Team for Birmingham....

[W12_Ranger]

Continuity, strength plus new creativity....

Green
Simpson Onouha Hill BAE
Barton Henry Carroll Kranjcar
Austin AJ

Subs: Murphy Holliett Dunne SWP BZ O'Neil Phillips (if available; if not, Jenas)

So you would completely change a winning team drop dunne who has not conceded a goal whilst paired in defence with Onouha this isn't a game of Fifa mate

[OneEyedWilly]

I'd keep it the same as it's been apart from bring BAE in for Hill and the sub in the new boys over time.
There is a winning mentality with this team and barton said that there is 'togetherness', i wouldnt try to unsettle that by throwing in a load of new players - like Hughes did.

[NW_Hoopz]

Not sure tbh. A fairly safe 442 with minimal changes would be:

---------------Green----------
Simpson---Onuoha--Dunne---BAE
Carroll---Barton----Henry--Hoilett
-----------Austin--AJ------------

ie same formation with two changes - bring in the specialist LB Ekotto for Hill and start Carroll in RM ahead of SWP. So everyone does what they have been doing all season and the only changes are a couple of upgrades and Carroll would be able to drift as Barton could cover that and so he gets a low pressure intro to the team. I don't think this is how the team will end up playing most of
the time but it is pretty much 'play it again sam' which you often see.


A higher risk option that I like the look of though would be:

-------------------Green-------------------
Simpson---Onuoha--Dunne---BAE
Kranjcar---Barton----Henry--Hoilett
------------------Carroll---------------------
-----------------Austin----------------------

Pushing Carroll to a free #10 slot with Phillip on for Kranjcar so he only needs to last an hour.

Good to have so many options.

Exactly .....

Why would we change a team too much that has started to look very settled.

If Hoilet had been fit and started @ Leeds , I think we'd have won comfortably.

Drop SWP for one of the new boys I think.

As everyone else has said though, it looks extremely rosey on paper.
Big headaches ahead for HR to find the best team out of that squad .

[Rangers77]

Some people make very good points about not changing a winning team; especially in defence. That's why I'd play Clint, but in the middle, but it means I'd have to drop Dunne. Think Hill with his winning contribution doesn't deserve to be dropped, but neither does Dunne.... It only goes to show the choices this stronger squad presents. Think Harry will play at least two of BAE, Carroll and Holiett against Brum. It means that at least two of O'Neil, SWP, Hill or Dunne won't play. Pretty sure Carroll will play, but either next to Barton or with Barton on the right. And, as some suggest, Harry might only play one up front..... Continuity needs to be balanced with chance in order to carefully strengthen this winning team (which. Harry has suggested- as has Kevin Bond- hasn't been as creative as he'd like to see...).

[Yousef]

Green

Simpson Hill Onuoha Assou-Ekotto

Phiilips (If fit)/SWP Barton Kranjcar Hoilett

Johnson Austin

[oldhoop]

Phillips still 2/3 weeks away!

[Yousef]

Phillips still 2/3 weeks away!

Someone said here he will be fit for Birmingham. If not then replace him with SWP. I will also give Tom Carroll a run If Krajcar isn't fit as I heard he has not player for a long time.

[Buffalo]

Think Harry said in radio interview that he hoped Philips may be fit for Birmingham game.

[zeberdee]

Carroll aint that attacking, he is very similar to Faurlin- who you wouldn't play off the striker. Kranjcar however is perfect for that role.

Wouldn't compare him to Faurlin myself but generally agree CM is probably his default position and Kranjcar is a natural #10 too so you could swap them around.
I just think if Carroll is used further forward than CM he gets a chance to create shooting chances rather than creating openings from further back.
Hopefully he can do both but I think the bigger gap in the team is in the final third.

[QPRWEBBIE]

Think Harry said in radio interview that he hoped Philips may be fit for Birmingham game.

But surely he won't be match fit

[Yousef]

But surely he won't be match fit

Perhaps he will bring him in the second half.

[Buffalo]

He's been training for a while. Probably not completely match fit but you only get there by playing matches. As Yousef says, he might get part of a game to start with.

[oldhoop]

Phillips might make the bench for Yeovil/Boro. Spoke to his Dad on Friday

[davieqpr]

Might rest Dunne and play Hill.Dunne to return for Brighton midweek.

[fisnik]

I think "The Enforcer" will have to be dropped to the bench, he said as much himself in an interview. Barton to replace him to break things up.

Green
Simpson Ned Dunne/Hill Bennie
Barton
SWP/Philips Carrol Hoilet
Johnson Austin

Kranjcar can come on as a sub or if not fit O'neil/Traore depending on what we need from the game.