Mine would be

HEATON

LOWTON TARKS MEE WARD

CORK

JBG DEFOUR HENDRICK BRADY

VOKES

Subs TAYLOR, LONG, WALTERS,ARFIELD,BARNES,WESTWOOD,POPE

Grat?

FCBurnley wrote:Mine would be

HEATON

LOWTON TARKS MEE WARD

CORK

JBG DEFOUR HENDRICK BRADY

VOKES

Subs TAYLOR, LONG, WALTERS,ARFIELD,BARNES,WESTWOOD,POPE

I'm guessing that could have been the team had Gray not gone - I certainly wasn't expecting him to start at Chelsea.

Whatever BFCCrazy says I second.

4-4-1-1, same defence, Walters, Cork, Defour, Brady, Hendrick, Vokes

Doesn't matter what my team will be, Dyche will probably go 4-4-2.

HEATON

LOWTON TARKS MEE WARD

ARFIELD CORK HENDRICK WALTERS

VOKES BARNES

Heaton Pope Legdzins
Lowton Bardsley Tarkowski Long Mee Ward Taylor
.
.
.
.

.
.

Barnes

Long in for tarks and the rest the same.

I don't think it makes any difference as I don't think he would have featured .

If he wasnt going to feature anyway that says it all. A free hit. Opening day of the season against a good but unsettled and weakened chelsea side and we wouldve parked the bus? At least had we even resorted to that id have hoped we had our quickest player on the field.

Unless people are trying to find any positive from losing gray before our first game?

cricketfieldclarets wrote:If he wasnt going to feature anyway that says it all.

Doesn't say anything, it was just my opinion that I thought Dyche would have gone with one up front at Chelsea and used Vokes. And I don't think we will be parking any bus, I think we will try to play in a positive way, albeit having to be aware of how good they can be.

It will be 4-4-2.

ClaretTony wrote:Doesn't say anything, it was just my opinion that I thought Dyche would have gone with one up front at Chelsea and used Vokes. And I don't think we will be parking any bus, I think we will try to play in a positive way, albeit having to be aware of how good they can be.

But why? On what basis?

Top 6 away last season Chelsea. Spurs. Man City. Liverpool. Man utd. Arsenal. He started at every single one of them.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:But why? On what basis?

Top 6 away last season Chelsea. Spurs. Man City. Liverpool. Man utd. Arsenal. He started at every single one of them.

Based on seeing us in pre-season and talking to one or two people, just my own thoughts really - just think he might go 4-5-1 and that being the case it would be Sam up front because he's better suited.

Fair enough. Everyones entitled to their opinion. Hence mine of thinking it says a lot about our style and expectations to play what was our only quick outlet and most valuable striker from the bench.

We dont have anywhere near the options to be able to get behind chelsea and put lots of crosses in for Vokes. Only Brady has thaat ability. So its a dangerous tactic. And then if the thought process was to bring Gray on avainst tired players that wouldnt be much use as chances are they wont have broke much sweat. Defending on half way against the slowest team in the league.

Vokes is a cracking player. But hes not a lone front man. Never has been. He thrives alongside Gray and Ings types.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Vokes is a cracking player. But hes not a lone front man. Never has been. He thrives alongside Gray and Ings types.

For me, Vokes is the one striker we have who can play that role. He's our most adaptable striker. He can play the lone role, he can play as the front man as he did with Ings or he can play with a front man as he did with Gray.

I might be wrong, I usually am, but I thought last Tuesday when he tried that system against Celta Vigo that he might use it at Chelsea.

I'm not sure that either are ideal for that role but agree that Vokes is the most effective that we have in that role, with or without Gray. Vokes played it very well on a few occasions last season.

I like Vokes and Barnes but wouldn't be adverse to upgrading (unlikely I appreciate). I'd wanted an additional striker before today, although winger and centre half were the priorities.

I'd go 4-5-1 but swap JBG out for Walters and maybe have Westwood in there for Defour allowing Hendrick more license.

ClaretTony wrote:For me, Vokes is the one striker we have who can play that role. He's our most adaptable striker. He can play the lone role, he can play as the front man as he did with Ings or he can play with a front man as he did with Gray.

I might be wrong, I usually am, but I thought last Tuesday when he tried that system against Celta Vigo that he might use it at Chelsea.

I didnt go on that game so cant comment. Didnt see any friendly other than first half against hannover.

Vokes is brilliant alongside Ings and Gray. He is OK on his own. But the team itself would have next to nothing to stretch an average team. Never mind Chelsea.

He is a good option in that role for Wales for example as they have Bale, Ramsey and even Allen around him.

Here is hoping. Defour, Brady, Hendrick are no mugs and have plenty of experience of the premier league too. JBG is an unknown quantity as much for us as anyone else but has shown glimpses.

Were we expecting anything at Chelsea? Probably not but we had much more chance this time yesterday. I will be first to hold my hand up if we get something playing Vokes on his own in our side, but cant see it at all. As I say I am Vokes biggest fan too.

.....................Heaton
Lowton.. ....Long........ Mee.......,,Ward

...,,,,,,,,,,,,Cork ......Hendrick.......,,,,,,

Brady............. Defour............. Walters

....................Vokes

I suspect Dyche is going to play a 4-5-1 with

Heaton
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Ward
Walters Hendrick Defour Cork Brady
Vokes

I've had a word with Sean, and we will line up:
Heaton,
Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward
Berg-Gudmondsson, Defour, Cork, Hendrick, Brady,
Vokes

The man with the right stuff. Mr Ashley Barnes. Thats all we need

Walters is definitely playing as he did the press conference.

