Totally meaningless figures but Dyche refers to getting minutes in during pre-season so these are the totals per player in the nine first team games (which includes the three behind closed doors).


Ashley Westwood - 462
Jeff Hendrick - 452
Dwight McNeil - 444
Jay Rodriguez - 444
Jόhann Berg Guðmundsson - 428
Chris Wood - 427
Aaron Lennon - 425
Jack Cork - 419
Matt Lowton - 419
James Tarkowski - 405
Kevin Long - 389
Erik Pieters - 387
Ashley Barnes - 376
Ben Mee - 355
Jimmy Dunne - 314
Josh Benson - 307
Phil Bardsley - 301
Ben Gibson - 292
Joe Hart - 270
Nick Pope - 270
Matěj Vydra - 260
Robbie Brady - 257
Tom Heaton - 225
Ali Koiki - 225
Charlie Taylor - 198
David Jones - 65
Adam Legzdins - 45
Christian N'Guessan - 25
Nahki Wells - 24

With Taylor having played today (and that evidence of minutes you’ve supplied there), it makes you wonder whether Pieters might start on Saturday but, like you, I think it moved towards Pieters with Taylor getting minutes in the game today.

jedi_master wrote:With Taylor having played today (and that evidence of minutes you’ve supplied there), it makes you wonder whether Pieters might start on Saturday.

I was trying to work out the team and I've got most of the places sorted as to who I think Dyche will start with on Saturday. The left back slot is one of about three I'm not so sure about.

ClaretTony wrote:I was trying to work out the team and I've got most of the places sorted as to who I think Dyche will start with on Saturday. The left back slot is one of about three I'm not so sure about.

Is one of your unsure positions goalkeeper?

claret10 wrote:Is one of your unsure positions goalkeeper?

No, I believe he will play Pope. The three positions I'm unsure of, in terms of who I think Sean Dyche will select, are left back, right midfield and one of the striker positions. I'll probably have it completely wrong.

I think the full back positions are the only one's up for grabs. He'll stick with Barnes and Wood after the way they finished last season, but at least now we have another option in Jay who Dyche trusts and rates.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Pieters start given his pre season. Not only minutes but performances. Looks a solid player and hasn't come to just pick up a wage judged on that. Looks like he is hungry and has a point to prove.

However if I was a betting man I would guess the team will be

Pope
Lowton
Tarkowski
Mee
Taylor
JBG
Cork
Westwood
McNeil
Wood
Barnes

Definitely don't think he will break up the front two. Nor should he.

Got to be Chris and Jay up front. The games I have seen Ash is a bit behind these two at the moment. I don’t think Sean will want to get beat first game so in that case I think he’ll play Aaron on the right (prefer JBG) as a more defensive option. On performances from last year he’s got to play Charlie before Erik. COYC

Pope

Lowton Tarkowski Mee Pieters

JBG Hendrick Westwood McNeil

Wood Jay

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Wouldn't be surprised to see Pieters start given his pre season. Not only minutes but performances. Looks a solid player and hasn't come to just pick up a wage judged on that. Looks like he is hungry and has a point to prove.

However if I was a betting man I would guess the team will be

Pope
Lowton
Tarkowski
Mee
Taylor
JBG
Cork
Westwood
McNeil
Wood
Barnes

Definitely don't think he will break up the front two. Nor should he.

That's a good side - We'll be fine with that this season. Got some goodens on the bench as well so I'm not too worried.

Only concern is an injury to a central midfielder and we're looking short, so if we can get one in before Thursday I think we've done well this pre-season.

Agree also with not breaking up the front two. Rodriguez is ace but I still think we stick with Barnes and Wood as they looked a real handful at the back end of last season

Everyone seems to think JBG on the right hand side despite the options. It could be Hendrick, who played most of the games there at the back end of last season or it could be Lennon who has looked excellent in pre-season.

ClaretTony wrote:I was trying to work out the team and I've got most of the places sorted as to who I think Dyche will start with on Saturday. The left back slot is one of about three I'm not so sure about.

