I just found my flag from 2013. I might just cross out Play off Final and replace it with FA CUP SEMI. Saves me £5
Penalties, should it come to it, should be taken by: Deeney Ighalo Watson Abdi o.g gotta stick with those who have been reliable all season.
If Pantilimon starts then QSF may well keep one sub back for Gomes to come on for penalties should that outcome become more than likely as the match draws on.
Does that mean Gary Cahill, Seamus Coleman and Alan Hutton have to be there just in case? Or maybe Scott Wootton, without whom we wouldn't be at Wembley on Sunday?
Forget the 120 mins, it will be 0-0 and penalties. I'd go: 1) Deeney - solid, reliable start. 2) Holebas - he's German, he would rifle it in. 3) Abdi - on the anchor leg. 4) Suarez - won't be fazed. 5) Cathcart - composed, firm ball striker. Do this and we win. Anything else and QSF must go.
Terrified of Palace's wingers on a big open pitch like Wembley. Still have nightmares of Zaha turning us inside out in 2013. We really need our wingers to give support to the full backs. Not sure how best to do this. I think Jurado is key for going forward, but maybe he might be best to spring off the bench. Need someone to do a shift on the left hand side of midfield, I presume it'll be Behrami on the other side. Palace look like they've remembered how to defend again in the past 10 days.
Which is exactly why it's a waste of a sub to not start Gomes. Suppose someone pulls up in the first 10 minutes, then we effectively only have one tactical sub in the locker.
Before Saturday I would have said play Pants as he has done well in previous rounds.After Gomes penalty saves and the fact it was one of the only positives I saw from the game (clean sheet and 3pts being the others),it has to be wise to play Gomes.Pardew was at the game and at least it would cause some concern to him and his players should the game go to pens. Play Pants at WHU ,rest Gomes to avoid loss of confidence before the big game.COYH.
If we play Gomes. He's bound to flap at one or something according to the law of sod. Pants had only ever saved one penalty compared to Gomes 13. According to the stats I could find.
I understand the desire for loyalty with Pantilimon, but this is one of the biggest games of the season, you play your strongest team. Gomes is our number one and I'd expect him to be in goal. As the rounds get tougher the squad player opportunities get fewer, so on Sunday I'd expect it to be a full strength team. Play Pantilimon v West Ham and possibly in a couple of the final league games, but IMHO Gomes is as important for us as Deeney... you cannot leave him out.
I think the issue maybe that QSF has told Pantilimon that he will play the cup games - I thought I read that somewhere, but could be making it up. If he decides to play Gomes he therefore has a credibility issue that his word doesn't mean very much. Hopefully he hasn't said that as Gomes is our best player at the moment.
I, for some reason,thought that was a throwaway comment made somewhere by fans/local media, that has become 'fact'. Can't see it anywhere online...
I think Wemberlee has got this rep as a big pitch because the stands are quite shallow so it doesn't feel hemmed in like. for example, Upton Park or Stamford Bridge. It is as rightly stated, an optical illusion.
Interesting QSF interview ahead of the game with Gazzeta here - http://gazzettaworld.gazzetta.it/interview/flores-history-watford/
