4-5-1 at City

[Royal91]

From what I've just heard it's 4-5-1.

Federici

Gunter
Pearce
Mariappa
Harte

McAnuff
Leigertwood
Karacan
Tabb
Kebe

Pog


Harte.... yeah.

Was that from the tilehurst end on twitter?

It just gets more ridiculous each week.

[urz13]

oxf*rd ffs

[NattMiles]

From what I've just heard it's 4-5-1.

Federici

Gunter
Pearce
Mariappa
Harte

McAnuff
Leigertwood
Karacan
Tabb
Kebe

Pog


Harte.... yeah.

[Ian Royal]

Harte!? HARTE!!?!?!

I take it Shorey has some sort of injury then, because I can't imagine any other reason why our best defender and probably best player wouldn't start.

If this is true and Shorey isn't injured McDermott really can do one.

[Royal Ginger]

Harte!? HARTE!!?!?!

I take it Shorey has some sort of injury then, because I can't imagine any other reason why our best defender and probably best player wouldn't start.

If this is true and Shorey isn't injured McDermott really can do one.

Agreed, but let's not write Harte off, he's put in some big shifts for us over the last couple of years (clutching at straws here). His set pieces could come in handy. End of last season his corners were deadly.

[Royalclapper]

WTF? Surely that can't be right. It's gonna be hard work watching that nonsense this afternoon.

[dariusz]

Shorey is being rested due to the amount of games over the xmas period many of which far more "winable" than today!

[yappy]

Pearce starting too? Presume some injury to Gorkss aswell then. Feel sorry for ALF & HRK not starting again, as I think they've been two of our best players this season.

[cmonurz]

Guthrie: 'thought we had moved on, Brian.'

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Shorey is being rested due to the amount of games over the xmas period many of which far more "winable" than today!

this has to be the only explanation. hartes's lack of pace is going to be exposed today.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Brian - 'We're going for the win'

Brian - 'Let's move on. I've forgiven Guthrie'

Mikele Leigertwood and Jay Tabb are in the team yet again

[yappy]

Shorey is being rested due to the amount of games over the xmas period many of which far more "winable" than today!

this has to be the only explanation. hartes's lack of pace is going to be exposed today.

At least City play quite narrow, don't expect them to have any wingers taking on the full backs.

[Gordons Cumming]

We just need to get the bus we got the team there with, onto the pitch somehow.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Shorey has been class this season. But from the analysis on sky the other night, he was accountable for 2 of the goals against the gunners. Laughable decision if he does not play Guthrie

[Doolittle]

I like the shape of that team more than 4-4-2, but it includes two players who currently have zero confidence (Gunter and Legs) and another (Jobi) who is trying his best, but shouldn't be keeping HRK out of the team on the left hand side.

Can only hope that Brian has decided that that the "save players for the home games" idea applies to Cummings and HRK as well as Shorey.

Also wonder if it applies to Guthrie. If it doesn't, and he really won't play him under any circumstances whatsoever, then he must be honest and just say so.

[Kebe is our Messi]

I dont think Guthrie is ever going to get in the team again is he. Even if Guthrie wasnt our best midfielder, I find it amazing how he hasnt even had any game time whatsoever in the last what, 2 months? And yet players like Samuel have! I dont understand brians thinking at all

[Royal91]

Jamie Redknapp "Monday night he (Walcott) was playing against players that can't run"

Bringing in Harte was obviously a way of neutralising this problem

[NR_Royal]

Watching Wigan deal with Arsenal so far just reinforces how shit we are.

[blueroyals]

At least Gorkss has been dropped...

[Royals and Racers]

Team confirmed as posted earlier.Guthrie on bench