Your team v Benfica (Champion's League, first leg)

[Insidious]

He's playing for an hour and a half twice a week, I'm sure he can cope !!
I see your point ,yeh maybe a good call for Konate

Guess I look at it like this -

Watford
Benfica
Man City
Benfica
Man City

We obviously don't have the medical understanding of our staff, but given Matip's past issues, I wouldn't want Matip playing more than 3 of those matches.

For me (before this run) I'd have felt Watford, Man City in the League, Man City in the Cup are the 3 I'd want him to play. 1/3/5 in terms of order, so the 2/4 nature of the placement of the Benfica games seems absolutely tailor-made for playing Konate.

Gives them both plenty of minutes (we will need both lads in the run-in) whilst burning out neither one. If we go out (over 2 legs) to Benfica I don't think we can point the finger at Ibou in isolation - he's an excellent player and we have more than enough to collectively compensate throughout the side.

The midfield/forward slots will be harder to call. I'd like Tsimikas used at some stage, but don't want to disrupt the back four tooooo much in terms of chemistry, so it's difficult to see which game we'll pick to give Robbo a rest - if indeed he gets one at all.

[Nineteenx]

I think going with Matip is a brave shout - where do we rest him, as he surely plays against Man City?

Perhaps the medical staff feel they have a lid on his past issues.

Matip has just had 2 weeks rest while everyone else was travelling and playing internationals, that was why I included him

[miller0863]

Good point 19

[CCTV]

........................Alisson

Gomez......Konate.....Van Dijk....Robertson

.......................Fabinho

...........Henderson...........Ox

.......Salah..........Jota...........Diaz

Konate for both Benfica games to keep Matip fresh.

Ox to preserve Thiago for Man City.

5 subs remember so can change things if required.

Hard to know really. Think we might see Matip (knock), Hendo & Robbo start on the bench.

Would like some bubble wrapping ahead of the city game at the weekend. We've got able deputies. Something like..

................Alisson
Gomez Konate Virg Tsimi
.......Milner Fab Thiago
........Salah Diaz Mane




One game at a time an all, but we should be able to manage our way through this first leg.

....................Alisson
Trent/Gomez Matip Virgil Robbo
..........Henderson Fabinho
...Salah ..Bobby ............. Mane/Diaz
...........................Diogoals

For the weekend

[Insidious]

Last chance to build confidence before the Man City match - let's get this done boys!

[southernboy]

All of our upcoming fixtures are massive, which is great. I would personally rest Salah in the hope that he’s rested and raring to go against city. You have a feeling that he’s lacking a bit of confidence, and a goal would get him back on track.

At least with the Benfica game, we have the second leg to put things right. It’s a luxury we won’t get it again if we fuck it up.

[Nineteenx]

Go to get the win and look to win well, FULL SQUAD to choose from, Matip had a knock v Watford apparently though, so I have opted for Konate to err on the side of caution and Keita for Thiago to try and make sure the latter is available to bum City in the wrong un

Alisson

Trent Konate Van Dijk Robertson

Henderson Fabinho Keita

Salah Jota Diaz

5 Subs to really really look to come out of the traps flying and if it reaps dividends look to get Trent, Fab and Jota of on the hour

I absolutely expect our lads to administer a hard, deep penetrating bumming, get the win and an absolutely vital lead to take into the second leg at Anfield

[southernboy]

Keita trained today apparently. I don’t see him starting but options are good.

[LEGS]

Konate is a good shout for this game his pace and strength against Nunez.

Be interesting to see what side we put out probably 3-4 changes.

[scientificred]

Keita trained today apparently. I don’t see him starting but options are good.

Still just gone 27 . There is a talent there somewhere.