Allardyce Picks Team To Win!

Interesting. Doctor Evil seems to be trying to win the game whilst not risking his blue chip players. Green, Tomkins (both subs), Nolan, Cole and Noble (nowhere to be seen) are all rested, but O'Neil, Lansbury, Collison, Reid, O'Brien and Baldock all start.

You have a sense that Sears and Carew may be drinking in the last chance saloon and that Ilunga and Piquionne (neither on the bench) have fallen off the stool.

Of the kids, only Potts starts. I would prefer Montenegro to Sears personally, and Nouble to Carew, but at least there are youngsters on the expanded bench. Look at the substitutes today and it shows how stupid the 5 man substitute rule is in the Championship. How many times might promising kids have come off the bench if allowed the opportunity to do so?