The next game (West Ham — again)

Players are coming back. All of a sudden the squad gets interesting. Sturridge, Coutinho, Origi. They won’t all start but they will, probably, take part. Very encouraging since the four players in the squad who have pace are Moreno, Ibe, Sturridge and Origi. That’s if Sturridge has his legs still, and we have no confirmation of that.

We all want two up front. We want Sturridge with Benteke. I want that too but I’m not sure how we spin it. How do we set up behind the two of them?(I am absolutely assuming Sturridge starts.) I think Lucas comes in as a defensive midfielder, to cover a back two of Caulker and somebody else. Do we play Stewart alongside Lucas and cover the back four with two defensive minded midfielders? It would allow Brad Smith, who will start at left back, a bit more freedom to get those tasty crosses into the box. I like that idea, especially if Ibe and Texeira start in the midfield. They would have some freedom to run up front with two sitting behind them. If Smith can get up more we’re then attacking with five and Flanagan occasionally coming up the right flank from right back to support. I like that, personally.

We could also play Milner, Lallana or Can with Lucas. We could go with a diamond: Lucas sitting, Can and Milner in front and Lallana in the hole. I think they won’t play. If we play a diamond with the players I mentioned then I’d guess Stewart gets pushed forward, Texeira comes into the midfield and Ibe goes into the hole. I don’t mind that at all. I really like Ibe playing centrally, I think it opens the pitch for him. I’ll go with that. Why not?

Mignolet’s still searching for his head after the Sunderland game so I hope Ward comes in for him. We need to see him in action. It’s becoming a bit weird for us to call him back at this point if he’s not getting his chances. He was playing every week for Aberdeen in a title chasing side and now he’s backing up a keeper who can’t organize a wall.