Team v Palace

[bf2k]

------------------------Muric
--------------AAD--------------Delcroix
Roberts----------------Cork------------------------Taylor
------------Brownhill----------Berge
---------Tresor-----------------Amdouni
-------------------------Foster

Slightly unbalanced on the left and narrow but Palace could rip us a new one with their pace but their back line isn't very mobile

[Darthlaw]

-----------------Flip a coin---------------
Roberts --- AAD --- Delcroix --- Taylor
------------Cork --- Berge ---------------
---------------Tresor ----------JBL-------
------------Foster-----------------------

Crystal Palace are a big set and will flatten our defence and midfield, sadly.

[CoolClaret]

Sat and thought about it.

I hate playing three at the back but our main men aren’t fit so I feel like we have to because we’re just getting steam rolled

——————-—Muric
——O’Shea-Chaz-Delcroix—-
Vitinho—Berge—-Cork——Koleosho
——-—Trésor*——-Redmond
———————Foster

Could be JBG for Trésor but I think Trésor will come good if we stick with him, or could play Amdouni as well

Can easily go to a four at the back if needed or later in the game.

AAD can’t start again he’s been an absolute disaster.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Sat and thought about it.

I hate playing three at the back but our main men aren’t fit so I feel like we have to because we’re just getting steam rolled

——————-—Muric
——O’Shea-Chaz-Delcroix—-
Vitinho—Berge—-Cork——Koleosho
——-—Trésor*——-Redmond
———————Foster

Could be JBG for Trésor but I think Trésor will come good if we stick with him, or could play Amdouni as well

Can easily go to a four at the back if needed or later in the game.

AAD can’t start again he’s been an absolute disaster.

Koleosho at wing back would be a disaster

[CoolClaret]

Koleosho at wing back would be a disaster

Would it? Think he has the pace to get up and down.

Who would you have in there instead?

Note I have cork on his side to be the more disciplined one filling in for any gaps he may leave if bombing on.

Doubt we will play 3 at the back - can’t imagine we’ve been working on it in training.

[Pickles]

Would it? Think he has the pace to get up and down.

Who would you have in there instead?

Pace yes. But stamina? Defensive attributes? Discipline?

Who would I play there instead? As a wing back? No-one, we don't have one. Taylor most suitable but that's a whole other story.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

He might have pace but he’s zero defensive nous from what we’ve seen so far. Just someone who can actually defend would be a plus for us at the moment.

[CoolClaret]

Pace yes. But stamina? Defensive attributes? Discipline?

Who would I play there instead? As a wing back? No-one, we don't have one. Taylor most suitable but that's a whole other story.

I don’t think Taylor is a wingback at all.

Like I said you have midfield helping plug gaps but takes team knowledge and familiarity with the position.

If Koleosho isn’t up to it then Roberts to rwb and Vitinho to lwb.

Three at the back helps the defensive side of it - that’s the trade off that we see.

Koleosho been ok at winning balls back and getting stuck in; though I concede that it’s somewhat different playing lwb than lw

[Pickles]

I don’t think Taylor is a wingback at all.

Like I said you have midfield helping plug gaps but takes team knowledge and familiarity with the position.

If Koleosho isn’t up to it then Roberts to rwb and Vitinho to lwb.

Taylor isn't a wingback. I didn't say he was. Which is why I wouldn't play with wingbacks because we don't have any.

Like you say, it takes familiarity with the position - of which Koloesho has zero. Having Cork covering for him all game does zilch to strengthen our midfield.

And any system which requires Vitinho as a starter is a bad system, in my opinion.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Would it? Think he has the pace to get up and down.

Who would you have in there instead?

Note I have cork on his side to be the more disciplined one filling in for any gaps he may leave if bombing on.

Doubt we will play 3 at the back - can’t imagine we’ve been working on it in training.

I think he has been really poor defensively/ consistently out of position and quite easy to dribble past.

I love him going forward but I think putting him at wing back highlights his weaknesses and stops his strengths

[Iloveyoubrady]

Muric
Vitinho Beyer Al Dahkil Taylor
Cullen Berge
Koleosho Amdouni Odobert
Foster

[CoolClaret]

Taylor isn't a wingback. I didn't say he was. Which is why I wouldn't play with wingbacks because we don't have any.

Like you say, it takes familiarity with the position - of which Koloesho has zero. Having Cork covering for him all game does zilch to strengthen our midfield.

And any system which requires Vitinho as a starter is a bad system, in my opinion.

Probably had our best chance through Vitinho last night -

We barely have full backs either and with Beyer/Ekdal out we’re getting diced open.

Even now in our system midfielders are dropping in for fullbacks, Cullen does it a lot.

The other option is playing more traditional roles at fullback which is fair enough - just trying to offer a solution.

