We're a little bit light at centre half with Jordan Beyer unfortunately out injured and Ameen Al-Dakhil being 'touch and go', to quote Kompany (using a dycheism). Other injuries of course Obafemi, Ekdal, JBG, Redmond and apparently Zaroury has a bit of a knock.

It will be a very difficult game - Brentford have had a habbit of drawing a few games this season and are coming off the back of a beatdown by Everton and will no doubt be up for righting that wrong.

Mbeumo and Wissa definitely their dangermen - a few good players in the rest of the side, Norgaard & Jensen but nothing that we have to overly worry about, IMO.

They have a few injuries/suspensions themselves.. Most notably Ivan Toney banned and injuries to other important players like Rico Henry (LB) Ethan Pinnock (CB) and Ben Mee has been out for a while but I think is in contention for Saturday's game and I believe Mark Flekken (GK) is also fit after missing last game with an illness.

For me:

-----------Muric
Roberts-AAD*-Delcroix-Taylor
----------Cullen
------Berge-----Brownhill
JBL-------Foster-----Koleosho

Amdouni to come on for Berge when he tires
Odebert for Koleosho

Then whatever

*I guess O'Shea if AAD can't make it

UTC

I mean this in the best way possible but I hope Ben's return is after our game.

ecc wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2023 5:06 pm

I mean this in the best way possible but I hope Ben's return is after our game.

I share the same sentiment; though I'd like to see the Foster x Mee battle

ecc wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2023 5:06 pm

I mean this in the best way possible but I hope Ben's return is after our game.

Not too worried if Ben Mee starts-really like Ben but we can expose his lack of pace

I am assuming the worst in the CB position and that Ekdal, Al Dakhill and Beyer all won't make it

Trafford
Roberts O'Shea Delcroix Taylor
Brownhill Cullen Berge
Larsen Foster Odobert

If Al Dakhill is fit then replace Delcroix with him

Muric
Roberts AAD O'Shea Taylor
Cullen Massengo
Berge
JBL Foster Zaroury(Koleosho if AZ isn't fit)

Trafford
Roberts O'Shea Delcroix Taylor
Cork Cullen
Larsen Brownhill Odobert
Foster

If AAD is fit then replace O’Shea

What I think we should play depending on fitness :

Muric
Roberts AAD Delcroix Taylor
Cullen Brownhill
Berge
Amdouni Larsen
Foster

What I think VK will do :

Trafford
Roberts O’Shea delcroix taylor
Cullen Brownhill
Berge
Amdouni Odobert
Foster

Trafford
Roberts, O’Shea, Delcroix, Taylor
Cullen, Berge, Ramsey
Amdouni, Foster, Koleosho


That back four sends shivers down my spine. Keep it to two goals and we stand a chance of winning

Doesn't matter really, if we have none of our 'proper' 3 centrebacks available I m afraid we're ******.

Yikes.

Dread to think.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:35 pm

Trafford
Roberts, O’Shea, Delcroix, Taylor
Cullen, Berge, Ramsey
Amdouni, Foster, Koleosho


That back four sends shivers down my spine. Keep it to two goals and we stand a chance of winning

Yeah it’s probably a game where we should accept that we’re to concede and try and simply ‘we’ll score more than you’ approach- perhaps a more ‘attacking’ lineup such as you’ve suggested may be the way to go.

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2023 7:13 pm

Yeah it’s probably a game where we should accept that we’re to concede and try and simply ‘we’ll score more than you’ approach- perhaps a more ‘attacking’ lineup such as you’ve suggested may be the way to go.

I think it’s got to be a game where we just go out to out score. Brentford have their own injury issues to worry about.

We know for a fact we won’t keep a clean sheet but I do believe given the right team we can score 3

————————Trafford
Roberts—-AAD————Delcroix—Taylor
————————-Cullen
Amdouni—Berge—Brownhill—Koleosho
———————-—Foster

Zeki having that freedom to rotate inside with Berge comfortable on the overlap / right side space. Koleosho back on his strongest side.

Fancy a result in this one. Brentford’s injury list is quite long and they were awful against Everton in their last home game. Still a decent side on their day obviously so id take a draw.

Foster apart, it's now harder to pick a team than it was after the pre season friendlies.
We don't have a settled team or a settled line up / formation.
We clearly have talented players but not a talented team.

