Having had only one training session with the lads, and not played a competitive football match in how long, would you start him? I would. After watching his interview with Fulham TV he is keen to get going, he says he has just been running and running so his fitness should be up to speed, only thing he needs is his sharpness, which he will only get from playing. Plus, I have stuck him in my Fantasy Football.
No doubt though Jol will hold back and throw him on for 10 minutes at the end and we'll have to watch the sort of game we have had to watch for the last year... No end product.
What do you guys reckon?
Definitely. Absolutely nothing to lose by playing him.
In his interview he said he had trained with the kids but he seems fit but not match fit so I think bring him on at half time
Stekelenberg
Riether Amorebieta Hangeland Richardson
Sidwell Boateng
Dejagah Ruiz Taarabt
Berbatov
==================================
60th minute:
Stekelenberg
Riether Amorebieta Hangeland Richardson
Sidwell Boateng
Ruiz Berbatov Taarabt(Mesca)
Bent
I think this is what we should go for... obviously depends how the game is going but either Dejagah off for Bent or Ruiz off for Bent, maybe bring on Mesca for Taarabt if he is starting to look slow.
Only if he turns out to be fit. If it was at home it would be more likely, but away I don't think you sacrifice the additional midfielder to play him. Would love to see him come on early in the second half if our attack needs a spark.
No. He won't be fit enough. Definitely bring him on at some point though.
Quote from: MJs Statue on August 16, 2013, 06:30:48 PM
Only if he turns out to be fit. If it was at home it would be more likely, but away I don't think you sacrifice the additional midfielder to play him. Would love to see him come on early in the second half if our attack needs a spark.
id sacrifice a midfielder, don't see boatang as an upgrade on Enoh, and the Enoh sidwell combo was pretty lame.
Quote from: fulhamben on August 16, 2013, 06:37:09 PM
Quote from: MJs Statue on August 16, 2013, 06:30:48 PM
Only if he turns out to be fit. If it was at home it would be more likely, but away I don't think you sacrifice the additional midfielder to play him. Would love to see him come on early in the second half if our attack needs a spark.
id sacrifice a midfielder, don't see boatang as an upgrade on Enoh, and the Enoh sidwell combo was pretty lame.
Everything coming out of preseason was extremely positive about Boateng. I don't think there is any way he doesn't start. If a midfielder was to be sacrificed in favor of Bent it seems more likely to be Sidwell or one of the wings, moving Ruiz to a wing position.
Quote from: MJs Statue on August 16, 2013, 06:39:19 PM
Quote from: fulhamben on August 16, 2013, 06:37:09 PM
Quote from: MJs Statue on August 16, 2013, 06:30:48 PM
Only if he turns out to be fit. If it was at home it would be more likely, but away I don't think you sacrifice the additional midfielder to play him. Would love to see him come on early in the second half if our attack needs a spark.
id sacrifice a midfielder, don't see boatang as an upgrade on Enoh, and the Enoh sidwell combo was pretty lame.
Everything coming out of preseason was extremely positive about Boateng. I don't think there is any way he doesn't start. If a midfielder was to be sacrificed in favor of Bent it seems more likely to be Sidwell or one of the wings, moving Ruiz to a wing position.
yes I see sidwell as the weak link
Didn't think bent needed to be fit according to a few people he just stand there and puts the ball in the onion bag
Quote from: Nero on August 16, 2013, 06:51:43 PM
Didn't think bent needed to be fit according to a few people he just stand there and puts the ball in the onion bag
michael Owen once said there is no such thing as match fit as well. You are either fit or not fit
No I don't think he should start but he should definately be on the bench our squad is looking strong now plenty of options on the bench
.....................................................................Stekelenburg....................................................
Riether......................................Hangeland..................Amorebieta............Richardson................
........................................................Sidwell................Boateng......................
Dejagah..........................................................Ruiz.........................................Kacaniklic........
........................................................................Berbatov.......................................................
Subs - Stockdale , Hughes , Karagounis , Duff , Taarabt , Rodallega , Bent
I very much doubt if he'll start him, maybe bring him on at 60mins.
We have the strongest bench we have had in a very, very long time!
By Arsenal at home our starting XI will have little to no width.
Excited to see Taarabt but Kacaniklic should feature for us he will have a great season I feel, tough choices for Jol
For me, there is no spearhead with Berbatov & Ruiz our 'attackers.' Guess this is the most likely pairing though - so no goals a distinct possibility. Cameo from Bent would be good.
