feck no, full strength from the get go and then take players off if we can.
we are not the only team to be playing games in close proximity or the only teams who's players are fatigued

Full strength didn’t exactly work last game tho did it

The players look knacked, especially Fernandes

And they have 3 day turn around to Chelsea

You always want to play your strongest line up but you have to factor in fitness

Chelsea have 2 extra days to rest for the FA cup but to be honest I couldn’t care less about the FA cup compared to top 4.

I think we will all agree on that - and I suspect chelsea will too.

Impossible for us to know the precise level of fitness/tiredness of each player, apparently Greenwood is highly doubtful/out, I would have thought Williams will make it (don't think concussion protocols apply).

If so Ighalo in the middle sounds nice, but to me Martial is still a left-sided forward who drives in rather than a pure no.9, and has never shone on the right. Ditto Rashford, but he can probably do a better job there. So maybe your line-up, with rashford for greenwood, and hopefully get a comfortable lead and take a few players off.

Then rest anyone who is either a key player, knackered, or both, at the weekend.

It's only really the CMs and Bruno that looked leggy... I wouldn't touch the front or back lines (unless injury dictates).

I would probably just swap out Matic for McT... If Pogba is running on empty, then McT and Fred for Matic and Pogba.

It's a tricky one for Ole and I think selection will purely be based on how fatigued the players are. Chelsea won't go as strong on the weekend either so I think that match looks after itself.

Leicester play first tonight so at least we'll know what we have to do (even if the team will obviously have been selected before their game) in terms of mindset. Leicester dropping points beforehand would be a big boost though so let's hope they do that. If offered it now I'd certainly take still being level on points with Leicester at the end of the evening as I think Spurs will get points off them on Sunday.

comment by Jim Lahey (U22183)
posted 19 minutes ago
Full strength didn’t exactly work last game tho did it

The players look knacked, especially Fernandes

And they have 3 day turn around to Chelsea

You always want to play your strongest line up but you have to factor in fitness
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Southampton are a much better team on form than palace, and we should have seen that game out, in fact with the chance we missed we could have walked away comfortably with the win.

a slightly fatigued fernandes will offer us more than a fully fit fred or mctominay

Not suggesting we do it, but with both LBs potentially out, should we play Dalot there or even go 352?

Something like
DDG
Bailly Lindelof Maguire
AWB Fred Bruno McT Dalot
Rash Martial (as wide forwards with Bruno pushing through the middle)

Just thinking outside the box. Gives Pogba and Matic a rest, with MG possibly nursing a knock as well.

Ighalo, Greenwood, Pogba to come from the bench if needed?

This game definitely takes priority over the cup game. Sunday is where I'd expect to see the changes.

Of the front 6, I suspect everyone who came off against Southampton will start. So that's Pogba, Greenwood and Bruno. I reckon we'll rest one of Rashford/Martial, and McT will probably come in for Matic. And probably Dalot at LB of course.

You'd hope it should be enough, but we rarely have an easy time at Selhurst Park. Even our wins there in recent years have generally been tight affairs.

Its an important game. But it's equally important we don't lose anyone to injury, especially Bruno. I would rest him, play McT and Fred, givr Pogba 45 minutes if necessary.

comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 8 minutes ago


You'd hope it should be enough, but we rarely have an easy time at Selhurst Park. Even our wins there in recent years have generally been tight affairs.
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generally they're a club whose home fans are right up for it, obviously that's not part of the equation tonight. lost their last 5 too, so if our players are anywhere near fit, we should have enough for them.

I think we'd see a good performance out of Fred and McT anyway. They'll be itching to play and have proved they have a good partnership. As long as Fernandes or Pogba are ahead of them to offer that link up with attacl, i'd not be concerned.

Need to look at AWB who didnt play well and looked knackered in the last 15-20 minutes against Southampton

comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 7 minutes ago
Need to look at AWB who didnt play well and looked knackered in the last 15-20 minutes against Southampton
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he had a bit of a shocker...but if either LB is unfit, and given that dalot hasn'r been seen for weeks, not much choice...unless we did go 3 at the back and ask james to play wing back i suppose.

remember when phil jones used to play right back?

comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Ole's joy Manticore (U2958)
posted 13 minutes ago
I think we'd see a good performance out of Fred and McT anyway. They'll be itching to play and have proved they have a good partnership. As long as Fernandes or Pogba are ahead of them to offer that link up with attacl, i'd not be concerned.
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I wouldn't be surprised to see on or both play tonight to be honest. They'll be itching to show they can contribute and to gear themselves up for a probably FA Cup semi final start.

There’s no way we’ll be playing with a midfield three. Ole isn’t going to change the system even if Bruno is left out, which I can’t see happening.

If it does happen, though, we’ll see Mata (most likely), Pereira or Lingard at ten.

I wouldn't change too much but I would freshen it up a bit.

If we had seen out the Southampton game, we'd have room to juggle the squad for the FA Cup. Right now we need 3 points more than anything.

I’d stick with the same starting XI.