The return of Grabban

[TA Canary]

With Grabban available again for the final, do you think he should be in the starting 11?
 
Neil obviously rates him and his judgement so far has been near perfect, and Grabban did perform well since Neil came in. I can't imagine a repeat of the red card from the Rotherham match.
 
On the other hand, there's the red card from the Rotherham match. Not exactly the temperament you want to see in such a big game like we have coming up. Coupled with his recent injury, Grabban is pretty short on match fitness and next Monday it will be a full month since he last played. And do we really want to drop Jerome, who did his job well enough in the semis?
 
My feelings are not to change a winning team, go with the same 11 who started on Saturday.
 
From what I've seen of Alex Neil so far, I suspect we'll see Grabban up top in place of Jerome, and Dorrans in midfield for Hoolahan. Whatever team he chooses, I trust him to make the right call.

 

[morty]

Tricky one, you could argue that Jerome has earned the right to play at Wembley. But we do look better with Grabban in the team.

 

[Gaffer]

Doesn't deserve to be in the team and I don't recall him adding much when he came on against Middlesbrough at Carrow Road so no, stick with Jerome.

 

[derehamyella]

Think AN will play horses for course's    if Grabban can do the job he wants he is in, if he wants to go another way he is not.  I don't think he is guaranteed a start anymore than Jerome or Hooper.   

He was fit and able to play against these back in april but didn't start the match.     But may havehad more to do with returning from injury   (trying to second guess here)

 

[Canary Fest]

Would start with Grabban all day long. Would be tempted to drop Wes and play a Grabban/Jerome front line and use Wes later on in the match especially if extra time may be a possibility

 

[Suffolk Canary]

I think Jerome should play this game regardless of weather Grabban had been suspended or not. I just think it's going to be an extremely physical battle, and Jerome stands a better chance of making an impact than Grabban.   Or will that suck is in to trying to beat them at their own game?

 

[KeiranShikari]

I think OP is probably right. Dorrans and Grabban in for Wes and Jerome. 

I think Jerome should play this game regardless of weather Grabban had been suspended or not. I just think it's going to be an extremely physical battle, and Jerome stands a better chance of making an impact than Grabban.   Or will that suck is in to trying to beat them at their own game?

Pretty sure we'll be going to pass through them, it's what we're best at.

 

[BroadstairsR]

Can't change a winning side. Grabban on the bench, if needed, not a starter.

His sending off has cost us nothing, whereas it could have.

I hope it is a lesson well learnt.

Besides Jerome has been pretty useful of late and what about Hooper?

That choice of forwards with a decent wide-man added to the equation would make for a solid attack if we do reach the PL.

 

[Salopian]

Under Neil Grabban was at times almost a right winger, so it may be that Grabban will start and Redmond come when players are a little tired. I would not be happy to have Grabban as a lone striker, whatever players are selected.

After a couple of weeks Grabban could be raring to go, and Jerome has hardly pulled up trees recently, but I think that despite his inconsistency Jerome is a better finisher.

Would Neil go with both of them, and drop either Wes or Redmond? I think not, and neither would he play Wes in the midfield, as it would weaken the defensive cover.

It's a difficult one, and nobody knows Neil's mind, but if it's difficult for us it must be even more for the Middlesboro manager.

 

[GJP]

Big fan of Grabban but also a big fan of Jerome.

Hard to overlook Jerome after his massive performance on Saturday.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Yes, tricky to bring a player back after 3 games and 3 weeks out for the biggest game of the season.  We saw with BJ when he came back he was a bit off the pace for his first game.  Grabban as a sub for me, potential for his mobility to have an impact later in the game.  Jerome the sort of player you want up front for the start of the game when we may have to play some long balls.

Midfield is the tricky area.  Start with Hoolahan and Redmond, or bench one of them for Dorrans ?  I'm kinda glad I don't need to decide.

Can't see any other changes, barring injury.

 

[Din]

I personally would have Jerome ahead of Grabban, and I think Neil will go with that. Jerome has arguably been our best player over the last 2 games, and although I think Grabban has a better partnership with Wes, Jerome for me warrants a start because of his performances in the last 2 games. 

