With Lomas Out And Di Canio, Carrick, Winterburn And Kanoute Still Doubtful, What Line-up And Formation Would You Field Against Sunderland At The Stad

YOUR REPLIES:

David Bernstone, London
Judging by the lack of creative inspiration last Saturday against Spurs, I think we need to change the two forwards. Play Kitson and todorov up front (Defoe gets last half an hour). James in goal, Minto, Repka, Foxe and Schemmel at the back. Three across the midfield - Cole, Sinclair and Courtois, with big Don playing just off the front two in a 4-3-1-2. I'll be there on Saturday, up the 'Ammers!

Daniel Donnelly, Romford
My formation would have to be 4-4-2 with David James in goal, Scott Minto on the left, Hayden Foxe and Tomas Repka in the middle and Sebastien Schemmel on the right. My midfield would be Laurent Courtois on the left, Joe Cole and Don Hutchison in the middle and Trevor Sinclair on the right and my front line would be Jermain Defoe and Paul Kitson.

Tony Herbert, Solihull
                    James
Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Minto
    Sinclair, Hutchison, Courtois
                    Cole
             Defoe, Kitson
Subs. Hislop, Foxe, Johnson, McCann, Todorov

Dean Kingham, Bournemouth
                      James,
Schemmel, Repka, Foxe, Minto,
Sinclair, Cole, Hutchison, Courtois
            Todorov, Kitson
Subs: Hislop, Defoe, Newton, Soma, McCann

Stu, Chelmsford
                     James
Schemmel, Repka, Foxe, Minto,
Sinclair, Hutchison, Moncur, Courtois;
                     Cole
                    Kitson

Steve Perry, Chelmsford
I believe that, given Sunderland play a route one style and 4-4-2, the Hammers should go for a 3-5-2 formation. Team would be: James in goal, Schemmel and Minto as wing backs, Foxe, Repka and Dailly as centre backs to combat Quinn's height, Moncur and Hutchison in the middle and Cole operating behind the front two of Kitson and Defoe. I would say both Schemmel and Minto would need to be more of a defensive unit as the Sunderland full-backs like to push on. A lot of emphasis would be placed on Cole to find space and slip balls in to the front two, something sadly lacking against Spurs where high balls were pumped forward too often.

Dean Park, Chafford Hundred, Essex
I think that we should go for a four man defence and have Joe Cole just behind Kitson and Defoe, with Don Hutchison holding the midfield and not coming forward much. We got beat badly in midfield by Spurs as they had too much time on the ball and we could not get our passing game together.