Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 15 – Part Two

Bojan Krkic is handed the lone striker role as Stoke see off City at the Britannia. Dele Alli is afforded a central support berth for Spurs’ trip to the Hawthorns, whilst West Ham’s host of injuries sees Slaven Bilic switch to 4-3-3.

After rolling out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personal, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 16 lineups…

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; McArthur, Jedinak; Puncheon, Cabaye (Mutch 77), Bolasie; Wickham (Gayle 77).

• Alan Pardew only made one adjustment for the trip to Goodison Park, with Mile Jedinak taking the place of the suspended Wilfried Zaha.
• With 13 minutes left, Pardew made a double change, with Jordon Mutch and Dwight Gayle coming on for Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham.
• Pardew made a slight tactical tweak at Goodison Park, opting for a 4-3-3 system. Jedinak played just in front of the back four, with James McArthur and Cabaye just ahead of him. Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie operated on either side of lone striker Wickham, with the pair swapping flanks midway during the match.
• With Zaha available again after serving his one-match suspension, Pardew will likely revert back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation against Southampton on Saturday, with Cabaye alongside McArthur in the double pivot, and Zaha, Puncheon and Bolasie forming the attacking midfield trio.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Everton

Starting XI: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway (Baines 62); Cleverley, Barry; Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone; Lukaku.

• Roberto Martinez was forced into making one change from the side drew 3-3 at Bournemouth, with Tom Cleverley coming in for the injured James McCarthy.
• The Toffees lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Cleverley slotting in next to Gareth Barry at the base of midfield.
• Martinez only made one mid-match alteration, handing Leighton Baines his first appearance of the season, coming on in a straight swap at left-back for Brendan Galloway.
• With Baines getting 30 minutes under his belt, the England international could be handed a first start of the campaign at Norwich on Saturday. Martinez has been cautious upon his return to injury, though, so another appearance off the bench can’t be ruled out. Cleverley appears likely to continue in midfield should McCarthy not be available, while the likes of Aaron Lennon, Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas could perhaps come into contention to replace Arouna Kone out wide.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks

Southampton

Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Cedric Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama (Romeu 63), Ward-Prowse; Mane (Long 83), S Davis, Tadic (Juanmi 63); Pelle.

• Ronald Koeman made three changes for the visit of Aston Villa to St Mary’s, with Cedric Soares, Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle starting in place of Maya Yoshida, Oriol Romeu and Shane Long.
• The Dutch boss stuck with his usual 4-2-3-1 system, with James Ward-Prowse starting alongside Victor Wanyama in the double-pivot. Tadic, Steven Davis and Sadio Mane formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Pelle. Soares slotted into his usual position at right-back.
• With Saints trailing 1-0, Koeman brought on Romeu and Joselu, with Wanyama and Tadic making way. This meant more of a 4-3-3 system for the hosts, with Mane alongside Pelle and Joselu in attack. Long entered the fray late on in place of Mane.
• The uncertainty in the right-back position remains, with Soares and Yoshida continuing to share playing time. Jordy Clasie seems to have fallen down the pecking order in midfield, and Romeu could perhaps earn a recall after scoring the equaliser in the 1-1 draw, though Wanyama will need assessing after being forced off through injury. Southampton have only scored three goals in their last four matches, so the likes of Long and Joselu could come into contention for a start against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 16.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield

Stoke

Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Afellay (Walters 85), Whelan, Cameron; Shaqiri (Van Ginkel 77) Arnautovic, Bojan (Joselu 72).

• Mark Hughes only made one adjustment for the visit of Man City to the Britannia, with Ibrahim Afellay taking the place of Jon Walters.
• The Welshman continued with a 4-2-3-1 set-up, with Bojan playing as the central striker and Afellay stationed in the central support role. Xherdan Shaqiri (right) and Marko Arnautovic (left) started on the flanks.
• Bojan rarely completes 90 minutes, and it was Joselu who replaced him this time around in a straight swap. Marco van Ginkel and Walters providing fresh legs during the latter stages.
• Given the success of the tactical switch and using Bojan as the most advanced central forward, Hughes could use the same approach for the trip to West Ham. Walters could come back in at the expense of Afellay, though, with Bojan dropping back into the number ten role.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Attacking Midfield, Central Striker

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pantilimon; Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; M’Vila, Toivonen (Rodwell 62); Watmore, Fletcher (Lens 73), Borini (Johnson 67).

• Sam Allardyce made three changes for the trip to the Emirates, with Ola Toivonen, Duncan Watmore and Fabio Borini coming in for Lee Cattermole, Sebastian Larsson and Jermain Defoe.
• Big Sam used a 3-4-3 during the second-half against Stoke last time out, and opted to start with that formation against Arsenal. Toivonen and Yann M’Vila played in central midfield, with Fabio Borini (right) and Duncan Watmore (left) flanking central striker Steven Fletcher.
• Toivonen made way for Jack Rodwell shortly after the hour mark in a straight swap. Adam Johnson then came on for Borini down the right flank, with the final substitution seeing Jeremain Lens replace Steven Fletcher
• Allardyce is happy to switch formations depending on the respective strengths of the opposition, but he is currently favouring a wing-back system. The only possible change at the back could see Billy Jones push DeAndre Yedlin for a starting berth. Lens and Johnson will be hoping for recalls against Watford in the wide positions, though Cattermole is struggling to overcome a back problem, whilst Larsson is sidelined for another month. With Defoe back in training again, a return to the 3-5-2 formation looks likely.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks

Swansea

Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Britton (Barrow 62), Ki Sung-yeung (Cork 78); Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Montero 46); Gomis.

