We're clearly struggling a bit to break teams down, not helped by injuries to Flemming, Ramsey and dare I say it Trésor, who are the type of players you need to play against a low block.

Hannibal isn't really a natural '10', but I imagine that his tenacity would be better suited in that position when playing on the counter - like we did at Leeds...

I'm not so certain that Plymouth will sit back as much as Oxford or Pompey, I think that Rooney is trying to instill a certain play style but you just never know how they'll setup on the night.

That being said

-------Trafford
Roberts-CJ-Esteve-Pires
-----Cullen-Brownhill
Anthony-Flemming-Koleosho
---------Foster

We need Koleosho and Anthony getting high and wide and trying to stretch the defence—look for them for out balls on the counter.
Brownhill with a real license to get forward and hopefully Flemming can form a bit of a partnership with Foster.

If Flemming isn't available, it throws a bit of a spanner into the works.. Probably start Jay Rodriguez and play a few more balls into the box.

The key is to move the ball quickly and focus play centrally, and hope to suck a fullback in, which leaves space for one of the wingers to get a through ball in behind the defence.

We're just desperately missing someone with the nous, creativity, and ability to play that '10' position.

Same team again but Koleosho left, Sarmiento right.

If Roberts is fit then I’d bring him in with either Humphreys or Egan-Riley dropping out.

I've not had much chance to catch up with what's going on recently. What was the issue with Flemming at the weekend?

Why do people think Ramsey would solve the issue

Goliath wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:24 pm

Why do people think Ramsey would solve the issue

He’s a creative 10 type player who excelled at this level?

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:19 pm

Same team again but Koleosho left, Sarmiento right.

If Roberts is fit then I’d bring him in with either Humphreys or Egan-Riley dropping out.

Yeah either or, just think Anthony might have a bit more acceleration in him to get behind a fullback that's deep - I could be wrong.

Can’t see Flemming being ready unless I’ve missed something?

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:35 pm

Can’t see Flemming being ready unless I’ve missed something?

I was thinking that and the same for Roberts. If they couldn't make the bench on Saturday, then it feels like a stretch for them to be involved on Tuesday unfortunately.

Poulton-le-Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:37 pm

I was thinking that and the same for Roberts. If they couldn't make the bench on Saturday, then it feels like a stretch for them to be involved on Tuesday unfortunately.

Yep, I’d have expected both to be on the bench if they were anywhere near.

Poulton-le-Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:37 pm

I was thinking that and the same for Roberts. If they couldn't make the bench on Saturday, then it feels like a stretch for them to be involved on Tuesday unfortunately.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but didn't Parker say that Roberts was close and only narrowly missed out?

FWIW, and only because of the creativity issues we face, I’d like to see Tresor on the bench and getting minutes to build fitness.

Depends who we have available but I’d be certainly looking to add more creativity in midfield and possibly drop hanibal for Fleming, roberts coming in at right back too

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:27 pm

He’s a creative 10 type player who excelled at this level?

Is he? I thought he was a goalscoring midfielder who likes arriving late in the box rather than a playmaking type. Genuinely not sure from the bits I've seen, he never seemed particularly creative and looked extremely nervous in possession

Great work in turning a "team for tomorrow night" thread into a discussion about a player who is weeks, if not months from being available.

Goliath wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:56 pm

Is he? I thought he was a goalscoring midfielder who likes arriving late in the box rather than a playmaking type. Genuinely not sure from the bits I've seen, he never seemed particularly creative and looked extremely nervous in possession

You’re probably judging him on playing in the Prem in what was a young nervous team half the time!

For Boro he excelled as a 10 or wide 10 (starting out wide but drifting inside between the lines).

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:42 pm

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but didn't Parker say that Roberts was close and only narrowly missed out?

