Your team v Rovers

[claretandy]

May be having a senior moment but has JayRod ever scored against that lot down the road?

Must be one hell of an incentive if not………

I don't think he's ever played against them, Taylor, long and cork played in the cup in 2018.

[arise_sir_charge]

People picking Lowton, Long, Westwood……..you’re clearly not with the programme.

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

Muric
Vitinho, THB, Beyer, Taylor
Cork, Cullen
Benson, Brownhill, Zaroury
Jay

I'd defo not play Roberts pre world cup. As pointed out, pulled out of a tackle on Saturday.

UTC

[Clive 1960]

I think if lowton play's against Crawley and as a good game then he might have a chance on Sunday . And if Roberts pulled out of a tackle I wouldn't have him starting .

[Conroysleftfoot]

Muric
Beyer THB Taylor Maatsen
Cork Cullen
Benson Brownhill Zaroury
Jay

No need for loads of changes after a bad 45 minutes away against a decent side. Keep the ball and attack, there is a reason they have lost as many games as they have and it won't be because they are amazing at the back.

Liking this line up

[Claretforever]

May be having a senior moment but has JayRod ever scored against that lot down the road?

Must be one hell of an incentive if not………

Yes. He played against them at least a couple of times for West Brom in 2018-19.

He injured David Raya the Blackburn keeper in a controversial incident in the game at the Hawthorns, where the Blackburn fans were absolutely livid. He then scored a penalty at Ewood Park in the return game, but West Brom lost 2-1.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Not a chance Lowton is going to feature on Sunday. Sure Kompany will be a bit more level headed about the players who’ve lost 2 out of 20.

[ervi34]

I don't think he's ever played against them, in fact, only lowton has in the league.

And Barnes.

[ClaretPete001]

Not saying much for VKs revolution when, in some cases, 8 former PL players are being picked....

Taylor and Roberts played against Millwall and we still looked very wobbly for well over an hour.

Muric
Vitinho, THB, Beyer, Maatsen
Cork, Cullen
Benson, Brownhill
Jay, Tella or Zaroury

I don't see a similar collapse with Brownhill and Jay Rod back in the team. The problem was always going to be losing one of those 4 influential players in the middle Jay Rod, Cork, Brownhill and Cullen. On Saturday two missed the game and one was returning from injury.

The system isn't working as it should but it's working well enough to beat Rovers at home.

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

Yup good points Pete. Saturday does not happen as it played out, with Jay and Brownhill in.

Bring on Sunday and our horse bothering fiends.

UTC

[Petersa]

I would like to see some physical presence on the bench just in case. Sheffield United basically showed the rest of the league how to beat Burnley therefore suggest Long and/or McNally as subs

[jedi_master]

Muric
Vitinho Beyer THB Taylor
Cork Brownhill Cullen
Gudmundsson Rodriguez Zaroury

Benson and Tella to come on and win it

[KlyBfc]

Despite being a fan who prefers Roberts to Vitinhio i too wouldn’t play him Sunday. I’d said on Saturday on the way down id have started him at sheff Utd but I was worried he’d not be full tilt coming derby game due to the World Cup and then like others saw him clearly pull out of a tackle on Saturday when he came on. There’s no place for that on Sunday.

Muric
Vitinhio THB Beyer Taylor
Cork Cullen
Brownhill
Benson jay Zaroury

[boatshed bill]

Muric
Vitinho, THB, Beyer, Taylor
Cork, Cullen
Benson, Brownhill, Zaroury
Jay

For me Roberts replaces Vitinho

[Elizabeth]

I’d play Roberts against Crawley and see how committed he really is, if he passes this test he’s playing on Sunday for me.
Taylor has to start against Rovers as does Jay , if fit.
Cullen, Cork and Brownhill to control the midfield and the match winners Benson and Zaroury.
No places for Tella ans Maatsen I’m afraid. One because he’s tired and the other I don’t trust to give the required ‘body on the line’ commitment in the heat of this massive derby.
Muric also has to start.
My only doubt is whether to play Taylor instead of Beyer or put him in at left back, probably the former for a stronger physical presence.

[JMU81]

Muric

Roberts THB Beyer Taylor

Cullen Cork

Benson Brownhill Zaroury

Jay

Play your best team.

This

[claretandy]

For me Roberts replaces Vitinho

Did you not see him pull out of a tackle at sheff utd ? we can't be having any of that on Sunday.

