Your team for Oxford?

[CoolClaret]

------------Trafford
Roberts*-Worrall-Esteve-Humphrey
--------Cullen-Brownhill
-Koleosho--Flemming--Sarmiento
------------Foster

It's really hard to pick the midfield; there are strong cases for both Laurent & Hannibal.

I want to see if Flemming and Foster can form a decent partnership, and hopefully, Flemming's inclusion in the hole will allow Foster to play more of his natural game.

UTC!

[bumba]

Trafford

Roberts Worrall Esteve Pires

Laurent Cullen

Sarmiento Brownhill Koleosho

Flemming

[gandhisflipflop]

Trafford

Roberts - Worrall - Esteve - Pires

—————Cullen—-brownhill

Sarmiento———-Fleming———-Koleosho

————————-foster

[KRBFC]

Trafford

Roberts Worrall Esteve Pires
Cullen Brownhill
Agyei Sarmiento Koleosho
Flemming

I want to see more of Agyei, lightening quick prefers playing off the right and cutting in on his left. Also Koleosho is better off the left imo.

Iv seen more than enough of Foster, I’d have Rodriguez ahead of Lyle if it’s one or the other.

I think Flemming offers us technical quality upfront and a bit of physicality we can hit and get the 3 in behind causing carnage running off him.

[RVclaret]

------------Trafford
Roberts*-Worrall-Esteve-Humphrey
--------Cullen-Brownhill
-Koleosho--Flemming--Sarmiento
------------Foster

It's really hard to pick the midfield; there are strong cases for both Laurent & Hannibal.

I want to see if Flemming and Foster can form a decent partnership, and hopefully, Flemming's inclusion in the hole will allow Foster to play more of his natural game.

UTC!

This for me too. Albeit I think Pires has been ‘fine’ lately and don’t mind him starting.

[jedi_master]

Trafford
Roberts Worrall Esteve Humphreys
Cullen Brownhill
Koleosho Flemming Sarmiento
Foster

[claretspice]

------------Trafford
Roberts*-Worrall-Esteve-Humphrey
--------Cullen-Brownhill
-Koleosho--Flemming--Sarmiento
------------Foster

It's really hard to pick the midfield; there are strong cases for both Laurent & Hannibal.

I want to see if Flemming and Foster can form a decent partnership, and hopefully, Flemming's inclusion in the hole will allow Foster to play more of his natural game.

UTC!

This team I think, save that I don't follow the logic over picking Humphrey over Pires, and I don't understand the lukewarm reaction to Pires generally - I think he's done very well so far. I've seen quite a few low marks for him recently that I don't understand, and I don't think I've seen any proper explanation of what he's done wrong. I thought he did very well at Leeds (one of our more composed passers, and Leeds created virtually nothing down our left with their better attacks coming down our right), and again against Portsmouth when the same was generally true.

Further forwards, I wonder whether (to get all his big purchases on the pitch) Parker might be tempted by the idea of Hannibal playing off the right with Koleosho playing off the left, or playing Flemming in the 9 role with Hannibal playing instead of Foster. Either way, it is 3 from Foster, Flemming, Sarmiento, Foster and Hannibal for me. Anthony produced a fine assist against Blackburn but he had indifferent games both at Leeds and against Portsmouth and is one of a few players feeling their way back into first team football after a long period on the fringes.

[CoolClaret]

This for me too. Albeit I think Pires has been ‘fine’ lately and don’t mind him starting.

This team I think, save that I don't follow the logic over picking Humphrey over Pires, and I don't understand the lukewarm reaction to Pires generally - I think he's done very well so far. I've seen quite a few low marks for him recently that I don't understand, and I don't think I've seen any proper explanation of what he's done wrong. I thought he did very well at Leeds (one of our more composed passers, and Leeds created virtually nothing down our left with their better attacks coming down our right), and again against Portsmouth when the same was generally true.

I'd have been more inclined for Pires if it was a home game, just think we can form a natural back three in possession a touch better with either Roberts or Humphrey sitting in at rcb/lcb respectively.

