Well, what a crap result against QPR!

Hoping Vinny is properly laying into them right now as I post.

Can't go sleepwalking into the next game, Blackburn will be bang up for it

Any news on Tella or Ekdal?

------------Muric
Roberts-Ekdal*-Beyer-Taylor
--------Cork--Cullen
Benson---Brownhill---Gudmundsson
-----------Barnes

I really rate Maatsen but I think he's well and truly on the beach. Chaz will throw himself into it

Cork back in midfield and Brownhill back to that 10/attacking midfield role

UTC

Tella and Ekdal are final game if lucky.

I think, given the Ekdal & Tella situation, I'd probably start the same 11 that started today. Make them go out and prove themselves.

Perhaps, with the exception of Maatsen.

I think Blackburn are going to kick lumps out of us at their place. Need some muscle. Taylor would be my agreed choice at LB.

Muric
Roberts
Al-Dakhil
Beyer
Maatsen
Cullen
Brownhill
JBG
Benson
Zaroury
Foster

Muric
Roberts
Beyer
THB
Maatsen
Cork
Cullen
Brownhill
Benson
Barnes
Zaroury

same as today, we should have been 3 or 4 up at half time, we kicked **** out of them for 45 then it went flat - pretty much like the abysmal atmosphere created by the fans (and that's coming from someone who was at the game and not me)

A winning one please

Muric
Roberts
Harwood Bellis
Beyer
Maatsen
Cullen
Brownhill
Gudmundsson
Benson
Zaroury
Foster

Muric
Roberts
Al-Dakhil
Beyer
Maatsen
Cullen
Brownhill
JBG
Benson
Zaroury
Barnes

I’d be tempted to start with J-Rod up top. Don’t think he’s ever played in the derby - he’s be well up for it.

Muric
Roberts Beyer Al Dakhill Taylor
Cork Cullen Brownhill
Benson Barnes JBG

Same starting eleven as today

Al Dakhil/THB
Maatsen/Taylor
Barnes/Jay Rod

All possible choices but no matter what, imo Cork has to start in midfield.

I thought Maatsen was the best player on the pitch first half today

Muric
Roberts THB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen
Benson Brownhill Twine JBG
Jay

This game is about aggression. Zaroury is looking a bit jaded, I think. JBG has been way more penetrative and aggressive so I'd have him in Zaroury's place. Twine hasn't been the player I hoped he would, but he's got a bit of that aggression that Foster doesn't have, and Zaroury has lost a teensie bit since the WC, and seeing as I'd be going for aggression above everything it's Twine for me of the available options. Barnes has been doing loads of deep-lying and off-the-ball work, but Jay always looks the sharper scorer of the two. Jay's goalscoring record on a goals per game basis this season is way better than Barnes. Plus there's the fact he's never played in the derby and will basically be playing like an animal. Can't drop Maatsen. Even though he's currently below the standards he's set, he's so important tactically, and plays a forward role Taylor hasn't to my recollection been asked to play, which suggests Kompany doesn't think Taylor tactically as astute as Roberts and Maatsen, or maybe even physically capable of it. The spine of Muric, Beyer, Cullen and Brownhill just ahead of him picks itself. You can add Tella to that spine when he's fit.

See strangely enough, I'm not that bothered about beating them as long as they don't beat us.
We are going places they will not see, so happy for that game to be another building block on our way to smashing the premier league.

It's the second most important game of the season to win after the home game. I bother about those two results more than any other result. Don't care how we do it, just win.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:57 pm

I thought Maatsen was the best player on the pitch first half today

He might have been...

He certainly wasn't for the next 45

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:57 pm

I thought Maatsen was the best player on the pitch first half today

he looked back to his best first half, passing was excellent. Second half was just a collective misfire - winning something isn't supposed to be easy, despite spending what feels like 800 trillion Man City and PSG still haven't won the Champions League. Elite sport, no gimmies

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:11 pm

He might have been...

