Pre match - Preston Away (League cup)

[Modo]

I'd play Phillips and Gomez at centre half with Matip as holding midfielder.
He will need the practice there for when Fabinho, Hendo, Milner and all our other midfielders are simultaneously injured.

Yeah, I'd definitely try that too, but Klopp doesn't seem too keen on testing Matip or Trent in midfield

 

[the count]

Yeah, I'd definitely try that too, but Klopp doesn't seem to keen on testing Matip or Trent in midfield

I suppose by doing so could be conceived as being an admission that we don't have enough cover in midfield.

 

[Modo]

I suppose by doing so could be conceived as being an admission that we don't have enough cover in midfield.

The thing is, I believe we do have enough cover in midfield. Cover is not the issue.
We have Henderson, Keita, Fabinho, Thiago, Jones, Milner, Ox and Elliott.
The issue for me is that a few of them are made of glass, one is 47 years old, two are kids and one doesn't know how to play in that position.
They just get injured too often.

It's the same with our defence. To make sure we don't wind up in the same situation as last season we now have 5 CB's. And of course no one gets injured this season and one of them hasn't even made an appearance.

All that being said, I think we need another DM and I actually believe we can afford to sell one of our midfielders to add that DM.

 

[Brizzle]

Adrian? WTF, man?!

I started the "Manchester's quest for European glory" thread. We all know how that ended (wink)

Just like Adrian, you have had your moments. That thread sounds very similar to his penalty shootout heroics against Everton.

 

[Modo]

Just like Adrian, you have had your moments. That thread sounds very similar to his penalty shootout heroics against Everton.

Hahaha!

 

[Dreambeliever]

Last year it was CB, this year it’s CM. Next year it’ll be up front.

 

[Squiggles]

We cannot risk any first-team midfielders in this game, IMO.

Potentially Taki if he's not in the front line. Morton should be a dead cert to start.

Injuries to Thiago, Keita, Milner make it too risky to start the Ox is a nothing tie.

 

[SummerOnions]

We cannot risk any first-team midfielders in this game, IMO.

Potentially Taki if he's not in the front line. Morton should be a dead cert to start.

Injuries to Thiago, Keita, Milner make it too risky to start the Ox is a nothing tie.

I don't want to risk any of our forwards either. We are seriously short

 

[binomial]

Agree we shouldn’t be playing players out of position after the CB malarky last season. Matip hasn’t played DM since Utd last won the league.

 

[King Binny]

 

[Modo]

I think Kaide Gordon is injured.

 

[Whaddapie]

I'd rather play a 4-6 or a 5-5 formation against Preston than play a single senior midfielder and risk losing another one, when we're already currently down Elliot, Thiago, Fabinho, Keita and Milner. Except for Gomez, Nat and maybe Costas, there shouldn't be a single senior player even at the bloody match.

 

[MomoWASright]

Nobody should really care for this competition. I’ll bet the total prize money for winning the trophy is less than what is Mo’s goal bonus for yesterday.

 

[Alan Hardaker]

As well as Konate did, I'd be very surprised if Matip didn't come back in for Brighton.

Wouldn't mind seeing Konate, Gomez and Phillips all start this one and then you could have Neco Williams and The Greek as wing backs. Ox will surely start and if Fabinho trains these next few days I wouldn't be shocked to see him play a part. Possibly even Mane too.

Yer could be right. The Boss has seen Brentford take 2 points off us. AM come back at us and he's thinking I've got Konate busting a gut in training, I've got the central defence squad of 4/5 top players..I'm going to use them and nobody, not even VVD is guaranteed a place. It's the way it should be. I thought Konate looked at bit clumsy first time I saw him but yesterday he was mature and assured, Ok United weren't as strong as they normally are and we will have to see Konate under real pressure before we can decide.

Going to be another fun season, another rollercoaster ride.

 

[StevieM]

I'd rather play a 4-6 or a 5-5 formation against Preston than play a single senior midfielder and risk losing another one, when we're already currently down Elliot, Thiago, Fabinho, Keita and Milner. Except for Gomez, Nat and maybe Costas, there shouldn't be a single senior player even at the bloody match.

Minamino and Origi should play.

 

[binomial]

Sepp was giving interview earlier today on Sky, I don’t think even he knows if he’s eligible to play. Wtfs going on? Is it our decision the or the EFLs?

 

[Brizzle]

Would love to see mini Messi given a start, along with a couple of others. Ox/Taki/Divvy/Neco/Tsimikas 100% need to be starting though amongst the youth.

 

[Modo]

Sepp was giving interview earlier today on Sky, I don’t think even he knows if he’s eligible to play. Wtfs going on? Is it our decision the or the EFLs?

It's our decision. PNE asked if he could play.

 

[Hansern]

 

[Bradley]

That's some bout of the shits for Kelleher.

 

[dmishra]

No Kelleher? Does that mean Adrian or will he start Pitaluga?

 

[Brizzle]

Crazy for Adrian if he doesn't get the nod, although i'd much rather see Pitaluga in there.

 

[binomial]

I don't think there's 1 topic in football I careless about than who our 3rd choice keeper in a caraocack cup game v Preston will be.

 

[Modo]

Oh it's definitely Adrian. Pitaluga played yesterday for the U23.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Adrians last game for us surely

 

[Modo]

 

[MomoWASright]

That's some bout of the shits for Kelleher.

He’s been on the dodgy guineas.

 

[Judge Jules]

Interesting. He hasn't impressed me when I've seen him playing for us, but apparently they all rate him there.

Hope it doesn't turn out like it did when we allowed Blackburn to pick Markus Babbel against us and he ended up crocking somebody.

 

[Brizzle]

Interesting. He hasn't impressed me when I've seen him playing for us, but apparently they all rate him there.

Hope it doesn't turn out like it did when we allowed Blackburn to pick Markus Babbel against us and he ended up crocking somebody.

Seems odd - we know he starts every game for them which would suggest that not allowing it (which is the norm) would see a lesser player take his place.

 

[Judge Jules]

Indeed. Maybe we do still have hopes for him and want to see how he performs when they're really stretched.