[ClaretAL]

Despite being a fan who prefers Roberts to Vitinhio i too wouldn’t play him Sunday. I’d said on Saturday on the way down id have started him at sheff Utd but I was worried he’d not be full tilt coming derby game due to the World Cup and then like others saw him clearly pull out of a tackle on Saturday when he came on. There’s no place for that on Sunday.

Muric
Vitinhio THB Beyer Taylor
Cork Cullen
Brownhill
Benson jay Zaroury

I have to agree, and would go with this line up.

[jojomk1]

Muric
Roberts, TBH, Beyer, Taylor
Brownhill, Cork, Cullen, Maatsen
Zaroury
Jay

Above could also move to a back three with Roberts and Maatsen as wing backs

[Devils_Advocate]

Based on the team that started tonight I reckon we will see

Muric
Vitinho THB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Tella Brownhill Zaroury
Jay

If is the team Id prefer to see Zaroury on the right to give Maatsen some space to run in to but reckon VK will play him on the left

[Jakubs Tash]

I think the team tonight was a good indicator as to who will/won’t play on Sunday.

[maidenover]

Did Lowton and McNally appear to fit into the "system" tonight? (I didn't see the game, just heard commentary)

[Vintage Claret]

Lowton did ok and looked up for it as did McNally.

Hard to judge how they would do against stronger opposition though as Crawley basically sat back and let us have possession for 90% of the game.

[johnnyjones]

Imagine what some of the above are watching every week and leaving out Zaroury

[Clive 1960]

Whoever put's the shirt on after play better than the second half last week or we are in for a difficult day . UTC

[CoolClaret]

Debated this one for a bit - think I’ve settled on

——————Muric
Lowton*-THB-Beyer-Maatsen
—————-Cork-Cullen
Tella—Brownhill-Zaroury
———————-Jay

Roberts I’m not sure, as others have alluded to will be prepared to fly in to tackles with the WC hanging over his shoulder

Tella back out right, don’t think he’s as effective through the middle, with Benson to come on and do his thing again around minute 55-60

[RVclaret]

Based on the team that started tonight I reckon we will see

Muric
Vitinho THB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Tella Brownhill Zaroury
Jay

If is the team Id prefer to see Zaroury on the right to give Maatsen some space to run in to but reckon VK will play him on the left

I’d say this is nailed on unless there’s a late injury

[ClaretAL]

This is the strongest team for me. Tella links up well with Vitinho and the same with Maatsen and Zaroury. But i still have a big question mark on Mattsen defensively, so just hope we push them back on the wings with the attacking full backs.

Muric
Vitinho THB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Tella Brownhill Zaroury
Jay

[Clive 1960]

This is the strongest team for me. Tella links up well with Vitinho and the same with Maatsen and Zaroury. But i still have a big question mark on Mattsen defensively, so just hope we push them back on the wings with the attacking full backs.

Muric
Vitinho THB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Tella Brownhill Zaroury
Jay

I would be shocked if we start with those two full backs after last Saturday as rover's will exploit there weakness there height , only my opinion .

[arise_sir_charge]

I would be shocked if we start with those two full backs after last Saturday as rover's will exploit there weakness there height , only my opinion .

Rovers are nothing like Sheff Utd in terms of out and out physicality.

We need to stop worrying about where they might be effective and concentrate on our strengths and let them worry about us. I’m sure that’s how VK will be thinking.

[nyclaret]

I would be shocked if we start with those two full backs after last Saturday as rover's will exploit there weakness there height , only my opinion .

You'll be in for a shock then!

[nyclaret]

Rovers are nothing like Sheff Utd in terms of out and out physicality.

We need to stop worrying about where they might be effective and concentrate on our strengths and let them worry about us. I’m sure that’s how VK will be thinking.

Completely agree. If we play our game we'll win. I think fans are just dreading the thought of losing, so going more defensive with their line-ups.

[Quickenthetempo]

Rovers are nothing like Sheff Utd in terms of out and out physicality.

We need to stop worrying about where they might be effective and concentrate on our strengths and let them worry about us. I’m sure that’s how VK will be thinking.

The good thing about having a born winner as manager is he will want to go everywhere to win and win well.

He won't understand attitudes of focusing on what small clubs like Blackburn have got.

[Lancasterclaret]

Rovers are nothing like Sheff Utd in terms of out and out physicality.