His overall performance against Pompey was fine but for me very poor on their goal - he let their goalscorer goalside of him and did little to challenge for the ball across the box, little bit ropey at times for me against Leeds - either way, though I'd be happy with either. Think Humphrey is just a bit more 'solid' defensively and gives us a bit more height for set pieces, though we do lose Pires' passing ability.

[AGENT_CLARET]

This team I think, save that I don't follow the logic over picking Humphrey over Pires, and I don't understand the lukewarm reaction to Pires generally - I think he's done very well so far. I've seen quite a few low marks for him recently that I don't understand, and I don't think I've seen any proper explanation of what he's done wrong. I thought he did very well at Leeds (one of our more composed passers, and Leeds created virtually nothing down our left with their better attacks coming down our right), and again against Portsmouth when the same was generally true.

Further forwards, I wonder whether (to get all his big purchases on the pitch) Parker might be tempted by the idea of Hannibal playing off the right with Koleosho playing off the left, or playing Flemming in the 9 role with Hannibal playing instead of Foster. Either way, it is 3 from Foster, Flemming, Sarmiento, Foster and Hannibal for me. Anthony produced a fine assist against Blackburn but he had indifferent games both at Leeds and against Portsmouth and is one of a few players feeling their way back into first team football after a long period on the fringes.

Pires is a terrible defender.

[Jakubs Tash]

Heard a whisper Worrall has broken his foot. Could be rubbish. Just what I’ve heard.

[claretspice]

I'd have been more inclined for Pires if it was a home game, just think we can form a natural back three in possession a touch better with either Roberts or Humphrey sitting in at rcb/lcb respectively.

His overall performance against Pompey was fine but for me very poor on their goal - he let their goalscorer goalside of him and did little to challenge for the ball across the box, little bit ropey at times for me against Leeds - either way, though I'd be happy with either. Think Humphrey is just a bit more 'solid' defensively and gives us a bit more height for set pieces, though we do lose Pires' passing ability.

He was caught for the goal but I thought all of Hannibal, Worrall and Esteve were far more culpable and we can't drop all of them. There's no way a square ball should travel that far across the inside of the 6 yard box and so Pires' lapse of concentration really shouldn't have mattered. Not sure I saw anything that was especially ropey against Leeds but each to their own.

I think Pires' calmness in possession is if anything more important away from home - we need to control possession, and players who are comfortable in possession are essential to that.

[Jakubs Tash]

Pires is a weak defender and not all that convincing on the ball.

I think I’ve only seen him head it twice - he gets completely dominated in the air. He tries to play out from tight situations at the back and loses possession in dangerous areas.

He’s at his best when he’s overlapping a winger. But with the way we’re setting up to play under Parker a Charlie Taylor type left back might be better suited to this system.

Anyone with a strong right hand side will destroy him - especially if Koleosho is in front of him too. We’d be wide open defensively done that side.

I’d have Humphreys in before Pires at left back currently but I’d be in the market for an upgrade in January.

[FCBurnley]

Trafford
Roberts Esteve Worrall Humphries
Cullen Laurent
Sarmiento Brownhill Koleosho
Flemming

[blatherwickstattoos]

Trafford
Roberts
Humphries
Esteve
Pires

Cullen
Laurent
Brownhill

Koleosho
Fleming
Sarmiento

[claretspice]

Pires is a weak defender and not all that convincing on the ball.

I think I’ve only seen him head it twice - he gets completely dominated in the air. He tries to play out from tight situations at the back and loses possession in dangerous areas.

He’s at his best when he’s overlapping a winger. But with the way we’re setting up to play under Parker a Charlie Taylor type left back might be better suited to this system.

Anyone with a strong right hand side will destroy him - especially if Koleosho is in front of him too. We’d be wide open defensively done that side.

I’d have Humphreys in before Pires at left back currently but I’d be in the market for an upgrade in January.

Don't think this is fair and hasn't really been borne out in either of the challenging away games I've seen this season, but each to their own.

[NewClaret]

------------Trafford
Roberts*-Worrall-Esteve-Humphrey
--------Cullen-Brownhill
-Koleosho--Flemming--Sarmiento
------------Foster

It's really hard to pick the midfield; there are strong cases for both Laurent & Hannibal.

