I've said quite a few times (but not for a while) that our success in the Premier League this season will be defined by our success on the battlefields of the bottom half. This was our prime failing last year (look it up), and the area where the purchases of Shay Given, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Carlos Tévez and so forth ought to make the biggest difference.
(This argument has been undermined recently. It was based on the presumption that we would maintain our home form of last season, but, in drawing with Fulham, Hull and Burnley it has regressed somewhat. One could argue, though, that having dropped those points it's even more important that we pick up more points on the road.)
But it's an area where we've done ok so far. We won at Blackburn, we won at Portsmouth, we drew at Wigan and we drew at Birmingham. Compared to last year's results in these games we're ahead. And, after a sequence of a home game, Anfield and three more home games we're back to the familiar challenge of having to go to a small, hostile ground, against a physical team and hoping to come away with the points. It's not going to be easy, but after the week we've just had (Michael Johnson setback notwithstanding) I feel like we've got a great chance.
In terms of selection I think the nature of challenge will incline Hughes towards the graft of Nigel de Jong and Craig Bellamy rather than the craft of Stephen Ireland and Robinho. Gareth Barry, Shaun Wright-Phillips and the two strikers should complete the front six. In defence the one outstanding issue is left back, and while Gareth Barry presents a good option (also allowing for the inclusion of Ireland in midfield), I think he will go with the specialist in Sylvinho. I'm not sure he will want to move Joleon Lescott out there, given the improvements he is making in his partnership with Kolo Touré, and I don't think Javi Garrido is good enough. Pablo Zabaleta is a passable left back but will probably stay on the bench.
It's certainly a better team than whichever collection of cloggers Megson sends out. And given the contrast in confidence between the two camps I'm actually going to predict a win tomorrow. 2-0.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This result puts us right up there alongside Chorley as one of the few teams they've managed to put three against this season. I don't care if their first was four yards offside, or that Bellamy was actually clattered rather than diving. If we can't beat that rubbish there's no hope.
Lonesome, your predictions are just too painful -please refrain and just be grateful for Robbie (and stop talking to that Winter bloke - he's leading you astray)
Post a Comment