by Doolittle »
09 Dec 2012 11:11
I would go:
-------------------Federici---------------------------
Cummings--Mariappa--Pearce--Shorey
--------------------Guthrie--------------------------
----------Tabb---------------------Legs--------------
--McCleary---------------------------------HRK------
-----------------------Le Fondre----------------------
The theory being:
(1) Get more bodies into central midfield
(2) We must play at least one winger who can go past their full back on the outside, to make the opposing back four drop off a bit, and give the front players some space to play in
(3) HRK doesn't defend that well, but is a good auxiliary striker. So in this set-up, he can get well forward and use his main assets better.
When Karacan is fit, I would replace Leigertwood with him, and put Legs on the bench in case we need more physicality on occasion. When Kebe is fit (and firing), he would probably get my vote over McCleary. If/when Morrison is fit, he would challenge Mariappa. Pearce is the more solid option we have at CB, and needs to play.
When Pog is fit, he would challenge ALF for the front man spot-- because in a system like this, there would be more chance of giving the guy a chance to play to his strengths. Jason/Noel can be options on the bench, if we need to go longer ball 4-4-2 towards the end of a game.
I would give McAnuff a spell on the bench. Partly because HRK offers more goal threat, and also because he needs a bit of time away from the cares of captaincy to remember why he spent so long striving to get in the PL.