He certainly wasn't for the next 45

Was only on for another 15 to be fair

Play foster

Think he’ll go with same starting 11 sure they’ve all got a point to prove after the 3rd defeat of the season.

Muric
Roberts
Al-Dakiel
Beyer
Taylor
Cork
Cullen
Benson
Zaroury
Barnes
Rodriguez

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:15 pm

Muric
Roberts
Al-Dakiel
Beyer
Taylor
Cork
Cullen
Benson
Zaroury
Barnes
Rodriguez

I think Sean Dyche picked this team!!!

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:13 pm

Was only on for another 15 to be fair

30*

& you know what I mean...

I'd like us to get back to the 4231 we used earlier in the season (10 wins in a row) with Cork, Cullen, and Brownhill in midfield.

I think since we've swapped to 433, which becomes 325 in possession, we've generally not been as fluent or impressive.

So for me:
Muric
Roberts HB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Benson Brownhill JBG
Barnes

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:50 pm

I'd like us to get back to the 4231 we used earlier in the season (10 wins in a row) with Cork, Cullen, and Brownhill in midfield.

I think since we've swapped to 433, which becomes 325 in possession, we've generally not been as fluent or impressive.

So for me:
Muric
Roberts HB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Benson Brownhill JBG
Barnes

Half of those 10 wins you refer to were with the 4-3-3.

Including games against the likes of PNE and Hudd which we absolutely dominated and probably played the best football of the lot.

We ain't gonna win there

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:02 pm

Half of those 10 wins you refer to were with the 4-3-3.

Including games against the likes of PNE and Hudd which we absolutely dominated and probably played the best football of the lot.

Nope. Only PNE was. The Huddersfield game was after the 10 in a row.

We have looked good in some games with the 433 and played good football, but as I said correctly in my first post, we've been most successful (9 in a row, then) with the 4231. I'm sticking with my opinion.

Barnes should be nowhere near the starting 11.
I love him but let's wrap the league up then play him against Cardiff.

Missed Kickoff wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:26 pm

Barnes should be nowhere near the starting 11.
I love him but let's wrap the league up then play him against Cardiff.

Bagged two against Blackburn last time out!

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:09 pm

Nope. Only PNE was. The Huddersfield game was after the 10 in a row.

We have looked good in some games with the 433 and played good football, but as I said correctly in my first post, we've been most successful (9 in a row, then) with the 4231. I'm sticking with my opinion.

I also think we were at our best with Cork and Cullen sitting with Brownhill ahead of them; Zaroury left, Tella right and Benson coming off the bench or Tella left and Benson right

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:44 pm

I also think we were at our best with Cork and Cullen sitting with Brownhill ahead of them; Zaroury left, Tella right and Benson coming off the bench or Tella left and Benson right

Interesting, I’ve personally really enjoyed JBG in the left sided 8 role and our results & performances at Bournemouth and Boro stand out to me.

Muric
Roberts THB Beyer Maatsen
Cullen Cork
Benson brownhill JBG
Foster

Muric
Roberts
THB
Beyer
Maatsen
Cullen
Brownhill
Twine
Zaroury
Jay
Benson

Got to play Barnes, the Blackburn fans absolutely hate him for potting their keeper, he'll rile the crowd and get one of their players sent off with his shitthousery

Same team what started yesterday but maybe revert to 442 with Foster up top with Barnes if things are not working out.

The good news is that we play better against the less physical sides. Also Blackburn HAVE to go out and win, even more so than us, so it could play into their hands. Reading their forum, they are absolutely bricking it.

Taking yesterday's disappointment on the chin, Tuesday could be stuff to tell your grandkids about in years to come. Imagine for a second winning the title at Ewood. Players and fans celebrating with champagne, and constant chanting for 15 mins after the game, it would be epic and live long in the memory for both clubs.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:32 am

Interesting, I’ve personally really enjoyed JBG in the left sided 8 role and our results & performances at Bournemouth and Boro stand out to me.

