Team for Bolton...

[Mr Pink]

No idea if Lennon will be fit but we need to get back to winning ways, and quick (Stevenage was hardly convincing). Strong team selection with Modric back in the centre and Bale on the left. I would be tempted to play Gallas along side King, the former needs game time and the latter won't feature against Stoke but should then be ready for Chelsea. Kaboul in the side for Stoke along with a fitter Gallas, and then Kaboul and king back in for Chelsea.

I'll assume Lennon is out, so I would just go for Niko from the right. Do we play two upfront or put VDV in the hole? He definitely needs game time but you would expect Harry to start Defoe for this one given that we have 3 games in seven days.

Hopefully Lennon will be back for the Stoke game, and I would be tempted to play VDV off Adebayor for that one. Keep Parker for that one as well, we need him to be well up for the Stoke game.

My team anyway:

Friedel

Walker
Gallas
King
Ekotto

Kranjcar
Sandro
Modric
Bale

Saha
Defoe

I think that's a strong looking side but will also allow us to make some changes for the Stoke game which is simply massive; lining up like this: (A fesh spine of Kaboul, Parker, VDV and Adebayor coming into the team, and hopefully Lennon)

Friedel

Walker
Gallas
Kaboul
Ekotto

Lennon
Parker
Modric
Bale

VDV

Adebayor


I know its pretty pointless trying to speculate on the exact line ups without injury news etc but I hope Harry intends to use the squad wisely over this busy period.

It might be asking a bit much of Gallas to play two games in four days (its very unlikely), but we need him fit as soon as possible. His experience and will to win could be hugely significant for us.

Some of them will probably have to play all three games...Bale, Modric, Walker, Ekotto etc but if we can use the rest of the squad sensibly it could give us a good chance of having a much better week. You would expect VDV and Adebayor to play against Chelsea as well.

I just don't think we can afford to play the likes of Rose against Bolton, we need to win. If we could have the game wrapped up ( I know, I shouldn't be counting chickens with the form we are in!) with half an hour to spare we could haul off the likes of Bale, Modric etc.

I guess no matter the line up, we need to see a much bigger collective effort in these crunch games coming up.

A bit pointless trying to second guess everything when you can't account for so many things, but I'm bored shitless tonight :wink:

 

[Kingellesar]

Cudicini

Walker
King
Kaboul
Ekotto

Parker
Modric

Lennon/Kranjcar
VdV/Kranjcar
Bale

Adebayor

Back to how we should be playing and back to everyone in their normal positions. We can't afford to lose yet another game, plus a trip to Wembley could be the boost the team needs. Now, let's all get behind this team and hope we can get our season back on track

 

[Spurger King]

Strongest team possible. Resting players for Prem games obviously isn't making any fucking difference.

 

[carpediem991]

I have not the LPs I would need to go to the Wembley, but I want to fly to London and go there and want to see my Spurs in this fn stadium!

So...strongest line up for me, with Van der Vaart and Adebayor as our strikers

 

[shaqTHFC]

No idea if Lennon will be fit but we need to get back to winning ways, and quick (Stevenage was hardly convincing). Strong team selection with Modric back in the centre and Bale on the left. I would be tempted to play Gallas along side King, the former needs game time and the latter won't feature against Stoke but should then be ready for Chelsea. Kaboul in the side for Stoke along with a fitter Gallas, and then Kaboul and king back in for Chelsea.

I'll assume Lennon is out, so I would just go for Niko from the right. Do we play two upfront or put VDV in the hole? He definitely needs game time but you would expect Harry to start Defoe for this one given that we have 3 games in seven days.

Hopefully Lennon will be back for the Stoke game, and I would be tempted to play VDV off Adebayor for that one. Keep Parker for that one as well, we need him to be well up for the Stoke game.

My team anyway:

Friedel

Walker
Gallas
King
Ekotto

Kranjcar
Sandro
Modric
Bale

Saha
Defoe

I think that's a strong looking side but will also allow us to make some changes for the Stoke game which is simply massive; lining up like this: (A fesh spine of Kaboul, Parker, VDV and Adebayor coming into the team, and hopefully Lennon)

Friedel

Walker
Gallas
Kaboul
Ekotto

Lennon
Parker
Modric
Bale

VDV

Adebayor


I know its pretty pointless trying to speculate on the exact line ups without injury news etc but I hope Harry intends to use the squad wisely over this busy period.

It might be asking a bit much of Gallas to play two games in four days (its very unlikely), but we need him fit as soon as possible. His experience and will to win could be hugely significant for us.

Some of them will probably have to play all three games...Bale, Modric, Walker, Ekotto etc but if we can use the rest of the squad sensibly it could give us a good chance of having a much better week. You would expect VDV and Adebayor to play against Chelsea as well.

I just don't think we can afford to play the likes of Rose against Bolton, we need to win. If we could have the game wrapped up ( I know, I shouldn't be counting chickens with the form we are in!) with half an hour to spare we could haul off the likes of Bale, Modric etc.

I guess no matter the line up, we need to see a much bigger collective effort in these crunch games coming up.

A bit pointless trying to second guess everything when you can't account for so many things, but I'm bored shitless tonight :wink:

Pretty much agree with all of this although as you said there are a lot of things we can't account for and lots of factors to consider:

If King plays against Stoke, whats the chances of him playing against Chelsea, because I'd rather him play against Stoke than Bolton?

Think I agree with everything else, although the point about VDV game time is important imo, but then would he be able to start all 3 games?

