playing. Hope he is!!

Well worth a watch if you have not seen this yet on DS. Cannot wait for the game later! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kWx_g6N88M

I think it's unlikely BUT would quite like to see a 3-5-2- especially at home...Jedinak is clearly in Bruce's plans but I think we all liked finally seeing 2 forwards playing together along with Hourihane, McGinn and Jack in the line up...so.. Nyland Hutton Chester Jedinak El Ghazi, Hourihane, McGinn, Bolasie Jack Kodjia Abraham

100% hope so..one of my best mates from Manila..massive Hibs fan has raved about McGinn for a while now and felt it was only a matter of time before he got snapped up..delighted it was by us..I think he has to start and will link up really well with Grealish, this is just the sort of signing we have been crying out for! UTV!

I would like to know too...but regardless I am getting excited...

Ha yeah I would...

Yeah about 30 Mill per penalty!!

Ha yes mate!!

I think Hutton, Chester and Terry would all have the balls to take one too..Grabban too would want one..think we would be okay but if we can win it over the 90 mins that will be amazing..my two and only visits to Wembley so far...we scored 3 goals on both occasions..

Oh how annoying so how do we get to see it?!

I think we sacrifice the holding mid, we are hoofing more again so may as well get Davis up there...I would go with Hogan, and mid 2 of Grealish and Hourihane..then the usual either side and back 5 as last game... must win!!

What fills me with confidence going into games like this now (unlike the past umpteen seasons when we were pretty dire) is that we have threats all over the field now and can play in such a way that it makes it hard for opposition teams to prevent us from creating chances...for example we have wide players (Adomah/Snodgrass) who can get past their defenders and/or cut in and strike the ball and get into dangerous positions in the box...if they try stopping that through persistent fouls for example then we have players that can deliver a good early cross (like Elmo) or a dangerous ball from a free kick/corner (Snodgrass)...we likewise have some threats in the box too-whether an aerial threat (Chester/Terry/Jedinak) or poachers in the right place at the right time.. (Grabban/Adomah/Hogan) not to mention the one and only Super Jack who has simply been unplayable...even Thor's goal from the weekend gives QPR another worry...how do they stop us? If they try to press us high up the pitch and to congest the space then I think they will tire and we can hit them in the break...with all that in mind, I really don't see how QPR can play in such a way that prevents us creating a number of chances...I hope we take them and predict a Villa win, 3-0! Come on you Villa boys!!

I hope we can too but for sure 2nd is up grabs...on that note of promotion and apologies if this is already a separate thread (I did look and couldn't find one) but how many of the current squad, if we get promoted, would you keep and how many would you think we need to replace?... Assuming Terry leaves and we secure some of the loans as permanent..would it realistically be far off this?...I cannot work out if I am being too harsh or too generous but Bruce or whoever the manager will be could have quite the job on their hands to build a prem squad capable of staying in the division... Johnstone? Elmo? Chester ? ? Snodgrass Hourihane? ? Adomah Grealish Hogan? Squad Players? Hopefully good enough..Davis, RHM, Green, O Hare, Sulliman, Taylor, Grabban Maybe? Steer? Jedinak? Hutton?

I think in line with what a few others have said regarding trying to keep as many players in their positions from our winning run, I'd go; Johnstone Elmo, Chester, Terry, Hutton Snodgrass, Thor, Hourihane, Tuanzebe* Grealish** Hogan * I thought Tuanzebe had a great game v Fulham but we may as well try to keep the Elmo/Snodgrass partnership on the right and Tuanzebe from what we saw would surely be a better option for us on the left than say Onomah? ** If Grealish isn't fit I'd go Davis up top with Hogan to start but a few subs for this depending on how the game goes could be; Lansbury for Hourihane Grabban for Hogan/Davis O'Hare for Davis if 2nd striker option isn't working well (if Grealish isn't back) This will be tough, hoping we can bounce back though..

Yeah sorry I should have added, I'm located in Switzerland now so it works like a dream over here...