Think Reid has a knock and is set to face a team behind closed doors for the U23s tomorrow along with sakho
I think
Champo, no - definitely suspended (as per club's match preview) ... hence getting game time (as you say) with the U23s as he needs matches to build up his fitness ;ok
I think Hernandez will start against Man United. He hasn't had much of a pre-season, but that's because he was still playing competitive football over the summer.
I don't think his fitness will have dropped enough to delay his start of the season overly, and we need him if Sakho isn't going to be ready, so I think Bilic will risk it.
I agree with that alderz, Slav's gone with a back four all pre-season as far as I'm aware so it looks like that is his intentions for the season. He's going to want to play his (as close as possible due to injuries) best 11 in prep for the season's start. Give them game time, and especially with the 'newbies' get them used to playing with our stalwarts. To the point I would expect your 11 to be bang on.
I personally (if I was looking at getting a 'result' from this game as opposed to 'fitness') would start Fernandes over Ayew as the ACM as he is more defensively minded than Ayew so our 4231 could flow to a 433 when defensive against such opposition, but we will see.
Looking forward to watching it, hopefully seeing a top end performance. coyi ;scarf
(Also considering we have AC, Sakho, Reid, Kouyate, Antonio, Feghouli, Lanzini, and Cresswell all out injured, it's a decent 11, could not have said that a couple of years ago in such circumstances). ;ok
(Jorderz, I was puzzled by your comment until I realised that despite meaning to type 'wouldn't start' in my previous comment, it came out as 'would' ;lol ;doh ;wahoo )
Being suspended for a friendly is absolutely ridiculous. I get that there might need to be a deterrent against reckless behaviour etc, but losing a man in the friendly is enough. Suspending him for the next one is farcical.
I think they only enforce them if it a truly horrendous foul. Wasn't a ManU player banned for the start of last season after bein sent off in pre-season?
feels like we are about to get humiliated, hopefully its a catalyst for the players to work harder with Man U away coming up than a confidence body blow.
Comments
They actually enforce bans for pre season red cards?
Jeez
I guess it makes a kind of sense, otherwise there's no real deterrent.
Just makes the ref's prima donna behaviour more absurd.
I think
Hart
Zabaleta - Fonte - Ogbonna
Byram - Noble - Obiang - Masuaku
Ayew - Arnautovic
Chicharito
Got to get at least 60-70 mins out of that XI. Then the likes of Collins, Fernandes, Snodgrass, Martinez etc from the bench.
(Making my confident prediction that he would start in our early Prem games look ridiculous now ;doh.)
I think Hernandez will start against Man United. He hasn't had much of a pre-season, but that's because he was still playing competitive football over the summer.
I don't think his fitness will have dropped enough to delay his start of the season overly, and we need him if Sakho isn't going to be ready, so I think Bilic will risk it.
Hart; Zabaleta Fonte Ogbonna Masuaku; Noble Obiang; Snodgrass Ayew Arnautovic; Hernandez
I think it's unlikely he'll switch away from a back 4
I personally (if I was looking at getting a 'result' from this game as opposed to 'fitness') would start Fernandes over Ayew as the ACM as he is more defensively minded than Ayew so our 4231 could flow to a 433 when defensive against such opposition, but we will see.
Looking forward to watching it, hopefully seeing a top end performance. coyi ;scarf
(Also considering we have AC, Sakho, Reid, Kouyate, Antonio, Feghouli, Lanzini, and Cresswell all out injured, it's a decent 11, could not have said that a couple of years ago in such circumstances). ;ok
(Jorderz, I was puzzled by your comment until I realised that despite meaning to type 'wouldn't start' in my previous comment, it came out as 'would' ;lol ;doh ;wahoo )
Well , it was 2 yellows, so would only be a 1 game ban, but I don't think friendlies count towards PL games anyway.
(I suppose friendlies still have to be regulated - eg, doping etc.)
That's right.
In the case of Hammers fans, that comes under 'allowable pain medication'.
You would think with Chic in for Martinez that is our starting 11 against Man Utd.
You seen that City line up...