Worried

COYP

Rashford would have been delighted to be up against Clyne and Tomkins so presumably the thinking is Richards may have a bit more pace to cover. Interested to see how we set up up front. Presumably Zaha play out left as usual and Edouard in behind Mateta with Eze on for Edouard later? I’d like to see Edouard given a shot on the left. It’s his natural position and Wilf has the ability and experience to play as a 10. Hughes needs a big game!

At least PV is giving it a go, I was dreading the same washed out line up. Of course this is a gamble and still a low chance of getting anything, but better than no chance with the team from the last few games.

I like the pairing of Doucoure and Hughes in the middle. Usually it’s poor old Doucoure on his own and Schlupp buzzing around like a blue arsed fly.

Also very interested to see how Richards performs. I’ll cut him a bit of slack and wish him good luck.

The beatings will stop when morale improves.

I presume Mateta plays up top, with a flexible three man line up of Olise, Zaha and Edouard behind him, rather than a front two of Mateta and Edouard. Still a slightly odd selection when we could have played a third midfielder instead of both our strikers.

Nervous about Richards. Talk about thrown in at the deep end.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (18 Jan 2023 7.47pm)

Actually, I've thought, for some time, that Edouard might make a decent attacking midfielder. At times he's shown flashes of good bursts with excellent control. Defenders hate being ran at.