Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
Lennon Cork Westy McNeil
Jrod
Wood

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Cork Westwood McNeil
Barnes Wood

FactualFrank wrote:Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Cork Westwood McNeil
Barnes Wood

Yep, that’s the one. 100%

has Taylor had enough minutes in Pre-season to justify a start over Pieters ? (I've no idea of the actual minutes hence the question)

Vegas Claret wrote:has Taylor had enough minutes in Pre-season to justify a start over Pieters ? (I've no idea of the actual minutes hence the question)

387 for Pieters, 198 for Taylor.

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=40987" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

dsr wrote:387 for Pieters, 198 for Taylor.

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=40987" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

cheers, so really Pieters should start

Pope
Bards Tarka Mee Taylor
JBG Westy Cork McN
Barnes Wood

Vegas Claret wrote:cheers, so really Pieters should start

I don't think it works like that VC.

FactualFrank wrote:I don't think it works like that VC.

in which case I expect DD to start then

With the overall strength of our first team squad, this thread has about a zillion different permutations, and it would be difficult to pull one as being the wrong choice. Just seen the two separate teams posted up by CT. Wow. Doubt even in our glory days we had strength in depth like we have now.

Life's good.

Let SD decide.... he's doing better than ok imho.

I’d go with the OP on this.

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Pieters
JBG Cork Westwood McNeil
Barnes Wood

I think it's harder to say who you leave off the bench.

I'd go with Factual Frank's team the only question mark being at LB where Pieters might be in with a shout. As stated above naming the bench likely to be more challenging:

Hart
Pieters
Gibson
Hendrick
Lennon
Rodriguez
Vydra

I think tomorrow will be a watershed if Dyche does the usual loyalty call, or whether as per his interviews we might see a surprise or two. Dyche stated he has told all the team that all shirts are for the taking. I personally feel that he will stay loyal and go with last years 11

Pope
Lawton tarks mee taylor
Jbg hendrick westy mcniel
Jrod wood

EarbyClaret wrote:I'd go with Factual Frank's team the only question mark being at LB where Pieters might be in with a shout. As stated above naming the bench likely to be more challenging:

Hart
Pieters
Gibson
Hendrick
Lennon
Rodriguez
Vydra

If that's the bench it'll be worth about £50m alone,that's staggering in itself.

Plenty of attacking options to choose from as well,which hasn't always been the case.

I’d be surprised to see Vydra on the bench.

I have a feeling Pieters will start...

Pope
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Taylor
Gudmundsson Drinkwater Westwood McNeil
Barnes Wood

No messing from me, that is our best team (argument to be made for Jay Rod instead of Barnes, but I’d certainly start the season with those two).

If Drinkwater is fit, I’d lob him straight into the fray. Not a chance SD will, but hey, this is my team!

I’m Taylor’s biggest fan but based on minutes in pre-season, even I could begrudge a Pieters start.

With the squad going to old fashioned numbers in general.
If Drinkwater plays instead of Westwood tomorrow we could line up 1 to 11 in shirt numbers.

Pope
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Taylor
Gudmundsson Drinkwater Westwood McNeil
Rodriguez Wood

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Hendrick Westy McNeil
Jay Wood

Pope
Bardsley Tarkowski Mee Taylor
JBG Westwood Drinkwater McNeil
Jay Barnes

Pope
Lowton
Taylor
Tarkowski
Mee
Cork
Westwood
Hendrick
McNeil
Barnes
Wood


That's basically the team which did so well for us last season, other than Lowton who won his place back from Bardsley before the end of campaign.

Tough on JBG, but Hendrick deserves the shirt. Be a very strong bench.

My team:

Pope
Lowton, Tarkowski, Gibson, Taylor

Drinkwater,

Westwood, Hendrick,

J-Rod McNeil

Wood

Starting XI will be

Pope
Lowton, tarks, Mee, Pieters
JBG, Westwood, Cork, McNeil
Wood, Barnes.

Pope
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Taylor
JBG Westwood Drinkwater McNeil
Jay Rod
Wood

Now that is a very strong looking team!

claretspice wrote:Pope
Lowton
Taylor
Tarkowski
Mee
Cork
Westwood
Hendrick
McNeil
Barnes
Wood


That's basically the team which did so well for us last season, other than Lowton who won his place back from Bardsley before the end of campaign.

Tough on JBG, but Hendrick deserves the shirt. Be a very strong bench.

It's only a strong bench if we actually use it.
Earlier changes please. Not 5 mins to go.