I appreciate that Conte’s Chelsea are light years ahead of us as a team but he turned Victor Moses into a very effective wingback

(Not suggesting that we’d have anywhere near the same success)

My point is - we probably looked the best we have against good opposition (City) playing three at the back, though we obviously did come up well short in the end

[RicardoMontalban]

Muric
Roberts AAD Delcroix Taylor
Brownhill Cork Berge
Amdouni Foster Trésor

Not ideal minus Cullen, however out of nick, he is and the two CB spots seem like a pull a name out of the hat until at least Beyer is back. Maybe Ramsey for Cork with Brownhill told to stay more disciplined with Berge. Maybe Redmond for Amdouni for more experience.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Probably had our best chance through Vitinho last night -

We barely have full backs either and with Beyer/Ekdal out we’re getting diced open.

Even now in our system midfielders are dropping in for fullbacks, Cullen does it a lot.

The other option is playing more traditional roles at fullback which is fair enough - just trying to offer a solution.

I appreciate that Conte’s Chelsea are light years ahead of us as a team but he turned Victor Moses into a very effective wingback

(Not suggesting that we’d have anywhere near the same success)

My point is - we probably looked the best we have against good opposition (City) playing three at the back, though we obviously did come up well short in the end

Vithino is so overrated. Poor defensively and lost count last night of number of times he got ball in space in good positions on the right and ended up running aimlessly into their players.

[CoolClaret]

Vithino is so overrated. Poor defensively and lost count last night of number of times he got ball in space in good positions on the right and ended up running aimlessly into their players.

He's been no worse than Roberts this season. Did alright at wingback (albeit lwb) against City.

We can't magic players out of thin air - have to find some sort of system to get them to work in!

[Holtyclaret]

VK said himself last night that we looked better in the first 20 mins ,I wonder if he has the football brain to understand why ,or does he revert to Trafford ?

I think somebody of VK’s career and obvious work ethic/character deserves a little more respect than comments like these.

[Carwin261]

I think somebody of VK’s career and obvious work ethic/character deserves a little more respect than comments like these.

He’s bringing it on himself ,the world and his wife can see the big contrast in our play with different keepers in the side,he’s happen to near to see what’s going on ( near as being involved ,not distance wise) ,he may not be able ,or doesn’t want to see the wood for the trees.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

He's been no worse than Roberts this season. Did alright at wingback (albeit lwb) against City.

We can't magic players out of thin air - have to find some sort of system to get them to work in!

Agree Roberts has been equally poor in fact on par with how he played first half of last season but he’s the best we’ve got until January. Same goes at left back we are stuck with what we’ve got for the next two months.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Muric
Al-Dakhil O’Shea Delcroix Taylor
Berge cork Brownhill
Amdouni Foster Tresor

So difficult to pick a side at the moment . Brownhill has to sit with Cork for me and protect the defence . Allow Berge to surge forward into the right channel while Amdouni tucks in supporting foster ….Taylor to do a more orthodox left back role whilst Al-Dakhil makes the three defenders sitting deep.

Roberts and Vitinho both been really poor. Yes Al-Dakhil was bad vs spurs but looked really sharp there pre season against benfica first half when it looked as if this was what VK wanted to do. Could be either him or O’Shea at fullback for me but AAD has shown a serious lack of physicality lately against a strong centre forward which edges it for me .

Was between Amdouni/Larsen/Redmond for the other position , we have to play Tresor into form quickly , wether it be left right or central . We need quality to transform this terrible start.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Muric
Al-Dakhil O’Shea Delcroix Taylor
Berge cork Brownhill
Amdouni Foster Tresor

So difficult to pick a side at the moment . Brownhill has to sit with Cork for me and protect the defence . Allow Berge to surge forward into the right channel while Amdouni tucks in supporting foster ….Taylor to do a more orthodox left back role whilst Al-Dakhil makes the three defenders sitting deep.

Roberts and Vitinho both been really poor. Yes Al-Dakhil was bad vs spurs but looked really sharp there pre season against benfica first half when it looked as if this was what VK wanted to do. Could be either him or O’Shea at fullback for me but AAD has shown a serious lack of physicality lately against a strong centre forward which edges it for me .

Was between Amdouni/Larsen/Redmond for the other position , we have to play Tresor into form quickly , wether it be left right or central . We need quality to transform this terrible start.

Al Dakill is getting ripped to bits every week he needs dropping for his own good! Might as well give up if we start playing massively out of form centre halves at right back at this level.

[JR1882]

It’s pretty impossible to pick 11 players.

What a massive balls up this is.

[Holtyclaret]

He’s bringing it on himself ,the world and his wife can see the big contrast in our play with different keepers in the side,he’s happen to near to see what’s going on ( near as being involved ,not distance wise) ,he may not be able ,or doesn’t want to see the wood for the trees.

