The Mail Bag
Team on Thursday
Comments (23)
I think, after the game yesterday, we are in an interesting situation to see what the team will be on Thursday against Benfica. I have a feeling it will be something like this, providing the players who were playing yesterday are still fit enough:
Howard
Hibbert, Distin, Yobo, Baines
Gosling, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bily
Cahill
Saha
That's a pretty good team in my opinion, and a whole lot better than the team in the Europa League fixture in the Stadium of Light.
Hibbert's inclusion is very important because he is always good at containing wingers, so if Hibbert can handle Di Maria, I think we have a very good chance.
I really hope Pienaar is fit though, so we can rest Cahill. Or we could play 4-4-2 and play Jo or Yak with Saha.
So.... will it be 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 for this game?
Ben Jones, Posted 01/11/2009 at 12:39:56
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
I think 4-5-1 is a must against Benfica as they will outplay us if we go for an attack-minded formation. We need a packed midfield and Cahill will play behind the striker if Pienaar is fit. So I agree with the team above but with Pienaar for Gosling if he is fit.
I think we were all a bit shocked at how good Benfica actually were the other week. We know what to expect now. Definitely 4-5-1... and get a lot tighter to Di Maria and Saviola who ripped us apart every time they got the ball. We need to get Cahill in the centre of the pitch. He offers nothing from the right or left when he has played out there.
Whatever happens, I’m sure we won’t get a reapeat of last time. But how good would it be to turn them over on our patch like they did to us! I wonder what I would get for 5-0 on Paddypower?
Whatever happens, I’m sure we won’t get a reapeat of last time. But how good would it be to turn them over on our patch like they did to us! I wonder what I would get for 5-0 on Paddypower?
I dont agree Benfica are that good.
We played them when we were awful and they hit a purple patch.
They had some indifferent form in the group until they played us,
I think we should go all out with a high tempo attack and put them under.
That would also get the crowd going.
We played them when we were awful and they hit a purple patch.
They had some indifferent form in the group until they played us,
I think we should go all out with a high tempo attack and put them under.
That would also get the crowd going.
Currently 100/1 on Paddypower for us to win 5-0.
Jay, I agree that we should go high-tempo but I don’t think that we should play a completely attack-minded midfield as they do have quality attackers and we need to break down any counter-attacks from them.
Ben, Yep we will play 4-5-1 at home we won’t have the Yak and Saha up front. After yesterday's game awith the Yak playing 90 mins, I think he’ll be saved for Sunday at West Ham.
Jay, I agree Benfica are not a great, they do have a massive talent in Di Maria but not much else. After the game settles, we should be fine.
Jay, I agree Benfica are not a great, they do have a massive talent in Di Maria but not much else. After the game settles, we should be fine.
I think it’s dangerous to underestimate Benfica. They were a very good side and could easily have won by more than 5. That said, we were awful in Lisbon. I doubt whether we’ll go 4-4-2 as in the league system, it’s not about aggregate scores. A point would suit both teams methinks
Ray, they are a good team, but not great. Let's put the last game into context: we had Hibbo playing CD doubling up as RB cover for Gosling who at RB got no cover from Cahill and Coleman (a CD) playing LB making his debut...
The back 4 playing yesterday wouldn’t have been torn like that!!
The back 4 playing yesterday wouldn’t have been torn like that!!
Did anyone catch Benfica’s last game online? I know it was on selected betting sites. It was a top-of-the-table clash, they were playing away and they lost 2-0.
I’m curious to know if they showed any consistent quality against Braga as they did against us, or if it was more likely that they were more likely to capitalise on our defensive frailties.
I’m curious to know if they showed any consistent quality against Braga as they did against us, or if it was more likely that they were more likely to capitalise on our defensive frailties.
"So if Hibbert can handle Di Maria, I think we have a very good chance. "
Is that a joke?...
Benifca are in fact a very good team and expect another spanking I’m afraid. Saviola, Di Maria, Aimar are some of the best in the business. No chance.
Is that a joke?...
Benifca are in fact a very good team and expect another spanking I’m afraid. Saviola, Di Maria, Aimar are some of the best in the business. No chance.
I don’t expect much out of this game other than the chance to see some decent players in Di Maria and Saviola but a question slightly off topic is that just a few weeks ago Pienaar was posted as "a last minute fitness check" before a game shortly after he was assaulted... yet since — absolutely FA from Everton. Why do the club bother with this "last minute fitness check" bullshit as I can’t remember the last time anyone "passed" and played.
James, sorry but I wasn’t joking and predicting we have no chance against them is pathetic!
Benfica are a very good team, but we can beat them. Di Maria was by far the best player in the last game, and that’s why I think Hibbert is key, and the best reason why we have him at the club — to contain wingers.
If Gavin is right, that Pienaar is back, then we have a chance, it’s completely different at home.
Aimar is a very good player, but he’s not in the world’s best, and Saviola has a lot of pace on him, but he was never as good as he was in his early days for Barca. Ramirez I think is a better player than Aimar!
Honestly, I can see a 1-0 win and Hibbert MotM!
Benfica are a very good team, but we can beat them. Di Maria was by far the best player in the last game, and that’s why I think Hibbert is key, and the best reason why we have him at the club — to contain wingers.
