Team For Stoke

[MattyRangers]

Oh OK... that one positive about him in about 3 years gives him a divine right to start every week now does it? Cos he was bang average when he came on last week.
I've had enough of him and im fed up of seeing his name. Why not give Zarate a chance ahead of him... If there was no sentiment in it then Zarate would be in most peoples teams ahead of Adel.

He looked more creative than the rest of our side when he came on!

Tbh it's only you getting emotional about Tarbs either way on this thread. No "pro Tarbs" rants here whatsoever, just a few people realising that he offers far more creativity than anybody else we have & sticking him in their preferred starting 11, purely based on recent performnces - no mention of past 3 years actions.

He is our player, we are paying him big bucks each week, may as well make him work for it.

[maidstone_hoop]

As people have said Taarabt atm offers us creativity. He's got that bit of magic which we are lacking. It would be nice to have other options and maybe we do in Zarate but the last I heard he was someway off fitness.

[West London is Rss]

He looked more creative than the rest of our side when he came on!

Tbh it's only you getting emotional about Tarbs either way on this thread. No "pro Tarbs" rants here whatsoever, just a few people realising that he offers far more creativity than anybody else we have & sticking him in their preferred starting 11, purely based on recent performnces - no mention of past 3 years actions.

He is our player, we are paying him big bucks each week, may as well make him work for it.

What about Zarate then? Why should fat boy Adel who doesn't want to be here continually be given chances ahead of someone who hasn't had one?
Zarate may offer just as much if not more creativity

Based on recent performances? Do you mean one performance in a crucial loss at Burnley where everyone else was average?

Na, im not buying it mate. Would rather Zarate or Fer get a chance in his position. He don't deserve anymore chances IMO.

Not saying your one of them but there's too many fans still clinging onto the good times with Adel.

[Hove Ranger]

I'd go for that but just as long as we dont just hoof it aimlessly up the ground like we have for most of the season.

That is my worry. Austin struggles playing as a lone striker, mainly because we seem to play very direct (particularly away from home) and im not sure he has the physical presence or experience to play that role yet, it leaves him isolated in games and effectively hands possession back to the opponent. This is emphasised by the improvement in performance when zamora has played along side him.

[MattyRangers]

What about Zarate then? Why should fat boy Adel who doesn't want to be here continually be given chances ahead of someone who hasn't had one?
Zarate may offer just as much if not more creativity

Based on recent performances? Do you mean one performance in a crucial loss at Burnley where everyone else was average?

Na, im not buying it mate. Would rather Zarate or Fer get a chance in his position. He don't deserve anymore chances IMO.

Not saying your one of them but there's too many fans still clinging onto the good times with Adel.

The same Zarate that ain't fit enough to play and nearly failed his medical?

[nasser95]

Green
Henry Caulker Onuoha Yun

Isla Fer Barton

Varga Austin Zarate



Sandro and Tarbs on the bench. But I would love to have them both on the pitch as early as possibly. Henry is a odd choice on the RB, but he has played there for us before and I trust his positional sense.

Orrrrr, just play isla there and Henry in the middle, so everyone is in their right positions.

[MattyRangers]

Oh and the same Zarate that stormed out of the ground on 80 min last week? That Zarate?

[West London is Rss]

The same Zarate that ain't fit enough to play and nearly failed his medical?

Do you believe everything you read in the media Matty?.. Did you believe that Adel was never fit enough to play as well?

[Shania]

I see what you mean, but It sould be interesting to see what Vargas can do in the position he is most used to. Regarding right back; I trust Henry whereever they play him;))

[Brian Wilson]

Green

Isla Onuoha Dunne Yun

Barton Fer Sandro Kranjcar

Austin Zarate

Haul Zarate off for Zamora if necessary. Barton is decent at RM and will offer defensive protection. Krancjar cause I dont wanna play Trapre, Hoilett or even Philips (can he play on the left?). We need Sandro and Yun back asap so if they are fit, throw em in. Ned and Dunne deserve to start ahead of Caulker.

[MattyRangers]

Do you believe everything you read in the media Matty?.. Did you believe that Adel was never fit enough to play as well?

Do you prefer length or girth?

[Mattyqpr]

Oh and the same Zarate that stormed out of the ground on 80 min last week? That Zarate?

Was that confirmed Matty?

To be honest, I don't blame him. I don't care what level of fitness he's at, if he's named on the bench, he's fit to play 10 mins!

I think he's got to start. We've got a player on our hands who paid up his contract in the summer to join West Ham. The move hasn't worked out and he's desperate to show the world he can cut it.

[Kevin Mcleod]

Whatever team we play, lose this one and we are bang in trouble.

[Mattyqpr]

Whatever team we play, lose this one and we are bang in trouble.

We're bang in trouble regardless of the result Kev.

I get what you're saying though. I'm strangely confident, we've got a decent record at Stoke in recent years and they're not the best at home this season. A point will do just to break the rotten run. A win could completely change our fortunes and lift a huge amount of pressure of the players. A defeat and the pressure mounts. A poor performance and it'll be a rough ride for the players and staff coming back into the tunnel!

[Kevin Mcleod]

A win (highly unlikely) and things will look so different matty. But i wouldnt advise anyone to hold their breath for it.