Selection dilemma vs Spurs (a): Left wing

[Bergen Blade]

Let's assume that Clough wants to play roughly the same side that beat QPR, though he plays Basham for Kennedy.

But Jamie Murphy is available again. Does he come back in, or does he play Jose Baxter who did well there against QPR?

Assuming Tottenham's right back is Kyle Walker, who'd cause most problems on that side? Would Murphy get past him, or would it be better to let Jose roam around, try to hold on to the ball and playmake from wide? Who'd be better defensively?

Howard
Flynn Basham McEveley Harris
JCR Reed Doyle Scougall ?_____?
McNulty​

 

[SwissBlade]

I don't think he'll play Scoogs and Reed in the middle together, they've got no height at all and both are fairly inexperienced (but still capable)
So i think we'll play
JCR - Reed - Doyle - Baxter - Murphy

 

[IOM Blade]

I think he may start with Baxter up front and rotate with Murphy on the left, especially after Clough's assessment of McNulty's performance on Sat.

 

[Punk Blade]

Agree with Swiss and IOM on more likely deployment of Baxter. Either way it leaves Murphy to start on the left.

 

[Crofton Blade]

Put Murphy on the left and tell him to stay high up the pitch. Will Kyle make all those runs knowing that Murph is still up there on his own? OIther option could be Che Adams- he did a pretty good job against Southampton in the 2nd half keeping Clyne quiet.

 

[Derby_Blade]

If pre match interviews are anything to go by it suggests that Jose and Murphy will both be playing, so if probabaly go with Swiss' midfield with McNulty upfront

 

[Bergen Blade]

I don't think he'll play Scoogs and Reed in the middle together, they've got no height at all and both are fairly inexperienced (but still capable)
So i think we'll play
JCR - Reed - Doyle - Baxter - Murphy

Fair points, but they were even less experienced and Reed possibly even smaller against QPR.

 

[SwissBlade]

I think he may start with Baxter up front and rotate with Murphy on the left, especially after Clough's assessment of McNulty's performance on Sat.

McNulty will get a lot more space and will be able to hold the ball more easily as Premier League sides normally allow the lone striker the space and time (as per QPR and Southampton)

 

[SwissBlade]

Fair points, but they were even less experienced and Reed possibly even smaller against QPR.

Yeah but the reason we started as we did was because Murphy had been ill, so they didn't risk him. I would've thought that we would've started that game with Murphy on the left and Baxter in the middle alongside Scougall.

Personally i'd go with Reed-Doyle- Baxter, but i think Clough prefers Scoogs to Reed.

 

[Sheff de party]

It absolutely must be Murphy. All we have against them is pace and him and JCR are the only ones who have it.

Nothing bridges the gap in quality like speed and those 2 will be crucial outlets when we're trying to hold onto the ball. If he doesn't start Murphy, I may enter the dugout to tell him.

Though he perhaps knows this, knowing a little more about football than I do.

 

[Rossb123]

I think the selection dilemma isn't who plays left wing but who plays in central midfield.

He likes to throw Reed into these big games so I think he will start alongside Doyle and Baxter. I wouldn't be surprised to see Baxter playing upfront if McNulty is still struggling with his sickness problem. Cant wait for tonight, not many clubs get to see their clubs at this stage of the cup never mind twice in two seasons.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I think the selection dilemma isn't who plays left wing but who plays in central midfield.

He likes to throw Reed into these big games so I think he will start alongside Doyle and Baxter. I wouldn't be surprised to see Baxter playing upfront if McNulty is still struggling with his sickness problem. Cant wait for tonight, not many clubs get to see their clubs at this stage of the cup never mind twice in two seasons.

I think it's not unlikely that he'll play Baxter in central midfield.

But I also think that one very important factor when we beat Southampton and QPR was our tenacious central midfielders. They (Cuvelier + Reed and Reed + Scougall) got behind the ball, chased, pressed, stayed organised, but also had the stamina to get into the opposition box and the acceleration to make runs on the ball, which they seemed to hate and really caused them problems.

Scougall, while not in his best form, is tailor made for these games, and I hope he plays. Reed has also been brilliant in the past two rounds. For me this means the mentioned dilemma is the biggest tonight.

 

[OllyBlade]

He has played Murphy up front before. Perhaps Baxter will be on the left wing with Murphy up top and McNulty dropping out. Wouldn't be a huge surprise.

 

[IOM Blade]

It absolutely must be Murphy. All we have against them is pace and him and JCR are the only ones who have it.

Nothing bridges the gap in quality like speed and those 2 will be crucial outlets when we're trying to hold onto the ball. If he doesn't start Murphy, I may enter the dugout to tell him.

Though he perhaps knows this, knowing a little more about football than I do.

Murphy struggles against strong, quick full backs and they don't come stronger or quicker then our Kyle.

