[Albion] Fab's pre-Villa presser

[Bozza]

None of them hold or carry the all as well as Rutter.

And I really like home and think he'll come good but Gruda is really ponderous on the ball and runs into cul-de-sacs. He'll get there. Hopefully he can step up but it pretty far off Rutters level at the mo IMHO.

I think we'll go with Welbz and Pedro up top now. With Weiffer and O'Reilly coming on maybe later in the game to firm things up. I don't see how Enciso could play Rutters role without a complete change of tactics as he's more of an impact guy than someone who can hold the ball and bring others in like Rutter. Although I wouldn't mind having him round for something a bit different.

Hopefully someone will see this is an opening to take their chance.

Welbeck doesn't have 90 minutes in him each and every game, particularly when the games are only a few days apart as we have this week.

It's going to require some tactical/formation jiggery-pokery to get through from here.

 

[Oh_aye]

Welbeck doesn't have 90 minutes in him each and every game, particularly when the games are only a few days apart as we have this week.

It's going to require some tactical/formation jiggery-pokery to get through from here.

I'm gonna say it. I'd have gomes and Weiffer in midfield and play Baleba in the marauding 10.

CARNAGE

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Hmmm

important we don't lose to Palace.
Europe would be great, but the injuries have been excessive and will probably be too much of a hindrance this season.

 

[Milano]

Plus Hinsh and Pervis

I saw Veltman on Saturday walking down to the stadium, I didn't have the nerve to ask him when he's back but I thought I read he's meant to be quite close to returning to training. I also think I read recently that Ferdi has a chance to be back later this month?

 

[drew]

The cramp annoys me.
There is a simple prevention for cramp.
1500 mg of potassium supplement daily.

I was getting cramp every day before I started on the potassium.
Now I NEVER get cramp.
Never.

Out of interest, when was the last time you played 90 minutes in temperatures around about 28 degrees, hopped on a 9 hour flight back to blighty, trained, then played 120 minutes, all whilst fasting during the day?

 

[lost in london]

No great surprise.

Webster is the bigger loss here, it's a massive leap back in for Dunk after time off.

In midfield it's a real opportunity for Wieffer or O'Reilly come in and show us what they can do. I'm excited.

 

[chrisg]

We do have our new £12 million CB from Derby don’t forget. Signed him for this reason I presume

 

[Machiavelli]

Welbeck doesn't have 90 minutes in him each and every game, particularly when the games are only a few days apart as we have this week.

It's going to require some tactical/formation jiggery-pokery to get through from here.

Not sure we've got another two game week beyond this one. If we do, there's only one.

 

[BevBHA]

Big chance for Gruda to step up in the 10 now. I thought he was brilliant when he came on Saturday. I’d give him a run of games, he seemed to have that natural ability to find the pockets of space between their midfield and defence

 

[Mellotron]

I think we'll see Gomez step up over the next couple months - he's got quality.

 

[dazzer6666]

Real shame for them both as they’ve both done so well in recent weeks. Chance for others though…….perming various combos of Welbeck, Joao, Gruda, O’Riley, Adingra, Mitoma and Minteh (and possibly Gomez) into the front 3/4/5 doesn’t exactly put us in ‘bare bones’ territory yet.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Big chance for Gruda to step up in the 10 now. I thought he was brilliant when he came on Saturday. I’d give him a run of games, he seemed to have that natural ability to find the pockets of space between their midfield and defence

Brilliant is an overstatement. He found the space and then dithered and slowed down when he got the ball.

There's a player there and a good technical one but the natural beating of players I saw on his Mainz video highlights hasn't been seen against the better Premier League defenders so far.

However, your comment that it's a big chance is right - ultimately the only way he'll improve against Premier League players is to play against them.

 

[Milano]

I'm less worried about 'the 10' role (gutted for Rutter though) and more worried about our defensive options. I think we are down to the 'bare bones' in the back 4 now. Webster & Lamptey out for the season by the looks of it. We need a couple of Veltman, Igor & Ferdi back ASAP.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I think we'll see Gomez step up over the next couple months - he's got quality.

But does he have the fitness?

 

[Bozza]

I'm less worried about 'the 10' role (gutted for Rutter though) and more worried about our defensive options. I think we are down to the 'bare bones' in the back 4 now. Webster & Lamptey out for the season by the looks of it. We need a couple of Veltman, Igor & Ferdi back ASAP.

Veltman has to be close.

I have no inside info at all, but wouldn't be surprised to see him at least on the bench this week - Saturday if not tomorrow.

There was some sort of comment regarding Ferdi about the light at the end of the tunnel not getting any closer.

Igor has to be at least a few weeks away as he's only just started light training on grass again.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I'm less worried about 'the 10' role (gutted for Rutter though) and more worried about our defensive options. I think we are down to the 'bare bones' in the back 4 now. Webster & Lamptey out for the season by the looks of it. We need a couple of Veltman, Igor & Ferdi back ASAP.

Ferdi and Igor, you'd think that they've been out so long, that even if they were declared fit tomorrow, by the time they have their match fitness back and were able to contribute for 90 mins, the season would be nearly over. Veltman hasn't been out as long but you could still imagine he would need to be eased back

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

We do have our new £12 million CB from Derby don’t forget. Signed him for this reason I presume

Maybe he'll come good, but looks like an odd signing right now.

Probably 5th or maybe 6th choice centre back when everyone is fit and even in the midst of an injury crisis can't get a minute on the pitch

 

[trueblue]

Webster is the bigger loss here, it's a massive leap back in for Dunk after time off.

In midfield it's a real opportunity for Wieffer or O'Reilly come in and show us what they can do. I'm excited.

I wonder if it might be an opportunity to get Gomez into the team too. His vision, passing and ability to arrive late in the box suggests he would be a pretty decent number 10. A midfield of Baleba, Ayari and Gomez, with some freedom to pull the strings, could be very decent.

 

[Bozza]

Maybe he'll come good, but looks like an odd signing right now.

Probably 5th or maybe 6th choice centre back when everyone is fit and even in the midst of an injury crisis can't get a minute on the pitch

Barring an emergency this season that sees him called upon, I wouldn't be surprised if he was loaned out or even sold this summer if the club are able to get the defensive reinforcements they want.

Boscagli has to be a strong possibility to join this summer.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Losing Webster and Rutter is a blow. However the potential opportunities for Gomez, Gruda and Weiffer in the middle is pretty exciting. I'm sure Dunk will relish the chance to reclaim his place and lead the team when we most need it.