I want to see if Flemming and Foster can form a decent partnership, and hopefully, Flemming's inclusion in the hole will allow Foster to play more of his natural game.

UTC!

Love an inclusion in the hole, me

[TheFamilyCat]

Trafford

Roberts - Worrall - Esteve - Pires

—————Cullen—-brownhill

Sarmiento———-Fleming———-Koleosho

————————-foster

This, for me. Assuming Roberts is fit.

[Big Vinny K]

Think Pires deserves to retain his place.
Played well at Luton (but for a ropey 15 minutes where he looked like he’d forgotten how to play football !!)
Played really well in second half against Cardiff.
Thought his overlapping in the first half against Blackburn was as well as he has played since joining. We really missed a player getting on the end of his pull backs as that would have finished them off that day.

For someone who has never played in this country or this league and still getting used to his team mates (and them to him) I think he’s had a pretty decent start to the season. He’s definitely got a lot of room for improvement and it’s good that we have someone with the quality of Humphrey who can challenge for his place. In fact Humphrey looks more than an able deputy for all of the back 4 and I’d say on the evidence of the last few games it’s Worrall’s place that would be most under threat.

[CoolClaret]

Think Pires deserves to retain his place.
Played well at Luton (but for a ropey 15 minutes where he looked like he’d forgotten how to play football !!)
Played really well in second half against Cardiff.
Thought his overlapping in the first half against Blackburn was as well as he has played since joining. We really missed a player getting on the end of his pull backs as that would have finished them off that day.

For someone who has never played in this country or this league and still getting used to his team mates (and them to him) I think he’s had a pretty decent start to the season. He’s definitely got a lot of room for improvement and it’s good that we have someone with the quality of Humphrey who can challenge for his place. In fact Humphrey looks more than an able deputy for all of the back 4 and I’d say on the evidence of the last few games it’s Worrall’s place that would be most under threat.

Agreed with a lot of this, especially the point on Worrall... I just think the lads might benefit from his experience even if he isn't playing particularly well himself.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Worrall has fitted in well - leads the defence, has won pretty much everything in the air that has come near him and his long balls are are now a feature of our play (when there is any movement ahead of him) - plus an assist for the winner last week. Can’t see his position being under any threat.

[warksclaret]

Not necessarily my prefered team but can see Parker going as follows, in order to start narrowing down his best starting 11. THen freshening it up for Plymouth mid week

Trafford
Roberts Worrall Esteve Humphreys
Laurent Cullen
Koleosho Brownhill Jordan
Fleming

[claretonthecoast1882]

Not necessarily my prefered team but can see Parker going as follows, in order to start narrowing down his best starting 11. THen freshening it up for Plymouth mid week

Trafford
Roberts Worrall Esteve Humphreys
Laurent Cullen
Koleosho Brownhill Jordan
Fleming

Is that Simon Jordan or Stephen ?

[claretspice]

Think Pires deserves to retain his place.
Played well at Luton (but for a ropey 15 minutes where he looked like he’d forgotten how to play football !!)
Played really well in second half against Cardiff.
Thought his overlapping in the first half against Blackburn was as well as he has played since joining. We really missed a player getting on the end of his pull backs as that would have finished them off that day.

For someone who has never played in this country or this league and still getting used to his team mates (and them to him) I think he’s had a pretty decent start to the season. He’s definitely got a lot of room for improvement and it’s good that we have someone with the quality of Humphrey who can challenge for his place. In fact Humphrey looks more than an able deputy for all of the back 4 and I’d say on the evidence of the last few games it’s Worrall’s place that would be most under threat.

Think that is very fair on Pires. He's clearly not flawless - he's moving to this country from a very different football environment and the upheaval around the squad won't have helped him settle, but I think he's done very well so far.

As for Worrall, he's clearly a good player and I hope he settles as he beds in. But he's not been completely convincing thus far - he was for example in my view the most culpable for the Portsmouth goal because he's the centre half defending the near post and he has to block the cross (if they pull it back, so be it). I'm hoping that this is just a question of match sharpness - he's one of many adapting to regular first team football after quite a long time on the margins.

[Selby Claret]

Is that Simon Jordan or Stephen ?

