Team for West Brom?

[CoolClaret]

Thursday night's game is massive - not just because we're facing another promotion favourite, but because it's a chance to restore real belief among our fans.

--------Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Hannibal-Brownhill
Sarmiento-Flemming-Koleosho
--------Houtondji


The three-midfielder experiment simply needs to end, and I think that Hannibal gives us more of an impetus and looked good when he came on in a deeper role against Milwall.

There's an argument for Laurent over Brownhill, but I find it hard to drop our captain, who is the only player who looks like he can find the back of the net right now.

Koleosho on the left, Sarmiento and Flemming back in... Give Houtondji another runout; he looked decent early in the first half tonight.

UTC

[colne-claret]

I wouldn’t disagree with that team.

[123EasyasBFC]

Can’t see how anyone can think Hountonji should be starting a game of football

[Leisure]

Please not Anthony and Koleosho!

[CoolClaret]

Can’t see how anyone can think Hountonji should be starting a game of football

Because I thought he looked sharp early on against Milwall and sometimes players just need a run of games.

He's the only genuine '9' that makes the sort of runs you'd expect from your striker.

[RVclaret]

Trafford

Roberts
Egan-Riley
Esteve
Pires

Cullen
Brownhill

Sarmiento
Koleosho

Flemming
Hountondji

[colne-claret]

Nathan Redmond back on the grass. I honestly think he will be a welcome addition to the team when back to full match fitness.

[TheFamilyCat]

Please not Anthony and Koleosho!

The same Anthony and Koleosho that have been playing through our unbeaten run before today?

[Murger]

Nathan Redmond back on the grass. I honestly think he will be a welcome addition to the team when back to full match fitness.

Far too attack minded for Parker.

[Duffer_]

Trafford

Egan Riley (can't believe I'm saying that but he just gets better)
Worral - Humphreys (if Worral not fit)
Esteve

Koleosho
Laurent
Brownhill
Hannibal
Anthony

Flemming
Hountondji

Just need more players further up the pitch. Full backs/wingers - high and wide. Esteve can probably lock it up at the back on his own.

[123EasyasBFC]

Because I thought he looked sharp early on against Milwall and sometimes players just need a run of games.

He's the only genuine '9' that makes the sort of runs you'd expect from your striker.

Jay Rod made more number 9 runs today then hountonji did, other than his turn and shot hountonji was awful, he actually looks like he doesn’t want the ball to come to him, the players behind him didn’t help but I would have jay rod over him every day of the week

[Aclaret]

Thursday night's game is massive - not just because we're facing another promotion favourite, but because it's a chance to restore real belief among our fans.

--------Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Hannibal-Brownhill
Sarmiento-Flemming-Koleosho
--------Houtondji


The three-midfielder experiment simply needs to end, and I think that Hannibal gives us more of an impetus and looked good when he came on in a deeper role against Milwall.

There's an argument for Laurent over Brownhill, but I find it hard to drop our captain, who is the only player who looks like he can find the back of the net right now.

Koleosho on the left, Sarmiento and Flemming back in... Give Houtondji another runout; he looked decent early in the first half tonight.

UTC

I'd be happy with this team, possibly swap Houtondji for Burnley 007 for some extra firepower.

[ISpeds00]

Koleosho has lost his way
Brownhill and Cullen arent up to scratch

I'd start Sarmiento based on today's impact for sure

[CoolClaret]

Jay Rod made more number 9 runs today then hountonji did, other than his turn and shot hountonji was awful, he actually looks like he doesn’t want the ball to come to him, the players behind him didn’t help but I would have jay rod over him every day of the week

Hountondji was really lively in the first 20 minutes or so. We need to hope that he becomes a player for us so he needs to be given another chance.

[bumba]

Hladky

Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Humphreys

Hannibal Laurent

Sarmiento Brownhill Flemming

Hountondji

[DCWat]

Thursday night's game is massive - not just because we're facing another promotion favourite, but because it's a chance to restore real belief among our fans.

--------Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Hannibal-Brownhill
Sarmiento-Flemming-Koleosho
--------Houtondji


The three-midfielder experiment simply needs to end, and I think that Hannibal gives us more of an impetus and looked good when he came on in a deeper role against Milwall.

There's an argument for Laurent over Brownhill, but I find it hard to drop our captain, who is the only player who looks like he can find the back of the net right now.

Koleosho on the left, Sarmiento and Flemming back in... Give Houtondji another runout; he looked decent early in the first half tonight.

UTC

I’d go with that but drop Brownhill for Laurent. I also want to see Tresor on the bench and getting minutes - enough is enough now, time to start earning his keep.

Yes, Brownhill has chipped in with a few goals, but he’s a part of the problem, for me.

Our midfield (including the wingers) has been really disappointing - we are so slow at moving the ball and the movement off it, particularly centrally, is nonexistent.

Some of the positions that Brownhill and Cullen were taking up today looked like they didn’t want the ball.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Trafford
Roberts ER Esteve Humphreys
Cullen Hannibal
Flemming
Sarmiento Koleosho
Hountondji

[boatshed bill]

Hountondji is only 22 and just arrived in a very tough league,playing for a team that's forgotten how to attack with real purpose, perhaps cut the lad some slack.

