Flemming tomorrow

[Selby Claret]

Apologies if I’ve missed it - but is Flemming permitted to play tomorrow or will it have to be JR or AH up top…?

[dougcollins]

I didn't think it was a rule in the EFL, like it is in the prem?

[Selby Claret]

Not necessarily a rule but something I would imagine the loaning club can condition possibly? Just not sure

[Selby Claret]

Obafemi was absent against us (but don’t know if he was unfit / out of favour either)

[Leisure]

He's not playing.

[Vegas Claret]

I'd throw Hountondji in and see if he has anything about him but I suspect Parker will pick Jay

[IanMcL]

I'd throw Hountondji in and see if he has anything about him but I suspect Parker will pick Jay

I would just throw Houdonkey out!


(Hope to eventually be proved wrong)

[Row x]

I would just throw Houdonkey out!


(Hope to eventually be proved wrong)

Pathetic

[boatshed bill]

Pathetic

Not the first time.

[Row x]

Not the first time.

Sometimes you've just got to shake your head and realise some people are just different

[BurnleyFC]

Considering how goal shy we’ve been recently, I’m not expecting big things from our 3rd and 4th choice strikers tomorrow.

[mkmel]

I would just throw Houdonkey out!


(Hope to eventually be proved wrong)

Come on Ian you're better than that!

[warksclaret]

We have to grind out a result to stay in touch with leaders
Having created this post and had a week to stew on it I think I would go for Jay because of his experience and Andrea’s for the last 25 mins
A point would be a great result

[DCWat]

123 minutes of football (young lad new country) with 88 of those in something of a cobbled together team, on the left wing. If he was from Burnley and in the first team via the youth set up, he’d be afforded way more respect and given lots of time.

[claretspice]

Tight call but personally I'd give Jay the nod tomorrow - if Hountondji plays then I think all of the front 5 would be players who want to run towards the opposition goal and I think you need at least one player comfortable linking the game with their back to goal or on the half turn. We looked much better in the first half last week for having Flemming providing precisely that option and Jay is the nearest replica. With Anthony, Koleosho, Brownhill and Laurent likely to be the first behind, that's the best balance.

Agree with others though, whilst Hountondji has looked very raw and short of being ready, his movement has suggested he can be a threat.

[boatshed bill]

Tight call but personally I'd give Jay the nod tomorrow - if Hountondji plays then I think all of the front 5 would be players who want to run towards the opposition goal and I think you need at least one player comfortable linking the game with their back to goal or on the half turn. We looked much better in the first half last week for having Flemming providing precisely that option and Jay is the nearest replica. With Anthony, Koleosho, Brownhill and Laurent likely to be the first behind, that's the best balance.

Agree with others though, whilst Hountondji has looked very raw and short or being ready, his movement has suggested he can be a threat.

Agree with all of this. can't see AH starting instead of JR.
Actually I don't know why SP hasn't given AH a game or two with the U21s, could do him some good, IMO.
Lots of capitals in there, sorry

[Dark Cloud]

It's a real worry. We're like a Larry Grayson handbag up front and now our only remote threat isn't playing. It's going to be very difficult tomorrow (to say the least!)

[quoonbeatz]

Hountondji has looked way off it so far, his movement is really poor, certainly in his last two appearances off the bench anyway.

Start with Jay tomorrow and bring Hountondji on as a wildcard if we have to.

[Bullabill]

Agree with all of this. can't see AH starting instead of JR.
Actually I don't know why SP hasn't given AH a game or two with the U21s, could do him some good, IMO.
Lots of capitals in there, sorry

Yes, there's more letters in the apology than in Scott Parker, Hountondji and Jay.

[BigGaz]

I mean I'm not a marine biologist but I don't think the problem is with the striker as such.

In that the way we appear to be playing at the moment is not getting the best out of the striker. It looks like what we need our striker to do is to make the ball stick and link play.

None of our forwards particularly have that skillset, other than Jay but from what I've seen of him so far this season he barely looks like he's got 45 mins in him never mind 90.

To my mind that's why our attacking unit looks so disjointed at present. Someone of the type of Weghorst would have fit the bill perfectly. Ho hum.

[SirBob]

Can’t see JR or AH starting against Millwall TBH

Fully expect a random unexpected line up that no one predicts, just because managers like to be clever and annoy fans

[ClaretTony]

The club have confirmed that Flemming is out under the terms of his loan - Parker said he's got cover and will use either Jay Rod or Hountondji

[IanMcL]

Come on Ian you're better than that!

He is not a footballer so far. Let's hope for better.

[Goliath]

No brainer. Jay Rod should start. He's the only one proven at this level

[JimmyRobbo]

Tight call but personally I'd give Jay the nod tomorrow - if Hountondji plays then I think all of the front 5 would be players who want to run towards the opposition goal and I think you need at least one player comfortable linking the game with their back to goal or on the half turn. We looked much better in the first half last week for having Flemming providing precisely that option and Jay is the nearest replica. With Anthony, Koleosho, Brownhill and Laurent likely to be the first behind, that's the best balance.