Maybe its Katie - leap of faith as to whether Dwight taught her anything - as long as she can get a sock over her tag

[BigJay]

I would go 4411...
Trafford
Roberts Worrall Esteve Humphries
Koleosho Cullen Brownhill Sarmiento
Flemming
Foster

...But think it will be more likely more cautious a 451 to start with, with Nejbri in a centre midfield 3 as per last week and Flemming or maybe Sarmiento to come on 2nd half...

Trafford
Roberts Worrall Esteve Humphries
Koleosho Cullen Brownhill Nejbri Sarmiento
Foster

[alwaysaclaret]

Pires is a terrible defender.

Started off terrible, but gradually playing himself in, slight improvements each game, little bit in the same way as Vitinho did. However with Roberts back in for Egan Riley the left side could be a target in the same way as the right was against Portsmouth, so maybe we need our strongest which would be Roberts and Humphries.

[gandhisflipflop]

This, for me. Assuming Roberts is fit.

Don’t think Worrall will be now.

[warksclaret]

Is that Simon Jordan or Stephen ?

I can't keep up with all the new faces-I meant JAIDON Anthony, and I see no one on this post has him starting

[dougcollins]

Is that Simon Jordan or Stephen ?

That gave me a cold sweat, mentioning Stephen Jordan.

You need to put warnings in when you go off like that.

[billyhamilton82]

------------Trafford

-Roberts - - -John Egan * - - Esteve - - Pires

-------Laurent - - Brownhill

-Koleosho- -Foster- -Sarmiento

------------Flemming

* John Egan in If Worrall injured

Foster at number 10 with Flemming as number 9 especially away from home.

Flemming can hold up the ball and has much more physicality whilst Foster is better facing the goal running with pace.

[Jakubs Tash]

Don't think this is fair and hasn't really been borne out in either of the challenging away games I've seen this season, but each to their own.

That’s fine - it’s all differing opinions.

In my opinion, Pires hasn’t really played well in any game this season. A couple of average performances and a couple of poor performances. The 4-1 win at Luton with two assists (a through ball and a corner) masked some pretty dodgy moments.

Personally I see full back (on both sides) are one of our main weaknesses this season.

[BurnleyFC]

Midfield is a fairly difficult equation because Sarmiento, Flemming and Laurent all had good little cameos last week, but how do you drop either Cullen or Brownhill? Plus Hannibal gets in most midfields in this division.

We should be far too strong for Oxford.

[Quickenthetempo]

An away game where the team won't put 10 behind the ball has to be where we play Foster. He needs space to run into.

Or we might as well sell him.

[equinox]

..............................Trafford.....................

...........Egan Riley....Worrall........Esteve.....

Roberts......Cullen....Hannibal...Brownhill...Humprheys..

...............................................................Koleosho..........

............Flemming..................................................................

[AGENT_CLARET]

Started off terrible, but gradually playing himself in, slight improvements each game, little bit in the same way as Vitinho did. However with Roberts back in for Egan Riley the left side could be a target in the same way as the right was against Portsmouth, so maybe we need our strongest which would be Roberts and Humphries.

I think at the moment he struggles to read the game

[Vino blanco]

This lot are good and strong at home, so I'm going for
Trafford
Roberts Worrall Esteve Pires
Hannibal Cullen Brownhill
Flemming Foster Koleosho,

with Laurent and Sarimiento to come after 60 mins when we are three nil up.
I've gone for Hannibal before Saramiento to start because I think we need his energy in midfield close them down. They will come at us so we can hit them on the break with Foster, Flemming and Koleosho with their pace and skill.

[AGENT_CLARET]

----------------Trafford

Roberts----Worrall----Esteve----Pires

--------Brownhill------Cullen

--Sarmiento----Hannibal----Koleosho

---------------Flemming

[Hedontplayforyou]

Hard to leave Hannibal out for me, but if we do we’d have to play Pires to offer more going forward. However if we play one up top then I’d go for Foster in away games which may offer more counter opportunities . Good problems to have in midfield but I can’t see Hannibal being dropped.

Two shapes first out of possession, second with possession

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

So these little hints on Worrall broken foot. Big blow if so. Anyone know for sure? UTC