Team vs Watford

[Mark]

Levein also faces something of a selection quandary in attack, with either Iain Hume or Elvis Hammond in line to partner big Dutchman Mark de Vries.

He added: "Mark is fine and either Elvis or Iain will partner him on Saturday. There is still time for either of those players to prove to me who should start the game."

Oh joy.

[lush]

For a bright man, CL sure comes accross a bit stupid at times. How can de lump be better than hume or hammond.

[Thracian]

Team I think he'll play:

Douglas;

Stearman, Nils, Dublin, Kisnorbo;

Sylla, Hughes, Joey, Tiatto,

Hume, MDV

Team I'd like:

Douglas,

Stearman, Nils, Dublin, Sheehan;

Kisnorbo, Hughes, Tiatto;

Hume;

MDV, Hammond.

Subs: Sylla, Gerrbrand, Joey, Wilcox, Williams.

[lush]

Team I'd like:

Douglas,

Stearman, Nils, Dublin, Sheehan;

Kisnorbo, Hughes, Tiatto;

Hume;

MDV, Hammond.

Subs: Sylla, Gerrbrand, Joey, Wilcox, Williams.

You sure are stupid Thrach

No wide players, why`s that, i thought you strived on that policy?

[Thracian]

You sure are stupid Thrach

No wide players, why`s that, i thought you strived on that policy?

But there are wide players, if you look carefully.

We are playing away against a good side and will need strength and speed in defence.

Goal-Smith is not available, Wilcox and Hammill not strong enough or good enough, hence use Sheehan.

Sheehan is by far the best passer from left-side anyway. He has genuine crossing ability and technique in flighting the ball. And he is a natural left footer.

Tiatto can go wide (though he rarely wants to) and he is capable of filling in behind if Sheehan goes forward.

In this system Tiatto's energy will be important and it IS balanced. Wilcox is not an option (short of match fitness and Hammill just not strong/effective enough for this particular fixture.

My system allows Hughes to play where everyone reckons is his best position in the centre of midfield (where he offers greater attacking potential than the admirable Joey who, sadly, for all his efforts keeps appearing in a losing/not very goals productive side).

Kisnorbo moves right because he too has the energy and tackling ability to fill in behind Stearman who is an excellent potential right flank attacker.

Then there is Hume who is well able to make runs to the far right or far left as needs arise.

If I used Sylla instead of Stearman/Hume I would weaken the defence just enough to make it vulnerable and he would not, in my view, give us much greater attacking value cos one of the strikers Hume/MDV/Hammond would be lost.

Finally, I want you to note the potential goals threat which Watford would have to be aware of. With Sheehan as the best free-kick specialist in the club providing some precise ammunition there's the club's three main strikers, plus Dublin with Stearman and Tiatto potential "outfield" scorers as well.

Not a bad threat in my view especially as Sheehan is also well capable of a goal particularly from his dead ball opportunities. So, seven potential scorers as opposed to four/five with other systems.

You may still disagree with all this but that's the basic explanation and, as you will gather, I've given it a lot of thought. I could, of course, be proved foolish but we've played other systems and other players up to now (including wingers) and its not won us much away from home.

[lush]

Sorry mate, as good as i think sheehan is, he cant play LB and LW. Yes tiatio can go wide, but he aint anygood.

Im a believer that if your good enough at home, then your good enough away. Hamill has youth, and can score from 20+ yards.

Yes i`d also play hughes in the middle, but again he isnt a wide player, where we have a natural in sylla.

Agreed, joey is poor (wish more would notice), he just doesnt have that UMPH, that carisma, that fighting spirit, cannot lead a march. I think he gets the nod through enthusiasm, bloody MA`s eh.

Think theres more to come from kiso. he had a bad injury, and is bound to take joey`s place when CL thinks its time, else why sign him. Amazing, some think kiso is poor.

Hume could play the rooney role, think we miss that player from deep who`ll run and twist at the opposition, force them to make mistakes, put them under pressure. shaun wright did that on wednesday (1st half).

Take de lump out, again no desire, no run all day for the cause type, just a bloody lump. If he was a score with the head type, i`d consider him for ariel strength. GET sylla in taking players on, if it dont work, lump de lump on.

Thrach, you always give things alot of thought, thats what makes a discussion forum, a discussion forum. Be nice if the inventors and par-takers of such things remembered that.

[Thracian]

Sorry mate, as good as i think sheehan is, he cant play LB and LW. Yes tiatio can go wide, but he aint anygood.

Im a believer that if your good enough at home, then your good enough away. Hamill has youth, and can score from 20+ yards.

Yes i`d also play hughes in the middle, but again he isnt a wide player, where we have a natural in sylla.

Agreed, joey is poor (wish more would notice), he just doesnt have that UMPH, that carisma, that fighting spirit, cannot lead a march. I think he gets the nod through enthusiasm, bloody MA`s eh.

Think theres more to come from kiso. he had a bad injury, and is bound to take joey`s place when CL thinks its time, else why sign him. Amazing, some think kiso is poor.

Hume could play the rooney role, think we miss that player from deep who`ll run and twist at the opposition, force them to make mistakes, put them under pressure. shaun wright did that on wednesday (1st half).

Take de lump out, again no desire, no run all day for the cause type, just a bloody lump. If he was a score with the head type, i`d consider him for ariel strength. GET sylla in taking players on, if it dont work, lump de lump on.

Thrach, you always give things alot of thought, thats what makes a discussion forum, a discussion forum. Be nice if the inventors and par-takers of such things remembered that.

I've got Sylla as a sub. I think he'll be more effective used in that way. He never quite seems to last the pace anyway so we might as well use him when the defenders are not quite as sharp as at the beginning.

Hammill is the same really, except with him its not stamina. I've watched him with the reserves as well as the first team and he just doesn't seem to have enough penetration cos he's basically not quite fast enough and not quite strong enough.

I've picked MDV cos he takes weight off Hume and Hammond. This gives em space and his flicks give them opportunities. I thought this showed at Derby to some extent.

[lush]

And lump-de-lump does last the pace???

Hamill has one major ingredient we lack, he can score. If we use his, hume, hammand, hughes and syllas trickery, we surely must create edge of area free kicks, and hamill has prooved he can score from them.

THAT puts a whole new picture on the game, and his other efforts cannot be any worse than any other player doing his role.

Its a good point about lump de lump, remember when we played at chelsea with oneil, it was sunday 4pm on sky and we were 0-2 down and drew 2-2 with a gupps long ranger, well oneill put marshall on the edge of area, whilst the other 2 strikers and izzet fed off his holding up play/headers.

I dunno, i need to see alot more from lump de lump, pagan knows what CL sees in him, i see right through him

[Anish]

For a bright man, CL sure comes accross a bit stupid at times. How can de lump be better than hume or hammond.

Finally have to agree with you

Although I've never subscribed to this 'Levein is an intelligent bloke' theory - just cos he looks a bit of a geek it doesn't mean he's clever.

And some of his decisions are bizarre, nothing intelligent about them whatsoever.