Carling Cup Stoke City Build Up Oct 26/11

[Neil Young]

When were you first blooded then, Neil?

I'm not sure you can be blooded more than once. Not properly at least. And dogs aren't blooded.

I have been on plenty of hunts of course but my sympathies were always with the fox. I tried to bring down the pack from the inside.

That was my disguise. Pretty good, eh?

[Mostar]

I'd have Carra ahead of Skrtel and Coates in a heartbeat and so would most fans. Coates is young and is learning and will progress hopefully into a starter and Skrtel for me is a liability at times. He is a decent player no doubt, but some of his decision making is poor.

If Carra has been "terrible", Kenny would have dropped him. He has made a couple mistakes, but we are stronger with him atm than without - thankfully Kenny can see that.

Carra and Agger is the best pairing, so i'd stick with them, injury-free providing for most of the games. Stoke away will be tough, so I wouldn't want young and inexperienced centre backs at Stoke away like Wilson or Coates.

For me Kelly - Carra - Agger - Enrique is our best back 4. Glen needs to show more constistency and his defending is so poor at times. Kelly is solid and thats all you can ask from a young defender.

For him to develop into a starter he needs to play as sitting on the bench will not do him any good.

He should play regularly in Carling Cup and FA Cup as he won't be playing much in PL this year.

[dom9]

For him to develop into a starter he needs to play as sitting on the bench will not do him any good.

He should play regularly in Carling Cup and FA Cup as he won't be playing much in PL this year.

You could say the same about Wilson too.

Or Carroll.

Or any other player that is not starting.

[Mostar]

You could say the same about Wilson too.

Or Carroll.

Or any other player that is not starting.

Yes and no.

Coates is only a step away from challenging for a starting role and imo Wilson needs far more time to get there and should've been loaned this year and it is a such waste that he is not.

Carroll I did pick for my starting 11 against Stoke

[Exiled_red]

Yes and no.

Coates is only a step away from challenging for a starting role and imo Wilson needs far more time to get there and should've been loaned this year and it is a such waste that he is not.

Carroll I did pick for my starting 11 against Stoke

[BringbackBiscan]

Tough game. Don't think we'll go through with too much of a makeshift side tbh. With no European football I'd be tempted to put the full team out, even then it wont be a gimme. Don't think we've bettered a draw at their place since Pulis brought them up.

I wouldn't mind winning it this year either. Been far too long since we won some silverware.

[SB]

For him to develop into a starter he needs to play as sitting on the bench will not do him any good.

He should play regularly in Carling Cup and FA Cup as he won't be playing much in PL this year.

I read your post on my ph not knowing who I was agreeing with so when I scrolled out to see it was you Mo I wasn't surprised. Totally agree with you again. Coates needs time to form an understanding as he could be needed if we gets some injuries which is always a chance with Agger. carra should not be expected to Play all our matches so we should pick & choose when & where he does so wisely.

[SB]

Do we do a prediction thread for this?

[_92]

Agree with what yous are saying in that Coates need games against Prem sides to improve into a regular. But I want to win this cup, and Stoke away is as hard as they get imo, so i'd prefer Carra to an inenexperienced youngster.

[SB]

Agree with what yous are saying in that Coates need games against Prem sides to improve into a regular. But I want to win this cup, and Stoke away is as hard as they get imo, so i'd prefer Carra to an inenexperienced youngster.

inexperienced youngster ??????????? He's an international player who needs experience against Prem clubs and this is where it should happen. In a tin pot cup away from the home supporters eyes where he can concentrate on his game and not be overawed by playing at home in front of an expectant crowd.

[_92]

Inexperienced in English football

[topscorer]

---------------reina---------------

Johnson------coates-----carra-------enrique

------------lucas------spearing---------

gerrard------------henderson----------maxi

-------------------carroll---------------


Subs: Suarez, Downing, Adam, Kuyt, Kelly, Agger (and others....), maybe also Suso or Sterling just in case we break down the barricades and have an easy final 30 minutes to 'blood' them.

Edit: I should have put coates between carra and enrique so he has a Spanish speaker next to him for support.

[SB]

Inexperienced in English football

I know what your saying but sitting on the bench for a two bit tin cup ain't gunna help that is it?

We'll agree to disagree on this one

[Chris]

According to a lad on YNWA its :

Pepe
Kelly
Coates
Agger
Johnson
Kuyt
Spearing
Lucas
Maxi
Downing
Carroll

Hope so. I like that and big firepower from the bench it if goes to extra time or we are level after 60mins.

[Shaggy]

I like that too.

Although would like to have seen Aurelio at left back. Will he ever play again?