I think he did, but I was expecting him to be on the bench at least. Let's hope for the best anyway, we are definitely due some good news with injuries

Trafford
Roberts Egan Esteve Humphries
Cullen Hannibal/Brownhill
Sarmiento Flemming Koleosho
Foster

If Fleming isn’t fit I’d give one of the three (likely Sarmiento) a run through the middle.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 2:09 pm

You’re probably judging him on playing in the Prem in what was a young nervous team half the time!

For Boro he excelled as a 10 or wide 10 (starting out wide but drifting inside between the lines).

Going off his stats for Boro he got 5 goals and 1 assist in 11 games. We could do with some goals from a wide or number 10 position so that would be a bonus but I'm still not convinced he will be a massive creator. Hopefully Tresor can do that job but I've not got much hope for that one.

With the way Foster is performing at the minute, we could end up looking more like this by the end of the season which looks to have a better balance than what we have at present imo

Tresor Ramsey Koleosho
Fleming

If Tresor is fit then get him in. It's vital we have someone who can supply chances for our centre forward.

If available

Trafford
Egan Riley Esteve Humphreys
Brownhill Laurent
Sarmiento Hannibal Koleosho
Flemming Foster

We are way too negative with 4 at the back in this division

Trafford

Roberts. Egan Riley. Esteve. Pires
Cullen. Laurent

Flemming. Brownhill. Koleosho
Foster

Trafford

Roberts CJ Esteve Pires

Cullen Hannibal

Koleosho Flemming Anthony

Foster

I’d drop Brownhill until he decides whether to sign up for longer. And the only reason Foster gets a start is because we have literally, no one else.

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:22 pm

If available

Trafford
Egan Riley Esteve Humphreys
Brownhill Laurent
Sarmiento Hannibal Koleosho
Flemming Foster

We are way too negative with 4 at the back in this division

Don’t think we’ll get away with playing 12 …… never know till you try though

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:22 pm

If available

Trafford
Egan Riley Esteve Humphreys
Brownhill Laurent
Sarmiento Hannibal Koleosho
Flemming Foster

We are way too negative with 4 at the back in this division

Ignore my post about 12, old eyes and a recent snooze I read your post wrong!

Holtyclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 4:30 pm

Ignore my post about 12, old eyes and a recent snooze I read your post wrong!

lol. Does look like 12 with Egan Riley.

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 4:49 pm

lol. Does look like 12 with Egan Riley.

…. And I was just thinking about John Egan! Haha

Trésor won't be anywhere near matchfit for some time.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:59 pm

Great work in turning a "team for tomorrow night" thread into a discussion about a player who is weeks, if not months from being available.

This is UTC.

Trafford

Roberts humphreys esteve Pires

Cullen. Brownhill


Sarmiento Jay rod Luca

Foster


Hope Roberts is fit if not, humphreys at RB and CJ to CB.


Luca is better on the left cutting in, he showed that last season.

Jay in the 10 position. Not ideal, flemming starts there if fit. But jay can do a job. He can help create so space for foster and an extra body in the box.

Trafford
Hump CJ Steve Pires
Laurent Cullen
Brownhill
Luca Foster Sarmiento

Wayne Rooney picture doing the rounds on Twittler. Photoshopped from original which is the right one

Parker is not into radical changes so if Roberts and Fleming still recovering I would envisage the same starting 11 with exception of Anthony starting in favour of Sarmiento

If we're going to insist on playing the same way then Jay and Laurent have to start. We're desperate for a no.9 who can play with their back to goal and link the play. We can't get Foster in behind as teams are sitting deep, so what's the point in him starting? Also, get Koleosho back on the left from the start. Switch them over during the game by all means, but he's our best attacking option so we should be playing him in his best position.

Trafford
Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Anthony Brownhill Koleosho
Jay

*I should add that Fleming starts for Jay if he's fit

I think we have to assume that Flemming isn't likely to be fit enough to start. If Roberts were to be he would certainly go straight in but that too feels unlikely.

