The return of Grabban

[splutcho]

I was interested, and did check that stat. You are correct. 

This season Gary Hooper has been caught offside every 279 minutes, Cameron Jerome has been caught offside every 73 minutes, and Lewis Grabban has been caught offside every 62 minutes.

That said, it may be somewhat unfair to compare Hooper and the other two as his game is not running in behind defenders.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Jerome leads the line very well and is our top scorer. I wouldnt even consider starting Grabban ahead of him. Id have him on the bench as an option but if I needed a goal Hooper would be who Id probably bring on

 

[Paul Handscombe]

Will be lucky to get a place on the bench after getting sent off against Rotherham, was total stupidity and AN was not very happy with him at all.

 

[RhythmicTheory]

We need a lot of intelligent movement against their defence and two holding midfielders, wingers ideally, we were too bunched centrally when we played them last time.  Got to get it wide or try and draw them out more, if we do get it wide we have to have a lot better quality into the box than last time, low whipped crosses (they have too much height).  We also need to seriously step up our game to win this, we haven't played well for anything approaching a full 90 for over a month, season has taken its toll.

Lacking a proper left winger is really hurting us, if you dont consider Josh ready, which he doesnt seem to.

I would drop Jerome for hooper, push Wes out left (Redmond right) and put Howson behind Hooper with Dorrans (drop Brad) and Tettey central.

 

[ZLF]

grabbann on bench and use his pace and movement from the bench as needed.    Jerome did enough to deserve to keep his place.

Hooper simply does not offer enough as a lone striker to push ahead of the other two.    As a supporting striker he has done well and is really competition with Wes.   That also explains why he is rarely offside - he plays a different role to the other two.    And to put it in context even grabban is offside just 3 times in every two games...

 

[RhythmicTheory]

I disagree on Cam ZLF, hes been off form for a while and his hold up play is dreadful, hes only strong running in behind imo, also think a traditional lone striker plays into their strengths.  Hooper is not a favourite of mine either, but I dont want to play him as a traditional lone striker, im thinking put it wide and get whipped crosses in across the six yard box, so some intelligent movement/poacher sort of role.  For all his faults I would certainly want any chance to fall to him rather than the others, Grabban and Jeromes finishing is pretty woeful, god knows what their conversion rate is.

 

[Trevmuttley]

Stick with the same 11 who played on Saturday, put Grabban on the bench, AN knows what he is doing now let's go and Finnish the job. What a season this is turning out to be!

 

[Five]

i think Wes will be dropped for Dorrans. with Howson playing higher. similar to the 1st leg.

defensively they are going to be so difficult to break down hopefully we can stay patient and not slip up ourselves! 

Ollson key on Monday to creating width. 

 

[derehamyella]

 I only used them simply because they are our strikers..  Hooper's time will be different as he has not as much pitch time.   But the point was Grabban,s awareness, a lot of players are frustrating for getting caught offside but when added to the other things where I think he lacks.   It is only my opinion,  but it is down to personal choice of who we rate and don't rate.

I may get nailed for this but at times he has reminded me of David Neilson .. in some ways

I like Hooper  he links midfield and front line well . but isn't a lone striker in the same vein ..

 

[It's Character Forming]

I agree with ZLF.  I thought Jerome did an excellent job as a lone striker despite 1p5wich getting away with an outrageous amount of holding in both legs.  Against Boro with their pressing game, you're going to have to go long sometimes and with Jerome that gives you a genuine threat, his physical presence gives defenders a massive problem.  With Hooper, for all his good qualities, if he's the only striker and you have to play the ball long you're effectively just conceding possession - we saw this against Rotherham.  Hooper needs another striker to play off, the trouble is that requires you to play 442 and can leave the midfield light.

So like Trevmuttley says - lets Finnish the job !  Haakaa Palle !

 

[Dubai Mark]

I too feel that he will be lucky to be on the bench.....really cannot see him starting and my guess is he isnt expecting to start either...

 

[GJP]

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

Jerome has missed a fair few sitters as well this season. Even at the weekend when Howson set him up for a tap in he managed to miss when it would have been easier to score.

Grabban offers great movement to stretch defences and to offer himself as a link for his colleagues.

As I've said before, I'm a big fan of both.

 

[Canaryboy]

For me the return of Grabban gives us the license to start Redmond. 

Remember that this could be a 120 minute game. We are going to want a pacy attacking player on the bench to possibly bring on against tired legs as an impact player.

That player can be Grabban or Jerome of course, but his return is good news. 

 

[derehamyella]

yea I agree   Jerome, so has  Howson Redmond and even Johnson ..  . I did say it was my personal view .. I don;t really rate him that highly   and realise others do...  does anyone think a Murphy may get a look in  or  Odjidja   

 

[Beauseant]

Consider Bradley Johnson. Absolutely on fire before his suspension but has been pretty quiet since his return to the side. Grabban has seen no action since 26th April, and while he'll have been training his arse off, that's no substitute for matches. Neil simply can't take the chance so I expect Jerome, who was superb on Saturday, to start.

 

[Personal Trainer]

My fear all through Saturday was that Jerome was constantly rubbing his hamstring which suggested to me he was playing through some pain. If he was it obviously didn't impede him but I guess much will depend on how he trained this week.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Yeah he's had a hamstring affecting him for a few weeks. As long as it settles down I expect him to start with Grabban very likely to replace him at some point regardless of how the game goes.

 

[Killiecanary]

Grabban for me. For a few reasons

Cam has been a little off-colour recently ( I agree he had his best game in a while against that lot, but even then missed a sitter)

Cam's game is one the Boro central defensive partnership will find more comfortable to deal with

Grabban gives more mobility up front. - for all Jerome works hard he doesn't have that level of movement

I think Alex will play one up top and Grabban is simply our most effective lone striker

Jerome has been carrying a hamstring tweak for a while and I am convinced it is limiting him slightly

Grabban starting I think makes it more likely we can accommodate both Redmond and hooper

Jerome and Hooper off the bench are an awesome option

I agree with Beau that Grabs might not be fully fit - that will be AN's call. But if he is I fully expect him to start. There's no place for sentiment in a game of this magnitude, and although it would be tough on Cameron to miss out having played the last three it has to be the right horses for this particular course.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see a team like this

Ruddy

Usual back four

Tettey howson

Redmond. Hoolahoop Johnny

Grabban

 

[GJP]

Will be lucky to get a place on the bench after getting sent off against Rotherham, was total stupidity and AN was not very happy with him at all.

Can't see AN using such a massive game to make a point. 

If he thinks including Grabban is going to give us the best chance to get to the Prem, whether it's from the start or from the bench, he'll pick him. Rotherham incident won't come into it.

 

[derehamyella]

Very Soon all be revealed .. the guess works over. and whoever he selects I will support 100%  , all personal favouritism layed to the side, 

Thinking about the last time in play off.   the side we have now is far superior in several depts,  they just need to get everything in place and working from the start.

Come on you yellas