Pope
Bardsley. Tarks Mee pieters
Hendrick cork Westwood McNeil
Barnes Wood

HunterST_BFC wrote:It's only a strong bench if we actually use it.
Earlier changes please. Not 5 mins to go.

Why would we make early changes when we are winning

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
Hendrick Cork Westwood McNeil
Rodriguez Wood

Jay Rod just gets in cos he'll score against his former club. Barnes, JBG, Lennon off the bench if it's not going to plan.

Goobs wrote:Why would we make early changes when we are winning

There were many times last season when a player looked out of gas 65 minutes 70 minutes.
Dwight springs to mind.
Wood also.
Cork.
The fullbacks.

Changes could have been made but often not or made really late.

Burnley, definitely Burnley

Would've been interesting to see this thread were we to have bought Drinkwater outright rather than brought him in on loan. The case for Cork starting ahead of him is sound enough, I reckon: full pre-season, fitness, tactical familiarity, etc. but on sheer footballing ability the Drinkwater we expect (hope!) we're getting is a more complete player.

What I'd like to see:

Pope
Bardsley Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Westwood Cork McNeil
Jay Wood

What I expect to see:

Hart
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
Lennon Westwood Cork McNeil
Barnes Wood

Pearcey wrote:I’d be surprised to see Vydra on the bench.

But thats his job,Senior Benchman.

whiffa wrote:What I'd like to see:

Pope
Bardsley Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Westwood Drinkwater McNeil
Jay Wood

What I expect to see:

Hart
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
Lennon Westwood Cork McNeil
Barnes Wood

Would also like to see that first line up, but with Drinkwater starting for Cork.

I think Your second line up is correct, except maybe JBG in the place of Lennon.

Pope
Lowton
Tarkowski
Mee
Taylor
JBG
Westwood
Cork
McNeil
Rodriguez
Wood

I'd be surprised if Drinkwater was to start for obvious reasons.

FactualFrank wrote:Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Cork Westwood McNeil
Barnes Wood

I'll be amazed if it isn't this, or with Lennon in.

I'd like to see this at some point, but I'm not hopeful:

.................Pope
Lowton Mee Gibson Taylor
.........Defour Drinkwater
....JBG.... McNeil .....J-Rod
.................Vydra

Pope
Lowton, Tarky, Mee (c), Taylor
JBG, Drinkwater, Westwood, McNeil
Wood, Jay Rod

Popey
Lowts, Tarks, Gibbo, Tayls,
Goody, Danny, Westy, Nelly,
Barnesy, Woody

Roosterbooster wrote:I'll be amazed if it isn't this, or with Lennon in.

I'd like to see this at some point, but I'm not hopeful:

.................Pope
Lowton Mee Gibson Taylor
.........Defour Drinkwater
....JBG.... McNeil .....J-Rod
.................Vydra

Gibson at left back, are you having a larf

Pope
Lowton, Tarky, Mee, Taylor
Drinkwater
JBG, Barnes, McNeil
Wood & Rodriguez


All out attack

jdrobbo wrote:I’m Taylor’s biggest fan but based on minutes in pre-season, even I could begrudge a Pieters start.

Didn't Taylor have a bit of a knock the other week, with SD saying it was nothing too serious? That might explain why he didn't play more minutes. If you start Pieters you're basically dropping Taylor. After the season he had last season and how he's improved, I think that's very harsh. You'll be dropping him after having a good season.

For me, Pieters has to keep busting a gut to take Taylor's place, but do it in the league games, when his chance comes. The same applies with Drinkwater and Jay. They'll all need to show what they can do when they come off the bench.

Pope
Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor
JBG, Cork, Westwood, McNeil
Wood and Barnes

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
JBG Westy Cork McNeil
Barnes Wood

Subs
Hart
Bardsley
Gibson
Hendrick
Lennon
Jay
Vydra

Miss out

Long
BPF
Pieters

Injured
Defour
Brady

Pope
Bardsley Tarks Mee Taylor
Cork Drinkwater
Lennon McNeill
Jay Rod Wood

Would like to add Defour for Cork but that’s not happening shame

Pope
Lowton Mee Tarks Taylor
JBG Hendrick Westwood McNeil
Wood Jay

I think hell start with Cork over Hendrick, Lennon over gudmunsson and barnes over jay

Either way that's a strong 16 we have at our disposal

.............Pope

....Lowton.. Tarks.. Mee.. Taylor

Lennon.. Hendrick.. Westwood.. McNeil

..........Rodriguez........... Wood