Well, today didn’t happen. Moving on to United...
------------Begovic------------
---Cook---Simpson---Ake---
Ibe----Lerma---Surman---Rico
-------------Brooks------------
------Mousset-----Wilson------
Subs: Boruc, Mings, Taylor, Fraser, Stanislas, King, Defoe
We need to start playing a back 3 on a regular basis until we can get some cover in. I also think Mousset, Simpson and Rico deserve a run of games, based on their performances and also due to circumstance. Though I would have gone with a back 3 anyway. Simpson or Mings will be coming in, and honestly Simpson has outperformed Mings in his limited game time so I’d go with him. With Francis out now, Ibe is the only option we have for RB; he was fantastic against Chelsea so hopefully he can recapture that form on a consistent basis.
I’d get Ian Harte back ahead of Daniels on current form, so obviously Rico has to come in. King has been coasting, Mousset looks hungrier, so I’d have him in as well. Get Brooks in his natural No10 role to feed the two willing runners in Callum and Lys. And pray Lerma doesn’t get injured. Might be harsh to drop Fraser to the bench in this formation, but his actual full-90 minute performances dropped off months ago for me. He’s better coming off the bench than Mousset or Brooks would be so...that’s just how it is sometimes. I genuinely believe this team can beat United.
On just a general note, I honestly find it a bit distasteful to see Simpson put in such a fantastic performance against a top 4 side, and then be immediately dropped from the match day squad. Or hear EH complimenting Rico after the game, only to drop him for Daniels straight away. Or hear EH stating that Chelsea was Moussets best performance for the club. Dropped. Why not give the players that are showing some form a chance??? He might have to now, judging by these injuries we’re racking up. And who knows, with a run of games, they might actually be good.
The fact that Eddie hasn’t rotated the squad over this Christmas period at all is naive and very poor, and shows that he still has some ways to go before he is ready for the “big time clubs”. Did Francis really need to be rushed back so quickly, with Ibe looking capable?