If Gavin is right, that Pienaar is back, then we have a chance, it’s completely different at home.
Aimar is a very good player, but he’s not in the world’s best, and Saviola has a lot of pace on him, but he was never as good as he was in his early days for Barca. Ramirez I think is a better player than Aimar!
Honestly, I can see a 1-0 win and Hibbert MotM!
The only reason Di Maria stood out is because we let him.
Some "good" English defending and he’ll be anonymous.
Saviola however is a good player but only if he sees the ball.
I’m sure Moyes and the lads will be up for this one.
Put your money on an overdue home win.
Some "good" English defending and he’ll be anonymous.
Saviola however is a good player but only if he sees the ball.
I’m sure Moyes and the lads will be up for this one.
Put your money on an overdue home win.
"Hibbert’s inclusion is very important because he is always good at containing wingers, so if Hibbert can handle Di Maria, I think we have a very good chance."
--------------------------------------------
Yeah. Brilliant at containing Malouda in FA Cup final, wasn’t he!!!
I am not Neill’s greatest fan but until Pip comes back, he would be my first choice right back.
--------------------------------------------
Yeah. Brilliant at containing Malouda in FA Cup final, wasn’t he!!!
I am not Neill’s greatest fan but until Pip comes back, he would be my first choice right back.
You're on Cloud Nine, Ben.
Optimism is a good thing but you're being very naive!
Saviola was seen as one of the gems of South America not so long ago. He was exceptional at River Plate, hence his big money move to Spain.
They are full of flair players who can really play. There is no shame in being beaten by a better team. I would like to see some fight and effort though... not just pathetically giving in like last time.
Optimism is a good thing but you're being very naive!
Saviola was seen as one of the gems of South America not so long ago. He was exceptional at River Plate, hence his big money move to Spain.
They are full of flair players who can really play. There is no shame in being beaten by a better team. I would like to see some fight and effort though... not just pathetically giving in like last time.
Hey you lot who predict a spanking, they got beat by the Greeks 1-0 away, so that’s how good they can be.
James
Saviola has been playing in Europe for nearly a decade, he has played for Barca and Real. so he clearly has talent. Benfica paid for a 5m Euros for him - where were we when that deal was going through ?
Anyway, that aside I think its you who is being Naive. The way our players are going down, we have no idea who will even be fit, so Ben may be a tad ambitious trying to name a side, but I think he has called the result absolutely right. Benfica embarrassed us a fortnight ago and there will be a real feeling amongst our ranks that we have a score to settle. I sincerely hope the bookies are thinking along the same lines as you, because if they are, they’ll be the ones taking a spanking. Anything around evens and I’ll be lumping on
Saviola has been playing in Europe for nearly a decade, he has played for Barca and Real. so he clearly has talent. Benfica paid for a 5m Euros for him - where were we when that deal was going through ?
Anyway, that aside I think its you who is being Naive. The way our players are going down, we have no idea who will even be fit, so Ben may be a tad ambitious trying to name a side, but I think he has called the result absolutely right. Benfica embarrassed us a fortnight ago and there will be a real feeling amongst our ranks that we have a score to settle. I sincerely hope the bookies are thinking along the same lines as you, because if they are, they’ll be the ones taking a spanking. Anything around evens and I’ll be lumping on
Totally agree Ben. If there is one thing Hibbo is good at, its containing wingers. I’m not saying he does it all the time but we’ve seen him do it many times before. I think its unfair to keep bringing up the cup final. We could all see he wasn’t match fit and an early yellow card didn’t help. Whether he should have been on the pitch is another matter. Also Kirk, i agree Neill is a better all round full back but he can’t play in Europe so you can forget about that.
Ben, I would think the team you have mentioned, would be about the strongest we could field, and I think also,the pride of the players will come to the fore, after that display and result in Lisbon.
And above all, the crowd will have a big say, as the atmosphere should be electric.
And above all, the crowd will have a big say, as the atmosphere should be electric.
Don’t waste your money Dave. I will be very pleasantly surprised if we get anything from the game.
We should have been in for Saviola you are quite right there though. He would have been a drastic improvement on Jo!
We should have been in for Saviola you are quite right there though. He would have been a drastic improvement on Jo!
Di Maria Versus Gosling and Hibbert will be a disaster.
Gosling is hopeless and well Hibbert....
Let's just hope he is having a good day and doesn’t get booked in the first half an hour!
Gosling is hopeless and well Hibbert....
Let's just hope he is having a good day and doesn’t get booked in the first half an hour!
James, yes Saviola WAS exceptional, but he’s like Geovanni, after a big money move to Barca, he hasn’t cut it. Of course he is better than Geovanni, and obviously rated very highly, but he’s not that close to his potential he had at River Plate.
The only bad games I think tha Hibbert had with defending against class wingers, is the FA cup final and a couple of games against Villa. But he could be very useful in this game in handling Di Maria.
Cannot wait for the game!
The only bad games I think tha Hibbert had with defending against class wingers, is the FA cup final and a couple of games against Villa. But he could be very useful in this game in handling Di Maria.
Cannot wait for the game!
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.
© ToffeeWeb
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 01/11/2009 at 18:29:48
Report abuse