[warksclaret]

Dont worry guys-Foster will be back soon as the international break is fast approaching

Trafford
Roberts ER Esteve Humphreys
Cullen Laurent
Sarmiento Hannibal Koleosho
Fleming

[warksclaret]

Hountondji is only 22 and just arrived in a very tough league,playing for a team that's forgotten how to attack with real purpose, perhaps cut the lad some slack.

Think he would really benefit from a loan with a Championship/League 1 side

[123EasyasBFC]

Hountondji was really lively in the first 20 minutes or so. We need to hope that he becomes a player for us so he needs to be given another chance.

Each to their own, I think we are extremely overselling it say he was lively for 20 minutes

[boatshed bill]

Think he would really benefit from a loan with a Championship/League 1 side

If we had someone better, then yes.

[Devils_Advocate]

I'd like to see 4-4-2 with Laurent playing the Vitinho role wide right.

---------------Trafford
Roberts-----CJ ----Esteve-----Pires
Laurent-Hannibal-Cullen-Koleosho
--------------Rodriguez
--------------Flemming

Could swap in Brownhill for either of the centre mids but realise no chance of this happening

[louieollie]

Because I thought he looked sharp early on against Milwall and sometimes players just need a run of games.

He's the only genuine '9' that makes the sort of runs you'd expect from your striker.

Agreed! If we play Jay we are going even further backwards, ok the football is pretty abject at the moment but is Jay really the long term answer ?

[watsonsclarets]

4-2-3-1

-----------------TRAFFORD-----------------

-----SAMBO---CJ--ESTEVE-----PIRES-----

-----------CULLEN-------LAURENT--------

SARMIENTO----FLEMMING----LUCA-------

--------------------J-ROD--------------------


Overloads and rotations in wide areas with Cullen being able to drop into right back in build-up Flemming to play as a 10 but allowed to move into the front with Sarmiento playing as a narrow wide player as Sambo moves up

This will allow us to play over, through, and round, giving us options while keeping four behind the ball and, at times, five, with one full-back pushing on and one staying narrow.

Laurent, Flemming, and JRod have physicality in the spine, pace in Luca and Sambo, and trickery in Sarmineto.

Sambo maybe away at WBA is not where i would test this but he has pace but if we want to get on the front foot, we need pace in wide areas backing up the front 3/4.

Gives a very 5 behind 5 in front balance for me.

[burnley007]

Does it really make any difference?
I don't understand why people are expecting anything to change.
This team/squad/manager are poor.

[Lip]

11 defenders please because our forwards couldn't score in a brothel.!

[dougcollins]

Cullen, Anthony, Brownhill, all terrible today.

Koleosho not much better.


I don't know how any of those are in the team for Thursday.

[taio]

Trafford
Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Koleosho Brownhill Sarmiento
Flemming

[KlyBfc]

Trafford

Roberts EGR Esteve Pires

Anthony Cullen. hannibal. Koleosho
Flemming
Hountonji

Or…. Really pushing it out 3-4-3
Trafford
EGR. Egan. Esteve
Anthony. Pires
Cullen. Laurent
Flemming. Hountonji. Koleosho

[Vincent'sCap]

A different 11 to the clueless lot that played today.

[dougcollins]

Dont worry guys-Foster will be back soon as the international break is fast approaching

I can't even remember what's wrong with him this time.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

JT
Roberts CJ Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Koleosho Flemming Sarmiento
Jay Rod

Depressing to have to keep suggesting players like Koleosho who are bang out of form as there is literally no one else better. All the sick notes will probably only start to trickle back when the window opens.

[bumba]

Does it really make any difference?
I don't understand why people are expecting anything to change.
This team/squad/manager are poor.

Then shouldn't we be applauding the fact we are 4th with the best defensive record in the division?

Instead you just spout drivel over and over.

[Leisure]

The same Anthony and Koleosho that have been playing through our unbeaten run before today?

As those are the only 2 we have with those names, then yes.

[burnleymik]

Feel like Koleosho is being hung out to dry by Parker for the sake of playing Anthony. Would rather see Sarmiento right and give Koleosho a chance on the left. Would even be radical and drop Cullen and Browny and play Laurent alongside Hannibal (Hannibal doing all the cover work), with Flemming in his number 10 role and a striker (Houtondji maybe) up front. Either way I am fed up of this defensive setup and want to see something more positive to utilise the squad he has available.

[claretspice]

I think I'm also persuaded that on this evidence, it's time to give Hountondji a go with Flemming close by.

-----Trafford
Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Pires
-------Cullen Brownhill
Sarmiento Flemming Koleosho
------Hountondji

Brownhill has been pretty poor recently so I understand the call for him to be dropped, but he's by some distance our leading goalscorer and we need that threat right now. I've not seen anything to suggest that Laurent is going to add anything Brownhill doesn't at this stage, and Cullen remains absolutely pivotal.

