Posted February 21, 200816 yr Alot of papers this morning claim that Avi is tinkering with the idea of leaving JT and Lamps out for the final? Surely this would be madness? I believe that Avram HAS to win this one, to show us why he should stay as boss. If we lose, with these two having warmed the bench for the most part, then he can have no complaints about his own undoing. Pick your strongest line up Avi! Can you imagine Jose leaving these two out?
February 21, 200816 yr I would bet my two front teeth that they will both start on Sunday, thats the reason they were left out Tuesday.
February 21, 200816 yr Author http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...779&ito=newsnow http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle3406168.ece http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...nch-784987.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...ncarling221.xml
February 21, 200816 yr Y'don't think one newspaper (i.e. The Mail) has printed this article, and others have followed? Next it'll be on Sky etc... Unless there's quotes I wouldn't bother. There doesn't even seem to be a mention of insider, they have gone from lazy to pointless.
February 21, 200816 yr The decision is one that needs to be considered, the players that replaced them have done well over a long period, but I don't expect Avi (as I'll call him if we win) to take long to make a decision. Once he's made it why should he tell the press?
February 21, 200816 yr Author As Dorset has already pointed out in another topic, there is a very slim line between success and failure. Both Terry & Lampard are fit, and ready to go. You dont rotate for a final. You play your best team available. If we lose as a result of his tinkering, then in my opinion, he will have to go. I hope he does the right thing, and more importantly, get's the right result. (If he rests the two, and we win handsomely, then i will give him all the praise he deserves).
February 21, 200816 yr Elliott make your mind up do you not rotate or do you play your best team, because to not rotate means playing Alex at the back???
February 21, 200816 yr Author Elliott make your mind up do you not rotate or do you play your best team, because to not rotate means playing Alex at the back??? Since when was he better than Terry? That's my point!
February 21, 200816 yr Alex has been a very capable replacement, no doubt, and I will be the first to acknowledge how pleased I have been with his performances these past several months. He certainly is technically leaps and bounds ahead of TBH and Boulahrouz, and miles ahead of Huth, and also much better in that role than Essien was when he stop-gapped the position due to injury. However -- It would be madness beyond belief not to start Terry. If you don't start Terry, even if he's only at 75% but willing to play, then you might as well not even have a captain's armband anymore. Seriously. What's the point of having an inspirational leader to look to, someone to marshal the players when things are going badly, someone to answer to, someone to aspire to? I feel calm and confident watching Alex back there, knowing he's doing his job just fine and won't make a mistake. I feel inspired and energized watching Terry back there, knowing he's making those around him better. As for Lampard -- that's a tougher call, because I love the guy, but at times he's disappeared for us over the past few seasons. I would understand if Grant decided to start Ballack in his place. I would disagree with the decision because of my own personal feelings that Lampard is an important part of our team who should be out there on Sunday, but I would support the decision.
February 21, 200816 yr Elliott the point I was making is that Alex has been playing and Terry hasn't, so to play Terry is to rotate the squad. I totally agree that Terry is better and I'd pick him every time, specially in a game like this.
February 21, 200816 yr Author Ah, i see what you mean Barn. Manny, you have summed it up perfectly i.m.o.
February 21, 200816 yr I can see a case for leaving the two out and have total faith in their replacements who have been playing well in their absence but I feel Frank an JT know more than most in the team the importance of a Cup final against Spuds, They now have real hope with a few decent players, good manager who has made some good buys for a january window and thats making a win for us even more important, we need to let them see they are not closing any gap on us, obviously all the players should be up for the game and need little motivation for any cup final but this one is special, this one is against a team who's fans despise our team and our fans with a vengeance, more so than the scousers or the mancs, JT and Lamps know it and I would imagine they feel the same about a loss to that lot as we do, I recon that adds a lot of weight to why they should both start, I just hope Avi can sense the extra that we could get out of players who know a real Derby grudge match and want to be involved in it.
February 21, 200816 yr If he drops them (which im sure he wont) and we lose, he might as well pack his bags at Wembley and never come anywhere near SB again. I dont know much about him but i know enough to know he aint THAT stupid.
February 21, 200816 yr I'm a big believer in Ballack, but Lampard has scored 15 goals a season, and for that reason he gets in my team, assuming he is fit. Clearly he will not be match fit. In my opinion its a harder call on Terry. No doubt he's an inspirational leader but he's been injured heaps in the past two seasons has far less playing time than Lamps even this season and Carvalho/alex combination has been very solid at the back. Our defensive record since grant took over and leaving aside the first game against man U has been outstanding, as good as at any time under Mourinho from memory, and that's without Gallas. Its come at the cost of attacking football but its very difficult to fault the defence.
February 22, 200816 yr press on a wind up or Avi playing mind games. they will both start However, if he doesn't start them and we lose to Tottenh*m...infact, if we lose to tottenh*m full stop, he needn't show his face round SB again
February 22, 200816 yr Nah, Terry and Lamps will play without a doubt. I feel sorry for Alex, but Terry just needs to come back. I feel inspired and energized watching Terry back there, knowing he's making those around him better. exactly
February 22, 200816 yr I'm a big believer in Ballack, but Lampard has scored 15 goals a season, and for that reason he gets in my team, assuming he is fit. Clearly he will not be match fit. Not to mention his inch perfect cross field balls, constant running, goal assists... but hey, he hasn't cured world hunger yet so some don't think he merits his place as a starter.
