Team v Middlesbrough [H]

[Ricky]

Real 50/50 decisions when it comes to Duffy/Dowell and Madine/McGoldrick.

Good reasons for any to be selected.

I'd probably edge towards Duffy and McGoldrick.

 

[wizadry]

Boro NOT strong in the air ? You obviously didntgo to Middlesbrough early in the season when we were 3.0 down all from headers and set pieces !!

Early in the season is the clue in your own statement, teams and players have developed since then, I’ve watched them on quite a few occasions and they certainly struggle with balls into the box.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

There's no reason why Madine/Dowell and McGoldrick/Duffy have to play in pairs. I'd mix it up a bit and use Madine/Duffy against Boro, with McGoldrick/Dowell both playing at the weekend (though not necessarily in place of the other two).

 

[Ricky]

I'd like to see Dowell and McGoldrick against Reading too. Good quality and balance there. They could even rotate positions.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

So we have 2 huge home games coming up, starting with Boro in midweek.

Team selection is a bit harder to call than usual, Basham suspended, and then we have the crazy 14 minutes from Friday - will anyone pay a price for that (I don't think they should, and doubt they will), however that still leaves the now regular question; McGoldrick/Duffy or Madine/Dowell.

Madine I felt was our best defender on Friday - and I don't mean that in a funny/sarcastic way - he held the ball up and often took the heat off the defenders by doing so and gave a platform for us to play higher up the pitch. I think in recent times we'd have seen more waves of attacks against us without that in our armory.

Dowell played very well - but a fully rested and fresh Duffy - tough call!

Hogan will presumably back on the bench and I expect to see him at some point.

This team selection malarkey is all of a sudden a bit harder to call.

My personal set up would be;


- - - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Fleck - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - Madine - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

Subs: Moore, Hogan, McGoldrick, Stearman, Dowell, Coutts, Lundstram.

Lundstram played for the U23's today alongside Washington and Bryan so doubt he'll be on the bench.

 

[brownie4583]

So we have 2 huge home games coming up, starting with Boro in midweek.

Team selection is a bit harder to call than usual, Basham suspended, and then we have the crazy 14 minutes from Friday - will anyone pay a price for that (I don't think they should, and doubt they will), however that still leaves the now regular question; McGoldrick/Duffy or Madine/Dowell.

Madine I felt was our best defender on Friday - and I don't mean that in a funny/sarcastic way - he held the ball up and often took the heat off the defenders by doing so and gave a platform for us to play higher up the pitch. I think in recent times we'd have seen more waves of attacks against us without that in our armory.

Dowell played very well - but a fully rested and fresh Duffy - tough call!

Hogan will presumably back on the bench and I expect to see him at some point.

This team selection malarkey is all of a sudden a bit harder to call.

My personal set up would be;


- - - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Fleck - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - Madine - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

Subs: Moore, Hogan, McGoldrick, Stearman, Dowell, Coutts, Lundstram.

I would go with that 11

 

[Snowman]

Whatever he does will be wrong because he will fuck it up in the last ten minutes with his substitutions.

 

[FriethBlade]

How about this for a controversial idea....play Duffy and Dowell ?

Pullis is a miserable twat and they will come looking for a draw and will be set up very defensively with one upfront.

We could try and out think and out football them with the pair. Very unlikely I know and I'm not even sure I mean it but it would give them something to think about !

 

[Rudders]

Surprised at the assumption that Cranie will play for Basham. He was poor against Barnet (as were most) and played a key role in our demise against Villa. I don't think either him, Lundstram or Washington should be near the team as we almost inevitably drop points when they play - they arent good enough if you want to win a top of the table championship game which is what the Boro game is.

 

[Mojo]

A great performance and win and we can put the hurt of the Villa game right behind us.

The boys need us now more than ever, hope we can get behind them like we did on boxing day it made such a huge difference, a flat atmosphere would play right into Boro's hands.

 

[Harry's Game]

- - - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Fleck - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - McGoldrick - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

This.

We aren’t going to our muscle a Pulis team we have to outplay them.

I accept that’s harsh on Madine who was excellent at Villa but Mcgoldrick has been on fire in the home games

 

[LoughboroBlade]

He was poor against Barnet (as were most) and played a key role in our demise against Villa.

1st goal – Henderson error
2nd goal – Henderson error
3rd goal – O’Connell error

And yet somehow Cranie’s played a key role in the Villa result? Was it his responsibility for yelling “don’t fuck it up Hendo/Jack” at the key moments before the errors happened, which he neglected to do?

 

[Akinbiyi]

Never change a winning team.......for 80 minutes on Friday that was a superb winning team....same 11 for me, apart from Bash obviously, where presumably Cranie comes in.

Well we changed a winning team to go to Villa...

 

[BladeTillIDie]

Bench will be interesting. No Basham and Johnson available surely Freeman comes back on the bench with Hogan?