I think he will start with Pieters but that would be hard on Taylor who was my player of the year.

Pope
Lowton
Tarkowski ? Gibson
Mee
Pieters
JBG
Cork
Westwood
McNeil
Wood
Jay

This is what it will be come saturday as any new ones will not be involved anyway - but doubt we will get anyone anyway.

How come our new keeper hasn't been given a game?

i predict Taylor and Barnes will start (barring injuries). SD is loyal to his players

I think Jay Rod will partner Wood
Right wing I really think Lennon as done so well in pre season that he will get the nod
Left back has to be Taylor
Hendrick and Cork inside of McNeil
Pope is No 1
Lawton Mee Tarko

I thought Barnes linked up better with Jay on Saturday than Wood did

Where's our new goalkeeper?

I think it’ll be
Hart

Lowton Tarkowski Mee Taylor

Mcneil Cork Westwood Hendrick

Wood Barnes

I would go
Pope

Lowton Tarkowski Mee Taylor

McNeil Cork Westwood Jay

Wood Barnes

Bring JBG & Hendrick on for Wood and Barnes and push Jay & Dwight up front
Then bring Lennon on for Cork and push Hendrick up behind Jay & Dwight
Don’t like to overthink things
I have been away and drinking a lot though
UTC

I have s feeling Lennon's gonna start.

Not what I would want though.

dougcollins wrote:I have s feeling Lennon's gonna start.

Not what I would want though.

He’d start for me based on pre season form.

I'd find that hard to argue with.

I have a feeling Joe Hart will be between the sticks on Saturday, also think Lennon will start.

Bonkers if he drops Charlie Taylor, who was one of our finest players last year.

But where is the new keeper?

I'll be amazed if he breaks up the Barnes and Wood partnership just yet. I think Jay will have to bide his time.

Nick Pope will be in the middle of our goal.

South West Claret. wrote:But where is the new keeper?

Why would our U23 team keeper feature?

Jay Rod and Wood upfront , McNeil and Lennon wings (ish)
Hendrick/Westwood/cork ( 2 from 3)and last seasons defence with Pope probs starting . Bit underwhelming but could yet get a lot better if we get a quality centre mid . Bench of Barnes /JBG

Granny WeatherWax wrote:Why would our U23 team keeper feature?

Under U23? What are you on about.

I ask again where is the Goalkeeper we signed from Weeds .. or is he injured already

South West Claret. wrote:I ask again where is the Goalkeeper we signed from Weeds .. or is he injured already

We've only played 1 game since he signed & that was the day after

Don't think anybody would have expected him to play any part in that game

I fully expect the likes of Taylor, Barnes and Wood to keep their place from last season.

There's only one position I'm not sure of and that's right midfield. Had we been away at Old Trafford for example, I think he'd have opted for Hendrick to help track back and work well with Lowton as they both did last season defensively. But it's at home to Southampton so think he'll go with JBG, with the rest of the lineup the same as last season.

wilks_bfc wrote:We've only played 1 game since he signed & that was the day after

Don't think anybody would have expected him to play any part in that game

Signed over a week ago didn't we, would sooner see him on the bench against Southampton than Hart myself unless he isn't 100%.

South West Claret. wrote:Signed over a week ago didn't we, would sooner see him on the bench against Southampton than Hart myself unless he isn't 100%.

He signed on Friday
We played on Saturday
There have been no other preseason games for the "first team" since so how do you expect him to have played any minutes?

based purely on what i have seen

Pope
Lowton
Tarkowski
Mee
Pieters
Lennon
Hendrick
Westwood
McNeil
Wood
Barnes

wilks_bfc wrote:He signed on Friday
We played on Saturday
There have been no other preseason games for the "first team" since so how do you expect him to have played any minutes?

I had been led to believe that he had signed early than last Friday that's why I made the statement I did.

Anybody know how many minutes Drinkwater has had this pre season?