Team v Brighton

[cliff jones]

it’ll be a battle in the mids where Sissoko will be needed, but probably the result will be decided on the wings.

Doherty for me, he stays on his feet against the dribbling of March- and Reggie will need to win his battle against Lamptey

Lucas gets the nod for me for his press and positioning, Lamela wanders too much and Bale just isn’t getting stuck in. Until he does itll Europa for him.

coys

 

[ralvy]

We know bale is an elite player so we need him fully fit which means playing him

But it also means not rushing him.

 

[Dirtysanchez6]

(4-3-3)
---------Lloris---------
Doherty Toby Dier Davies
Sissoko Hojbjerg NDombele
Lucas Kane Sonny
Subs: Hart Sanchez Reguilon Winks Aurier Lamela Lo Celso
COYS!

3 defenders and no bale on the bench ridiculous

 

[Bulletspur]

Seriously dreading to watch Lamptey running at our defence.

It should be an interesting battle between him and Reguilon

 

[Bulletspur]

The team I would like to see for this game taking into account the current fitness levels:

Lloris

Aurier ----- Toby ----- Dier ----- Reguilon

Holjbjerg ---- Lo Celso

Ndombele

Lamela ----- Kane ----- Son
​

SUBS: Hart Doherty Davies Sissoko Lucas Bale Vinicius

​

 

[onthetwo]

it’ll be a battle in the mids where Sissoko will be needed, but probably the result will be decided on the wings.

Doherty for me, he stays on his feet against the dribbling of March- and Reggie will need to win his battle against Lamptey

Lucas gets the nod for me for his press and positioning, Lamela wanders too much and Bale just isn’t getting stuck in. Until he does itll Europa for him.

coys

Totally agree re Doherty staying on his feet - Serge was clearly given the message to press high on Thursday but i got fed up watching him commit to challenges and losing, exposing Davisson in the process.

 

[onthetwo]

Hugo
Doherty Toby Dier Reggie
PEH GLC
*Bale Tanguy Sonny
Kane

Subs: Hart, Rodon, Davies, Sissoko, Lamela, Vinny, Lucas

Bale hasn’t earned his start but needs minutes with Kane and Sonny IMO.

 

[buckley]

A few on here have suggested that they will come and defend . From what I have seen the teams Potter put out play open attacking football and it is in the Potter DNA to play this way and I expect them to play that way . Disrespect them as we did with Antwerp and they will bury you . In short they play a fantastic brand of football IMO

 

[Shadydan]

I'm really not seeing what others are seeing in Bale for him to start a league match at the moment, can someone enlighten me please?

 

[TheTanguy]

A few on here have suggested that they will come and defend . From what I have seen the teams Potter put out play open attacking football and it is in the Potter DNA to play this way and I expect them to play that way . Disrespect them as we did with Antwerp and they will bury you . In short they play a fantastic brand of football IMO

I agree, it's a completely different Brighton than under Hughton; 3 at the back, attacking and pacey wing-backs (March and especially Lamptey), Bissouma is a good midfielder and a couple of creative like players like Trossard and Lallana and Maupay upfront can be a real handful on his day.

We need to be good and sharp from the start to win this one.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I'm really not seeing what others are seeing in Bale for him to start a league match at the moment, can someone enlighten me please?

I think it’s more of a case of neither of Lucas or Bergwijn overly deserving to play either and Lamela not being trusted to produce consistently, fairly or otherwise. Add to the fact that we’ve seen top players play their way into form from a poor fitness starting point constantly, with Kane being the most notable example, and there’sa supposition that Bale should be allowed to do the same.

I’m not overly certain what my opinion is, but I do agree with the notion that while he may not deserve the start per se, it wouldn’t be overly unfair to his competition for the place if he did.

I’m more surprised at the inclusions of Lo Celso, who looked just as unfit and just as off it as Bale the other night.

Most of the team picks itself. Lloris, Dier, Alderweireid, Højbjerg, Ndombele, Son and Kane will all start fitness permitting. The full backs, third midfielder and third attacker, theres no task wrong answer for any of those positions in my opinion.

 

[Shadydan]

I think it’s more of a case of neither of Lucas or Bergwijn overly deserving to play either and Lamela not being trusted to produce consistently, fairly or otherwise. Add to the fact that we’ve seen top players play their way into form from a poor fitness starting point constantly, with Kane being the most notable example, and there’sa supposition that Bale should be allowed to do the same.

I’m not overly certain what my opinion is, but I do agree with the notion that while he may not deserve the start per se, it wouldn’t be overly unfair to his competition for the place if he did.

I’m more surprised at the inclusions of Lo Celso, who looked just as unfit and just as off it as Bale the other night.