In this team, Roberts has to stop inverting and add some width wide on the right because none of our wide options want to hold width on the right and Flemming looks someone who will play down the centre of the pitch rather than flit wide, as say JBG would. Width therefore has to come from full back.

I'm tempted to bring in Sarmiento for Anthony, but there may be an argument that if we're experimenting with Flemming in the 10 position and asking more attacking of our full backs, Anthony's brand of diligent workmanship might be helpful.

[BleedingClaret]

………………… Hladky ………………
….. CJER…. Esteve…..Pires…..
………………… Cullen ……………….
Sarmiento …….………. Anthony
……… Laurent…. Brownhill…..
…………….. Flemming…………….
………………Hountondji……………

[Dodobdobodobo]

Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Hannibal-Laurent
Sarmiento-Brownhill-Agyei
Flemming

[Newcastleclaret93]

Trafford
Roberts, CJ, Esteve, Pires
Hannibal, Laurent
Agyei, Flemming, Koleosho
Houtondji

[CoolClaret]

--------Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Hannibal-Brownhill
Sarmiento-Flemming-Koleosho
--------Houtondji

--------Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Hannibal-Cullen
Sarmiento-Flemming-Koleosho
--------Houtondji

Thought a little more about it and I'd like to see Cullen and Hannibal together to see if they can play through a press and take the ball off the defence as a duo.

It feels mad to leave Brownhill out, but I feel like we need our best technicians in those sitting midfield roles and as disappointing as Cullen has been, maybe Hannibal will get the most out of him.

Really wish we still had Johann!

[willsclarets]

Either of your teams look good to me cool. Other options is to play flemming in the 9 with Sarmiento behind. Maybe as the front 6:

Cullen. Hannibal

Ageyi Sarmiento koleosho

Flemming

[Goliath]

.........Trafford

...Egan Riley...Egan..Esteve

Roberts....Cullen..Brownhill...Koleosho

........Fleming...........Sarmiento

..................Jay Rod

[burnley007]

We need to drop Koleosho, Anthony, Brownhill, Cullen, Laurent, Roberts, Hountondji and Humphreys.

That seems simple enough

[burnley007]

Can I bring Mike Jackson in for Scott Parker?

[EarbyClaret]

I think I'm also persuaded that on this evidence, it's time to give Hountondji a go with Flemming close by.

-----Trafford
Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Pires
-------Cullen Brownhill
Sarmiento Flemming Koleosho
------Hountondji

Brownhill has been pretty poor recently so I understand the call for him to be dropped, but he's by some distance our leading goalscorer and we need that threat right now. I've not seen anything to suggest that Laurent is going to add anything Brownhill doesn't at this stage, and Cullen remains absolutely pivotal.

In this team, Roberts has to stop inverting and add some width wide on the right because none of our wide options want to hold width on the right and Flemming looks someone who will play down the centre of the pitch rather than flit wide, as say JBG would. Width therefore has to come from full back.

I'm tempted to bring in Sarmiento for Anthony, but there may be an argument that if we're experimenting with Flemming in the 10 position and asking more attacking of our full backs, Anthony's brand of diligent workmanship might be helpful.

I pretty much agree with all of that

It won't happen but I would bring Sambo in for Roberts who as one of the most senior players in the team was extremely careless with the ball yesterday

For all the criticism our wide players are getting the lack of attacking support from full back is arguably the main reason we pose so little threat in the final third

As captain Brownhill needs to show a lot more than he did yesterday. When Hannibal came on he took up good positions, showed for the ball and brought a degree of control with his measured passing. The captain's armband and the potential goal threat gives Brownhill the edge but unless he imposes himself on the game he shouldn't automatically expect to compete the full 90 minutes

[fidelcastro]

I pretty much agree with all of that

It won't happen but I would bring Sambo in for Roberts who as one of the most senior players in the team was extremely careless with the ball yesterday

For all the criticism our wide players are getting the lack of attacking support from full back is arguably the main reason we pose so little threat in the final third

As captain Brownhill needs to show a lot more than he did yesterday. When Hannibal came on he took up good positions, showed for the ball and brought a degree of control with his measured passing. The captain's armband and the potential goal threat gives Brownhill the edge but unless he imposes himself on the game he shouldn't automatically expect to compete the full 90 minutes

I'd love to know what you've seen from Sambo to suggest he deserves to be starting games!

[karatekid]

I’d go with that but drop Brownhill for Laurent. I also want to see Tresor on the bench and getting minutes - enough is enough now, time to start earning his keep.

There is obviously a good reason why Tresor isn’t making the bench at least. He either isn’t fit or has a poor attitude. Either way I reckon he will be gone in January. We need someone who is going to show up every game and give a damn.

[hoosier-daddy]

Trafford
Roberts ER Esteve Pires
Hannibal Cullen
Brownhill
Sarmiento Flemming Koleosho

[TommyPicks]

This game has 0-0 written all over it. We can't score for toffee, and West Brom have drawn 5 of their last 6, 3 of which were 0-0 scorelines.

I would broadly agree with the OP's Team. Think we need to try something different than the current 3 in midfield as it just isn't working.

0-0 with SkyBet currently 13/2.