Who should play against Hull ?

[Elvis]

As lots of us have said time and again the problems lie in the wide positions. With Pienaar permanently injured and Atsu injured and apparently not good enough we only have Mirallas (for me our most important player because of this) and McGeady to fill these two positions. When McGeady doesn't play someone has to play wide who is not comfortable there. This season it has been Osman, Naismith, Barkley, Eto'o shifted wide. Osman playing left of a 3 has worked before but we are short here.
Maybe it is time for Oviedo or Baines to start wide but again they are both better at full back.

Players definitely out: Howard, Hibbert, Gibson, Atsu, Osman, Pienaar.
Players probably out: McCarthy
Players 50/50: Jagielka, Stones

I have tried to come up with a team but it is hard. We need more players to be picking themselves by their performances. Maybe we need to have more defensive minded players in the team so I would probably go:-

Robles
Coleman, Jags or Stones hopefully, Alcaraz, Baines
Mirallas. Besic, Barry, Oviedo
Naismith
Kone

 

[TomDixie]

All the calls for Kone to keep his place, quite pleasing to see. Unfortunately, Martinez has had a recent, baffling habit of dropping a player or two straight after they've had a good game.

For me he currently suits our system better.

Lukaku isn't being effective. Whether that's due to us not playing to his strengths or him just performing poorly, Kone has come in and instantly started holding the ball up.

We already have too many players who lose the ball regularly in the final third (which is fine is they're trying something creative) and this has to be balanced out with a forward we can build off.

 

[Hungariansupport]

Very sad to hear that, know there have been several young and apparently fit players who have suffered the same problem. Has there been any push in Hungary to make defibrillators as standard equipment on training grounds/pitches to hopefully stop these type of tradgedies?

There are defibrillators on every training ground, he suffered it at home. Felt a little tired after training but who doesn't? Then went home and this happened. I think it was harder to cope with the fact that he's fighting for his life that long, our players were totally confused. In fact Mo got 1 of his 2 reds during his 2 years right after this happened, just couldn't find his place on the pitch.

 

[davek]

Whoever plays should be playing for their pride and the supporters who've followed the useless shower of ****s around the country this Christmas.

 

[LinekersLegs]

All the calls for Kone to keep his place, quite pleasing to see. Unfortunately, Martinez has had a recent, baffling habit of dropping a player or two straight after they've had a good game.

After so long out though would it be risky to give him two starts with such a short recovery time in between? It would be awful for him to pick up a silly hamstring injury after such hard work to get back. Perhaps a sub appearance or save him for West Ham?

I'm just hoping he isn't called up for ACN.

 

[Prevenger17]

After so long out though would it be risky to give him two starts with such a short recovery time in between? It would be awful for him to pick up a silly hamstring injury after such hard work to get back. Perhaps a sub appearance or save him for West Ham?

I'm just hoping he isn't called up for ACN.

Surely not! The man has barely kicked a ball in anger for so long and it's a surprise to see him even play again. I don't care what way we line out so long as there is two wide players and not some hamfisted central midfielder mating ball slowrolling at Hull's central defense.

 

[ToffeeTownMilto]

Martinez comments in today's presser:

RM: "I think changing the formation can help us. We have always been a team that is flexible in the way we play." #HULLvEFC

Would love to think we might see 4-3-3 from the start against Hull.

Equally, it does suggest that he realises no matter how much he wants to, he needs to re-think things.

Would like to see:

Joel
Coleman Stones Alcaraz Garbutt
Besic Baines Barkley
Kone Naismith Mirallas​

 

[Abraders]

It's got to be..

Robles
Coleman Hibbert Alcaraz Garbutt
Mirallas Besic Barry Baines
Naismith
Kone

Hibbert swaps straight out with Stones/Jags if they are fit, would probably prefer good ol' Hibbo' to Distin atm. Can't be any worse right?

Barry seems to be playing poor atm, and if McCarthy is available I would rather him in the centre.

Naismith deserves a place over Barkley, as does Kone over Lukaku. NEA.

Though if Martinez is really all about changing the formation for the game i'd try something like this 433;

Robles
Coleman Hibbert Alcaraz garbutt
Besic Barkley Barry
Mirallas Naismith Kone

 

[helpimonfire]

I should play with Rom up front. I can explain to him where the goal is then hope the others can get a ball in to him.

 

[LinekersLegs]

It's got to be..

Robles
Coleman Hibbert Alcaraz Garbutt
Mirallas Besic Barry Baines
Naismith
Kone

Hibbert swaps straight out with Stones/Jags if they are fit, would probably prefer good ol' Hibbo' to Distin atm. Can't be any worse right?

Barry seems to be playing poor atm, and if McCarthy is available I would rather him in the centre.

Naismith deserves a place over Barkley, as does Kone over Lukaku. NEA.

Hibbert is going to be out for at least another week from the sounds of things.

 

[Abraders]

Hibbert is going to be out for at least another week from the sounds of things.

Missed that! Hmm, in which case drop Barry into CB and replace Hibbo with Barkley.

 

[Abraders]

New team based on injuries I missed... Some sort of 4-1-4-1

Robles
Coleman Barry Alcaraz Garbutt
Besic
Mirallas Barkley Naismith Baines
Kone

 

[LinekersLegs]

Missed that! Hmm, in which case drop Barry into CB and replace Hibbo with Barkley.

I like Barry at Cb but an Alcaraz/Barry partnership would be very slow unfortunately.

The Barkley/Besic partnership looked good against QPR though so would be interesting to try again - think Barry and Besic get in each others way.

 

[Abraders]

I like Barry at Cb but an Alcaraz/Barry partnership would be very slow unfortunately.

The Barkley/Besic partnership looked good against QPR though so would be interesting to try again - think Barry and Besic get in each others way.

Alcaraz Barry has the potential to be the slowest thing ever, but I don't see a lot of options really unless we throw in Browning at CB?

Yeah definitely, think that was one of the better forces we had. Just scared of it being prone to mistakes but then again we have nothing else left to try anymore!

 

[LinekersLegs]

Alcaraz Barry has the potential to be the slowest thing ever, but I don't see a lot of options really unless we throw in Browning at CB?

Yeah definitely, think that was one of the better forces we had. Just scared of it being prone to mistakes but then again we have nothing else left to try anymore!

I reluctantly came to conclusion that keeping Alcaraz and Distin was the best bet. Mainly because those two are the fit CBs that Robles has played with the most frequently (Distin happened to be in the majority of Robles rare appearances last year) and the more comfortable he is the better he will hopefully peform. If it was Howard might have been interesting to see a Browning/Barry combo.

At least playing Besic/Barkley if they make mistakes you can hope they learn from it.