Team for Bolton

[BensGrandad]

If everyone is fit this is currently our best side

I would agree but as it is away I think Rosenior will play as extra defensive cover instead of either Murphy or Lua Lua.

 

[Machiavelli]

Both Uwe and Baldock expected to be available for saturday. Who would you pick?

Stockdale

Bruno -Greer - Uwe -Bong

Murphy - Stephens -Kayal - LuaLua

Hemed -Baldock​

Subs: Maenpaa, Rosenior, Dunk, Crofts*, Ince, Manu, Zamora

*If fit, if not, Holla

As others have said, this is the best line-up, although it might be the case that you see Rosenoir for one of the wide players. Someone's going to have to miss out, but that's a good position to be in. The same applies to centre-back. At present, I just don't see how you can drop Greer or Uwe if both are fit. I do suspect that as the season progresses that won't be the case. It'd be great to see Uwe and Dunk playing together, but we're going to have to wait a while yet for that.
The other option for the bench would be Solly, possibly rejuvenated after scoring for the DS.

 

[severnside gull]

I would agree but as it is away I think Rosenior will play as extra defensive cover instead of either Murphy or Lua Lua.

Depending how CH wants to play it you either go for it from the start with Murphy then bring Rosenior on to replace him as he tires and we need to close things a bit, or you start with Rosenior and bring Murphy on as a sub to try to get something in the final quarter of the match.
He has shown himself capable of both options so it's going to be interesting which he opts for.

 

[neilbard]

I think it would be very harsh to change a defence that kept a clean sheet vs Wolves. I think the only change will be Baldock in for Rosenior

Although Wolves were poor an posed very little threat on our goal?

 

[NooBHA]

I think the team will be partly determined by what information his scouting team come back with on Bolton. I am a big fan of Murphy but I have seen quite a lot of Liam Feeney, who can be a great player on his day, so I think Rosenior may play ahead of Jamie Murphy

 

[Withdean11]

I'd go for roughly the same side that played at Ipswich, although I would start Ince instead of Rosenoir. (Not much difference, Ince for his height and Rosenoir cause he can get wide and put in a cross.)

Anyrate, CH at Ipswich replaced a winger with Rosenoir. In essence, I would use Ince instead of Rosenoir from the start instead of bringing him on later.

What on earth are you on about. Rosenior played as a winger at Ipswich. He got forward and put in crosses (part of his natural game). Ince could not play there. To play ince means only having one player on the wing as ince will look to sit more central and deeper.

So you are talking about completly changing the formation and shape of the team that has got us to the top of the league. Good idea.

It seems you are just desperate to get Ince in the team, has he become the new Buckley?

 

[Farehamseagull]

I actually really hope Zamora starts in place of Hemed.

I'm a Hemed fan but I think he's a very physical player and a rest every now and then will be needed. Also I really want to see what Zamora can do now when starting and think this is the sort of game that will suit him. I'd expect him to feature more in away games than home games anyway.

 

[GT49er]

I can see you really want to play Ince, how about putting him in goal instead of Stockdale?

Isn't it more that he really wants 4-3-3, and is just trying to turn 4-4-2 into his preferred format without anyone noticing?

 

[perseus]

What on earth are you on about. Rosenior played as a winger at Ipswich. He got forward and put in crosses (part of his natural game). Ince could not play there. To play ince means only having one player on the wing as ince will look to sit more central and deeper.

So you are talking about completly changing the formation and shape of the team that has got us to the top of the league. Good idea.

It seems you are just desperate to get Ince in the team, has he become the new Buckley?

Not the formation that got us to the top of the league. It is Lualua getting us eight points all on his own. Otherwise we would be mid-table. So it is all about pushing Lualua forward.

It is toss up between Rosenoir and Rohan Ince? I'd fancy our chances better with a ball along the ground to Lualua a fraction ahead of a cross to Hemed. Bobby Zamora is not fit enough to play.

With the current Albion players 4-4-2 (not 4-2-4) makes sense as Stephens and Kayal are the mainstay. Anyrate playing 4-4-2 away makes sense. It is just winning the games at home needs an extra player wide as in 4-3-3.

Q: who is our best crosser of the ball. To my mind Murphy, March and Lualua are not actually very good at crossing the ball. Baldock is just as good at crossing, if not better? Certainly a case for including Rosenoir for his crossing over Ince. Ince for his height, presence, tackling and passing (latter although right footed and telegraphed).

 

[Munkfish]

Not the formation that got us to the top of the league. It is Lualua getting us eight points all on his own. Otherwise we would be mid-table. So it is all about pushing Lualua forward.

It is toss up between Rosenoir and Rohan Ince? I'd fancy our chances better with a ball along the ground to Lualua a fraction ahead of a cross to Hemed. Bobby Zamora is not fit enough to play.

So when Dunk was top scorer last season, did you instantly think I know what lets play him out of position and stick him upfront as he can score goals?