• Garry Monk only made one alteration for the home encounter against Leicester, with Bafetimbi Gomis earning a recall in place of the injured Eder.
• Gomis spearheaded the attack in Monk’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system. Andre Ayew was once again stationed on the left of the attacking midfield trio.
• After failing to register a goal attempt in the first-half, Monk turned to Jefferson Montero at the break, with the Ecuador international replacing Wayne Routledge. He played on the left, with Ayew switching to the right flank. Modou Barrow was then introduced in place of Leon Britton, with Sigurdsson dropping back alongside Ki at the base of midfield. Ayew shifted to the number ten role, with Barrow playing on the right. Monk’s final change saw Jack Cork come on for Ki.
• After yet another disappointing showing, few players look sure of their starting berths. Kyle Naughton and Kyle Bartley look the most vulnerable at the back, with Angel Rangel and Federico Fernandez possible replacements for the trip to Man City on Sunday. Cork and Jonjo Shelvey, who was left out of the 18-man squad against the Foxes as Monk was happy with the efforts of the players in the previous match against Liverpool, could replace Britton and Ki in central midfield, while Montero should be in strong contention to return to the starting line-up after a reasonable showing as a substitute. Monk could possibly try Ayew as the lone striker at the Etihad, with Routledge, Sigurdsson and Montero in the advanced midfield positions, or persist with Gomis up front. Eder will provide an alternative should he shake off an ankle problem.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker

Tottenham

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderwiereld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele, Dier; Lamela (Heung-Min Son 65), Alli (N’Jie 80), Eriksen; Kane.

• Mauricio Pochettino made two alterations for the trip to the Hawthorns, with Dele Alli and Erik Lamela coming in for Ryan Mason and Heung-Min Son.
• The Argentine rolled out his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation against the baggies, with Alli starting in the number ten role, and Lamela stationed on the right of the three advanced midfield positions.
• Son replaced Lamela in a straight swap shortly after the hour mark. Alli was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, with Clinton N’Jie taking his place.
• With Alli and Mousa Dembele in such good form, there only look to be question marks over one position in the Tottenham side – who plays on the right of the three attacking midfield positions. Lamela got the nod on Saturday, but Son may earn a recall when Spurs host Newcastle on Sunday.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Anya (Paredes 74), Deeney, Jurado (Abdi 77); Ighalo (Guedioura 94).

• Quique Sanchez Flores made two changes from the side that won 3-2 at Aston Villa, with Ikechi Anya taking the place of Juan Carlos Paredes, while Jurado came in for Almen Abdi.
• Flores stuck with his tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation, with Troy Deeney playing just off lone striker Odion Ighalo. Anya was stationed on the right of the three attacking midfield positions, with Jurado out on the left.
• Paredes came on for Anya in a straight swap, with Abdi entering the fray for Jurado on the opposite wing.
• Nathan Ake looks to have a reasonable grip on the left-back berth, so it’s only out wide where Flores looks to be keen to rotate. Paredes and Abdi were dropped against Norwich, but with Abdi having been a regular in the starting XI throughout the season, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him earn a recall when the Hornets travel to Sunderland on Saturday.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks

West Brom

Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt; Evans; Sessegnon (Gardner 44), Fletcher, Morrison, McClean; Rondon.

• Tony Pulis was forced to make one change for the home clash against Tottenham, with Chris Brunt, available after serving a one-match ban, coming in for the suspended Claudio Yacob.
• Pulis went with a 4-1-4-1 system against Spurs, with Jonny Evans sat in front of the back four. Brunt returned at left-back, with Jonas Olsson partnering Gareth McAuley in central defence. Darren Fletcher and James Morrison were stationed in the middle of the park.
• Stephane Sessegnon picked up a hamstring injury on the stroke of half-time, and had to be replaced by Craig Gardner.
• With Yacob available again for Sunday trip to Anfield, Pulis could well revert back to the 4-5-1 formation he has often favoured on the road. Evans could return to centre-back, then, with Olsson likely to be the one to miss out. Gardner or Morrison could start on the right if Sessegnon is ruled out, with Callum McManaman or Saido Berahino more attacking options.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks

West Ham

Starting XI: Adrian; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Song (Obiang 77), Kouyate; Moses (Antonio 37), Noble, Zarate (Jenkinson 87); Carroll.

• Slaven Bilic made four changes from the starting XI that drew 1-1 against West Brom, with James Tomkins, Mark Noble, Alex Song and Andy Carroll coming in for Carl Jenkinson, Pedro Obiang, Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho.
• Bilic went for a 4-3-3 at Old Trafford, with Alex Song in the defensive midfield role and Noble and Kouyate just ahead of the Cameroon international. Zarate played on the left of the front three, with Victor Moses on the right and Carroll stationed as the lone striker. Tomkins started at right-back for the Hammers.
• Moses had to be replaced in the first-half after picking up a hamstring injury – Michail Antonio came on in a straight swap. Obiang came on for Song with the former Arsenal midfielder still building up his match fitness, with Jenkinson being afforded a couple of minutes at the death as West Ham held on for a point.
• It was a surprise to see Jenkinson dropped from the starting XI, and after keeping their first clean sheet since Gameweek 5, Tomkins could retain his starting spot at right-back, with Angelo Ogbonna remaining at centre-back. Lanzini has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a thigh injury and, if Moses is also sidelined, Bilic could retain the same system, with Zarate and Antonio on either side of Carroll.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Flanks