by Colin the King » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:06 am
The mistake we made in the past was playing a team full of reserves- and in that sense I mean guys in their late 20s and early 30s who had no passion for the club and were content earning their £30k a week from the sidelines. I do believe we can afford to play a few from the academy, and with experienced, top class first teamers around them will have enough to win the game. With that in mind this is the team I'd like to see on Thursday-
------------------Given----------------
Trippier---Touré---Onuoha---Bridge
------------de Jong---Zabaleta-------
-------------------Ireland--------------
Weiss------------------------------Petrov
-------------------Bellamy-----------------
I think there's a nice balance there of youth and experience. It's a system that's conducive to good football yet has a solid foundation. Ireland would have the chance to shine in his more favoured advanced position and Weiss, Petrov and Ned can stake their claims for first team football. Trippier is a really exciting talent and one I have high hopes for. I think he's well capable of taking on Palace and he'd have world class, experienced professionals like Given and Touré to reassure and help him along. It gives the players who were exhausted by 5pm on Saturday a rest- most notably SWP and Richards, which is a great luxury to have. They can then come back fit and fresh and in contention for Portsmouth. We can have Adebayor on the bench if their style of play dictates the need for a physical presence, Tevez to continue his return to full fitness with 15 minutes towards the end and a couple more kids on the bench too- maybe Adam Clayton and McGivern.