We need to stop worrying about where they might be effective and concentrate on our strengths and let them worry about us. I’m sure that’s how VK will be thinking.

This

If our full backs and wingers can get the space, and our midfield three can dominate the midfield, then Rovers will be struggling to execute their game plan

[Quickenthetempo]

Presuming Jay is fit it's a straight choice of the possession based 3 in midfield or the more creative 424 that has got us more wins recently.

[RVclaret]

Presuming Jay is fit it's a straight choice of the possession based 3 in midfield or the more creative 424 that has got us more wins recently.

Tbf our best win / performance of the season was with the 4- 2-3-1 v Swansea. Due to injuries / suspensions we’ve just not been able to field that same 11 since.

[claretspice]

The risk of focusing entirely "on us" is less against Rovers than SU of course - but Rovers are still going to be 2nd/3rd in the league going into this game, so they're a serious proposition. In my view, we cant just ignore what they do well.

For that reason, I'd be tempted to make just one change to the team. That would be to bring Taylor into the team at centre back, and play Beyer at right back (which increasingly looks to me his more natural position).

I don't think that weakens us massively going forwards. It does make us a little more solid defensively against a physical front 2 in Gallagher and Brereton - and I'd particularly worry about Brereton exploiting space when Vitinho gets caught pressing up/attacking, whilst still allowing Maatsen that freedom.

Tella or Benson is a toss of a coin job out wide on the right, but otherwise the consensus on the team is pretty settled.

[Clive 1960]

The risk of focusing entirely "on us" is less against Rovers than SU of course - but Rovers are still going to be 2nd/3rd in the league going into this game, so they're a serious proposition. In my view, we cant just ignore what they do well.

For that reason, I'd be tempted to make just one change to the team. That would be to bring Taylor into the team at centre back, and play Beyer at right back (which increasingly looks to me his more natural position).

I don't think that weakens us massively going forwards. It does make us a little more solid defensively against a physical front 2 in Gallagher and Brereton - and I'd particularly worry about Brereton exploiting space when Vitinho gets caught pressing up/attacking, whilst still allowing Maatsen that freedom.

Tella or Benson is a toss of a coin job out wide on the right, but otherwise the consensus on the team is pretty settled.

I was thinking of Taylor maybe at left back because of is experience and how he can operate , how many times have we seen him come in side and do last ditch tackles to save us , and yes you are right about rover's front two they are a handful.

[claretandy]

The risk of focusing entirely "on us" is less against Rovers than SU of course - but Rovers are still going to be 2nd/3rd in the league going into this game, so they're a serious proposition. In my view, we cant just ignore what they do well.

For that reason, I'd be tempted to make just one change to the team. That would be to bring Taylor into the team at centre back, and play Beyer at right back (which increasingly looks to me his more natural position).

I don't think that weakens us massively going forwards. It does make us a little more solid defensively against a physical front 2 in Gallagher and Brereton - and I'd particularly worry about Brereton exploiting space when Vitinho gets caught pressing up/attacking, whilst still allowing Maatsen that freedom.

Tella or Benson is a toss of a coin job out wide on the right, but otherwise the consensus on the team is pretty settled.

I too would play Bayer at right back, Diaz hugs the left touch line and we need someone to mark him for crosses to the back post.

[Ric_C]

Looking at the stats, Blackburn play a similar "play out from the back" style to us. I'm hoping (and this is a big hope) that if they try and take us on at football, we will tear them to shreds, as we did Swansea.

[Swizzlestick]

Where's this Beyer to RB thing come from? Has he even ever played there?

[RVclaret]

Where's this Beyer to RB thing come from? Has he even ever played there?

For us no, for Gladbach, yes

[claretspice]

As I understand it, hes played RB as much as CB before joining us. My suggestion is on that basis.

[claretandy]

Where's this Beyer to RB thing come from? Has he even ever played there?

Yes, loads for his parent club.

[Quickenthetempo]

Tbf our best win / performance of the season was with the 4- 2-3-1 v Swansea. Due to injuries / suspensions we’ve just not been able to field that same 11 since.

Yes, if a team leaves space at the back like Swansea it's good, but it has been a frustrating system as well.
All the possession with little chances.

Cullen has shown he is the one who can play the little through balls but normally plays as the deepest CM.

I don't know enough about how Rovers will play to say which will be best for us.

[Swizzlestick]

For us no, for Gladbach, yes

Fair enough. Still not one I'd be looking at trying in this game tbh.