————————Trafford
Roberts—AAD-- ----Delcroix———Taylor
————————-Cullen
----------—Berge—Brownhil
Amdouni—--------------------Larsen
———————-—Foster

O'Shea for AAD if AAD unfit.

going to be tough if we have injuries in defence, i also thought how to get Muric in the team play him at centre half

The back four is a complete mess. The sooner Beyer and Ekdal are fit the better. We all know Trafford will start so not much point thinking anything else. Muric will be gone in January - the rumour mill has already started where that's concerned. If we're forced into starting O'Shea and Delcroix then we absolutely need to start Cork, probably in place of Cullen, simply for his organisation.

Trafford
Roberts O'Shea Delcroix Taylor
Cork Brownhill
JBL Berge Amdouni
Foster

Trafford
Roberts Al Dakhil Delcroix Taylor
Brownhill Cullen
Larsen Berge Amdouni
Foster

MURIC
Roberts Al Dakhil Delcroix Taylor
Cullen Brownhill
Larsen Berge Koleosho
Foster

jlup1980 wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 20, 2023 10:20 am

The back four is a complete mess. The sooner Beyer and Ekdal are fit the better. We all know Trafford will start so not much point thinking anything else. Muric will be gone in January - the rumour mill has already started where that's concerned. If we're forced into starting O'Shea and Delcroix then we absolutely need to start Cork, probably in place of Cullen, simply for his organisation.

Trafford
Roberts O'Shea Delcroix Taylor
Cork Brownhill
JBL Berge Amdouni
Foster

Could well be this eleven.

I never thought I'd say this but I'd love to see Muric back in goal.

The centre half injuries are a real concern. We need Beyer and Ekdal back as soon as possibly. Hopefully we see a change in goal tomorrow.

Totally agree with SHP.

MURIC

Roberts
O’Shea
ADD
Taylor

Cullen
Berge
Brownhill

Larson
Foster
Koleosho

I want Amdouni in but we are way off playing
2 midfielders not 3 so we have to go defensive first and maybe Amdouni comes on for Brownhill if we’re chasing a goal

MURIC

Roberts
O’Shea
ADD
Taylor

Cullen
Berge
Brownhill

Larson
Foster
Koleosho

I want Amdouni in but we are way off playing
2 midfielders not 3 so we have to go defensive first and maybe Amdouni comes on for Brownhill if we’re chasing a goal

Trafford

Roberts Al-Dakhil Cork Taylor

Brownhill Cullen Berge

Amdouni Foster Odobert

Muric
Roberts
Beyer
Al Dakhil
Taylor
Cullen
Cork
Berge
Zaroury
Fozzy
Larson

BleedingClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:29 pm

MURIC

Roberts
O’Shea
ADD
Taylor

Cullen
Berge
Brownhill

Larson
Foster
Koleosho

I want Amdouni in but we are way off playing
2 midfielders not 3 so we have to go defensive first and maybe Amdouni comes on for Brownhill if we’re chasing a goal

Please MURIC

Trafford
Roberts AAD Delcroix taylor
Cullen Brownhill Berge
Koleosho Foster Odobert

Trafford
X X Delcroix Taylor
Cullen Berge
Koleosho Ramsey Tresor
Amdouni

BleedingClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:29 pm

MURIC

Roberts
O’Shea
ADD
Taylor

Cullen
Berge
Brownhill

Larson
Foster
Koleosho

I want Amdouni in but we are way off playing
2 midfielders not 3 so we have to go defensive first and maybe Amdouni comes on for Brownhill if we’re chasing a goal

I'd have no problems with that, bearing in mind availability, although Delcroix could replace O'Shea maybe. However imo it doesn't really matter what we do as defensively it won't be good enough. Injuries in that department have absolutely wrecked us unfortunately. Beyond the back 4 that's a very good side, but we'll struggle not to concede more than two or three I'd suggest.

I genuinely have no idea what team VK will select for today due to injuries and performance in training during the international break. I’m going to go with this?!?! -

Trafford
Roberts AAD Delcroix Taylor
Cullen
Berge. Brownhill
Amdouni Koleosho
Foster

I would like to see more of Bruun Larsen, so maybe him instead of one of the wide men and if AAD is not fit then O’Shea instead. Desperately need Beyer back!! Would also like to see Benny and/or Anass come on and show some form from last season, but both seem to be either injured or out of favour at the moment.
Ultimately, regardless of who plays in attack, it’s what we do at the back that will determine today’s outcome and we simply have to tighten up or else it’s going to be a long season.

With our reserve centre backs, we need to have 2 defensive midfielders in front of them - Cork and Cullen makes sense

With our frailty at centre half (assuming O’Shea and Delcroix play), Muric has to come in for me. The thought of Trafford, O’Shea and Delcroix playing it between themselves at the back doesn’t bode well.

Muric can kick a lot longer than Trafford and this relieves pressure and gives us a chance to hit teams on the break.