Should Amdy start against 'Castle?

[Paul Spencer]

I'd been calling for a midfield since January that consisted of:

Lenny---Rory---Glenn---Ethers

especially at home, and I was delighted when for the first time this season we finally got to see it last week.

However (there's no pleasing some people!) I'm just wondering if Amdy should possibly start (at the expense of any of the four above, not necessarily Rory or Glenn) tomorrow.

I fully expect Newcastle to try and keep the ball on the deck and out pass us, they know they wont have a chance of competing with us in the air and maybe it will be useful to have Amdy in there to break up their play in midfield.

I'm not saying he should start, indeed maybe Rory could do the job equally as well, rather just asking the question.

Thoughts?

[Deleted]

Paul...myself like you was absolutley delighted at the starting line up against WBA and think that should also be the line up against Castle.... I think that team if kept injury free could see us go to Fulham in party mood matey

[barmystokie1]

spot on that, as i 2 was delighted with that midfield last week and then thought about playing amdy faye this week to disrupt their passing........

However when I consider this style it worries me that pulis will play diao instead so i just want to see the same midfield please at 1st!!

[y_oh_y_delilah]

I'm pretty sure that we'll be unchanged from last Saturday.

Now that we seem to have hit on the winning formula, I can't see much point in tinkering unless you're up against something really different and special which certainly isn't the case tomorrow.

[Olgrligm]

I don't think Pulis will be happy at the amount of space Brazil had just in front of our defence. Delap and Whelan did a good job in their half and around the halfway line, but the defensive line was much more exposed than when Amdy and Diao play. Obviously, Amdy and DIao is a crap pairing and they're obviously going to shield the defence more because they just sit on the edge of the D, but I can see Pulis wanting to play Amdy in order to neutralise Newcastle outside the box. If that happens, it'll be Whelan who has to go.

That said, aren't Amdy and Diao both injured?

[Deleted]

Apr 10, 2009 10:38:52 GMT Olgrligm said:

I don't think Pulis will be happy at the amount of space Brazil had just in front of our defence. Delap and Whelan did a good job in their half and around the halfway line, but the defensive line was much more exposed than when Amdy and Diao play. Obviously, Amdy and DIao is a crap pairing and they're obviously going to shield the defence more because they just sit on the edge of the D, but I can see Pulis wanting to play Amdy in order to neutralise Newcastle outside the box. If that happens, it'll be Whelan who has to go.

That said, aren't Amdy and Diao both injured?

Take Whelan out of that team righ now and we heap huge amountsof pressure back on our selves. Let the defense do what the defense do. Delap can still provide a decent cover in front of the back four but Whelan right now is in the zone.

[henry]

I can see the thought behind playing amdy to break up play, but to do this would mean either dropping whelan - which imo would be crazy, or moving delap out to the right where he is totally useless. As i can't see pulis dropping delap at home i feel he will start with ethers, whelan, delap, lenny.

[Rossco]

Judging by training this morning it looks like the same team for 'Castle. Diao was training with reserves and im pretty sure amdy was too (I got there near the end so didnt catch everyone). Beattie had got his thigh strapped but did train so he should be ok.

[stayingupforbigbazza]

Don't change a winning team

I'd have Olly ahead of Amdy anyway

[walrus]

Is he even fit to play? Tony often likes to play players against their former clubs, so Amdy could play for this reason. I'd keep it the same though, no point changing a winning side.