DerHammerReturns wrote:Anyway, really sure Saints will smash Coventry but we have to give it a go. Reckon we'll miss Cole because they've got two massive centre halfs, Bamba and Morgan. Maynard won't be able to cope and the only other option is Carew (sigh). However, I would try out the Baldock - Carew partnership again. If it woks then we're sorted for P/O.
Inclined to agree
If Cole isn't 100%, I wouldn't risk him. But if Cole doesn't play, we are a very different beast, and it makes it much harder to pick a balanced and effective away formation
Maybe pairing Vaz Te & Maynard would be an option, but I'd also be tempted to pair Carew & Balders
Carew has looked the best he has when he's had Baldock around him, imo, and I'd argue Balders has played his best when paired with Carew, so it would be well worth a look.
But the trouble with that is that we'll be playing a version of 4-4-2, and that might mean a middle pairing of Nolan & Noble, which doesn't give much steel through the middle
I'd be inclined to either play a genuine front 3, with Vaz Te as the 3rd attacker, and a middle 3 of Nolan, Noble & Collison (if O'Neill isn't going to be risked), or a diamond midfield (Noble at base, Nolan at tip, Collison/O'Neill/Lansbury making up the other 2), with maybe Vaz Te & Balders upfront
Then there's Diop, who could do with a game.....
Tough call for Sam regarding the line up, imo. He may well want to have a look at a couple, with the play-offs in mind, but will also want to pick the strongest team possible whilst we still have a sniff of the atuo spots