Harry Redknapp looks set to play Lauren on the right side of midfield against Sunderland this weekend.
We used this against Arsenal, and although the defeat was not his fault at all it was clear that this partnership with Glen Johnson did not work, well not in the way it was set-up… but Redknapp has told The News that he has no reservations about doing this again: ‘John’s now gone and we haven’t got any other right wingers who can replace him, that’s an area we need to strengthen without doubt.
‘But Lauren can play there for sure, he wouldn’t let you down.
‘He’s just been unlucky that he’s not in the team, Glen has been playing fantastically so it’s always going to be hard to get past him at right-back.
‘Lauren on the right-hand side of midfield is not a bad option at all, he played there in Spain, he’s an experienced player.
‘I think him and Glen can work well together on that side. They can go forward and attack as well defend together, I can see that working.
‘Lauren can always drop in when Glen’s attacking and will get us a lot more defensive strength on that side.
‘It’s definitely something I’m considering and he’s not got any injuries at the moment, which has been a bit of a problem.
So, unless in the unlikely even that we are able to sign a right winger this week this looks likely to be what we will do against Sunderland.
Redknapp is not keen on Franck Songo’o – that much seems blatantly obvious – so with him not even being taken into consideration judging by Redknapp’s own words, if we do go down that avenue again I think that I would not be alone in thinking, probably even hoping that it would be Lauren at right back and Johnson in a right midfield role.
I want to make it clear that I am not against the pairing – but in all honesty I would prefer not to see it but needs must so we roll with this, it is just as said I would much prefer to see Lauren behind Johnson and not the other way around.
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