Agree with others though, whilst Hountondji has looked very raw and short of being ready, his movement has suggested he can be a threat.

Bang on the money.

Provided JR's legs can get him up and down. We need somebody who is comfortable with their back to goal when in possession.

[ElectroClaret]

I'd throw Hountondji in and see if he has anything about him...

In the (admittedly) few occasions he's been pitched into the fray, it's like he hasn't kicked a football before.

Desperately hope I'm wrong, but he looks like a dreadful
signing.

[Casper2]

In the (admittedly) few occasions he's been pitched into the fray, it's like he hasn't kicked a football before.

Desperately hope I'm wrong, but he looks like a dreadful
signing.

But you can’t say things like this on here

[willsclarets]

Another nod for Jay rod here, as long as he's kept central. Have to agree with those who say Houtondji has looked poor. Difficult cameos, but his touch is really poor. When you consider first impressions flemming gave its chalk and cheese.

I think the only way to see if he's up to it is to go on loan to L1 or lower champ in January. He needs to start and grow into the pace of the game. I suspect he's not going to cut it, but I don't think we'll find out if he stays. And we desperately need a striker or two even, in January anyway.

[dougcollins]

We have to grind out a result to stay in touch with leaders
Having created this post and had a week to stew on it I think I would go for Jay because of his experience and Andrea’s for the last 25 mins
A point would be a great result

To be honest, we're starting to drift now. Not sure a point is good enough, it's not like we're battering anyone at home, is it?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Considering how goal shy we’ve been recently, I’m not expecting big things from our 3rd and 4th choice strikers tomorrow.

Weirdly I actually think Houtondji has the better physical attributes to suit this system better than any of our other forwards.

Ability wise we just don’t know whether he’s got it or not. But I certainly think today is the day to give him ago. We know for a fact Jay will struggle in this system

[chekhov]

But you can’t say things like this on here

Don’t be ridiculous, of course you can. And others can disagree.
What is objectionable/disrespectful is not calling someone their correct name or mocking their name as occurred above. Obviously they’re going to get called out.

[Selby Claret]

J Rod for me
Ami right in thinking that in his only start we scored five…? (Just saying )

[MG70]

It's a real worry. We're like a Larry Grayson handbag up front and now our only remote threat isn't playing. It's going to be very difficult tomorrow (to say the least!)

Your showing your age there Dark Cloud

[Boss Hogg]

No doubt it will be Jay. He’s so static normally we might as well have a mannequin up front. I’d prefer we try a young lad there.

[warksclaret]

Todays game is very much a squad game, despite us only having 2 strikers. Both will feature-suggest Jay for 60 mins (unless he's having a good game) and Andreas to come on for him for 30 mins. Will leave it to SP

[scamander]

I could see Koleosho moved behind Jay in the centre, the idea being that as Jay drops deeper their defence pushes up leaving space for Koloeosho to attack (similar to how Tella was used with a direct ball over the top or in the channels). If they don't push up on Jay it'll mean we can outnumber them in that space between their defence and midfield. Could be interesting.

[daveisaclaret]

Think it should be Hountondji. Think it was the Portsmouth game when Jay came on that he was having to tell Brownhill when to press and when not because he couldn't keep it up every time.

And by the way there is a very clear and obvious pattern for when the user IanMcL refuses to use somebody's acutal name

[hoosier-daddy]

I could see Koleosho moved behind Jay in the centre, the idea being that as Jay drops deeper their defence pushes up leaving space for Koloeosho to attack (similar to how Tella was used with a direct ball over the top or in the channels). If they don't push up on Jay it'll mean we can outnumber them in that space between their defence and midfield. Could be interesting.

I think with Sarmiento out / just coming back, it rules out trying Koleosho in the middle. I expect it to be Brownhill behind Jay.

[Roosterbooster]

Hountondji has looked way off it so far, his movement is really poor

I agree he's looked way off it

But his movement is excellent. He gives us real options with the ball in the middle of the final third

[Dark Cloud]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Westley thrown in.

[Murger]

I think it will be Jay with the ineffective Hannibal just behind.

[willsclarets]

I think it will be Jay with the ineffective Hannibal just behind.

I wouldn't mind seeing sarmiento behind Jay. He's actually pretty good at winning the ball back like hannibal, but much more dangerous in the attacking third. For me hannibal has to be battling Cullen, brownhill and laurent for a spot further back. And for that reason he should be back up imo. He's only 21 though, I think he'll come good.

[louieollie]

123 minutes of football (young lad new country) with 88 of those in something of a cobbled together team, on the left wing. If he was from Burnley and in the first team via the youth set up, he’d be afforded way more respect and given lots of time.

Absolutely 100% spot on and just shows how some on here are still romantic fools living in the past 🫣

[Wo Didi]

So its Hountondji up top, and with Laurent instead of Hannibal. We should get an idea of what he's about today.