 

[Withdean11]

Not the formation that got us to the top of the league. It is Lualua getting us eight points all on his own. Otherwise we would be mid-table. So it is all about pushing Lualua forward.

Do you not think that maybe LuaLua's form has anything to do with having another winger and another striker which give Kaz more time and space without being man marked by two or three players?

442 suits Kazenga LuaLua. Thankfully Chris Hughton has more sense than you.

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

I actually really hope Zamora starts in place of Hemed.

I'm a Hemed fan but I think he's a very physical player and a rest every now and then will be needed. Also I really want to see what Zamora can do now when starting and think this is the sort of game that will suit him. I'd expect him to feature more in away games than home games anyway.

He will have played 45 minutes football in 11 days.
Unless he is injured, does he really need a rest?

 

[perseus]

So when Dunk was top scorer last season, did you instantly think I know what lets play him out of position and stick him upfront as he can score goals?

Could play Dunk instead of Ince in midfield.

I am not the only one saying play Lualua more central WA says the same thing on the radio. For exactly the same reasons I say, because he can go both ways being two footed.

Taking Lualua was daft last match as he scored a last minute winner and he was most likely.

I don't think CH is into expansive total football. That's OK for the bread and butter Championship games but not for play-offs and winning against the better sides. Not that Bolton are one of the better sides.

For the record with the current team I think were better playing 4-4-2 with Kayal and Stephens as the lynch pins. I would as Plan A or Plan B (does not matter which) put Ince in behind them and push Stephens or Kayal (alternate) forward occasionally. Lualua (or Baldock) would then go wide to stretch their defence.

My thinking (like Hodgson) is a back four is sacrosant and the remaining six players can be arranged in any we want. 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 is not all that different. I would play a wide man (4-3-3) if we are chasing a goal, and bring the wide man back into midfield (4-4-2) if we are ahead and then play more possession football.

Rosenoir or Ince I don't really mind. Depends on the opposition and the score. Plan A or Plan B?

 

[perseus]

Opponents:

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/958831/Preview

I thought they had Zach somebody? Neil Danns is a bright spark. First noticed when he spotted Vicente's run vs Leicester. No matter he couldn't stop Vicente and got sent off. He was still alert.

And they've got Dobbie who was slow and unimpressive and could not head the ball for us.

 

[perseus]

I would agree but as it is away I think Rosenior will play as extra defensive cover instead of either Murphy or Lua Lua.

Sort of the way I saw it, but Ince is an alternative candidate. Depends how their keeper clears the ball. If he lofts it high in the centre of the field I would prefer Ince for his ball winning ability and height. Bolton are better than average aerially. Push Kayal or Stephens forward knowing Ince (or the more experienced Rosenoir) is behind them.

The other idea is to play the ball on the ground and not worry about the opposition. Let them worrry about us. Murphy then might be best, but I would like him on the bench for 66 minutes to bring a new dimension to the game if we need a goal.

Seems the consensus that the other/fourth midfielder is the place up for grabs.

Has anybody noticed how right-sided our midfield is? Solly March could even be even be in the reckoning for the position?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Opponents:

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/958831/Preview

I thought they had Zach somebody? Neil Danns is a bright spark. First noticed when he spotted Vicente's run vs Leicester. No matter he couldn't stop Vicente and got sent off. He was still alert.

And they've got Dobbie who was slow and unimpressive and could not head the ball for us.

Zat Knight, now at Reading.

Neil Danns plays guitar, he entertained with his long trudge off the Amex pitch after getting the red.

Dobbie will score, but we'll still win

 

[BensGrandad]

Sort of the way I saw it, but Ince is an alternative candidate. Depends how their keeper clears the ball. If he lofts it high in the centre of the field I would prefer Ince for his ball winning ability and height. Bolton are better than average aerially. Push Kayal or Stephens forward knowing Ince (or the more experienced Rosenoir) is behind them.

?

I would prefer pushing Rosenior forward and keep Kayal back and not consider Ince. and only use as a last resort if we are holding on.

 

[Bolton va va]

I can see you really want to play Ince, how about putting him in goal instead of Stockdale?

Bolton have lost Clough & Heskey from the freescoring, attacking force that has amassed an impressive 4 goals in the last 11 games.

You could put a plantpot in goal instead of Stockdale, & it's still unlikely that we'd score.

 

[symyjym]

Bolton have lost Clough & Heskey from the freescoring, attacking force that has amassed an impressive 4 goals in the last 11 games.

You could put a plantpot in goal instead of Stockdale, & it's still unlikely that we'd score.

Doesn't sound encouraging for you but I like your spirit

 

[perseus]

I would prefer pushing Rosenior forward and keep Kayal back and not consider Ince. and only use as a last resort if we are holding on.

As an opposing midfielder, I would not like to face Rohan Ince. He is big and strong and I might get injured.