Wigan away, Swansea home, Boro home, QPR away, Brum home….

We are missing Tella though tbf - Need that sort of player that can make runs in behind in transition and have the opposition running to their own goals.

VK could suprise us all and play two up top like he did at Anderlecht with Obafemi and Foster/Barnes/Jay … who knows

Half tempted to bench Zaroury and Benson and bring them on after 60 mins. Risky strategy, but could be a game plan to keep it tight and them sucker them when the game opens up

Couple of early Burnley goals would silence the Blackburn crowd.

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:10 pm

Wigan away, Swansea home, Boro home, QPR away, Brum home….

We are missing Tella though tbf - Need that sort of player that can make runs in behind in transition and have the opposition running to their own goals.

VK could suprise us all and play two up top like he did at Anderlecht with Obafemi and Foster/Barnes/Jay … who knows

Yes Tella plays a lot closer to the striker and those runs in behind are missed, we probably need to replace them with Brownhill/JBG breaking the lines in that system as Benson, as good as his goals are, and threatening as he can be, tends to do his work very wide.

I would have liked to see Obafemi / Jay tried through the middle yesterday in a 2 (like you mentioned he did at Anderlecht) with Twine coming in off the left, Maatsen on the overlap.. something a bit different.

My team would certainly include the experience of Cork and Taylor.

Same starting line up apart from that useless left back maatsen. Get Charlie back. As woeful as basher is as a cf we'll need his experience and wind up antics. Hope tella is available to bring on. Need to tell the players we have a great left winger so give him the ball. The fans sing his name all the time. He can cross in a decent ball unlike the right winger that can only score great goals from his position.

Dassey wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:31 pm

Same starting line up apart from that useless left back maatsen. Get Charlie back. As woeful as basher is as a cf we'll need his experience and wind up antics. Hope tella is available to bring on. Need to tell the players we have a great left winger so give him the ball. The fans sing his name all the time. He can cross in a decent ball unlike the right winger that can only score great goals from his position.

Very harsh on Maatsen - also, I’ll think you’ll find that Benson has put some great crosses in leading to goals! Think Anass and Maatsen have scored from a Benson cross!

Dassey wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:31 pm

Same starting line up apart from that useless left back maatsen. Get Charlie back. As woeful as basher is as a cf we'll need his experience and wind up antics. Hope tella is available to bring on. Need to tell the players we have a great left winger so give him the ball. The fans sing his name all the time. He can cross in a decent ball unlike the right winger that can only score great goals from his position.

“Useless left back” he’s been the best left back in the league by some distance.

If Tella is still unavailable the key for me is starting with Cullen/Cork/Brownhill, to enable us to be more composed and controlled.They can cover Maatsen if he pushes up Josh can be the one to push up. Unsure whether to go Barnes or Foster but Barnes gets the nod because of his performance in the first game.If either winger is off form the JBG to replace early in second half

Muric
Roberts Beyer Al Akdill Maatsen
Cork Cullen
Benson Brownhill Zarourry
Barnes

Subject to approval by Huddersfield Town...

Muric
Roberts Ekdal Beyer Taylor
Vithino Cork Brownhill Cullen JB
Barnes

Zaroury and Benson to come on as impact subs

Dassey wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:31 pm

Same starting line up apart from that useless left back maatsen. Get Charlie back. As woeful as basher is as a cf we'll need his experience and wind up antics. Hope tella is available to bring on. Need to tell the players we have a great left winger so give him the ball. The fans sing his name all the time. He can cross in a decent ball unlike the right winger that can only score great goals from his position.

So much rubbish in one paragraph, must be a record, or a poorly disguised fishing expedition.

............................Muric...........................

..............Ekdal........THB.......Beyer..........


..Roberts...Cork...Cullen...JBG...Maatsen..

.........................Twine...............................

.............................Obafemi..........