Your guide to the League Cup Final

Right, we've had a blog about Aberdeen, and a blog about Inverness.  In the final part of my series of blogs on the League Cup Final, this is all the information that you never realized you needed for the match on Sunday.  How is each team likely to line up, and where will this game be won and lost?

ABERDEEN

Out of the full-backs, Logan is far more comfortable going over the halfway line than Considine, so McGinn may well start on the right, so he can come inside and leave space for the right-back.  Alternatively, the left-footed Hayes may switch to the opposite flank, where he would also tend to wander infield.  Rooney will drift to either sideline, in order to draw ICT's central defenders out of position and create gaps for McGinn and Pawlett to raid into.  McInnes may be tempted to find a place in the team for Barry Robson, but Ryan Jack's industry and Hayes' pace may be preferred in central midfield and on the wing respectively.

INVERNESS CT

ICT's defence and attack pick themselves, but the midfield is less clear-cut.  Hughes may be tempted to fit in Greg Tansey, a good passer, at the expense of Draper or Vincent.  Nick Ross is also an option in an attacking midfield or wide role, especially if it means Doran can be moved to the right, where he combines well with Raven.  If Watkins plays wide right, he will stick to the touchline but is good in the air, so there will be high balls in his direction.  Expect to see Graeme Shinnie getting forward a lot from left-back.  ICT will be dangerous if the attacking midfielders can support to Mckay, and will struggle mightily if he can't.

THE TWO SIDES

(note: I've given each player marks out of 10 for ability, according to the Narey's Toepoker Excellence Rating system.  And no, I'm not going to explain it)

ABERDEEN				INVERNESS CT
Jamie Langfield	6		6	Dean Brill
Playing some of the best football of his career, but Clangers is still good for a blunder or two				Has had a good season, but is prone to lapses in concentration. A super shot-stopper
Shaleum Logan	6		7	David Raven
On loan from Brentford, he's solid but unspectacular in all areas. Better going forward than Considine				They don't come much more reliable defensively, and he is better going forward than many realize
Russell Anderson	6		5	Danny Devine
The captain's experience and leadership are crucial, but don't entirely mask his slowness				Only 4 starts this season so largely untested. Plays because Gary Warren is suspended
Mark Reynolds	8		8	Josh Meekings
One of the league's best central defenders and could play at a higher level				An excellent young defender with pace who has largely flown under the radar
Andrew Considine	6		8	Graeme Shinnie
Decent this season, but looks like a centre-back playing at left-back – which he is				Playing the football of his life. Much of ICT's attacking play comes from his forays forward
Ryan Jack	7		7	Richie Foran
A proper all-action midfielder who will cover every blade of grass and has a decent shot on him				An inspirational captain, who will be determined to stamp his authority on the game
Willo Flood	8		6	Ross Draper
The diminutive Irishman keeps things ticking over in midfield, and isn't afraid of a tackle				A huge physical presence in the centre of the pitch, but his lack of mobility could be exposed
Niall McGinn	8		6	Marley Watkins
Has scored fewer goals this season but still a huge threat coming in from the wide areas				Better in the air than most wide players, and has a bit of pace, but end product is inconsistent
Peter Pawlett	8		7	James Vincent
A revelation this season after moving inside from the wing. Loves running at defences				Has a terrific engine, and is capable of helping out the midfield and supporting Mckay in attack
Jonny Hayes	8		8	Aaron Doran
Has pace to burn and could pop up on either flank. A great crosser as well				Probably the team's most creative player, and always looks to get on the ball. Tends to come inside a lot
Adam Rooney	8		8	Billy Mckay
In great form up front since joining in January. Will give ICT's defenders a hard time				The goals have dried up recently, but blame that on poor service. Has a good record vs Aberdeen
TOTAL	79/110		76/110

FIVE BIG QUESTIONS

Can ICT's centre backs cope with Adam Rooney?

Caley Thistle will badly miss Gary Warren, who is suspended after two yellow cards in the semi-final, so Rooney will be up against two 21 year old central defenders.  Whilst Josh Meekings has been a regular at the position for two seasons, Danny Devine has started only 4 games in this campaign.  Both have the pace to match Adam Rooney's runs into the channels, but the Irishman is deadly in the penalty area (as ICT fans know only too well) and, in Warren's absence, will fancy he can win a few high balls too,.

Can Aberdeen's centre backs cope with Billy Mckay?

Mckay has only managed three goals since the turn of the year, but he has scored six times in his last five games against the Dons.  Each time I've seen him up against Russell Anderson, the Aberdeen captain has struggled terribly to deal with the striker's movement.  The best way to stop Mckay is to stop the ball getting to his feet, so Derek McInnes will concentrate on limiting the service to the Northern Irishman to high balls.

How much space will Peter Pawlett get?

When the two sides met before Christmas, Aberdeen raced to a 4-0 lead at half-time (the game finished 4-3), mainly because Pawlett wreaked havoc in the area between the midfield and the defence.  Inverness need to prevent him from being able to run at the central defenders with the ball at his feet.  It wouldn't be a surprise to see Richie Foran sit in front of Meekings and Devine in order to limit Pawlett's space.

Which wing will Jonny Hayes play on?

The turbocharged Irishman is just as likely to play on the right and come inside as to line up on his natural left flank.  McInnes will be concerned about Graeme Shinnie getting forward from left back and may considering sticking Hayes directly against him, both to pin him back and to track his runs up the pitch.

Will Yogi go 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1?

We know that Terry Butcher preferred the latter; however, John Hughes has on a few occasions used Richie Foran as the furthest advanced midfielder, or as a second striker alongside Mckay.  The reasoning is simple - Foran's aerial ability means that the long ball is an option.  The reality?  It leaves the team short in midfield and unable to keep it on the deck at all.  One up is the way to go, trust me.

L.