Well, as far as bad days at the office go, Sunday was right up there, and the repercussions will be felt again at 11.15am this morning when the team news is announced. Jocelin Ta Bi, Norid Mukiele, Romaine Mundle and Brian Brobbey all suffered injuries that will keep them out today, alongside Reinildo and Dennis Cirkin. On the positive front, Bertrand Traore is fit again, and Granit Xhaka came off the bench last weekend and is in contention. I don’t see him throwing Traore in from the off, and it’ll
be interesting to see whether he starts today or Le Bris keeps him out with the intention of him starting at Leeds on Tuesday. It’s a tough call. Here’s how I think we’ll line up today.
Goalkeeper: Robin Roefs
Roefs will be hoping the team gets back to the solidity shown earlier in the season after conceding three in three of the last seven league games.
Defence: Lutsharel Geertruida, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Trai Hume
I did wonder whether we might go to a back five today, with either O’Nien coming into the defence, or Angulo or Talbi playing as a left wing back, but I’m not sure we’ll change formation in an effort to spark a change in fortunes. So, if we do go with a flat back four, you’d think the natural change will be Geertruida getting a run at right back, which is allegedly his best position, so it’ll be interesting to see him play there from the off.
Midfield: Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra, Enzo Le Fee, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi
Angulo’s been in the starting XI for both Liverpool and Fulham and has done OK without overly impressing – I think today against Bournemouth we will go for Talbi’s work rate and pace on the left, with Diarra drifting out to the right hand side. Diarra needs a good game today, I think he’s stuggled to impress since the Burnley game, so it’ll be nice to see him turn in a good display. The big one here is the return of Xhaka – does he start? I think, given the lack of options, he will. Hopefully he’s fully recovered…
Forward: Wilson Isidor
It’s a straight choice between Wilson Isidor and Elezier Mayenda as to who replaces Brobbey today, and my gut feeling is it’ll be Isidor who gets the nod. Le Bris doesn’t seem to trust Mayenda as much this season, and his performance at West Ham when he was given a chance showed why to some extent. That said, when Isidor was given a start at Oxford he barely got a kick. We know the potential Mayenda has, and we know Isidor is capable of a moment of magic and can pull a goal out of nowhere. It could come down to who’s been better in training this week. Toss a coin.
