tonight's match really is a great opportunity for slick rick.
What I love about cup games is that you really get to see where the priorities lie for a manager depending on the squad that hits the field. You also get to see the depth of a squad, (if indeed there is any FULHAM). For me personally, I really enjoy watching cup competitions because despite the economic pedestal the league and top-tier european competition look down loftily from, the cup competitions have a certain ‘je nais sais quois’ that is emblematic of what football is really all about.
Tonight it is arguable that we may see some fresh faces hit the pitch; due to the importance of our tie against Arsenal at the weekend where we will certainly want to go in all guns blazing. Rare talents will be showcased this night; but none with more to prove than David Bentley. On the back of news that Juande Ramos has disappeared with his horse and hat once again into the sunset, his totemic signing finally has the opportunity to try to operate in what can only be described as ‘a rigid system of play’ something which Ramos was vastly unfamiliar with.
Bentley’s qualities cannot be denied; the only reason he has been kept out of the team is that due to his lack of pace on our route 66, (in comparison to the spritely Aaron Lennon I might add), and with the irreplaceable yet medium paced Modric on the left, it would have put a lot of pressure on forward movement from a somewhat slow midfield selection. Simply put; Lennon’s blistering pace sets our midfield apart from one which has to battle it’s way up the pitch.
Aaron’s injury status will force the hand of Redknapp to play the syrup card tonight. As such we can expect the system to adapt slightly for him. Specifically I expect that he will be playing further up the pitch and dropping in crosses from the edge of the box rather than bursting towards the byline, something that should offer out strikers a different kind of opportunity.
Due to Bentley’s presence on the field you can only assume that Pavlyuchenko or Crouch will be looking to take one of the slots alongside Robbie; though I would imagine that Harry would be hard pressed to leave Roman out for a match where he will be testing fringe players claims to a first team bearth; specifically as he has said in recent quotes that ‘I’m looking for a big performance from him. A performance that says ‘you can’t leave me out the team now’. Though with suggestions that through meetings with Hiddink they both seem to affirm his status as a ‘sleeping giant’ someone better put some tabasco in his shorts tonight.
Due to our squad depth; we have been attributed with being the favourites for a win tonight; however it is of note that without our wing-wizard Luka Modric we also have flattered to deceive at White Hart Lane. It’s fair to say that it will be an interesting match tonight; though a loss at this stage of the competition would sully this season’s waters in a time when we find ourselves at our most fragile. Though looking at the injury list that Everton are nursing; it’s fair to say we’re not looking too crocked. COYS
Possible Line Up -
———————Cudicini———————
Naughton—Bassong——Dawson——-Bale
Bentley—Huddlestone—Jenas—–Krancjar
———-Pavlyuchenko—-Keane————-
2-1 Spurs