I’m sure Vincent Kompany will be in touch with you soon to tap into your footballing brain.

3-0 loss and one shot on target last night wasn’t it?

The modern footy fan would eat themselves if they could.

[Carwin261]

I’m sure Vincent Kompany will be in touch with you soon to tap into your footballing brain.

3-0 loss and one shot on target last night wasn’t it?

The modern footy fan would eat themselves if they could.

So your saying because he’s played football at the highest level that he must know better than the average layman ,if a joiner puts a window in your house and you say it’s not straight ,are you wrong because he’s been doing the job for 30 yrs .the average supporter that’s more than 60 yrs old will probably have seen more matches than VK’s had hot dinners,doesn’t necessarily make him an expert but it certainly helps .

[Holtyclaret]

So your saying because he’s played football at the highest level that he must know better than the average layman

Yes

[Newcastleclaret93]

Yes

So did Gary Neville. Look how he turned out as a manager

[Carwin261]

Yes

We’ve had this conversion on here before ,but how many top class players have been diabolical managers ,the list is endless,Jimmy Mac once said that the hardest bit about management was trying to coach inferior players into doing something that came naturally to him just like VK being a brilliant defender but can’t get his team to keep a clean sheet.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

We’ve had this conversion on here before ,but how many top class players have been diabolical managers ,the list is endless,Jimmy Mac once said that the hardest bit about management was trying to coach inferior players into doing something that came naturally to him just like VK being a brilliant defender but can’t get his team to keep a clean sheet.

He managed it ok last season. I’m sure you were questioning his managerial skills then.

[equinox]

I too would play 3 at the back and go with:

...................................Trafford....................................

............O'Shea..................Beyer................Delcroix..........

Roberts.........Brownhill.....Cullen......Berge..........Taylor........

............................Andouni...............Foster.................

And I would have the teams run out to Ashford & Simpson - Solid.

https://youtu.be/w3PoTnkLfxE?si=7rqFIn73wAmQECME

[Holtyclaret]

So did Gary Neville. Look how he turned out as a manager

Very few ‘succeed’ in the scheme of things, usually due to the modern phenomenon of needing instant success and not being given the time and support needed.

I’m sure Neville admitted he really didn’t see himself as a manager but thought why not when it was offered.

Vk lives and breathes it.

[Carwin261]

I too would play 3 at the back and go with:

...................................Trafford....................................

............O'Shea..................Beyer................Delcroix..........

Roberts.........Brownhill.....Cullen......Berge..........Taylor........

............................Andouni...............Foster.................

And I would have the teams run out to Ashford & Simpson - Solid.

https://youtu.be/w3PoTnkLfxE?si=7rqFIn73wAmQECME
[/quot

[Carwin261]

Looks a lot more solid ,happen we should play what we have we hold for an hour and see where it takes us.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Very few ‘succeed’ in the scheme of things, usually due to the modern phenomenon of needing instant success and not being given the time and support needed.

I’m sure Neville admitted he really didn’t see himself as a manager but thought why not when it was offered.

Vk lives and breathes it.

VK can live and breathe it all he wants, but if he continues going at this rate he will struggle to get another role at the elite level

[Holtyclaret]

VK can live and breathe it all he wants, but if he continues going at this rate he will struggle to get another role at the elite level

I think most folk within the game know about the longer term project we have going on and that doesn’t always bring continued immediate success.

[Carwin261]

VK can live and breathe it all he wants, but if he continues going at this rate he will struggle to get another role at the elite level

Hope we’re not having to group him with Lampard and Rooney,it’s strange how some people react to criticism of our manager ,none of us want him to fail because if he does well then we do well ,it’s like going to the Turf ,some people just sit there ,and only react when we score ,others like me kick every ball and live and breath it 7 days a week.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think most folk within the game know about the longer term project we have going on and that doesn’t always bring continued immediate success.

This project is such a myth.

Every single club in the country has a project.

The short term always dictates the long term. You have to be continuously successful to sustain a long period at a football club.

[Holtyclaret]

This project is such a myth.

Every single club in the country has a project.

The short term always dictates the long term. You have to be continuously successful to sustain a long period at a football club.

It’s a myth that quite a lot of folk have invested in.

[Newcastleclaret93]

It’s a myth that quite a lot of folk have invested in.

Go on il bite, who?

[Holtyclaret]

Go on il bite, who?

I wasn’t offering anything to bite on or cause a row.

Just stating a fact. We now have a group of minor investors, jj and dude perfect as well as 18 others. All of similar investment. All in essence gambling that the club is worth more in x years time that it was last year.

Fag packet maths but more than doubles our sky income this year (20 x £7m).