Moore
Stearman
Freeman
Coutts/Lunny
Dowell
Madine
Hogan

 

[Beans]

Bench will be interesting. No Basham and Johnson available surely Freeman comes back on the bench with Hogan?

Moore
Stearman
Freeman
Coutts/Lunny
Dowell
Madine
Hogan

Saw Ball_Sup (Phil) say yesterday that Kean Bryan came off early in the U23 game (planned; not injury) so will likely be Crainie's replacement on the bench. Lundstram (and Washington) played a full game I think so doubt he'll be in the mix.

 

[Dnblade]

I wouldn't mind seeing Duffy and McG back in for Boro...Duffy to give us more possession at the top of the pitch,and play balls to get us behind and between those giant Centre Backs along with McG to give us more mobility and threat in behind..we'd still have Hogan,Madine and Dowell on the bench if needed.
Hendo
Cranie,Egan,JOC
Baldock,Norwood,Fleck,Enda
Duffy
Sharp,McG

No problem if he decides to go with Dowell and Madine though.

 

[Pinchy]

Well we changed a winning team to go to Villa...

We changed a convincingly winning team AT Villa. Madine and Dowell were vital to that. Two of our best four players along with Billy and George. No subs; No collapse. I’m quite sure of that.

Start the team that was on its way to a very impressive victory. It’s not a difficult concept.

 

[Akinbiyi]

We changed a convincingly winning team AT Villa. Madine and Dowell were vital to that. Two of our best four players along with Billy and George. No subs; No collapse. I’m quite sure of that.

Start the team that was on its way to a very impressive victory. It’s not a difficult concept.

I'm not saying I disagree with that but saying 'don't change a winning team' is very contradictory when we won the week before then changed the team to one which only drew.

 

[Foody]

Personally I'd make just 2 changes (1 enforced) from Villa: Cranie in for Bash and Duffy for Dowell. Duffy over Dowell as Middlesbrough won't give us much space to attack and won't get caught; personally I think this is where Duffy's intelligence comes in. Starting Madine over Mcgoldrick might be harsh on our second highest goal scorer, but Madine was excellent against Villa and also gives us a bit more presence for both ends of the pitch.

 

[Bladesman]

I'm not saying I disagree with that but saying 'don't change a winning team' is very contradictory when we won the week before then changed the team to one which only drew.

The troll is trolling.

 

[Pinchy]

I'm not saying I disagree with that but saying 'don't change a winning team' is very contradictory when we won the week before then changed the team to one which only drew.

Don’t you think that’s a bit simplistic given the extraordinary way in which the draw came about and the quality of performance from the starting eleven?

 

[SUFC Guy]

Feeling ultra confident for this game so I will go with...




Moore - Hendo

Freeman - Baldock - Cranie -Stearman - Egan - JOC - Stevens

Fleck - Coutts - Norwood - Lunny

Dowel - Duffy

Hogan - Madine - Sharp - McGoldy - Washington


Subs:
Deane
Agana
Borbokis
Brown
Gannon
Tonge
Kenny
Chicken Currie
Fatty Arse Foulke

 

[Pinchy]

The troll is trolling.

I want what is best for our team. It means far more than juvenile preferences for certain players and unpleasant prejudice against others. You should grow up and try it.

 

[Good Pinch Of Snuff]

- - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Duffy - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - -Dowell- - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - Hogan - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

Subs: Moore, Madine, McGoldrick, Stearman, Fleck, Coutts, Lundstram.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Don’t you think that’s a bit simplistic given the extraordinary way in which the draw came about and the quality of performance from the starting eleven?

We won against Bolton.

 

[Mad Mick]

Billy due a dry spell after scoring so prodigiously recently. So he has to be dropped.

Keep Duffy on the bench to prove we can win without him.

Both keepers apparently dog shit now, so extra CB playing goalie wag when required.

I'd forgot about goalie wag. Good call.

 

[BushBlade]

Don’t you think that’s a bit simplistic given the extraordinary way in which the draw came about and the quality of performance from the starting eleven?

The whole concept of ‘don’t change a winning team’ is simplistic. Plenty of managers regularly change a winning team successfully.

 

[Pinchy]

- - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Duffy - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - -Dowell- - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - Hogan - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

Subs: Moore, Madine, McGoldrick, Stearman, Fleck, Coutts, Lundstram.

Good Pele, you can’t do that! The Silly Fleckers will hunt you down.

 

[Pinchy]

The whole concept of ‘don’t change a winning team’ is simplistic. Plenty of managers regularly change a winning team successfully.

The S2 variation is “Don’t change the team that I want you to pick”

 

[Killamarshblades]

Late fitness test for one of the main players in the team will determine whether its normal set up (Crainie for Bash) or having to put a few square pegs in round holes