Our forced midfield change against Forest

[Spijed]

As Ugochukwu is now suspended for the game I presume Laurent will play instead, with Luis in front of the back four.

We need to stop Anderson & Gibbs-White controlling things.

[claretspice]

Bit of a blow that Ugochukwu misses this game because it's so important we're competitive in that department against Forest given its a game we really need something from. I'd expect us to revert to something more like the shape used against Sunderland, with Luis to start alongside Cullen (unless he's injured) in Ugochukwu's absence and Hannibal ahead in the role he played against Sunderland.

[Selby Claret]

Bit of a blow that Ugochukwu misses this game because it's so important we're competitive in that department against Forest given its a game we really need something from. I'd expect us to revert to something more like the shape used against Sunderland, with Luis to start alongside Cullen (unless he's injured) in Ugochukwu's absence and Hannibal ahead in the role he played against Sunderland.

Good idea getting Hannibal up the pitch and away from our penalty area

[ksrclaret]

It’s a nice idea that we should stop Anderson and Gibbs-White controlling things, but in reality that means that we’ll have to step quite far up the pitch. They’re outstanding players so it’s more likely than not that they’ll then set their rapid front players in behind and the likes of Ekdal will be in big trouble.

I think we’ll sit very deep again and look to counter, hopefully with more success than we managed against Liverpool. Straight swap Ugochukwu for Luis.

[claretspice]

Good idea getting Hannibal up the pitch and away from our penalty area

He'll need a bit of love next week. He's an important player and he'll need support not only from the coaches and squad, but also from supporters.

[Culmclaret]

Ange will want Forest to play in a different way with a high press. Or that is what he has said. Their League cup game at Swansea will be a clue because he says that he wants to see the change in style from Wednesday. That should suit us. Luis for Les next Saturday.

[RVclaret]

It will be interesting to see if Parker tries to press high. Ange will want some ideas of his being implemented (playing out being key) and with it being their first real game, could we force an error or two? On the other hand, Ange’s Spurs nearly always struggled to break down a low block (us v Liverpool), so should we sit deep again, with that impressive structure, and just aim to do better on the counter, against slower players than Liverpool (Foster should target Milenkovic’s side).

As for midfield, I was impressed with Florentino’s cameo and very much expect him to slot in.

[Goody1975]

He'll need a bit of love next week. He's an important player and he'll need support not only from the coaches and squad, but also from supporters.

The same was the case last season after his petulant stamp resulted in an early bath. He made up for this with his performances and will do again.

I had little sympathy last season but he just had a brainfart at the wrong time yesterday, many players have done similar and will again.

[Woodleyclaret]

We need to stop crosses into Chris Wood one of my favourite players at Burnley,despite some who called him every match.Chris has consistently delivered at Premier league level.

[claretspice]

We need to stop crosses into Chris Wood one of my favourite players at Burnley,despite some who called him every match.Chris has consistently delivered at Premier league level.

Yep, which is why I'd expect us to set up more like Sunderland (where we had a similar priority) than Liverpool (where we concluded, rightly, our least worst option was allowing crosses into the box).

Hannibal's job would be to rat around the base of Forest's midfield and to fill in if either wide player gets caught up field, with the wide players, particularly on the right, working back when we're on the back foot.

[Spijed]

Yep, which is why I'd expect us to set up more like Sunderland (where we had a similar priority) than Liverpool (where we concluded, rightly, our least worst option was allowing crosses into the box).

Hannibal's job would be to rat around the base of Forest's midfield and to fill in if either wide player gets caught up field, with the wide players, particularly on the right, working back when we're on the back foot.

Liverpool missed a free header very early on from a cross. We don't look anywhere near as solid defending set plays as we did last season.

[warksclaret]

Liverpool missed a free header very early on from a cross. We don't look anywhere near as solid defending set plays as we did last season.

There is a massive difference to containing the opposition from set pieces between PL and Championship. We did dam well yesterday. There are some giants in the PL, and delivery of corners/free kicks is incredible. For example Arsenal at free kicks with Rice delivering are bordering on the indefendable

[quoonbeatz]

Liverpool missed a free header very early on from a cross. We don't look anywhere near as solid defending set plays as we did last season.

They had 13 corners and that was the only one they made anything of. We defended them really well yesterday.

[jojomk1]

He'll need a bit of love next week. He's an important player and he'll need support not only from the coaches and squad, but also from supporters.

Sympathy should not get in the way of ability
He does not start for me
I would have both Loum and JBG in front of hime wide right
Luis looks far more accomplished than him in CM

[claretspice]

Sympathy should not get in the way of ability
He does not start for me
I would have both Loum and JBG in front of hime wide right
Luis looks far more accomplished than him in CM

That's fine but there's 3 central midfield berths. Luis is a defensive midfielder and slots in ahead of Laurent. In Ugochukwa's absence there's one further slot in the more advanced midfield role and that's the role I'd envisage Hannibal playing next week. Tchaouna or JBL can play wide right as you suggest. It's not a sympathy vote it's a role he's excelled in before and takes on merit.

[kendaldave]

Having looked at the FA's 'Essential Information For Players 2025/26', unless I have completely misread it, I think Ugochukwa's one match suspension will be tomorrow night against Cardiff.

[Lakeland Claret]

Having looked at the FA's 'Essential Information For Players 2025/26', unless I have completely misread it, I think Ugochukwa's one match suspension will be tomorrow night against Cardiff.

Cardiff is next week 23 Rd

[kendaldave]

Oops

[dougcollins]

I couldn't believe how generally poor Liverpool's coreners were. A couple of good ones, but that was it.

[dougcollins]

I couldn't believe how generally poor Liverpool's coreners were. A couple of good ones, but that was it.

And their corners were rubbish too.

[ollieclarets8]

I couldn't believe how generally poor Liverpool's coreners were. A couple of good ones, but that was it.

I think a lot of that is down to how well we defended them.

[Tricky Trevor]

Whichever player or system we use I hope we can start attacking down the right occasionally and spread the field. Our first look forward is always left for Anthony or Foster, who tends to drift left and never right.
JBL was getting poor marks when he was never seeing the ball. I expected more feeds to Loum but it never happened, he was having to come more central to get the ball at all.
We improved after Edwards came in by using both flanks we need to get back to that.