Bojan had an impact on the game

[chrisparker]

Just before he came on, we were slowing beginning to run out of ideas. Arni wasn't in the game, neither was Diouf. But that seemed to change with the introduction of Bojan.
This is starting to be a bit of a dilemma. Affelay, once again, does not deserve to be dropped based on today's display but I think Bojan should now be given a chance to win back his place in the team.
Next week we're playing at home so we might benefit from having another "striker" on the pitch.

[Deleted]

Dead right there Chris, and the thought of an in form Bojan getting on the end of a cross from either Imbula from the left or Shaq from the right dunna half get me excited...Would be awesome to finish what has often been a tricky season on a high, get a good pre season in and start next season with a bang, on paper I actually think we have a better squad than Leicester when fully fit, but sadly it is played on grass, not on paper...

[Smudge_SCFC]

BK was excellent in his sub appearance.

Very encouraging indeed!

[Deleted]

It's a right conundrum for Hughes but a good one, and this is where he will start to earn his money.

For me Diouff should be our man up front but a fit and firing Bojan is far too good a player to be sitting on our bench.

Then you add Affelay into the equation (who I thought was brilliant yesterday) and it's a conundrum that even Rachel Riley would struggle with.

Next week should see Diouff starting with Bojan coming on again later on, but if Bojan starts hitting form again who knows?

Return of the false 9 or does Whelan drop out and Affelay drop back?

[milky]

Mar 6, 2016 8:43:13 GMT @sidlittlesballbag said:

It's a right conundrum for Hughes but a good one, and this is where he will start to earn his money.

For me Diouff should be our man up front but a fit and firing Bojan is far too good a player to be sitting on our bench.

Then you add Affelay into the equation (who I thought was brilliant yesterday) and it's a conundrum that even Rachel Riley would struggle with.

Next week should see Diouff starting with Bojan coming on again later on, but if Bojan starts hitting form again who knows?

Return of the false 9 or does Whelan drop out and Affelay drop back?

It is indeed a good problem for Hughes to have.

One thing is certain though.Barring injuries Walters should be nowhere near the starting 11 for the rest of the season and beyond.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2016 9:04:16 GMT milky said:

Mar 6, 2016 8:43:13 GMT @sidlittlesballbag said:

It's a right conundrum for Hughes but a good one, and this is where he will start to earn his money.

For me Diouff should be our man up front but a fit and firing Bojan is far too good a player to be sitting on our bench.

Then you add Affelay into the equation (who I thought was brilliant yesterday) and it's a conundrum that even Rachel Riley would struggle with.

Next week should see Diouff starting with Bojan coming on again later on, but if Bojan starts hitting form again who knows?

Return of the false 9 or does Whelan drop out and Affelay drop back?

It is indeed a good problem for Hughes to have.

One thing is certain though.Barring injuries Walters should be nowhere near the starting 11 for the rest of the season and beyond.

Agreed.

[jarhead]

He did very well looked his old self and could of won it us after Imbula played the ball back to him from that 15794689 yards run!!!

[MilanStokie]

whelan needs a rest both for the clubs sake but also for his own if he wants a good euro 2016.

we certainly didn't look at risk defensively when he went off. afellay alongside Imbula and bojan in for a few games for me.

[chad]

Whelan and Walters have been stalwarts of the club for a good few years now but it's inevitable that they will both start to appear less and less. That's no disrespect to either of them just a fact that we now have more options and younger legs. I love the pair of them but I think Mama and Bojan will be taking their places over the next few weeks.

[Deleted]

Yes he did

Hughesy knows what hes doing with him

plenty more to come -- dont worry

[PB1863]

BBB. Bring back Bojan. Hopefully he is over whatever was bothering him and will soon be back to his best again

[Deleted]

I don't think bojan has lost his place. Hughes is protecting one of his star players and has to be commended for doing so. We have plenty of quality in the squad to give him a bit of time out.

[cozmick]

Fingers crossed it wasn't just "playing against a big club" syndrome.

Would have him starting in place of Whelan next week.

[bayernoatcake]

Do any other team in the league start a game without a genuine defensive midfielder?

And indeed most play one in every game.

They are important, Southampton are a good attacking side, you can't go into a game like that with no real DM.

Yes it does leave a conundrum but that's what he manager gets paid for.

[harryburrows]

Not only bojan , it's hard to see Cameron getting any game time when Ryan's back fit .

[dutchstokie]

The most encouraging thing for me is that we have players of the caliber of Bojan coming OFF the bench.

With just a couple of real quality additions in the summer, will see us, I reckon, pushing for a Europa league place.

But who will come in - thats the biggest and most exciting aspect of it all.....?

[slother]

We only really now starting to feel what a strong squad looks like. AMC is perhaps the only role on the pitch where we have the luxury of choosing between two very very good players. With Stephen Ireland and arguably Charlie Adam as backup. Not bad. Not bad at all Mr Hughes.

[CBUFAWKIPWH]

Mar 6, 2016 10:05:45 GMT chad said:

Whelan and Walters have been stalwarts of the club for a good few years now but it's inevitable that they will both start to appear less and less. That's no disrespect to either of them just a fact that we now have more options and younger legs. I love the pair of them but I think Mama and Bojan will be taking their places over the next few weeks.

Agree Diouf for Walters, disagree Bojan for Whelan. We need a dfensive midfielder - we'll be horribly exposed at the back without one particularly with a makeshift back 4.

Bojan did have a positive impact yesterday - but that's partly due to the fact that that the starting 11 had provided a base to build from.

Bojan for Afellay is the other option - but that would be very harsh on Afellay as he has been one of more most consistent players of late. Also he seems to be starting to develop a really promising partnership with Imbula - they seem to be on the same wavelength and have the confidence in each other's ability to do something even when space is tight.

I think Bojan is probably going to be used as an option on the bench for a few more games - unless Hughes rekons a false number 9 might be an option against a particular opponent - in which case it would be Bojan for Diouf.

Fact of the matter is we have the strongest squad ever and players worthy of being in the first team are going to have to miss out. Form, fitness and opponent dependent tactics are going to be as big factor as innate ability in deciding who plays.

[muglump]

Hmm it's a tough one but the idea of a midfield of Imbula, Affelay and Bojan attacking mid is a wonderful one. Can't see it always working though till the defence seems a bit more solid. Also harsh on Whelan of course but it looked really effective against Chelsea

[daviddunn]

Whelan was awesome yesterday

[milky]

I'd definitely feel uneasy starting a game without Whelan especially without Ryan.

Even yesterday when he was off the pitch we were exposed a couple of times but luckily the Chelsea player picked the wrong option.

Obviously when we are losing its always going to be worth the gamble.