Should Jovetic Start Today?

[King Kev]

Apparently he is fit to play today, but would you start him?

Personally I would leave him on the bench and only use him if needed.
We have done really well with the new Striker-less formation in the last few games and I think the extra men in midfield would help to breakdown what I expect to be a stubborn (and numerous) Burnley defence.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Yes he should
This no striker mullarkey could catch up with us.
Plus it will be something different for Burnley to deal with that they haven't seen or worked out how to combat. One or two players might need a rest.
Jovetic up front, Milner switching to the right for Navas.

[Ted Hughes]

Not for me.

Start as we have been doing, then see if we can fit Jovetic into it later, without changing the style.

[South Stand Balti]

If he is fit then I would play him to allow some rotation. Having played only two days ago then a player of his quality could only help in theory. He does nt necessarily need to play as a striker either. However, I don't think he will start. The club will want to keep him fit throughout the Jan transfer window.

[ruralblue]

Not for me neither. Bench and maybe a run out for twenty at the end. Don't think we will need him by then anyway as I think we'll be four or five up by early second half. Continue playing Milner in this false number nine position and keep them midfielders proving that we ain't a one man team.

[blues2win]

I think we should avoid playing him in January so we keep him fit for January. Seriously I'd stick him on the bench and bring him on if we're desperate late in the game or alternatively if we're coasting to victory. If we're narrowly ahead I'd leave him on the bench. The FA Cup match might be one to target for a start if he stays injury free for that long.

[Beefymcfc]

If fit I'd be tempted to put him on in the role that Milner had and give him a rest. Jovetic likes to go wide anyway so there wouldn't be much change to the system. In fact, I think it'd be perfect for him, and us, with him dragging defenders out with him to open the space.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

No.

[nottsblue]

No.

Simply, he is not a guy who can play on his own up front.

If he is one of the six in midfield, rotating with Nasri and Silva and Yaya as to who is the furthest forward, then perhaps yes.

We should beat these today so why risk him?

[Ted Hughes]

If fit I'd be tempted to put him on in the role that Milner had and give him a rest. Jovetic likes to go wide anyway so there wouldn't be much change to the system. In fact, I think it'd be perfect for him, and us, with him dragging defenders out with him to open the space.

I agree he is perfect for this, in theory, but he hasn't been playing in it & it's been working. So if we could start the game & get ahead, then bring him in, he gets the chance to practice it.

[Herb]

If fit I'd be tempted to put him on in the role that Milner had and give him a rest. Jovetic likes to go wide anyway so there wouldn't be much change to the system. In fact, I think it'd be perfect for him, and us, with him dragging defenders out with him to open the space.

IMO you're bang on the nail Mr Beef - I'm hoping the gaffer sees it like that too.

[iwasthere2012]

If fit I'd be tempted to put him on in the role that Milner had and give him a rest. Jovetic likes to go wide anyway so there wouldn't be much change to the system. In fact, I think it'd be perfect for him, and us, with him dragging defenders out with him to open the space.

I agree he is perfect for this, in theory, but he hasn't been playing in it & it's been working. So if we could start the game & get ahead, then bring him in, he gets the chance to practice it.

Why change a winning team. Give him 20 minutes at the end. You guys seeing the matches live should have a better idea than me as to what is working, but from my perspective, even with mild rotation of the fit squad, things are working quite well.
I would favour, bringing players back from injury, gently.

[Original Dub]

I think he's perfect for that role.

But probably not fit and we're solid as is, so I'd bench him.

[phips]

for me, no. he's done nothing performance wise or fitness wise to warrant starting today or any other day

[City64]

Wank again , hurry up Sergio and get fit very soon please !

[PeterParker]

Wank again , hurry up Sergio and get fit very soon please !

I think we should part ways with him in the summer. He will not be a player we can count on, he will never be fully fit. We can squeeze 20 mil from Juventus for him. He had a lot of chances, but when everytime you get misterious injuries, maybe, just maybe it is your fault.

[City64]

Wank again , hurry up Sergio and get fit very soon please !

I think we should part ways with him in the summer. He will not be a player we can count on, he will never be fully fit. We can squeeze 20 mil from Juventus for him. He had a lot of chances, but when everytime you get misterious injuries, maybe, just maybe it is your fault.

He isn't good enough mate plus a sicknote ....... now would be a very good time to ged rid imho

[Beefymcfc]

Jovetic needs game-time and with a start it would've allowed him to get into the game while we had the energy elsewhere. Pellers knows where he's at though and doesn't usually start players coming back from injury.

Bringing him on for Milner was a mistake for me as he'd need about 30 mins just to get into it.

We were still winning 2-1 though and hindsight is great, isn't it.

[PeterParker]

Jovetic needs game-time and with a start it would've allowed him to get into the game while we had the energy elsewhere. Pellers knows where he's at though and doesn't usually start players coming back from injury.

Bringing him on for Milner was a mistake for me as he'd need about 30 mins just to get into it.

We were still winning 2-1 though and hindsight is great, isn't it.

For him to get game time, he needs to be game fit. We can count on fingers how many times he was fit more than 2 consecutive games in almost 2 years here. Since 2009 when people started looking at him, 65 % of that time we was injured. 5 years full of injuries.

He had his chances, it is time to move on. We are not the red cross.

[Beefymcfc]

Jovetic needs game-time and with a start it would've allowed him to get into the game while we had the energy elsewhere. Pellers knows where he's at though and doesn't usually start players coming back from injury.

Bringing him on for Milner was a mistake for me as he'd need about 30 mins just to get into it.

We were still winning 2-1 though and hindsight is great, isn't it.

For him to get game time, he needs to be game fit. We can count on fingers how many times he was fit more than 2 consecutive games in almost 2 years here. Since 2009 when people started looking at him, 65 % of that time we was injured. 5 years full of injuries.

He had his chances, it is time to move on. We are not the red cross.

Don't get me wrong mate, I'm in agreement with you. Where I think it's wrong is that someone would believe he could have any impact, in a team going backwards, after 60 mins. You either play him from the start when others can cover or not at all.