They believe in the project as do I, it numbs the pain slightly caused by our p@ss poor start to the season!

[OssyClaret]

Muric

Roberts Al Dakhil Beyer Taylor

Cullen Cork Brownhill

Berge Foster Amdouni

[Nonayforever]

Muric
Roberts Al Dakhil OShea Taylor Delcroix
Koleosho Redmond Berge Zaroury
Foster

Odebert, Brownhill & Amdouni as first choice subs, Vitinho as a last resort.

[CoolClaret]

Second thought - t's either consolidate (three at the back, two sitting midfielders) or just try and play the other team off the park isn't it

Second attempt:

----------Muric
Roberts-O'Shea-Delcroix-Taylor
--------Berge-Cork
JBG-----Trésor----Zaroury
---------Foster

[spt_claret]

Largely a repost from the Strongest XI thread but:



-----------------------------------Muric
-------Roberts ----- O'Shea ---- Beyer (if fit, if not Delcroix or maybe even Cork he's too slow for CDM at this level) -------- Taylor
-------------------Berge Brownhill Gudmundsson
Redmond/Brun Larsen/Amdouni --------------------- Koleosho/Brun Larsen
---------------------------------Foster

Style overhaul, 433. Defend more compact. Go with counter attacking and fast breaks over "55% possession do nothing". Fullbacks playing more orthodox Roberts only inverting on occasion. Cullen is struggling at this level, gives our CM proven PL experience as well as the legs and technical ability to play out of trouble. Brownhill to do the legwork and running, Berge a pivot/box to box, Gudmundsson a deep playmaker/deep lying mezzala who also has the versatility to move forward to any of the front 3 roles if we want to shift formation without a sub.

Larsens the most rounded winger, Redmond's looked lively, Amdouni playing wide would be unfamiliar but he has pace and is theoretically a goal threat (Ideally we'd have Benson in this position to cut in and be a reliable goal threat but he's injured). Have him playing more of the Tella role from last season. Koleosho has the pace and dribbling to pose a break option.

Trafford could play this system but I'd pick Muric just to improve our own half ball retention and buildup, if we're more counter attacking we'll have fewer opportunities to attack so would need to make sure they count and not squander the ball in or buildup.

Go faster and more direct- not long balls to a big man just more aimed at getting towards goal and shooting when we can rather than overplaying for the perfect chance, with an extra man in CM Beyer is less exposed and has more layoff options when he drives forward.

Whichever of Amdouni/Redmond/BL/Koleosho who don't start, and Cullen, as the priority bench options to shift to 4231 from last season with Gudmundsson and/or Brownhill and either winger being provisionally earmarked for the subs.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Average age yesterday was 26.1 which was a big improvement which showed on the pitch, if Roberts and Taylor were playing it would be even better. Quality of defending was really the only difference. Nous and control of the game we were OK.

So I reckon a similar approach.

——————————-Muric———————————-
Roberts—O’Shea—Delcroix—Taylor
———————Berge——Cork————————-
Amdouni—————-Brownhill—————Tresor
——————————Foster————————————

That pads up midfield while giving us some goalscoring threat.

I reckon I’ll have 6 of the 11 correct. Therein lies the problem but one the manager deserves another 12 months to try to solve (worst case scenario until November in the Championship, but I doubt it will come to that).

[SalouClaret]

-----------------Flip a coin---------------
Roberts --- AAD --- Delcroix --- Taylor
------------Cork --- Berge ---------------
---------------Tresor ----------JBL-------
------------Foster-----------------------

Crystal Palace are a big set and will flatten our defence and midfield, sadly.

Of course they will if we play your suggested line-up. You've only chosen 10 players

[ClaretPete001]

Given up on the youngsters going back to 4-4-1-1. Stay in the game and bring a couple of them on after 70 or so when the old farts are knackered

——————————-Muric———————————-
Roberts—O’Shea—Taylor-Delcroix
Brownhill—Cullen——Cork—JBG———————-
__________Berge
———————Foster------------------

[brexit]

Is Ramsey injured? I thought he was the answer to our midfield issues?

[ClaretPete001]

Is Ramsey injured? I thought he was the answer to our midfield issues?

Well if his restaurant in Manchester is anything to go by he's not the answer to my meat and taty pie palate that's for sure.

[claretandy]

Muric
Vitiniho O'Shea delcroix Taylor
Brownhill Berge
JBG Redmond JBL
foster

[EarbyClaret]

PL experience, organisation and physicality, wide players who can defend when we don't have the ball - we need to protect the weaknesses at CB

Muric

Roberts
O'Shea
Delcroix
Taylor

Cork
Brownhill

JBG
Berge
Redmond

Foster

[Newcastleclaret93]

And off course Eze has just been announced as fit to play tomorrow 🫣