If kayal got injured.............

[Surf's Up]

If anything JFK would fit in to a 4-4-2 better than last seasons system. It would allow him to get forward more like he did when he first broke through.

He's dead isnt he

 

[kevtherev]

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Depends who's doing the swallowing.

 

[KZNSeagull]

You could start with Crofts/Ince or JFC but also play Rosenior on the right - you could then change to a sort of 4-3-3 if getting overrun, with Lua Lua roaming but keeping Hemed and Baldock together in the middle. We need to keep the 2 up front somehow as that is working well. But King Kayal is indestructible, so we do not need to worry really...

 

[LamieRobertson]

I actually think we would be ****ed.

Kayal and Stephens partnership in the middle is a large part of why we are doing so well. You can only play our formation of you have two fantastic midfielders. They really have to work hard and do their job well. They also have to use the ball wisely.

Ince is okay but doesn't do the same job, the old Crofts could probably replace Stephens but is he going to be as good after so long out? I doubt it.

So wrap him up on cotton wool in between games.

Fortunately he appears to be less injury prone than others so hopefully we can get away with it.

My greater concern is that other teams will start to do what Bruce did after 30 minutes and pack the midfield. That was largely why we struggled for that part of the game and why we had to change the formation. I can see that happening more and more as the season progresses.

Well thats putting it slightly over the top..but if you are going to say that about Kayal then i think the same should be said about Stephens ..the 2 of them have formed an excellent partnership.
We have players to fill the gap even if they aren't up to that standard ..they've been mentioned ..are they as good no..but they'd still do a job

 

[LamieRobertson]

He's dead isnt he

Slight draw back

 

[Triggaaar]

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

He's only played 5 minutes of the league campaign so far, and in it he's played a killer ball that won us the game. And he makes attacking passes for England U21, which suggests to me, that he's not only capable of playing sideways/backwards.

 

[GT49er]

Slight draw back

It would have made him a shoe-in last season, though.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Holla?

 

[bhawoddy]

I know this won't be a popular opinion, but there is absolutely no way whatsoever that Crofts could 'slot in' to Kayal's position, they are completely different players, the only similarity is that they play for Brighton, to replace Kayal's energy and ability with a limited player like Crofts would be painful.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[bhawoddy]

He's only played 5 minutes of the league campaign so far, and in it he's played a killer ball that won us the game. And he makes attacking passes for England U21, which suggests to me, that he's not only capable of playing sideways/backwards.

Does he play in a 442 for the u21 or in a 3 in midfield?? Personally think he would be suited to a 3 in midfield....

 

[martin tyler]

If it was a short term injury we could use a different formation of try one of the others and there is options in crofts ince holla and JFC. I think we would cope
My fear would be long term. If something happened to him which meant anything longer than 6 weeks we would undoubtably suffer.

 

[daveinprague]

Crofts. We may not win games, but for a short injury period, would still be hard to beat.

 

[Triggaaar]

Does he play in a 442 for the u21 or in a 3 in midfield?? Personally think he would be suited to a 3 in midfield....

I don't know what formation the U21 play but I doubt it's 442. I only know that when I've read about JFC he's been creative for them, while we had a much slower build up under Poyet and Garcia. JFC will certainly have had more practice in 3 / 5 man midfields, but I've no reason to think he couldn't adapt to central role in 442.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

Hope he stays fit. Our best signing for a long long time.

 

[Meade's Ball]

The little maestro's ability to find a yard of space will be difficult to replace. Crofts could come in and breathe heavily and motor around like a randy camel, with Stephens as our only central creative force, so i think we'd get it out with so much quicker for Bruno to thread something through for Murphy or for Lua Lua and Bong to raid more feverishly.Crofts would perhaps score a couple and be of benefit in that way, but we'd as a team be slower-witted.
Rosenior in the middle is an interesting idea, but i'd go instead with those already more trained for the role in JFC, Ince or Holla.

 

[Richy_Seagull]

If he regains his fitness and is back to his old standard. Other than that it would have to be a lone job.

Can't see Stephens being able to do it all on his own.

 

[BensGrandad]

If still a free agent I would look at a short term deal for Kevin Nolan in fact I would give him a 1 year contract now ideal cover for Stephens or Kayal if injured or suspended which looks very likely.

 

[BensGrandad]

Sorry spelling error should have said loan not lone.but the principle is there.

 

[saafend_seagull]

I'd play rosenoir there if crofts isn't fully fit

 

[Medwayseagull]

He's only played 5 minutes of the league campaign so far, and in it he's played a killer ball that won us the game. And he makes attacking passes for England U21, which suggests to me, that he's not only capable of playing sideways/backwards.

Do you have any stats for killer passes he has made for the U21's ?