Team for DC tonight.

[burnley007]

I'm assuming there won't be many (if any) changes to the starting XI.

Traff
Roberts
CJ (or Ekdal)
Steeeve
Hump
Cullen
Browny
Jez
Koleosho
Anthony
Jay

Unless injuries...not sure if Egan will be fit to start or if CJ will be back. But if it's Ekdal I won't be concerned.
Would like to see Flemming play behind Hountonji for the last 30 mins in a game, could be a decent combo.

[claretspice]

Against a team likely to sit deep I'd have Pires at left back for his extra creativity and assuming Egan Riley is not fit I'd play Humphreys at centre back.

Cullen, Brownhill and Jay all obvious starters and really the only question is whether Parker wants to rotate the 3 behind Rodriguez. Reasonable argument for playing Flemming in his preferred 10 role and giving either Sarmiento or Koleosho a breather (although I always worry that Rodriguez and Flemming might be a bit similar).

[whiffa]

Agreed spice, I feel like Jay loves to drop deep these days so both he and Zian on the pitch doesn't give us much threat in terms of running in behind teams.

[claretspice]

Agreed spice, I feel like Jay loves to drop deep these days so both he and Zian on the pitch doesn't give us much threat in terms of running in behind teams.

Indeed although whilst he's a lot busier, Sarmiento doesn't run in behind as a target for a direct ball much either.

You could even argue that a home game before a run of really tough games would be a sensible night to give Hountondji another opportunity in place of Jay, with Flemming playing off him. He does look to have more scope to work the channels but if he's going to play he needs the refinement of someone like Flemming linking things together.

[RVclaret]

Trafford
Roberts
CJ (if fit)
Esteve
Pires
Cullen
Brownhill
Anthony
Flemming
Sarmiento
Rodriguez

Pires playing high and wide past Sarmiento who likes to cut in. Flemming and Rodriguez down the middle.

[burnley007]

Indeed although whilst he's a lot busier, Sarmiento doesn't run in behind as a target for a direct ball much either.

You could even argue that a home game before a run of really tough games would be a sensible night to give Hountondji another opportunity in place of Jay, with Flemming playing off him. He does look to have more scope to work the channels but if he's going to play he needs the refinement of someone like Flemming linking things together.

agree 100%
Surely if Hountondji isn't ready to play now, he never will be.

[hoosier-daddy]

Trafford
Roberts
CJ (if fit)
Esteve
Pires
Cullen
Brownhill
Anthony
Flemming
Sarmiento
Rodriguez

Pires playing high and wide past Sarmiento who likes to cut in. Flemming and Rodriguez down the middle.

Gives us Koleosho to come in the second half when they are hopefully having to get a goal back.

Be interesting to see if the the rumour of Esteve being rested is true.

[dougcollins]

We definitely need to find a striker from somewhere.

I agree, give him the job tonight (Hountondji that is).

[expoultryboy]

I'd like to see 4 - 4 - 2 tonight

[expoultryboy]

Or 3 - 5 - 2

[summitclaret]

If Steve is 'rested' I'd be worried that Parker has had a brain fart or Steve is off on 1st Jan.

[claretspice]

If Steve is 'rested' I'd be worried that Parker has had a brain fart or Steve is off on 1st Jan.

Esteve was wearing a heavy bandage on his right wrist on Friday and it was notable in the pre-list pleasantries that he wasn't using that hand, so it may be there is an injury there to be managed if we have players available to deputise.

[Row x]

Esteve was wearing a heavy bandage on his right wrist on Friday and it was notable in the pre-list pleasantries that he wasn't using that hand, so it may be there is an injury there to be managed if we have players available to deputise.

He's worn that all season I think, certainly the last 3 or 4 games

[Row x]

If Steve is 'rested' I'd be worried that Parker has had a brain fart or Steve is off on 1st Jan.

The rumour started when someone heard that CJ was rested Friday and Esteve tonight, we have the players that would allow that to happen if it's what is required

[aggi]

If Steve is 'rested' I'd be worried that Parker has had a brain fart or Steve is off on 1st Jan.

At this point of the season plenty of the players aren't fully fit. It may be that a player isn't "injured" but you can see that they are sprinting or reacting slightly slower compared to earlier in the season and a decision needs to be made whether to rest them (or say they have a slight niggle).

[jedi_master]

Here we go again - random X/Twitter account claiming Tresor is in the squad

Is tonight the night?

[blatherwickstattoos]

Just seen Sarmiento at Burnley barracks petrol station turning towards the motorway. Highly doubt he’ll be playing tonight

[morninbob]

Esteve was wearing a heavy bandage on his right wrist on Friday and it was notable in the pre-list pleasantries that he wasn't using that hand, so it may be there is an injury there to be managed if we have players available to deputise.

He's had that on most of the season.

[morninbob]

If we can't rest Steve against a lowly, out of form Derby team at home, then we might as well give up.

[BigGaz]

Traff
Roberts
CJ if fit
Esteve
Pires
Laurent
Cullen
Brownhill (no 10)
Sarmiento
Anthony
Hound Dog

Picks itself. Kole is struggling and might do him some good to be given to come on for the last 20 against a hopefully tired and demotivated defense. As has already been said, squad needs to be managed so give the Hound some game time.

If it's going well I'd love to see the likes of Redmond, Ekdal, Flemming given minutes to build up their match sharpness.

[Elizabeth]

Just seen Sarmiento at Burnley barracks petrol station turning towards the motorway. Highly doubt he’ll be playing tonight

If this is true and it’s not because Sarmiento still doesn’t know his way around, please can Flemming play in that roll tonight

[aggi]

Just seen Sarmiento at Burnley barracks petrol station turning towards the motorway. Highly doubt he’ll be playing tonight

Probably just heading for the pre-match meal at Sycamore Farm.

[DCWat]

Probably just heading for the pre-match meal at Sycamore Farm.

Saw on X that he’d forgotten his boots

[blatherwickstattoos]

Probably just heading for the pre-match meal at Sycamore Farm.

He’s nipping in railway club for a quick game of snooker

[hoosier-daddy]

Here we go again - random X/Twitter account claiming Tresor is in the squad

Is tonight the night?

They will just be copying what the other(s) did last time, that's all.

[Jakubs Tash]

Trafford
Roberts
CJ (if fit)
Esteve
Pires
Cullen
Brownhill
Anthony
Flemming
Sarmiento
Rodriguez

Pires playing high and wide past Sarmiento who likes to cut in. Flemming and Rodriguez down the middle.

This team.

[hoosier-daddy]

Saw on X that he’d forgotten his boots

I read he'd forgotten to buy some.

[BleedingClaret]

I have it on good authority that we’re resting Tresor tonight

[hoosier-daddy]

I have it on good authority that we’re resting Tresor tonight

Source, or we don't believe you.

[123EasyasBFC]

Just seen Sarmiento at Burnley barracks petrol station turning towards the motorway. Highly doubt he’ll be playing tonight

Will he not of been on his way to training ground

[Ptgclaret]

Perfect chance tonight to put Flemming behind Rodriguez and see how that goes.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Will he not of been on his way to training ground

Possibly. I hope so. He’s our main attacking spark atm

[morninbob]

Don't they park at the training ground and then come by coach to the ground?

[blatherwickstattoos]

Sarmiento starts thank god. Panic over