Fox Ulike Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 We picked up points at the start of the season against tough teams and for me one of the reasons we did was because we had a defensive midfielder on the pitch whose role was to help out defensively ONLY. He's the only player we have in our ranks that can play that role. Im not saying he's our saviour or anything . He's been back from injury for a few games now so maybe an idea to bring him back and help out defensively. If we have the likes of King/James/Cambiasso/Drinkwater on the pitch without a defensive midfielder then Hazard is going to have a field day. Playing 3 at the back is pretty similar to playing a defensive midfielder in front of a back 2. Either way you have 3 defensive players in the central area of the pitch, which is the key. Personally i'd have preferred the defensive midfielder - but it's hard to argue with Pearson's formations at the moment.
cc_star Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 What's this "rest" anyway? It's just about managing your resources and getting the most out of the players available and doing the right thing for the club to stay up. If there is some rotation of players carrying injuries, or perhaps where the sports science stuff shows they're struggling - Then there will be that rotation. End of conversation We all know chelsea offer a great threat from setpieces with Drogba, Terry, Cahill & Ivanovich... and their attacking midfielders in 4231 are the best in the country & so are their defensive midfielders - There will naturally be rotation anyway because they're a very different kettle of fish to sides we've recently played
fuchsntf Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I suppose you could say that it would be naive to think that going from lying on your back to lying on your front would help your chances of winning a football match, yes. It's amazing how many people are picking 12 players for this match. One even picked 13. I get the feeling that you're just not getting it. Do you realise that the people arguing for resting our best players want the club to win as many points as possible? Why should we go full strength against the very soon to be champions, when we'll almost certainly not win anyway, and only hurt our chances in the much more winnable match just 64 hours later? I don't think we disagree that much - I'm not suggesting wholesale changes - just rest 2 or 3 key players. While we're throwing the word naive around all over the place - don't you think it's a bit naive to expect a result against the league leaders? If my club that I supports doesnt go out and try to win this game, or a manager who I happen to support, doesnt pick HIS best squad...then goodbye.If Pearson has injury worries, with top in form players, that for me would be the only reason, for leaning to any side of caution. I seriously believe that city can, take points off Chelsea, for the same reason as I am expecting Hull and Sunderland, to fight for points, against the top sides they will meet,believe me that will happen.!!! and why it is imperative to stay above Sunderland and jump above Hull or any other team that slip up. City the club you supposedly support, but in which you seem to doubt, have had decades of tradition, beating against all odds the so called unbeatables. I expect but admittingly more hope from City to beat Chelsea, or at least a point. Let it be by hook or by crook, a jammy deflection, but why not a just a simple glamorous achievment.
foxinsox Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I think Hammond is an unsung hero. No show pony but good in the air and a great disruptor of the opposing side. By taking on that steadying role he allows more creative players the space and freedom they need. He had a good game for the under 21s the other night. I do not think he should start, but coming on for Cambo fairly early in the second half may be sensible. I do not think Peasrson would deliverately field a weakened side. It is just mindgames with Jose. I think Hammond is an unsung hero. No show pony but good in the air and a great disruptor of the opposing side. By taking on that steadying role he allows more creative players the space and freedom they need. He had a good game for the under 21s the other night. I do not think he should start, but coming on for Cambo fairly early in the second half may be sensible. I do not think Pearson would deliberately field a weakened side. It is just mindgames with Jose.
The Doctor Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I get this point, but if both are fit why can't we play them in both games. If Vardy and Cambiasso have good games on Wednesday, surely that adrenaline and extra confidence will result in them performing against Newcastle. Vardy is used to playing three times a week from last year and if things are going badly on Wednesday we can take him off early then to rest him. I just think we cannot afford to rest players for any games we have left. If Nige feels that Vardy is not the best option for tactical reasons, I can accept that. But resting him when he is the best player and fit in a certain role is a no-no for me. Big, big if is that though, and that's what you are completely failing to understand. Vardy isn't going to be fit for both games, and Esteban is arguably too old to cope with a saturday-wednesday-Saturday week at his current levels of effort. We will have to rotate the squad, that doesn't mean throwing the chelsea game, it means changing the strategy to give us the best chance in all matches - so perhaps putting Hammond in as a dedicated dm to stop the likes of Willian and hazard having so much free space between the lines, rather than estebans box to box action, playing Mahrez rather than Vardy if he's not fit since Mahrez has that little spark of brilliance that might be better than vardys tireless endeavour, playing Kramaric who'll have a point to prove, of ulloa, who terry and Cahill are experienced in dealing with.
Larry_LCFC Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I'll be pretty peeved if we don't play our best squad. We need to keep the confidence bubbling and go all out at them. Goal difference could be crucial, the last thing we need is to put a weakened side out and get dicked.