That being the case I think I'd make one small tweak to the eleven that started at Oxford, which is to move Hannibal back alongside Cullen and shift Brownhill forwards slightly. The reason for that is I think Brownhill protects the ball a bit better than Hannibal with his back to goal, and stretches the game better from 10, whilst Hannibal has shown on a few occasions an ability to drive forwards in possession towards the opposition goal not unlike the way Berge did (eg for his 20 yard shot just wide in the second half on Saturday) - which is something we've missed at times.

jlup1980 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 8:32 pm

If we're going to insist on playing the same way then Jay and Laurent have to start. We're desperate for a no.9 who can play with their back to goal and link the play. We can't get Foster in behind as teams are sitting deep, so what's the point in him starting? Also, get Koleosho back on the left from the start. Switch them over during the game by all means, but he's our best attacking option so we should be playing him in his best position.

Trafford
Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Anthony Brownhill Koleosho
Jay

*I should add that Fleming starts for Jay if he's fit

I'd stick with Foster for the first 45 minutes.

Trafford
Roberts Esteve Humphreys Pires
Brownhill Cullen Sarmiento Koleosho
Flemming
Foster

Assuming there's no return yet for Roberts and Flemmind

Trafford

Humphries
Egan-Riley
Esteve
Pires

Koleosho
Cullen
Laurent
Anthony

Brownhill

Foster

Brownhill better equipped than Hannibal to play the 10 role behind Foster

Impressed with Laurent so far and his inclusion might give Cullen a little more freedom to move the ball forward more quickly

Sarmiento last season at Ipswich and - based on a limited number of games - for us, appears to be a better option from the bench than a starter

3 games in 7 days points to rotation and resting players if you've got the squad size and depth (which in many positions we have). Therefore I can possibly see a couple of surprises this evening. SP knows the league and how relentless it can be.

Any news on Whorral … has he broken his foot ??

The number of people putting CJ in is scary. He’s so so slow on the ball and takes 3 or 4 touches every time…

If Robert’s is half fit , get him in and push Humphries to Centre Half

Cj reminds me of belis slow in possession and too ponderous we need a CB who can carry the ball fwd and not just wait for the opposition to close you down only to then turn and play it sideways or backwards, get Egan in and let's start on the front foot.

Safron wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 01, 2024 10:44 am

Cj reminds me of belis slow in possession and too ponderous we need a CB who can carry the ball fwd and not just wait for the opposition to close you down only to then turn and play it sideways or backwards, get Egan in and let's start on the front foot.

I have no idea of how Egan plays, is he good on the ball?

ecc wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2024 6:31 pm

Trésor won't be anywhere near matchfit for some time.

Stated as fact ?

fatboy47 wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 01, 2024 11:35 am

Stated as fact ?

He won't be matchfit if he hasn't been playing matches.

But with 5 subs you can start players and bring off when tired.

Tonight's a better game for him than Saturday.
Plymouth should be penned in quite a bit and Preston will have tackles flying in everywhere.

i would leave Hannibal out tonight so he is fresh for PNE at the weekend , Laurent has looked good every time i have seen him. i am sure SP said Fleming and Roberts were close at the weekend but could he save them for the weekend, as someone has said already we have strength in depth so i think tonight's team and Saturdays will be different with 3 or 4 changes

Trafford
Roberts Humphreys Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Koleosho Brownhill Anthony
Flemming

Blyclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 01, 2024 10:02 am

Any news on Whorral … has he broken his foot ??

SP said he had an "impact injury ", and they'd see how it went.
Flemming slight calf strain.
(Burnley Express)

fatboy47 wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 01, 2024 11:35 am

Stated as fact ?

Hi fatboy45,

It does read as though I know it to be a fact. I don't but he hasn't played for the U21s and hasn't played for months.

I'm just looking at it logically. Would love to be wrong and see him on the bench.

Trafford
Roberts CJ Esteve Pires
Luca Hannibal Cullen Anthony
Brownhill
Flemming

I don't think Foster deserves to be near the starting 11 unless Flemming is unfit.

I'd be looking to reintegrate Tresor to de Cockstoel for this match if fit. Sling him in.