While the clues lead to us switching to 4-5-1, it's not too unlikely Wolves could line up with two forwards. Steven Fletcher has returned to training, and is certainly an option. Playing one striker, would leave us with a anothher real quality one on the bench.
Looking at our midweek confidence booster against Millwall, it looks as if Mick was planning to go with 4-5-1. Dave Edwards, Nenad Milijas and Adlene Guedioura all impressed in the middle and while not all of them will start, you'd expect at least one of them to. Nenad Milijas has that quality on the ball that we have looked lacking in recently, and is a fantastic player to have when you are keeping the ball. However, this might not be the game for him as an away game on a big pitch may not suit him, especially at Liverpool.
Dave Edwards has excelled in the second striker role at times behind Doyle. He was the match winner against Manchester City last season, and when put in that position again versus Blackpool he was once again a handful. He played just 45 minutes last week, is that a pointer to whether he will start or is it that he is just regaining fitness?
The last man of the three is the one I expect to see start. From various reports, it was as if Adlene Guedioura ran the game on Wednesday. He contributed to at least two goals, the second a fantastic strike from him. With him finally looking fit, will we see the Guedioura we saw on his home debut against Tottenham a year and a half ago?
That's all if we play 4-5-1, and if we do this is how I see the team:
HennesseyStearman
Johnson
Berra
Ward
Hammill
Guedioura
Henry
O'Hara
Jarvis
Doyle
Another face who hasn't seen much first team football is Adam Hammill. He will be raring to go, especially against his old club and I am excited to see what he can offer.
With the team above, I think it gives us a decent chance of getting something against a Liverpool side still stinging from a four nil defeat at White Hart Lane. They scraped through to the next round of the cup against Brighton also, with several key players featuring. I think it will be close. 2-1 to Liverpool, which in fairness isn't a bad result. Of course, I;m hoping for a performance similar to last years at Anfield.
A 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Guedioura right behind Doyle.
ReplyDeletei reckon mick will go with edwards as the 5th midfielder and doyle on his own up front. I'm just praying we don't get a pasting to be honest. Roger is looking a bit slow to me
ReplyDeleteI've been out of the loop for most of this week so I'm just sitting down on my day off to digest things.
ReplyDeleteIs Hunt injured? Because I didn't see him in your starting eleven. I assume that's why Hammill will start.
I think Hunt is so important for us because of his work rate and he sets the tempo for our play and sets an example that other players follow when closing down and hassling the opposition. He does start to flag towards the end of games as you would expect from him working at 100% all the time but I would always prefer him to start the game and be substituted later because we had already pretty much won the games at the start of the season.
Failing Hunt not playing, I'm a very big fan of Guedioura and I'd prefer to see him in the middle with O'Hara than Henry. Henry's looked better this year but he still spins and turns himself into trouble at least a couple of times in every game (see vs Tottenham & QPR) which just puts us under pressure.
I am dying to see what Hammill can do too. Not as polished as Jarvis yet but will definately go that way and I already think he's the best crosser of a ball we have(not taking away from Jarvis the improvements he's made in this area) and he has a bag of tricks.
For me, I know people say don't worry about the other team, just pick your strongest possible side, I would consider choosing whether to play 442 or 451 based on whether Gerrard starts or not. I imagine he will start because Liverpool need some inspiration. So in that case I would go 451 and have one of the centre midfielders shadow Gerrard and just stop him playing while in all other positions I don't think we're that far off Liverppol ourselves .
If Gerrard doesn't play, 442 and really get at them with Doyle and Fletcher having already got a frightening partnership going.
Prediction's spot on! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's the ultimate 4-5-1 lineup in opinion too. Dynamic players with a very direct approach to the game.
ReplyDelete