Most of the team picks itself. Lloris, Dier, Alderweireid, Højbjerg, Ndombele, Son and Kane will all start fitness permitting. The full backs, third midfielder and third attacker, theres no task wrong answer for any of those positions in my opinion.

Yeah I understand this but what exactly is Bale bringing to the table at this moment apart from his reputation, he is just nowhere near fit enough, he's not explosive like he used to be, he's hardly running, he's not really covering or pressing from the front. He's a nothing player o n the pitch at the moment, at least with the others you're guaranteed some return, Lamela and Lucas will put in a shift defensively at the very least.

 

[littlemandefoe]

Yeah I understand this but what exactly is Bale bringing to the table at this moment apart from his reputation, he is just nowhere near fit enough, he's not explosive like he used to be, he's hardly running, he's not really covering or pressing from the front. He's a nothing player o n the pitch at the moment, at least with the others you're guaranteed some return, Lamela and Lucas will put in a shift defensively at the very least.

Agree 100%!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Yeah I understand this but what exactly is Bale bringing to the table at this moment apart from his reputation, he is just nowhere near fit enough, he's not explosive like he used to be, he's hardly running, he's not really covering or pressing from the front. He's a nothing player o n the pitch at the moment, at least with the others you're guaranteed some return, Lamela and Lucas will put in a shift defensively at the very least.

I can’t disagree with any of that, so don’t take my response as being so much an argument as it is supposition. I imagine that the potential reward for allowing Bale to play his way through this poor period, while developing rhythm and relationship with our best players (and remember how much football is played in players heads, only needs one unmissable chance put on a plate for him and suddenly he’ll look like a superstar again with that monkey off his back) can be seen as off setting the drawback of having a player on bad form starting a key fixture. The hope would be that our strength across the pitch and the form of Kane/Son means we’d still win.

Like I said, I’m hardly married to the idea of Bale starting, but equally I’d see the reasoning from Mourinho’s point of view if he did. To my mind, any of Aurier/ Doherty, Reguilón/ Davies, Lo Celso/ Sissoko and Bale/Lucas/Lamela starting would be justifiable. Correct? Well that always depends on the result I guess.

 

[Japhet]

Yeah I understand this but what exactly is Bale bringing to the table at this moment apart from his reputation, he is just nowhere near fit enough, he's not explosive like he used to be, he's hardly running, he's not really covering or pressing from the front. He's a nothing player o n the pitch at the moment, at least with the others you're guaranteed some return, Lamela and Lucas will put in a shift defensively at the very least.

He looks like he's lacking general fitness right now, let alone match fitness. He was either unfit or lazy v Antwerp.

 

[Shadydan]

I can’t disagree with any of that, so don’t take my response as being so much an argument as it is supposition. I imagine that the potential reward for allowing Bale to play his way through this poor period, while developing rhythm and relationship with our best players (and remember how much football is played in players heads, only needs one unmissable chance put on a plate for him and suddenly he’ll look like a superstar again with that monkey off his back) can be seen as off setting the drawback of having a player on bad form starting a key fixture. The hope would be that our strength across the pitch and the form of Kane/Son means we’d still win.

Like I said, I’m hardly married to the idea of Bale starting, but equally I’d see the reasoning from Mourinho’s point of view if he did. To my mind, any of Aurier/ Doherty, Reguilón/ Davies, Lo Celso/ Sissoko and Bale/Lucas/Lamela starting would be justifiable. Correct? Well that always depends on the result I guess.

I don't even think he's in bad form, he just isn't fit, I'd prefer him to just play the cup matches for now - it might take a couple of months but that's where I see him atm.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I don't even think he's in bad form, he just isn't fit, I'd prefer him to just play the cup matches for now - it might take a couple of months but that's where I see him atm.

I think this is the most rational approach, and definitely the one I’d take, but that said if Bale does play, gets 60/70 minutes in his legs, and makes 4/5 meaningless contributions v Brighton then so long as we win it’d have been the right choice as it’d have accelerated the progression.

Personally I expect that other than maybe a cameo if we’re comfortable, we won’t see Bale until next Thursday.

 

[cliff jones]

I can see no justification for Davies to start, game defining error v Antwerp and pace needed v Lamptey

 

[Timberwolf]

Expect to see:

Lloris
Doherty Toby Dier Reg
Hojbjerg Sissoko
Ndombele
Lucas Kane Son​

Would like to see:

Lloris
Aurier Toby Rodon Reg
Hojbjerg Lo Celso
Ndombele
Lamela Kane Son​

 

[Mr Pink]

A few on here have suggested that they will come and defend . From what I have seen the teams Potter put out play open attacking football and it is in the Potter DNA to play this way and I expect them to play that way . Disrespect them as we did with Antwerp and they will bury you . In short they play a fantastic brand of football IMO

I expect something similar to the Everton/Brighton game.

We'll outgun them.