Quote from: JackyFulham90 on August 16, 2013, 07:23:00 PM
Excited to see Taarabt but Kacaniklic should feature for us he will have a great season I feel, tough choices for Jol
This is a very good thing.
I'd actually start him if he's fit, and looks sharp in training.
Quote from: shnlwswlkr on August 16, 2013, 07:30:57 PM
Quote from: JackyFulham90 on August 16, 2013, 07:23:00 PM
Excited to see Taarabt but Kacaniklic should feature for us he will have a great season I feel, tough choices for Jol
This is a very good thing.
Kaca will start
I wouldn't. Half time at best, depending on the scoreline
Quote from: St Eve on August 16, 2013, 08:03:21 PM
Quote from: shnlwswlkr on August 16, 2013, 07:30:57 PM
Quote from: JackyFulham90 on August 16, 2013, 07:23:00 PM
Excited to see Taarabt but Kacaniklic should feature for us he will have a great season I feel, tough choices for Jol
This is a very good thing.
Kaca will start
Kaca has a late fitness test btw, if he fails, Mesca will start imo, with Taarabt coming on around the 60 min mark.
We should start him. Throw him in at the deep end and see how gets on. He is very used to the premier league just not that used to playing with our lads and the only thing that is going to improve that is game time.
Conversation between Riise and Kasami suggests the latter will feature at some point.
No, it would be stupid. He's only trained with the kids at Villa, hasn't played any pre-season matches to my knowledge, and hasn't had a chance to work with any of our coaches or players.
Jol, on the other hand, will probably look at all the facts above and decide to put him on the pitch.
Hell yes play the sucker !! at least the last 20 mins, make him earn his rather huge crust.
He has to sit out two games already and when we play Villa in the final of the FA Cup ............he will sit that one out toooooooooooooooooooooooo :54:
No i wouldnt, though you could argue to put him on the bench
He'll be raring to go, and out to prove everyone wrong. I'm sure he's fit, though not 'match fit', and playing him could be a Roy of the Rovers style fairy tale if he were to score on his debut, especially when we are so toothless up front.
Jol is someone who will take a gamble, based on what he's seen in training, but on this occasion, I suppose common sense says that he will probably not start the game.
Start...no.....bench and on for final 20mins...yes
I know it's not a direct comparison, as he had no Prem experience, but Jol started Ruiz in his first game and took him off. That can't have done much for his confidence and I think Jol will have that in his mind. Better to put such a new signing as Bent on for the last half hour or so, depending on the score, although his apprearance as sub would really get the Sunderland fans going!
Whatever happens today, I can see Bent starting against Arsenal.
Quote from: Holders on August 17, 2013, 07:38:50 AM
I know it's not a direct comparison, as he had no Prem experience, but Jol started Ruiz in his first game and took him off. That can't have done much for his confidence and I think Jol will have that in his mind. Better to put such a new signing as Bent on for the last half hour or so, depending on the score, although his apprearance as sub would really get the Sunderland fans going!
Whatever happens today, I can see Bent starting against Arsenal.
not even a close comparison. Bent is older and has spent best part of a decade in the prem. plus if a striker has a bad game he just doesn't score. If a midfielder has a bad game, then you can lose the match
I'd start Straight, go Bi and end up Bent......
Well! Someone had to say it.
Quote from: HatterDon on August 16, 2013, 10:35:43 PM
No, it would be stupid. He's only trained with the kids at Villa, hasn't played any pre-season matches to my knowledge, and hasn't had a chance to work with any of our coaches or players.
Jol, on the other hand, will probably look at all the facts above and decide to put him on the pitch.
:plus one: some sense at last.
Quote from: The Old Count on August 17, 2013, 08:57:16 AM
I'd start Straight, go Bi and end up Bent......
Well! Someone had to say it.
Now now you naughty old count :005:
Bent has to be eased in gradually, maximum of 15 minutes on the field tomorrow, we have plenty of other attacking options, no need to field a player for a whole game who is not 100% fit.
Quote from: filham on August 17, 2013, 11:26:40 AM
Bent has to be eased in gradually, maximum of 15 minutes on the field tomorrow, we have plenty of other attacking options, no need to field a player for a whole game who is not 100% fit.
surely it would be better all round if he got 15 mins today instead of tomorrow ;)
