Next up.. Sunderland. Home.

[UPinCarolina]

One thing that the past few matches has taught us is that our offensive capability remains frighteningly potent.

We easily could have put in 3 goals for the 4th consecutive PL match. 

[Jattdogg]

5-1 for us.

[Skippy]

2 hours ago, STUHILL said:

I wouldn't actually do this for Sunderland but I do see some logic in Albrighton being able to do a job in CM. He works incredible hard, is a decent defender and can really pick a pass when he is on his game. I think he has the energy and possibly strong enough to win some battles in there too, although I think Drinkwater is perhaps stronger and more battle hardened than we think. It's the kind of thing I could see being tried in a cup match if we were ever struggling for a CM and certainly a position switch he might consider as he ages and loses his pace, similar to how Giggs moved inside. 

 

I think it's important for Drinkwater and N'didi to continue on building a good understanding together though, as they will most likley be our future CM pairing for next season and beyond hopefully. 

Yeah you make some good points stuhill, DD does get stuck in and is a true CM but his untidy passing has been/still is infuriating and ought to be inexcusable for someone that seems to be undroppable in the squad. I personally see him as our weakest link which seems more evident now the other lads have lifted their game. I just hope we sign a competent passing CM during summer to either force DD to lift his game or put his bum on the bench. Re Albrighton yeah it'd be a bloody shame to have such an industrious player on the bench if Gray gets ahead in the pecking order, I'd love to see a game with him playing attacking cm, spraying balls all over the shop and running at the opposition right down the guts in his hilarious girly way. Anyway I doubt it'll happen anytime soon so moving right along.

[Ted Maul]

Surely they're beyond the point of coming here and keeping it tight? They need a win, and we'll pick them apart.

[Nalis]

On paper it should be a routine win but have a feeling this will be the first pts dropped under Shakespeare. 2-2.

[Chico1958]

Hull will do Boro

Burnley will do Stoke

Spurs will do Swansea

Watford got a tricky one West Brom

Bournemouth v Liverpool....... who knows ?    

Southampton v Palace see Palace winning this as well

We should do Sunderland

 

Then 4 points from anywhere and I'm getting drunk 

[Wymsey]

Heard they haven't scored in 5 consecutive games (?).

This will probably, therefore, be some thrashing.

It's all about the wingers against a poor and slow defence so reckon 5-0 to us.

[justfoxes]

We can't go into this game complacent we must go in for the jugular from the first whistle otherwise this could be a bit of a banana skin for us,these are there for the taking but if we don't concentrate on this one we could end up with nothing or just a point when we know we could take all three !!

I'd play the same team that played stoke and push for the win we can't afford to sit back and allow them any decent time on the ball,a definite three points for us but we just need to hit them hard Sunderland have trouble scoring and defending and are running low on confidence so we can't slip up on this one let's hope our lads hit hard for the 90 min and bag a few goals for Vichai's birthday !!

[HighPeakFox]

It is the type of game that should be won, but could so easily be lost with bad attitude.

 

However, I suspect the players now want to win every match they play, and firmly believe they can do so.

[harpendenfox]

Bizarrely this will be our last home league game in April. We have a role to play. Plenty of intensity required in the stands too.

[FoxinNotts]

Daunting schedule ahead. Be realistic, we should beat Sunderland (I know underestimating teams is dangerous). I'd Bench Okazaki and Vardy, to rest them, and put in King in behind Slimani, who desperately needs to prove himself. I also would like to wrap Drinkwater in cotton wool, as I think he is carrying a knock. Bring in Amartey.

 

Schmeichel

 

Simpson

Benny

Huth

Fuchs

 

Amartey

Ndididi

 

Mahrez

King

Gray

 

Slimani

[Domsdad]

1 hour ago, Wymeswold fox said:

Heard they haven't scored in 5 consecutive games (?).

This will probably, therefore, be some thrashing.

It's all about the wingers against a poor and slow defence so reckon 5-0 to us.

But but but Defoe is the form striker that's why he gets picked for England over Vardy

[TheUltimateWinner]

I'm confident, genuinely think we're on a run of wins that will carry on through the champions league semis...

