WBA (H) - 16/1 Build up and Match thread

[Premier Quality]

Do we even know what's wrong with Otasowie?

He was ill

 

[Paul]

He was ill

PQ MD

 

[Premier Quality]

PQ MD

Haha, I think that’s all the detail we need, next!

 

[prawnking]

Assuming no Boly:

Rui
Coady - Saiss - Kilman
Semedo - Donk - Neves - RAN
Traore - Cutrone - Neto​

I didn't know you were a fan of three at the back?

 

[lemonjelly]

I swear cutrone is the new eastwood.
I can't remember a clamour for a striker to start/come on since freddy. The everton match thread, and verdict thread are riddled with it.
not sure where it has come from. for me his only selling point is he isn't silva, as I haven't really seen any other reason for him being put forward.

 

[Tredman]

I swear cutrone is the new eastwood.
I can't remember a clamour for a striker to start/come on since freddy. The everton match thread, and verdict thread are riddled with it.
not sure where it has come from. for me his only selling point is he isn't silva, as I haven't really seen any other reason for him being put forward.

That’s more than enough reason.

 

[redvictor]

I swear cutrone is the new eastwood.
I can't remember a clamour for a striker to start/come on since freddy. The everton match thread, and verdict thread are riddled with it.
not sure where it has come from. for me his only selling point is he isn't silva, as I haven't really seen any other reason for him being put forward.

Apart from that is more than enough reason, Fabio just hasn't any endearing features at all right now. A lone striker needs to hold the ball up, be strong, get past defenders and be a threat on goal. Nope, he hasn't got one of those features.
As most people now realise, even the ones who defended him, he is not ready for the premier league. Sure, when he's a stone heavier, faster and fitter he might be, but not now. Cutrone is the only up front striker we have that has some experience in the premier league.

Maybe he won't be the answer, but Nuno has to give him a good couple of matches to assess him. 10 mins at the end of a game when the opposition is locked up for a win is not assessing him.

Playing Fabio right now is like playing a WR who can run and get in good positions, then when the ball comes it either hits him on the head, or it drops through his hands...

 

[Cyber]

I swear cutrone is the new eastwood.
I can't remember a clamour for a striker to start/come on since freddy. The everton match thread, and verdict thread are riddled with it.
not sure where it has come from. for me his only selling point is he isn't silva, as I haven't really seen any other reason for him being put forward.

To be fair some may take Freddy over Fabio on current form!

 

[Templeton Peck]

Assuming Adama is available, and the other absentees still injured I would line up like this (for some reason I can't centre it, and it is annoying me)

Rui
Semedo Coady Saiss RAN
Neves Dendoncker
Traore Gibbs-White Neto
Cutrone

That's the team.

 

[Tony Towner]

------------------Rui-------------
---Coady----Saiss----Kilman
Semedo---Donck---Neves--RAN
---------------MGW---------
-----------Neto-------Cutrone

That covers the full backs who aren't the best defensively, but gives them license to go forward, likewise the midfield with regards to tracking runners. Offers a ACM to link play and 2 men in the box. Traore, if fit to come on as and when required

Our set piece and second ball defending is the obvious concern, so don't give fouls away around the box and keep corners to a minimum.

The lack of fans means it's just another game, but their league position makes it important. We are a double digit points off the relegation zone with half a season left so it's certainly not a must win, but it could be a momentum shifter

 

[Paul]

-
and keep corners to a minimum.

Ours or theirs

 

[PuntsWolf]

I can’t see how Adama can go from not in the squad to starting. If he’s tweaked a muscle against Palace, that isn’t getting better in 7 days.

Neto was holding his knee, now he was kicked on the ankles to trip him so it must have been his landing. He looked pretty immobile after and this is only going to have got worse the next day. Even if he plays with a bruised knee he’s going to be far from 100%.

Boly and Marcal picked up muscle injuries a month a go. Must be more than just a strain to still be out. There probably still 2-3 weeks away.

We don’t actually know what Podence injury is. Kick on the back of the leg. Again doubt he’s gone from not in the squad to fit in a few days and Nuno suggested he wasn’t going to be back till the end of the month.

Just got try and put a team out with as many round pegs in round holes.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

If Adama is still out along with Pod then surely why not give Corbeanu a chance, he's not a square peg in a round hole, he's a wide right forward and for me a better option then Silva and Gibbs White there. He's a kid but its his position..

 

[VanWolfie]

If Adama is still out along with Pod then surely why not give Corbeanu a chance, he's not a square peg in a round hole, he's a wide right forward and for me a better option then Silva and Gibbs White there. He's a kid but its his position..

And Corbeanu's a Canadian too, like Alphonso Davies, so he could play a blinder, who knows. We do need something exceptional, that's for sure.

 

[Del Woppio]

Silva needs a rest, and needs taking out of the firing line for a bit. Presuming Adama, Boly and Podence are out, I'd go:

Rui
Hoever - Coady - Saiss - RAN
Neves - Moutinho
Theo - Vitinha - Neto
Cutrone

 

[Johnny75]

That's a very weak right side there Del, about 2 senior games between them.

If Adama, Neto and Podence are out we have to go 3-5-2

Rui
Coady Saiss Kilman
Semedo Neves Donk RAN
MGW
Silva Cutrone
​

That's as bare bones as I've ever seen us.

 

[Del Woppio]

Yeah, it is tbf. I do want to see what young Theo can do, he certainly looks up to it physically, and I like the way he drives inside and he seems a pretty accomplished finisher. Hoever's young, but he's had a really good upbringing, and most reports talk of an in-game maturity that belies his age and level of experience, and he's looked good whenever he's on the pitch. It's possible that given the run we're on, we actually need a bit of 'good naivety' - a few lads that are young, brave and almost unsullied by the run we're on.

It's probably also bit of the fact I've written the season off, and the main benefit I see for the rest of the season is properly nailing that 4231, and seeing what the youngsters can do. I'm not expecting Hoever and Theo to start much, but I think the former is definitely a first team option - with competition that's underwhelming as well tbh.

 

[Haggstone]

Plus a bit of siege mentality that playing an in-experienced side creates, might help get us out of this run. I’m game.

 

[pacamac]

Don't really think a Black Country Derby is the right place to be seeing what these youngsters can do!

Save that shit for Chorley

 

[Paul]

Plus a bit of siege mentality that playing an in-experienced side creates, might help get us out of this run. I’m game.

So sorry Sir scan read your post and had to double take the last two words, thought you were revealing your innermost secret