Perhaps Saha deserves to start over Ade against Stoke, Ade has been quite poor for a long time (bar Newcastle) and his touch and offsides really irritate me. Although, is the risk of a new partnership (Saha and VDV), in what is potentially the most important game of the season so far, too great?

 

[AngerManagement]

I agree play the strongest team possible

We need a win, we need the confidence of a big/good win, and we need the players who will be playing against Stoke and Chelsea to be apart of that win and to directly benefit from any confidence it generates.

I think the potential benefit psychologically that a good win in a cup quarter final can give to our first team outweighs what an extra 5 days rest before the Stoke game will do for them baring in my that whoever doesn't play will be going into the game on the back of 3 straight defeats (and at best a poor laboured victory over Stevenage)

 

[Mr Pink]

Strongest team possible. Resting players for Prem games obviously isn't making any fucking difference.

Yes but its not like we are playing 3 games in seven days regularly. I think we need a better collective effort no matter who is picked, but I still think Harry should consider using the squad in the best possible way given that we do have three games in close proximity.

Not many people would of picked the line up for the Newcastle game if all were fit...yet we battered them.

 

[seanwhite1961]

Cudicini

Walker
Gallas
Kaboul
Ekotto

Parker
Modric
VdV
Bale

Defoe
Saha

 

[Blake Griffin]

cuddles

walker
kaboul
king
rose

kranjcar
sandro
modric
bale

defoe
saha

subs friedel, gallas, ekotto, parker, van der vaart, adebayor

 

[Yid121]

Tickets still available for this one btw

I would go for:

Cudicini

Livermore
Kaboul
Nielson
Rose

GDS
Modric
Sandro
Kranjcar

VDV

Defoe

Subs:
Friedel Gallas BAE Parker Bale Saha Ade.


We have 3 games in a week so I'd rest as many players as possible as I think we can get away with it!

 

[Spursh]

Friedel

Walker
Kaboul
Gallas
BAE

Sandro
Modric
Parker
Bale

VDV

Saha

 

[Kendall]

Cudicini

Walker Kaboul Gallas Assou-Ekotto

Giovani Sandro Modric Bale

Saha Defoe​

 

[bubble07]

I would expect Bolton to play a very weekend team. They have two huge games against villa and Blackburn so we could get away with resting 2 or 3 for this one

Think King might be ok for Stoke then Chelsea. He has played 2 games in 4 days before so I would rest him for this one

Cudicini
Walker Gallas Kaboul Rose
Kranjcar Sandro Modric Bale
Van Der Vaart
Saha

Then bring in Friedel King Assou-Ekotto Lennon Parker Adebayor (but if Saha performs then he should start against Stoke) who should all be on the bench along with Defoe

Only Lennon and Dawson are out so we are looking good injury wise.

 

[ravo]

I posted this is another thread

Cudicini
Walker - Nelsen - Gallas/King - Rose
GDS - Sandro - Livermore - Kranjcar
Ade - Defoe​

The reason for this, esp. GDS, is that the FA Cup is not important for us right now. NOTHING is more important for the future of this club than the CL.

Bale, Parker, Modric, BAE all need a break...

 

[EastLondonYid]

I want us to take the cup seriously, but i don't think we should be risking players who are not 100%,so i wouldn't risk Azza,Ledley i would play and then save him for the Chelsea game.I think Niko is fine for this type of game playing on the right, i just wouldn't play him there against the top sides.
...............................brad................................

Kyle...............Kaboul.............ledders............Ben...

niko.....................luka.........parker.............bale


.......................vdv.......saha.............

 

[felmani26]

Seriously, why is GDS even getting a look in at this stage of the season - absolutely baffling!

Should be our strongest side available and players in their preferred positions. These two games should hopefully represent a great chance in picking ourselves up and restoring confidence in the lads whilst at the same time we could be ending up being 4 points clear of Arsenal again and in the semi's of the FA CUP - how much better will our prospects look then?!

As for the team, personnel picks itself and it's merely the system we choose to adopt.

Friedel

Walker Kaboul King BAE

Sandro Parker Modric

VdV Saha Bale

I can see why Mr Pink has put in Kranjcar and Defoe but i still think we should try and get back into the system of 433 and try to get the feel-good atmosphere back at the Lane and push on for the final stretch.

 

[talkshowhost86]

You know we've hit a bad patch of form when you start seeing GDS pop up in people's team selections.

Having said that, I think we should rest players for the Bolton game where possible as the FA Cup has to be our second priority. Hard to know exactly what XI that would mean without knowing any injury news, but I'd say the likes of VdV, Bale and Modric should be rested if possible (harder with Modric as we don't have anyone to replace him).

I doubt Bolton will be at full strength and in any case we should be able to beat them with a few backup players in the team.

If we played a bunch of reserves and lost I'd be happy as long as we got 4 points from the Chelsea and Stoke games.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

If we are going to go back to putting players in their right positions then we must not play 4-4-2. Our strength is in midfield so that means 1 up top with an attacking midfield supporting.

For Bolton I would go 4-2-3-1/4-3-3

FRIEDEL

WALKER
KABOUL
KING
BAE

SANDRO
PARKER

BALE
MODRIC
VDV

ADEBAYOR

 

[MightyModric]

Would like to see Bale on the LEFT and GDS on the right. Put some pace into the team with GDS and see how it works. Livermore and Modric in the middle. VDV and Saha up top. Keep Sandro on the bench so he's fresh for Stoke on Wednesday.

 

[jimbo]

If we played a bunch of reserves and lost I'd be happy as long as we got 4 points from the Chelsea and Stoke games.

Does that mean if we win I can have your ticket?