[Guest Danny Clender]

We are playing the bottom of the league club who are in shocking form.

Even though they are stating survival is still possible, most definitely they are preparing for next season in the Championship.

That said, they will see us as 3 points for sure, but It's not going to happen. 

Our current form is just too much for them, we're back to Premier League winning standards and I just can't see us losing or even drawing.

This has to be the most confident we've gone into a game since Hull away last August, (ooops, we all know what happened there) 

 

I'd keep Gray in the team, save Albrighton for Athletico, he loves those games. I really enjoyed the link up between Mahrez and Gray yesterday, it looked like real potential. Both able to create the impossible and both seemed happy to have somebody thinking in the same way. It wasn't perfect, but I'd like to see it tried again against Sunderland. 

Benny looks fine, so let's not risk Big Wes just yet. I think a little consistency will work best with Defoe. 

 

Make no mistake, I'm not underestimating Sunderland, nobody should, but at home and how we are playing, this has to put us on 36 points by 10pm tuesday night.

[Fox92]

Defoe loves a goal against us

[Guest Danny Clender]

12 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

Daunting schedule ahead. Be realistic, we should beat Sunderland (I know underestimating teams is dangerous). I'd Bench Okazaki and Vardy, to rest them, and put in King in behind Slimani, who desperately needs to prove himself. I also would like to wrap Drinkwater in cotton wool, as I think he is carrying a knock. Bring in Amartey.

 

Schmeichel

 

Simpson

Benny

Huth

Fuchs

 

Amartey

Ndididi

 

Mahrez

King

Gray

 

Slimani

Good shout on Drinkwater, but what about King instead of Amartey? We still need to attack. 

Sorry, just seen what I did there, you'd already selected King. 

I think your selections is realistic, but I'd save it for Everton, 3 points is essential for this game. 

No changes, for me, from the Stoke game, bar King for Drinky. 

[Redouane]

14 hours ago, ARM1968 said:

2-0. It is written

That worked once, not gonna work every time 

 

Don't waste your voodoo powers on Sunderland and Stoke, use it for Atletico 

[Fox92]

No resting or changes needed.

 

Same team as yesterday.

 

6 points from two home games sets us up well for Everton.

[walkerleeds]

Usual team in this then play the reserves at Everton. 

 

We will win this by 3 or 4 goals. 

[MC Prussian]

A rather clear affair on paper, Sunderland have lost four of their last five matches, 19 matches in total already and only won once in ten. They'll need a miracle to stay up at this stage.

 

But be aware of complacency. If we enter the match like we did against Stoke yesterday, we should be fine and record win No. 10.

 

Hoping for an entertaining match and Lady Luck on our side.

 

As already mentioned in the Stoke post-match thread, it wouldn't surprise me if Shakespeare rested some of our key squad members, giving some of the fringe players a chance to shine instead. Drinkwater, Vardy, Mahrez, Huth, Okazaki, Fuchs and even Schmeichel all candidates for a short break from the action.

 

[dynamark]

Same team no doubt win 3 points then change for Everton at the weekend.

Everyone looks up for it no need to change other than injuries

[Max Wall]

15 hours ago, ARM1968 said:

2-0. It is written

 

27 minutes ago, Redouane said:

That worked once, not gonna work every time 

 

Don't waste your voodoo powers on Sunderland and Stoke, use it for Atletico 

He has a stammer, don't poke fun.

Under the lights, intense crowd, 3-1.

Coupled with a 0-1 win for Boro at Hull.

[Guest CityFan 06]

Schmeichel

Simpson Benalouane Huth Fuchs

Mahrez Ndidi King Gray

Vardy Slimani

 

King in for Drinkwater. Feel Mahrez could also do with a rest but I think we may need his creativity on Tuesday.

[st albans fox]

Defeat for Sunderland on Tuesday leaves then needing five wins from their last eight fixtures to have any chance of survival. It really is do or die for them and in previous seasons they have managed some crazy wins late on. Taking anything for granted on Tuesday night will lead to a defeat for us. Up and at em to get those heads to drop!!

[ronnup]

I'm not one for resting players now we've got some momentum, the confidence we can take from giving the league whipping boys a shoeing could be useful going into the game in Madrid.