I would pick the same team that played against Ipswich on Saturday personally, although as others have said I imagine Dorrans will come in for Redmond. It would surprise me though to see Jerome on the bench.

In terms of who's the better player, I would say Jerome just edges it. I don't think either of them are great finishers, both of them work hard off the ball, and both of them are very good at holding the ball up, however Jerome's physical traits (his strength, pace, aerial ability) give him the edge over Grabban for me. 2 very good strikers at this level though, however personally I think Hooper is better than both of them.

 

[GJP]

 however personally I think Hooper is better than both of them.

I think Hooper is probably a better finisher and maybe a bit tidier with the ball. 

But if I was a defender I'd rather play against him than Jerome or Grabban. 

 

[splutcho]

I still feel a little bitter that when we really needed him, he let us down against Rotherham. Bench for me.

 

[Din]

I think Hooper is probably a better finisher and maybe a bit tidier with the ball. 

But if I was a defender I'd rather play against him than Jerome or Grabban. 

True. However, all round I would say he is our best striker. And should we get into the Premier League I think he would get the most goals.

 

[GJP]

Why though? Has neither the presence nor the pace of either Jerome or Grabban so what else does he have to make him "all round" the best?

He hasn't scored the most goals this season in a weaker league. So why would he score more in a much better league?

Hooper is probably a better finisher and neater player than Grant Holt was. Infact Holt wasn't one of the most accomplished players you've ever seen. But Hooper or Holt at his very best?

Holt by miles and miles.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Jerome to start for me. He was immense against Ipswich, as was Redmond in the second half. We need to score first or it'll be a war of attrition if they do.

 

[splutcho]

I don't know who the better player is, but I know if any of the three go through on goal on Monday with the score at 0-0 in injury time, I want it to be Hooper.

 

[Din]

Why though? Has neither the presence nor the pace of either Jerome or Grabban so what else does he have to make him "all round" the best?

He hasn't scored the most goals this season in a weaker league. So why would he score more in a much better league?

Hooper is probably a better finisher and neater player than Grant Holt was. Infact Holt wasn't one of the most accomplished players you've ever seen. But Hooper or Holt at his very best?

Holt by miles and miles.

I agree he doesn't have the strength or speed of either of the other two strikers, however his finishing is by far superior to either of them, his link-up play is better (although Jerome and Grabban are also good at this), and his movement in the box is also the best of the 3. His close control is also very good. That's why I think he'd fare much better in the Premier League.

Look at Harry Kane for example, not particularly quick, and although he's a big lad he's not the strongest either, but he's a very good penalty box player and a great finisher, just like Hooper. Neither Jerome or Grabban are as good as him at either of those things.

I'm not sure we can judge too much goal-wise from Hooper this season to be honest. He was injured for a lot of the opening games, meaning that he didn't make his first appearance until the end of October, and his first start until the end of November. Alex Neil has also said that he doesn't think Hooper is as suited to play up front on his own as Jerome/Grabban, hence the reason why he hasn't been starting lately, hence the reason he's got less goals than the other two. I believe that if we were to play Hooper alongside Jerome in a front two, it would be very successful. However what we're doing right now with Jerome/Grabban up top and Hoolahan in behind is also successful, so there's no need to change it.

I would say Holt has a lot of similar traits to Hooper, only difference is that he's a much physically stronger version. Both are/were good finishers and both have very good movement in the box. Hooper's link-up play is better though. Of course I'd have Holty but as I said I don't actually think when you look at the way the two operate on the pitch that there's a huge amount of difference (except Holt fouls/gets fouled far more often).

 

[derehamyella]

Personally and I say only my own personal view.   I much prefer Jerome, Grabban at times looks a little poor, he has missed a few by completely missing his kick, his awareness isn't as good a Jerome  or Hoopers. Offside far more than them (not checked this stat)  For me his one biggest asset is speed. 

He will have to shift up some gears quickly when we are playing at the higher level.  TBH I would have prefered Wilson  who went to Bournemouth