Wanderers v Swans

[Wandering Willy]

No way you have any pies left after so long. They went the first day didn't they?

[EverSoYouri]

I'd be more confident if we had some kind of replacement for Muamba to give us greater ball-winning clout in midfield. When OC plays 4-5-1 using Pratley and Mavies, Pratters canters all over the pitch never quite reaching the ball and Mavies reverts to his Greta Garbo impression ('I vant to be alone!'), hitting first time passes back to defenders, and then hiding as close to his marker as he can get. I really wouldn't mind seeing a defender in that position (alongside Reo-Coker) - doesn't have to be a great ball player (thank God!) just a competent ball winner. That could be Zat Knight or even (since he can win a tackle and pass a ball even if he can't cope with an ageing Blackburn reject) Alonso.

[LiOC]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

[Bruce Rioja]

doesn't have to be a great ball player (thank God!) just a competent ball winner. That could be Zat Knight

Well he meets the first part of the criteria, I suppose.

[Worthy4England]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

I think we tried him as right mid for a game or two (not sure he hasn't played there for Iceland). Don't recall it being particularly auspicious.

[Gail Platz]

Since when has Zat Knight ever been able to pass a ball? He usually just lumps it forward or if it's in the air he just sees how far he can head it.

[LiOC]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

I think we tried him as right mid for a game or two (not sure he hasn't played there for Iceland). Don't recall it being particularly auspicious.

I think we did actually. Still, if we're looking at defenders that could possibly at a push play there, he's certainly before Knight and Alonso. Then again I'd probably play Jussi there before Knight.

[EverSoYouri]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

Ream, Ricketts or Steinsson might make better sense except for the fact that we kinda need them in defence. Is Riley fit? Anybody know anything about Josh Vela?

My point about Knight is he's an athlete, and, like Campo, stick him as a midfield stopper and you won't have to worry so much about his gaffes. Of course, unlike Campo, he can't drop a forty yard pass on a peseto.

[Bruce Rioja]

Since when has Zat Knight ever been able to pass a ball?

Since when has anyone claimed that he can?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

Ream, Ricketts or Steinsson might make better sense except for the fact that we kinda need them in defence. Is Riley fit? Anybody know anything about Josh Vela?

My point about Knight is he's an athlete, and, like Campo, stick him as a midfield stopper and you won't have to worry so much about his gaffes. Of course, unlike Campo, he can't drop a forty yard pass on a peseto.

What is a peseto?

[officer_dibble]

Zat Knight in centre mid.

Ker-fukin-ching.

You win. Most amazing post of all time.

[officer_dibble]

Now I've wiped away my tears of laughter, I'll try and type something seriously.

Not that there is anything to add. It's as big as it gets, until the next match. Must win.

Crucial we are up for it...crucial we hassle, harry, fight for every ball. Crucial we are awake...team pretty much picks itself except the non goalscoring centre forward role. We have to hammer them on set pieces for that reason...get Eagles and Petrov and Myachi practicing those set pieces over and over...we have to conjour a couple of goals up from somewhere...Mark Davies, Darren Pratley...step up to the plate chaps.

[DJBlu]

Play through the middle and stop Dyer and Sinclair, simple.

[Jez]

lets play pratley in centre mid because hes a centre mid

[Worthy4England]

Play through the middle and stop Dyer and Sinclair, simple.

One thing the Piechuckers did really well at the Emirates was close down, harry and not let Arsenal settle on the ball. They did this for 95 minutes like their Premiership lives depended on it.

I would expect us to be doing the same at weekend.

[DJBlu]

P.S Get Eagles on too, Pratley, him, Petrov and Ricketts to have a few shots from outside the area. I think it was 2 goals QPR scored against Swansea from outside the area.

All to the left of Vorm too. Not that it matters.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

Ream, Ricketts or Steinsson might make better sense except for the fact that we kinda need them in defence. Is Riley fit? Anybody know anything about Josh Vela?

My point about Knight is he's an athlete, and, like Campo, stick him as a midfield stopper and you won't have to worry so much about his gaffes. Of course, unlike Campo, he can't drop a forty yard pass on a peseto.

What is a peseto?

The peseto is what he was taking with the Zat Knight gag.Ricketts has to play LB,infact the back 4 has to stay the same to avoid bringing in players who weaken it drasticly. I can see Alonso managing a midfield job though I'm trying to remember if he has ever tackled. In his favour are a number of things; he's spanish. he looks dozy, he cant jump, he has no pace and he's disasterprone in a back 4 position . Now who does that remind you of?

[LiOC]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

Ream, Ricketts or Steinsson might make better sense except for the fact that we kinda need them in defence. Is Riley fit? Anybody know anything about Josh Vela?

My point about Knight is he's an athlete, and, like Campo, stick him as a midfield stopper and you won't have to worry so much about his gaffes. Of course, unlike Campo, he can't drop a forty yard pass on a peseto.

An athlete? He's a joke, that is about it. He'll miss the same tackles, look as if he can't be bothered and he'll be expected to move around the pitch more.

Riley played for the reserves tonight so he's fit. We have Riley, Boyata and Alonso to fill that defensive gap for one of the others. But I'm not suggesting we play them there, just that they are a better option than Knight there. Knight is an incompetent defender, he won't make a more competent midfielder. Best leaving Pratley in for me, at least he has some notion of what a central midfielder should do. Reo-Coker in a defensive role, Pratley with him and Mark Davies playing attacking mid. Best let our players do what they are best at, and Pratley can at least run around a lot.

[TANGODANCER]

If we ever play Zat Knight again, just stick him on the goal-line with the keeper. It'll dispense with offsides but he might get in the way of a shot or two.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Zat Knight in Centre Mid?!?! At least Ream in centre mid kind of made sense. If we HAVE to play a defender there it should be Ream or Ricketts. Steinsson at a push.

Ream, Ricketts or Steinsson might make better sense except for the fact that we kinda need them in defence. Is Riley fit? Anybody know anything about Josh Vela?

My point about Knight is he's an athlete, and, like Campo, stick him as a midfield stopper and you won't have to worry so much about his gaffes. Of course, unlike Campo, he can't drop a forty yard pass on a peseto.

An athlete? He's a joke, that is about it. He'll miss the same tackles, look as if he can't be bothered and he'll be expected to move around the pitch more.

Riley played for the reserves tonight so he's fit. We have Riley, Boyata and Alonso to fill that defensive gap for one of the others. But I'm not suggesting we play them there, just that they are a better option than Knight there. Knight is an incompetent defender, he won't make a more competent midfielder. Best leaving Pratley in for me, at least he has some notion of what a central midfielder should do. Reo-Coker in a defensive role, Pratley with him and Mark Davies playing attacking mid. Best let our players do what they are best at, and Pratley can at least run around a lot.

Im pretty sure thats what we'll get. For all his limitations PRATLEY AT LEAST SEEMS TO GET IN A GOALSCORING POSITION A COUPLE OF TIMES A GAME AND IS WILLING TO HAVE A GO. Not shouting just hit capslock and cant be arsed to retype.

Given how goalshy the rest are you can see why coyle may feel he has to pick him.There isnt a Moo replacement just a selection of fullbacks incapable of holding down a place in their natural position.Ricketts is a reasonable midfield shout but who can be trusted at LB?