4-5-1 and no Gray in the starting line up, maybe a bit of Claret but no Gray

boatshed bill wrote:I've had a word with Sean, and we will line up:
Heaton,
Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward
Berg-Gudmondsson, Defour, Cork, Hendrick, Brady,
Vokes

This but with Walters in place of JBG in a 4-5-1. Bit harsh on our Icelandic boy based on pre-season but think Walters is better suited for this one.

Think he'll go 4-5-1 with

HEATON

LOWTON TARKS MEE WARD

WALTERS CORK DEFOUR HENDRICK BRADY

VOKES

Subs TAYLOR, LONG, JBG,ARFIELD,BARNES,WESTWOOD,POPE

ExistentialWanderer wrote:This but with Walters in place of JBG in a 4-5-1. Bit harsh on our Icelandic boy based on pre-season but think Walters is better suited for this one.

Walters comes on if we change to 4-4-2

I expect but wouldnt personally pick:

Heaton
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Ward
Brady Westwood Cork Hendrick Walters
Vokes

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Fair enough. Everyones entitled to their opinion. Hence mine of thinking it says a lot about our style and expectations to play what was our only quick outlet and most valuable striker from the bench.

We dont have anywhere near the options to be able to get behind chelsea and put lots of crosses in for Vokes. Only Brady has thaat ability. So its a dangerous tactic. And then if the thought process was to bring Gray on avainst tired players that wouldnt be much use as chances are they wont have broke much sweat. Defending on half way against the slowest team in the league.

Vokes is a cracking player. But hes not a lone front man. Never has been. He thrives alongside Gray and Ings types.

Gray was no use in the away game last season, so what makes you think he would have been more effective this time around?

We played an open game against them and lost 3-0, even with an ineffective Gray playing.

Defour will score twice against Chelsea.

I am expecting:

Heaton
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Ward
Walters Defour Cork Hendrick Brady
Vokes

I think Dyche desperately wants to find a solution away from home so will go with 5 across, but with Brady to swing in the crosses and Walters to have a license to drift towards the back post, something we didn't really have last season, and with Cork and Defour trying to keep the ball better.

Same as it was before he was sold. No point playing him away at Chelsea

Spijed wrote:Gray was no use in the away game last season, so what makes you think he would have been more effective this time around?

We played an open game against them and lost 3-0, even with an ineffective Gray playing.

Neither was anyone that day, so we may as well start with just Walters and Cork on that basis!

Heaton
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Ward
Arfield Cork Hendrick Brady
Walters Vokes

Midfield looks a little bit weak but I think Walters and Vokes up front will upset Chelsea's back three.

Heard from a good source this was the team that lined up in training today;
Heaton
Bardsley, Long, Mee, Ward
JBG, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, Arfield
Barnes
We will take a draw now.

heaton
t-a-r-k
o-w
s-k-i
vokes

longsidelewis wrote:Heard from a good source this was the team that lined up in training today;
Heaton
Bardsley, Long, Mee, Ward
JBG, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, Arfield
Barnes
We will take a draw now.

I don't believe you.

taio wrote:I don't believe you.

you won't be saying that when the line ups are announced

longsidelewis wrote:you won't be saying that when the line ups are announced

Then I apologise in advance. I only know of one person on here who has known the line-up in advance. Perhaps you know him or are him. I had my doubts when you also said on the other post you had a connection to Chris Wood at Leeds.

taio wrote:Then I apologise in advance. I only know of one person on here who has known the line-up in advance. Perhaps you know him or are him. I had my doubts when you also said on the other post you had a connection to Chris Wood at Leeds.

I completely understand why people may think that. Everyone seems to think that Tarky is nailed on for a start on Saturday. SD had a fall out with Tarky as he doesn't like the amount of risks he takes playing out from the back. With Kev Long the gaffer likes what he has shown and how he has matured over the past 12 months.

FCBurnley wrote:Mine would be

HEATON

LOWTON TARKS MEE WARD

CORK

JBG DEFOUR HENDRICK BRADY

VOKES

Subs TAYLOR, LONG, WALTERS,ARFIELD,BARNES,WESTWOOD,POPE

Same as it would've been with Gray

Heaton
Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward
JBG, Defour, Cork, Hendrick, Brady
Vokes

Post 41 is our best team and formation. Hendrick playing a bit further forward.

I think some people are forgetting we are playing chelsea away!lol
We can not go attack minded we will get pulverised.
Also people seem to be forgetting how well Westwood played towards the end of last season
Walters has to and will start!


.................Heaton ...........
Lowton. .....Tarka.......Mee.....Ward
.......Westwood ...........Cork........
...Hendrick........Defour.....Walters
.....................Vokes.............

I'd start Vokes over gray any day, far better player

Brady will play for set pieces alone. It's probably our only chance of scoring.

Arfield will start, whether any fan likes it or not.

I really do think against Chelsea he will play Arfield and as such my guess is

Heaton

Lowton, Tarks, Mee, Ward

Hendrick, Cork, Defour,

Arfield.................Brady

Vokes

I would play Walters rather than Arfield

If Defour doesn't start this weekend he will be gone by the end of the transfer window.

I think that Walters will start.

jbg and defour have featured heavily in pre season surely they will be starters in a 451 ,me personally wish arfield nowhere near the squad please