Team & Tactics v Burnley

[brite blu sky]

last time out it was
Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Garrido (Onuoha, 87), De Jong, Vieira, Wright-Phillips (Bellamy, 46), Johnson, Adebayor, Tevez (Sylvinho, 87)

Zabba is suspended, Ireland is injured and there was a hint that DeJong will be rested to avoid him getting banned.

Richards might be back in, and Barry is very likely to be back in, Vieira has been told to up his game so i would expect he will be given the chance to that.
An interesting suggestion by someone this week was that Toure could be pushed up to DM and Ned come in as CB, but that was a response to the question of Vieira being dumped.. so the most similar to last time would be

Given
Richards, Toure, Kompany, Garrido
Wright-Phillips, Barry, Vieira, Johnson,
Adebayor, Tevez

As for tactics. The talk of patience from Toure was revealing, so we might expect a similar game plan to the Wigan game, but with proper commitment from the start. If we can keep the ball better this time and make them chase for it, then this tactic could be a good one.
Vieira has been told he has to play better.. so i guess that is what he will try and do. i think there is good reason to think that Ade will improve also. Barry has had a rest so again there are reasons to expect a good performance from him too.

I expect the first half will be tight again, but i think this time we will get a breakthrough as Burnley being at home and in trouble they need to try and come at us.
Last but not least, again as mentioned in another post it would make a lot of sense to unleash Bellemy onto a tiring Burnley during the second half.

looking forward to the predictions thread today..

[johnny crossan]

...........Shay
Ned, Kolo, Komps, Javi
Sweep, Nige, Bazza, AJ
Ade, Carlos

Subs Taylor, Rocky, Pat and 4 others

betcha

[Ted Hughes]

Attack. Don't play Vieria as one of only 2 midfield players. Pick Tevez + 10 others.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

...........Shay
Ned, Kolo, Komps, Javi
Sweep, Nige, Bazza, AJ
Ade, Carlos

Subs Taylor, Rocky, Pat and 4 others

betcha

Maybe just close and no cigar :)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

...........Shay
Ned, Kolo, Komps, Javi
Sweep, Nige, Bazza, AJ
Ade, Carlos

Subs Taylor, Rocky, Pat and 4 others

betcha

Maybe just close and no cigar :)

Didn't you spot Silv in for Garrido?

[Blue Since 76]

last time out it was
Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Garrido (Onuoha, 87), De Jong, Vieira, Wright-Phillips (Bellamy, 46), Johnson, Adebayor, Tevez (Sylvinho, 87)

Zabba is suspended, Ireland is injured and there was a hint that DeJong will be rested to avoid him getting banned.

Richards might be back in, and Barry is very likely to be back in, Vieira has been told to up his game so i would expect he will be given the chance to that.
An interesting suggestion by someone this week was that Toure could be pushed up to DM and Ned come in as CB, but that was a response to the question of Vieira being dumped.. so the most similar to last time would be

Given
Richards, Toure, Kompany, Garrido
Wright-Phillips, Barry, Vieira, Johnson,
Adebayor, Tevez

As for tactics. The talk of patience from Toure was revealing, so we might expect a similar game plan to the Wigan game, but with proper commitment from the start. If we can keep the ball better this time and make them chase for it, then this tactic could be a good one.
Vieira has been told he has to play better.. so i guess that is what he will try and do. i think there is good reason to think that Ade will improve also. Barry has had a rest so again there are reasons to expect a good performance from him too.

I expect the first half will be tight again, but i think this time we will get a breakthrough as Burnley being at home and in trouble they need to try and come at us.
Last but not least, again as mentioned in another post it would make a lot of sense to unleash Bellemy onto a tiring Burnley during the second half.

looking forward to the predictions thread today..

With hindsight, I'm pretty confident you'll be wrong.