I doubt James is ready to start yet. Félix and Dewsbury-Hall are not serious footballers; I don't want them anywhere near the pitch. If Gusto isn't available I'd like to see Acheampong in the putative right-back spot. We need Cucurella supporting the midfield centrally rather than putting him out wide in possession so I would start Sancho. If Lavia is fit I'd like him to start, if not I'd keep Caicedo and Enzo in place. Madueke should start over Neto; we're not winning any headers against a back three and we need the goalscoring threat.

 

Sánchez

Gusto/Acheampong
Adarabioyo
Colwill
Cucurella

Caicedo
Fernández/Lavia

Madueke
Palmer
Sancho

Jackson

 

Bench: Jörgensen, James, Acheampong/Gusto, Disasi, Lavia/Fernández, Nkunku, Neto

Is it too soon to bring in Anselmino for this one?

Got a feeling we've brought him here early as a reaction to how badly we've missed Fofana.

from what ive seen of Acheampong, his passing is poor, he can defend, can he play CB? if so he should play alongside Colwill, Jorgensen should keep his place, neither goal at Ipswich was his fault, IT WASN'T A PENALTY..

                             JORGENSEN

JAMES ACHEAMPONG COLWILL CUCURELLA

                           LAVIA CAICEDO

PALMER                    ENZO                  NETO

                                   GUIU

 

But whoever plays Maresca needs to tell the players (the two CB's in particular) to stop pissing around waiting for the opposition to get all their players behind the ball and move it quicker and FORWARD

 

15 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Long may won't it last.

Fixed that for you.

I think Maresca will go back to his usual version of our "best" XI for this one, with Tosin continuing to deputise for Fofana.

                         Sanchez

Gusto   Adarabioyo  Colwill  Cucurella

                  Caicedo   Fernandez

Neto                     Palmer               Sancho

                            Jackson

James, Lavia probably both on the bench (assuming both fit enough)

Subs: Jorgensen, James, Disasi, Veiga, Lavia, Madueke, Felix, Nkunku, Guiu

 

The game will hinge on what he does tactically with Gusto and Cucurella. If he persists in using them as "forwards" then I fear we'll get turned over again unfortunately.

 

Fofana out for the season? We need a new CB desperately in January.

3 hours ago, Argo said:

Is it too soon to bring in Anselmino for this one?

Got a feeling we've brought him here early as a reaction to how badly we've missed Fofana.

I don't think he has been brought bavk early.  Was he not always due to return in January?

Either way he has been out for a while with hamstring injury.  Not sure if he is now fit or not but I wouldn't expect to see him much this season if at all.

30 minutes ago, dan_cfc said:

Fofana out for the season? We need a new CB desperately in January.

That should be the end for him. What's that now, 3 seasons where he has missed most of them through injury?

41 minutes ago, loz said:

I don't think he has been brought bavk early.  Was he not always due to return in January?

Either way he has been out for a while with hamstring injury.  Not sure if he is now fit or not but I wouldn't expect to see him much this season if at all.

Maresca said they are going to have him work with the team and then they'll make a decision. 

Lavia is always very close. 

Getting fed up with these players honestly. 

53 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Lavia is always very close. 

Getting fed up with these players honestly. 

Some players can go through season after season and miss minimal game time, others miss lots, then there is the Wilkshire and Fofana category.

Need to stay away from signing injury prone players, no matter how good they are when fit.

51 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Lavia is always very close. 

Getting fed up with these players honestly. 

Yep, it's the training methods by Poch that get these players injured and out of the team remember! It has nothing to do with the elite medical staff that spent years there and were sacked on a whim!

Anyone listen to Glasner's presser?

Sounds like another manager who's figured us out to a tee. Expecting another frustrating performance. 

47 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Anyone listen to Glasner's presser?

Sounds like another manager who's figured us out to a tee. Expecting another frustrating performance. 

13 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Leicester fans said Maresca is inflexible too. 

Ok if No Lavia and no KDH then play Veiga and Casadei as the 2 pivot players, or maybe Sak Rak-Sakyi.

F it, Caicedo and Enzo need a rest and is not like them playing on empty has kept us on a winning run.

Short term pain for hopeful long term gain

30 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Wouldn’t worry about this. You don’t need a coaching badge to be able to identify things like this. 
 

Every manager in the league can tell you exactly how Pool will play but not many will be able to stop it.

7 hours ago, Argo said:

Is it too soon to bring in Anselmino for this one?

Got a feeling we've brought him here early as a reaction to how badly we've missed Fofana.

yes

I think he just arrived in London.

I am not even sure the guy has a work permit yet

3 hours ago, Ledgerson said:

I think he just arrived in London.

I am not even sure the guy has a work permit yet

Normally need to be a full international for it to go through quick. Meresca stated needs to get a house settle in new country /culture and get used to the squad, so don’t think it will be for a while.

Expecting the worst for this one unfortunately. I’m saying a 0-2 pathetic defeat followed by a forum meltdown. 

4 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Expecting the worst for this one unfortunately. I’m saying a 0-2 pathetic defeat followed by a forum meltdown. 

Ah come on predicting a forum meltdown after we lose is like predicting "that puddle of water is going to be wet", "that flame is hot to touch" or Jim to mass quote posters bashing Nico.

 

7 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Ah come on predicting a forum meltdown after we lose is like predicting "that puddle of water is going to be wet", "that flame is hot to touch" or Jim to mass quote posters bashing Nico.

Well, even when it is 1-3, water will still be wet in here. It's not the winning, it's the way of winning and the players that played which are  apparently always so wrong, but that makes me wonder why we are still in the shower when we do it differently with the right players, and lose.................?

8 hours ago, loz said:

I don't think he has been brought bavk early.  Was he not always due to return in January?

Either way he has been out for a while with hamstring injury.  Not sure if he is now fit or not but I wouldn't expect to see him much this season if at all.

It was supposed to be in the summer, but apparently we have paid an extra million for him to join us 6 months earlier.

He's already had three injuries in his career, and is barely 19 ... so I am not expecting much sadly ... assuming he even gets a work permit !