I'm hoping to see some of the new faces on Saturday, Uguchukwu, Broja, Tuanzebe will hopefully play a part.

....Dubravka
Walker....Ekdal....Esteve....Hartman
Uguchukwu....Cullen
Edwards....Hannibal....Anthony
....Foster

Let's get some points on the board.

Agreed

Hard to know whether Parker is keen on firmly sticking with the 3/5 or he’ll change it up. Not sure you want to keep chopping and changing. Given he commented on Tuanzebe and Humphreys possibly being involved, I’d probably like to see:

———————Dubravka
Walker Tuanzebe Esteve Hartman
———Lesley—Cullen—Hannibal
Larsen—————————————Anthony
————————Foster

Off the ball 4-4-2 with Hannibal pressing alongside Foster.

Would be delighted to see Tuanzebe involved.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 21, 2025 2:47 pm

Hard to know whether Parker is keen on firmly sticking with the 3/5 or he’ll change it up. Not sure you want to keep chopping and changing. Given he commented on Tuanzebe and Humphreys possibly being involved, I’d probably like to see:

———————Dubravka
Walker Tuanzebe Esteve Hartman
———Lesley—Cullen—Hannibal
Larsen—————————————Anthony
————————Foster

Off the ball 4-4-2 with Hannibal pressing alongside Foster.

I'm not a fan of 5 at the back, mainly because I think it's often too defensive in weak teams, playing right and left backs but calling them wing backs whereas in better teams its really a 3 with wanna be wingers as the outside 2
then, I actually thought at Spurs with Sonne & Hartman it was quite attacking
I'm thinking SP may repeat this line up at the start of the game against Sunderland, but go to a 4 if we go behind.
My worry is the central 3 end up marking zonally and don't pick a man as happened with Richarlison last Saturday, I think it's a set up that needs time that we don't have to perfect.
Admittedly a 4 can be stretched and ripped apart at this level though
The Dyche Narrow back 4 with 2 Ball heading all or nothing centre halves was for a reason.
The game we beat Liverpool 2.0 at Home was a classic, they got round us and crossed to no one in the box or Coutinho shot from 30 yards.
Pragmatism is the key, although they call it Anti Football

Let's hope we get a decent ref and no soft penalty decisions like last season

Let's hope we get a decent ref and no soft penalty decisions like last season

you can say that again !

AshevilleNCClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 21, 2025 8:56 pm

you can say that again !

To be fair he is right, there were two penalties.

Stick to a 4. It's no less defensive and the players understand it. These teams will crucify us if we start messing about with defensive formations.

Back five for me.

I have no idea about team again, 2 weeks in a row!

I'm not even sure what the first choice XI would be.

I just know the sooner we get Lesley and Armando fit and firing the better. Also looking forward to seeing Tuanzebe start.

I really don't see many changes from the starting line-up vs Spurs. Possibly Ugochukwu for Laurent.

When all fit would like to see

Dubravka
Walker Esteve Humphreys
Tanzuebe Cullen Ugochukwa Hartman

Anthony Foster Taoucha

Broja

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:49 am

When all fit would like to see

Dubravka
Walker Esteve Humphreys
Tanzuebe Cullen Ugochukwa Hartman

Anthony Foster Taoucha

Broja

Hope we stick to playing 11

daveisaclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:55 am

Hope we stick to playing 11

We probably need 12

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:49 am

When all fit would like to see

Dubravka
Walker Esteve Humphreys
Tanzuebe Cullen Ugochukwa Hartman

Anthony Foster Taoucha

Broja

3 players names spelt wrong and 12 men. Classic post for this thread.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:03 am

3 players names spelt wrong and 12 men. Classic post for this thread.

And yet Hartman was correct!!

I know its probably been done to death, but to save me going through countless threads where are we at with Broja and Bashir?

mybloodisclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:08 am

I know its probably been done to death, but to save me going through countless threads where are we at with Broja and Bashir?

Bashir training, Broja likely to be on bench

Having Humphreys instead of Ekdal would be a massive boost. If we're going to go a back 3 again then I'm sure it can be:

Walker - Esteve - Humphreys

That already looks a hell of a lot stronger.

I'd stick to four the centre back 3 was all over the place against Spurs albeit I think two of them came out quite well in the player ratings, which makes you wonder whether Burnley fans need a 'pitch this way' notice when attending away games.

Don't really know the new players and who is properly fit or otherwise although in an ideal world Sonne, Ekdal, Laurent and Foster won't be playing. All good squad players but we need 3 points against Sunderland and I can't believe we've spent over a hundred million Euros and are still playing two players who didn't feature much at all last season, one who was played out of position and a fourth who was in and out of the side.

Again no sleight against those players they will be important squad players and let's be honest making a PL squad means you are a very good player.

So, no idea who will be playing - we need to get at least a point on the board for confidence and morale.

Parker doesn't seem to like making changes. I expect the same 11 as last Saturday and look to be more solid, not getting beaten.

In the spirit of getting our best available players on the pitch I'd expect a back four this weekend. The highlights don't suggest Sonne did too much wrong (and two of the goals came down our left, and none down the right) but I'm not sure he's close to our best XI players and for that reason alone I'd leave him out. On the basis of who played against Spurs and reading between the lines of the fitness updates, I'd expect a couple of changes - Ugochukwu for Laurent, and one of Tchouna, Larsen and Edwards (probably Larsen) for Sonne. That would give us a back four of Walker, Ekdal, Esteve and Hartmann, Cullen, Hannibal and Ugochukwu at the heart of midfield and Larsen and Anthony wide of Foster.

