FA Cup Semi Final - Wembley

[William the White]

I'd play Rodders for sturridge and Robbo for Alonso that would be my changes. We look good with pace up top.

not earned a start so far... and didn't today...

Elmo and SKD up front, M Davies in midfield (if poss)... and robbo for alonso, you are right...

[2399]

Wanted to get Setanta for a few days to watch the match and it would be 16.99 plus 16.99 signup fee.
Bloody Rip off.

Found a place with setanta open till 5am so that is good.

http://www.setanta.com/au/Our-Venues/Venue-Finder/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Horza]

Wanted to get Setanta for a few days to watch the match and it would be 16.99 plus 16.99 signup fee.
Bloody Rip off.

Found a place with setanta open till 5am so that is good.

http://www.setanta.com/au/Our-Venues/Venue-Finder/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1am at the Townie. Oh yes.

[Hoboh]

I'd play Rodders for sturridge and Robbo for Alonso that would be my changes. We look good with pace up top.

not earned a start so far... and didn't today...

Elmo and SKD up front, M Davies in midfield (if poss)... and robbo for alonso, you are right...

Assuming Davies ain't 100% thats the way I'd play it William, we miss sturrridges pace and movement and look a tad ordinary upfront with the normal suspects. With Danny boy, Lee and Petrov we almost look redsox like when we break on the counter, dangerous! Stoke will eat our old long ball game all day long.

[enrdentw]

Not attempting to jinx things here but... when was the last time a team beat 4 top flight teams in consecutive rounds to get to the final of the cup?

[HMX]

Not attempting to jinx things here but... when was the last time a team beat 4 teams in consecutive rounds to get to the final of the cup?

They were Fulham and Wigan

[enrdentw]

Not attempting to jinx things here but... when was the last time a team beat 4 teams in consecutive rounds to get to the final of the cup?

They were Fulham and Wigan

Edit: I meant beating 4 consecutive top flight teams to get to the final..

[BWFC_Insane]

I'd play Rodders for sturridge and Robbo for Alonso that would be my changes. We look good with pace up top.

not earned a start so far... and didn't today...

Elmo and SKD up front, M Davies in midfield (if poss)... and robbo for alonso, you are right...

Assuming Davies ain't 100% thats the way I'd play it William, we miss sturrridges pace and movement and look a tad ordinary upfront with the normal suspects. With Danny boy, Lee and Petrov we almost look redsox like when we break on the counter, dangerous! Stoke will eat our old long ball game all day long.

Hoboh is right that Sturridge's pace makes a huge difference to our game. Its what we've been crying out for, for years real strength and pace up front to stretch teams in behind.

However, just sticking Rodrigo in there cos he is quick is not the right thing. Sturridge combines his pace with strength and fantastic ability. The big Stoke defenders would eat up young Rodrigo at Wembley, from the start at least. He might be good coming on out wide against tiring defenders but up the middle from the start? No chance!

[officer_dibble]

We need an ace in the hole of the bench...gots to be Klasnic...but thats dependent on Mark Davies isn't it!

[wanderers_on_tour]

im 90% sure rodrigo plays on his own as a centre forward for spain (under 19's??) so it could be a possibility were we to keep him next season..bit of a risk trying it out for the final like..

[LiOC]

I think it all depends on Mark Davies...
If he's fit then it's SuperKev and Elmo up front.
And if not?
Elmo was good in the centre today, if he plays there in the semi, who does that leave us with up front 90 mins of Klasnic? (looking like a risk as he doesn't seem to perform as well when he starts and we lose the impact of our substitutions) Or risking Rodrigo there for the first time?
I can't see Cohen or Gardner being put in midfield for such an important game for the first time either, which only leaves Elmander to play there.

[TANGODANCER]

I can't see Cohen or Gardner being put in midfield for such an important game for the first time either, which only leaves Elmander to play there.

Which, if he plays like he did yesterday might be no bad thing.

[LiOC]

I can't see Cohen or Gardner being put in midfield for such an important game for the first time either, which only leaves Elmander to play there.

Which, if he plays like he did yesterday might be no bad thing.

Agreed but I'm not too keen on starting klasnic really and we have noone else but rodrigo (or Blake )

[Lofthouse Lower]

I can't see Cohen or Gardner being put in midfield for such an important game for the first time either, which only leaves Elmander to play there.

Which, if he plays like he did yesterday might be no bad thing.

Stoke midfield >>>>>> West Ham midfield

[BWFC_Insane]

I can't see Cohen or Gardner being put in midfield for such an important game for the first time either, which only leaves Elmander to play there.

Which, if he plays like he did yesterday might be no bad thing.

Stoke midfield >>>>>> West Ham midfield

Indeed but that does not matter much in terms of our team selection. We're fairly limited. If Mark Davies ain't fit then Elmander will be in midfield no doubt.

[ChrisC]

We need our defence to step up to the mark on Sunday. We have to win the long balls to Stokes front men. IMO when we played West Ham at the weekend Carlton Cole made a difference for them second half winning knockdowns and showing strength around our back line which helped West Ham have more of the ball second half.

[Hoboh]

We need our defence to step up to the mark on Sunday. We have to win the long balls to Stokes front men. IMO when we played West Ham at the weekend Carlton Cole made a difference for them second half winning knockdowns and showing strength around our back line which helped West Ham have more of the ball second half.

Couldn't agree more, one of the reasons Robbo needs to play at the weekend instead of Alonso. The Wheater/Knight call can only be left to Coyle to sort out he knows who should be best for this game.
If the players cannot shape up for this one well............

[Hoboh]

Please don't move this thread I'm superstious about posting in the Wembley thread

[bristol_Wanderer3]

Stoke midfield >>>>>> West Ham midfield

I don't think it does personally.

Stoke's midfield yesterday consisted of Delap and Whelan. Parker, Noble and Hitzlesperger are infinitely more talented.

Stoke's strength is their size and strength both at the back and up front allied with Delap's throw ins and set pieces. I think our midfield will be fine no matter who plays. The key will be whether we can take our chances up front. Davies and Elmander score one for every ten misses.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Stoke midfield >>>>>> West Ham midfield

I don't think it does personally.

Stoke's midfield yesterday consisted of Delap and Whelan. Parker, Noble and Hitzlesperger are infinitely more talented.

Stoke's strength is their size and strength both at the back and up front allied with Delap's throw ins and set pieces. I think our midfield will be fine no matter who plays. The key will be whether we can take our chances up front. Davies and Elmander score one for every ten misses.

The crucial difference between Stoke and West Ham's midfield is not ability (West Ham are better by a fair margin) it's the will to win. In fact, that difference goes right through both sides.

We're still better than the pair of them, by the way.