NotTheMarketLeader Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I suppose you could say that it would be naive to think that going from lying on your back to lying on your front would help your chances of winning a football match, yes. It's amazing how many people are picking 12 players for this match. One even picked 13. I get the feeling that you're just not getting it. Do you realise that the people arguing for resting our best players want the club to win as many points as possible? Why should we go full strength against the very soon to be champions, when we'll almost certainly not win anyway, and only hurt our chances in the much more winnable match just 64 hours later? I don't think we disagree that much - I'm not suggesting wholesale changes - just rest 2 or 3 key players. While we're throwing the word naive around all over the place - don't you think it's a bit naive to expect a result against the league leaders? We don't expect a win. I would suggest most of us would expect us to play our best FIT 11, and TRY to win it ffs!If we lose so be it. We need to keep our momentum going not give up in a game before its began. Some clubs may have it in the past but I cannot for the life of me see Pearson doing it, or it being of any benefit to us when games are running out and, make no mistake, we remain desperate for points.
Corky Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I'm not sure what constitutes our best team though. Two months ago Vardy wouldn't have been in our best team. Possibly Nugent as well. King and Hammond were written off before the season but started really well, unexpectedly. Because of injuries and time pressure this could be our team- Schmeichel Wasilewski Huth Morgan De Laet King Drinkwater James Mahrez Ulloa Kramaric Injuries to Schlupp, Nugent and Vardy, Cambiasso might not be able to do three games in a week, Albrighton rested for Newcastle, Konchesky dropped for a poor display. Would you consider that a weakened team?
Guest Col city fan Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I'm not sure what constitutes our best team though. Two months ago Vardy wouldn't have been in our best team. Possibly Nugent as well. King and Hammond were written off before the season but started really well, unexpectedly. Because of injuries and time pressure this could be our team- Schmeichel Wasilewski Huth Morgan De Laet King Drinkwater James Knockaert Ulloa Kramaric Injuries to Schlupp, Nugent and Vardy, Cambiasso might not be able to do three games in a week, Albrighton rested for Newcastle, Konchesky dropped for a poor display. Would you consider that a weakened team? Pearson has just said as much on TalkSport. Essentially, our 'best team' will change as he picks each side for each fixture. I tend to agree with that.
shailen Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 Big, big if is that though, and that's what you are completely failing to understand. Vardy isn't going to be fit for both games, and Esteban is arguably too old to cope with a saturday-wednesday-Saturday week at his current levels of effort. We will have to rotate the squad, that doesn't mean throwing the chelsea game, it means changing the strategy to give us the best chance in all matches - so perhaps putting Hammond in as a dedicated dm to stop the likes of Willian and hazard having so much free space between the lines, rather than estebans box to box action, playing Mahrez rather than Vardy if he's not fit since Mahrez has that little spark of brilliance that might be better than vardys tireless endeavour, playing Kramaric who'll have a point to prove, of ulloa, who terry and Cahill are experienced in dealing with. Look I'm not expecting us to win against Chelsea. Also like I have said, I'm not against rotating our squad if that is our best chance of winning. But I'm against resting players only for the sole reason that Newcastle is the more winnable game. We have to go out with the intention of winning every game, whether that means starting Vardy and Cambiasso is Nige's call. The thing I don't like is people suggesting that we rest players for the more winnable game against Newcastle. We are in no position to be picking and choosing when we want to try and win a game. If NP thinks Vardy and Cambiasso shouldn't play for tactical reasons as you mentioned, that's fine by me, but I pray he doesn't look to rest players for games some people are labelling as more winnable. If we rest players on Wednesday and we lose on Saturday, I guarantee we will regret such a decision. (I can understand why you're worried about fitness, coming from the medical profession ) We don't expect a win. I would suggest most of us would expect us to play our best FIT 11, and TRY to win it ffs! If we lose so be it. We need to keep our momentum going not give up in a game before its began. Some clubs may have it in the past but I cannot for the life of me see Pearson doing it, or it being of any benefit to us when games are running out and, make no mistake, we remain desperate for points. Exactly this.
RedSoxUK Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 Being sensible is key to competing against Chelsea definitely. Play our strongest, fittest 11, that Pearson thinks is capable of putting in a good performance, and maybe knick a win or a point. To me, that also means playing King, playing Kramaric, and letting an injured / not 100% Vardy and potentially exhausted Cambiasso sit out on the bench. There's nothing worse than playing the same winning side just because it's winning, even with players who perhaps should not be there due to fitness - and looking ahead to Newcastle isn't even a priority to Pearson or the staff, they've always been focussed on the next opposition, with a close eye to the future. I think we're shooting ourselves in the foot if we play the hurt Vardy just because he's in form, and Cambiasso just because he's influential in midfield.
biggs Posted 27 April 2015 Posted 27 April 2015 I'm pretty sure we'll try to get something every game going in. There's no guarantees of pts from any fixture.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.