Rich_D

Is Baker not injured?

Nope.

Been confirmed already that Clark and Baker are our CB for tomorrows game

Our possible defence:

Walker-----Clark-----Baker-----Delph

That worries me, all are promising young players but Kevin Davies will have a field day against them if they are not strong and stand up to his physical nonsense.

True. He could have a field day.

Clark we all know can compete against players in the same calibre of Davies.

Baker, although in limited performances, defiantly puts his body on the line.

This is the time where we need to have a sitter in midfield to protect the back 2, allowing Walker to do his magic going forward, and let Delph continue what he has been doing so far at LB.

If we get an injury, Heskey will be most likely to fill in.

Defensive problems will not help.

Love us to win, as always, can see us getting a draw, which I think, given the circumstances, wouldn't be a bad result.

Good news but obviously a quick move to restore a little bit of happiness within the fans after Weds night.

The rumour broke before the game on Wednesday from what I was told

------------Friedel

Walker Clark Baker Delph/Young

Albrighton NRC Pires Downing

-------------Young

--------------Bent

That is how I see it. If Young isn't available at LB, we have a very, very youthful, inexperienced back 4. (I'm not coming on here if we lose because I can already see the abuse that Houllier will get)

Can't see him dropping Pires after Blackburn unless he gives Bannan another start.

Option at CB are Collins is he is fit but no news on it, same with Cuellar. Heskey anyone?

Naivity comes with age and experience. Only way to get rid of that is by playing.

Glad he has committed longer. Hopefully get NRC and Young tied down now

Not a left back is he.

Nope. I think we all know that. Houllier included.

If Baker is fit, Delph needs to play along side NRC in the centre. They would work well together

Bannan was the only real bright spark.

Friedel, Dunne, Clark, Delph had very decent games. Didn't really put a foot wrong.

Bradley and Gabby had decent games.

Delfouneso hardly touched it.

Heskey won nothing in the air.

Petrov was missing and completely off the pace.

Herd looked very inexperienced at times

To win the FA cup we would of needed Darren Bent - very strange statement. We managed the Carling cup final and semi final of the FA cup last season with arguably a similar squad.

Yes true. But teams around us have got better.

However, Petrov was pants. Heskey didn't offer anything and Gabby is one dimensional.

he's the same age as delph and is nowhere near as good as him

then why is Bannan playing centre midfield and Delph shifted to full back.

Best player tonight in a sea of mediocrity

Delph has more experience at LB. More physical.

Bannan is still a huge potential. I said earlier in the thread that I hoped his lack of height and size wouldn't effect his potential but that boy Silva is the same size....

Just to re-iterate. Herd in for Walker is the only suicidal option that Houllier has made. Otherwise he is playing 3 CM's who are capable of playing deep and probably 2 wingers who'll do a shift aswell.

+1

+1 more.

All the players are capable. Lets face it, it wasn't too long along people were saying that Petrov should be starting all the games as he is our captain, Bannan needs games and same with Delfouneso.

Why the **** aren't Downing and Young playing?! I'm digsusted. Whether it works or not, they should be in that starting line-up. No Albrighton either in the starting line-up. What is Houllier playing at?!

So if we win you will still be pissed off that Ash and Ste aren't playing...Behave yourself!

Good to see some players getting a rest in a way.

Herd-Dunne-Clark-Delph

It is experimental, but if Herd is solid in the tackle, hopefully he will perform like Cuellar did at home against City.

Petrov-Bradley-Bannan

I think it will be like this with Bradey being the sitter, Bannan being the Adam of the team and Petrov being the more attack minded one.

Delfouneso-Heskey-Gabby

Very attacking, with lots a pace and power. 3 up top will trouble City at the back so hopefully will look like that

Heskey at CB!! He has so much potential there!!

Dublin did a job there IIRC

Imagine NRC Dunne Heskey Downing as the back four if shit hits the fan! haha

Heskey at CB!! He has so much potential there!!

Dublin did a job there IIRC

Downing at LB?

Only joking.

Dunne and Clark will play CB as they are our only choices. If we get an injury, it may be interesting having to have Heskey at the back.

Push comes to shove and Walker can be LB with NRC at RB.

Delph, imo, will start at LB as there is no other option, unless Herd steps in

The fact that Blues won at the weekend may spur some of the players on tonight and for the rest of the season.

Love us to win and think we have a good chance. We will want revenge after the battering at Eastlands last time.

Rather lose and then concentrate on the league as opposed to having another game in the way of a reply. Just my view though

I see Makoun, Bannan and Delph as very similar.

I don't

Care to expand??? :winkold:

Makoun is the simple passer of the team. Rarely looks for the big passes.

Delph is the archetypal box to box player. Can sit deep and spray the ball but also ends up around the box. Can fit in at LB too :winkold:

Out of the 2 above, Bannan is more like Delph but a little lightweight.

Both have great potential but I hope his size does not let him down.

It is good that for once we aren't slatting Houllier in his selection but instead guessing who will play in a certain position. At last!!!

Friedel

Walker Dunne Clark Young

Downing NRC Delph Gabby

Young

Bent

Have an inclining that Gabby will start, but not up top. He will be used as the workhorse on the left, again, with Young given then chance to proves his worth behind Bent.

Bent cuptied so you can rule him out

Forgot it was the cup. Heskey up top then

Luke Young is not match fit but is fit.

It is whether you have a match fit, out of position Delph or a non match fit player who knows the position in Young.

Will be interesting to see if the people that were calling for Houlliers head because he was playing the attackers out of position want Delph out of position

Simple reason Gabby is not good to fill in as a left winger because he doesn't have the ability to beat a man with his footwork. Delph is good enough to fill in at left back, it really is that simple.

No doubt Delph has the skill level. But does he have the positional awareness or the discipline, especially against a potentially top class striker force?

No one can say he does or does not because he has not been in that position (not lb position, but position of facing class striker force)

You've basically given a non-answer to your own question.

:winkold:

It is good that for once we aren't slatting Houllier in his selection but instead guessing who will play in a certain position. At last!!!

Friedel

Walker Dunne Clark Young

Downing NRC Delph Gabby

Young

Bent

Have an inclining that Gabby will start, but not up top. He will be used as the workhorse on the left, again, with Young given then chance to proves his worth behind Bent.

Luke Young is not match fit but is fit.

It is whether you have a match fit, out of position Delph or a non match fit player who knows the position in Young.

Will be interesting to see if the people that were calling for Houlliers head because he was playing the attackers out of position want Delph out of position

Simple reason Gabby is not good to fill in as a left winger because he doesn't have the ability to beat a man with his footwork. Delph is good enough to fill in at left back, it really is that simple.

No doubt Delph has the skill level. But does he have the positional awareness or the discipline, especially against a potentially top class striker force?

No one can say he does or does not because he has not been in that position (not lb position, but position of facing class striker force)

Luke Young is not match fit but is fit.

It is whether you have a match fit, out of position Delph or a non match fit player who knows the position in Young.

Will be interesting to see if the people that were calling for Houlliers head because he was playing the attackers out of position want Delph out of position

Clark (hopefully not) or Luke Young at LB for me please.

Delph would have to have been on the training ground practicing/learning how to LB none stop since Saturday if he is to play there tomorrow.