Dropping Edwards for Sonne, which in essence is what Parker did, makes some sense away to Spurs but makes zero sense at home to Sunderland. It shows we fear the entire division, home or away.

Edwards was responsible for changing the name of the club back from “Burnley 0” to “Burnley” last season. He simply cannot be left out, and deserves a proper chance ahead of newbies like JBL or LT.

We also need Walker in his best position and Lesley for JL.

So either Edwards and Lesley in for Sonne and Laurent using last year’s formation. Or Edwards and Lesley in for Hannibal and Laurent using last week’s formation. Assuming Broja fit for bench only.

Otherwise I fear we will lose. (p.s. I don’t think Parker will do any of these things and it will cost us).

burnley007 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 21, 2025 2:22 pm

I'm hoping to see some of the new faces on Saturday, Uguchukwu, Broja, Tuanzebe will hopefully play a part.

....Dubravka
Walker....Ekdal....Esteve....Hartman
Uguchukwu....Cullen
Edwards....Hannibal....Anthony
....Foster

Let's get some points on the board.

I think the side both fans and Scotty P would like against Sunderland , though can’t see Ugo being fully ready yet .

CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 3:09 pm

Dropping Edwards for Sonne, which in essence is what Parker did, makes some sense away to Spurs but makes zero sense at home to Sunderland. It shows we fear the entire division, home or away.

Edwards was responsible for changing the name of the club back from “Burnley 0” to “Burnley” last season. He simply cannot be left out, and deserves a proper chance ahead of newbies like JBL or LT.

We also need Walker in his best position and Lesley for JL.

So either Edwards and Lesley in for Sonne and Laurent using last year’s formation. Or Edwards and Lesley in for Hannibal and Laurent using last week’s formation. Assuming Broja fit for bench only.

Otherwise I fear we will lose. (p.s. I don’t think Parker will do any of these things and it will cost us).

Sunderland will be flying as soon as the whistle goes. There’s an argument that keeping it tight for the first hour then bringing Edwards and Broja on as impact subs could be the way to go.

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:49 am

When all fit would like to see

Dubravka
Walker Esteve Humphreys
Tanzuebe Cullen Ugochukwa Hartman

Anthony Foster Taoucha

Broja

Silly me-in which case Foster would go to bench

claretspice wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 2:43 pm

In the spirit of getting our best available players on the pitch I'd expect a back four this weekend. The highlights don't suggest Sonne did too much wrong (and two of the goals came down our left, and none down the right) but I'm not sure he's close to our best XI players and for that reason alone I'd leave him out. On the basis of who played against Spurs and reading between the lines of the fitness updates, I'd expect a couple of changes - Ugochukwu for Laurent, and one of Tchouna, Larsen and Edwards (probably Larsen) for Sonne. That would give us a back four of Walker, Ekdal, Esteve and Hartmann, Cullen, Hannibal and Ugochukwu at the heart of midfield and Larsen and Anthony wide of Foster.

Largely with you on this Spice-SP keeps changes to a minimum. Having been at Spurs I saw enough of Ugochukwa to feel he simply has to play . THere was one incidence when Van De Ven arguably the quickest defender in the PL went on a charging run and Ugochukwa matched him over about 50 yards and managed to dispossess him . The other change might well be Tchouna who looked very direct and quick when he came on. I think the reason two of the goals did not come down our right was the manner in which Walker covered Sonne. He really let Brendan Johnson (who is very quick too) know he was there and Walkers ability to crowd out a winger and force him to the bye line is a real defensive art

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 5:05 pm

Sunderland will be flying as soon as the whistle goes. There’s an argument that keeping it tight for the first hour then bringing Edwards and Broja on as impact subs could be the way to go.

Should be the other way around - we should be flying at them with them keeping it tight.

Agreed, if we’re going to be setting up to keep it tight for an hour against a fellow promoted side then we might as well not bother with the season

claretspice wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 2:43 pm

That would give us a back four of Walker, Ekdal, Esteve and Hartmann, Cullen, Hannibal and Ugochukwu at the heart of midfield and Larsen and Anthony wide of Foster.

I'd take your hands off for that, with Broja ready around the hour mark.

claretspice wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 22, 2025 2:43 pm

In the spirit of getting our best available players on the pitch I'd expect a back four this weekend. The highlights don't suggest Sonne did too much wrong (and two of the goals came down our left, and none down the right) but I'm not sure he's close to our best XI players and for that reason alone I'd leave him out. On the basis of who played against Spurs and reading between the lines of the fitness updates, I'd expect a couple of changes - Ugochukwu for Laurent, and one of Tchouna, Larsen and Edwards (probably Larsen) for Sonne. That would give us a back four of Walker, Ekdal, Esteve and Hartmann, Cullen, Hannibal and Ugochukwu at the heart of midfield and Larsen and Anthony wide of Foster.

Which video are you watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGvg4ryuaEI

The first two goals came from the our Left and their right. Sonne was marking Richarlison and it looked to me as though Sonne was ball watching and let him go.

The third came from our right their left and Sonne with Walker were where? Just ball watching again with Johnson probably unable to believe his luck strutting down the Left on his own.

Just after half time, Richarlison dribbles on down the goal line because Sonne lost Johnson and Ekdal had to leave Richarlison to cover.

Fair play to the lad he's played 3 games in 2 seasons so it can't be easy to play top PL players but the other two were hardly much better. Defend like that against Sunderland and we lose: simples.

Richarlison has another effort where Sonne just leaves him in the left hand channel ball watching again.