chicagoblue

Assuming McCarthy is out who starts in midfield? I'd be looking at a 4-2-3-1 with Besic and Osman in there and Barkley at the top of the central three. Do we even have anyone else? Gibson still out I think. Might be a thin bench.

Nah, he's just desperate for a goal to start his campaign.

Mirallas!! The Blegian connection back in business

Bah Eto'o off instead. Saving him for the weekend.

Barkley for Emile

oh Aiden

They're going to score if we don't change the game.

Have we got away with another one?

Sounds as though we've got about 10% of the ball this half. Really missing Barry and McCarthy in the middle it seems.

Krasnodar and Lille have done us a solid in Russia tonight. Now only for us to wrap up top spot in the group.

Lukaku!!!!!!

We're on the ropes here. Wave after wave from Wolfsburg.

Why in the world did Roberto leave McCarthy on when it was clear that he'd tweaked his hamstring? Now he's done it. Wonderful.

Just lost McCarthy to a hamstring ... or not?

I'm actually in Canada now (despite my user name), but I'll certainly have a look see if SportsNet is replaying it (they are showing it live, but I don't have PVR).

Didn't realize this was an 'early' night game. As is it'll be on at 10 my time and I won't be able to catch any of it with work. Will try to put the audio on if I can hide for a couple hours. Would've liked Garbutt to get a few minutes recently before throwing him straight in against the best team in the group, but what can you do. No way Mirallas will last more than about 60, so let's hope that McGeady can. Not quite sure how we're going to attack in this game, don't really expect either of the fullbacks to be bombing forward and we don't really have a playmaker in the middle of the park. Going to be a strange one I reckon. Don't see us scoring many and don't see a clean sheet either. Scoring draw would be a good result. COYB

Of course, mis-typed, meant left back.

Would be shocked if Ivory Coast picked him. They're not usually light up top and he's not scored a goal in two years.

Problem with Hibbert at right back isn't defensively, it's that it cripples us going forward. We're going to be very reliant on the right and Wolfsburg will know that we won't threaten from the left so they can opt for a less defensive option on that side.

If he made it through 45 minutes of a match without pain in his knee then it was a good day for him and us. His injury appears to have some unexpected lingering effects. Is there a psychological dimension? Hope to hear Bobby say that this was an important step and that Kone will be getting himself fit to play a role in the new year. If he's again had some pain in the knee though then I'd start to concede we've seen the end of him. He'll never be able to get match fit if he can't make it through 45 minutes without aggravating the injury.

Even as poor as we were against West Ham at the weekend, I think we would've beaten an even poorer Spurs, who limped over the line against 10 man Hull. Spurs have 4 players in any kind of form, Lloris, Eriksen, Chadli and Kane. Chadli's missed out at the weekend and is a doubt for the weekend, and let's not forget that Spurs are also playing on Saturday. True they're at home and will field, I'd wager, a fully second choice starting 11, but they've been far from inspirational on Sundays following euro involvement. I think we'll see an uncharacteristically ugly match, but we'll continue our good league form. They'll look to keep possession as much as us, but we're getting that good balance in the side now where we can play with possession and hit on the counter. Expect Mirallas rested Thursday and to get 20 minutes Sunday. Hope McGeady is fit and plays as the outlet. Should be McCarthy and Besic in the middle with Ross in the whole behind Rom. Has Pienaar disappeared? Would like to see him back to give us some balance.

On the field, off, both? I hadn't heard this - not that I'd looked into it - what's the basis for your conclusion?

Lille so poor in that second half it's really hard to judge our lads. Great play all around on the 3rd goal, but after that it was a total snooze fest. Thought Gibson was nice and tidy and showed he still has a range of passing. Atsu didn't offer much of anything, but didn't do anything daft either. McCarthy was everywhere and fully deserved the ovation.

Sounds like Rom, despite a few loose touches, has started to wake up. Good to hear. JAGS!!

Will be happy to end up with pie on my face, but I agree.