 

[Kenilworth]

I suspect he will go with this XI to begin with tonight, Flynn's fitness permitting

Howard
Flynn Basham McEveley Harris
JCR Doyle Reed Murphy
Baxter
McNulty

Baxter and Reed may swap and Murph may swap with Baxter going on the left at times

 

[Rossb123]

Murphy struggles against strong, quick full backs and they don't come stronger or quicker then our Kyle.

Completely agree with that comment, the only option is for him to switch wings and play on the right but then he comes up again Rose who again is strong and quick. I think he struggled against Southampton (my opinion) coming up against Bertrand and Clyne. Walker will definitely start, I think if they wasn't playing against us who he has emotional connections to they might have rested him.

 

[Morgan Poppy]

I suspect he will go with this XI to begin with tonight, Flynn's fitness permitting

Howard
Flynn Baxter McEveley Harris
JCR Doyle Reed Murphy
Baxter
McNulty

Baxter and Reed may swap and Murph may swap with Baxter going on the left at times

I'm a fan of Baxter, but even I'm not sure he's THAT good..... Would love to see it though.

 

[SE9 Blade]

I suspect he will go with this XI to begin with tonight, Flynn's fitness permitting

Howard
Flynn Baxter McEveley Harris
JCR Doyle Reed Murphy
Baxter
McNulty

Baxter and Reed may swap and Murph may swap with Baxter going on the left at times

I assume you meant Basham at CB

 

[Kenilworth]

I'm a fan of Baxter, but even I'm not sure he's THAT good..... Would love to see it though.

I assume you meant Basham at CB

Don't know what you lot are talking about



...phew - just made the 10 min deadline

 

[Bergen Blade]

Murphy struggles against strong, quick full backs and they don't come stronger or quicker then our Kyle.

That's it. If you're going to compete with Mike Tyson in something, don't choose boxing. Baxter wouldn't even try to outpace Walker, but would try to create things in a different manner, by cutting inside, roaming around, etc. QPR's Onuoha is similarly quick and strong, but Baxter had a good game on that side, despite not taking him like an out and out winger.

Having said that Murphy has been having good games when he's moved around in search of space as well. And he is usually our best counter attacking player, so it's not easy to decide.

 

[wizadry]

Completely agree with that comment, the only option is for him to switch wings and play on the right but then he comes up again Rose who again is strong and quick. I think he struggled against Southampton (my opinion) coming up against Bertrand and Clyne. Walker will definitely start, I think if they wasn't playing against us who he has emotional connections to they might have rested him.

I think their full backs will be Ben Davies on the left and Vlad Chiriches or Eric Dier on the right for tonights game.

 

[wizadry]

I think their full backs will be Ben Davies on the left and Vlad Chiriches or Eric Dier on the right for tonights game.

Or Kyle Walker on the right 50% ain't bad

 

[SwissBlade]

I don't think he'll play Scoogs and Reed in the middle together, they've got no height at all and both are fairly inexperienced (but still capable)
So i think we'll play
JCR - Reed - Doyle - Baxter - Murphy

Shows what I know!

thought murphy was quiet defensively and going forwards In the first half, better second half as he kept organised, disciplined and defensively was excellent. Second half he attacked when he could.

Scoogs though, alongside Reed was immense. Can't praise the pair of them highly enough. The energy levels they showed were fantastic. Both tired second half but also kept a great shape. With Doyle sitting in behind it makes their job easier

McNulty did well, held the ball and played some nice touches as well as chasing down defenders. Credit to Baxter at the end as he came in late and wanted the ball to feet, dropping off to collect the ball.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Shows what I know!

thought murphy was quiet defensively and going forwards In the first half, better second half as he kept organised, disciplined and defensively was excellent. Second half he attacked when he could.

Scoogs though, alongside Reed was immense. Can't praise the pair of them highly enough. The energy levels they showed were fantastic. Both tired second half but also kept a great shape. With Doyle sitting in behind it makes their job easier

McNulty did well, held the ball and played some nice touches as well as chasing down defenders. Credit to Baxter at the end as he came in late and wanted the ball to feet, dropping off to collect the ball.

Again I think it was key for us to have nippy, hard working players in central midfield. Tottenham wanted to find space between our defence and midfield, and it was vital that we prevented that. Stamina in football is not just about how far players run, but also how often they're able to run quickly. Reed and Scougall are able to cover a lot of space by running at high speed and it meant that Tottenham struggled to find time on the ball and space off it.

This is not something Baxter's good at, so for me the selection dilemma was not in central midfield.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

If pre match interviews are anything to go by it suggests that Jose and Murphy will both be playing, so if probabaly go with Swiss' midfield with McNulty upfront

Swiss midfield, five signings, thought Nige said four?