Team today?

[Hbclaret007]

Foster for Flemming anyone?

[RVclaret]

Trafford

Roberts
CJ
Esteve
Humphreys

Cullen
Laurent

Sarmiento
Koleosho

Brownhill
Foster*

*Jay if Foster isn’t fit to start

[dougcollins]

If Foster is playing, I'd like to see Flemming where he should be playing.

[OssyClaret]

I’d like to see a bit of rotation today for the benefit of both today and Saturday. Saturday I think being huge for me momentum.

Trafford

Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Pires

Cullen Hannibal

Sarmiento Jay Koleosho

Foster

[claretspice]

I'm sure there will be changes to freshen things up and although the precise team probably depends on the fitness data they collect both in games and in training, my guess is we could see a change up front (Foster or Jay depending on fitness), a couple of changes behind the striker to both add creativity and goal threat against a team likely to sit deep, and to freshen things up (Sarmiento and Koleosho for Hannibal and Laurent would not be a surprise) and possibly a change at left back with Pires allowing Hannibal a breather.

But I wouldn't overdo the changes unless there are knocks. I'd fully expect Egan Riley, Esteve, Roberts, Cullen and Brownhill to start, unless there are underlying knocks or niggles that are being managed.

[morninbob]

Trafford
Roberts CJ Steve Bash
Cullen Hannibal
Sarmiento Flemm koleosho
Foster

[Stonehouse]

Trafford
Roberts CJ Steve Bash
Cullen Hannibal
Sarmiento Flemm koleosho
Foster

Would play Brownhill rather than Koleoshoe

[taio]

Trafford
Roberts Egan-Riley Esteve Humphreys
Cullen Laurent
Anthony Brownhill Koleosho
Flemming

[Blyclaret]

If i was considering a change it would be Foster for Flemming. Nothing else.

[NL Claret]

Anthony appears to have gone from MOTM to the bench.

[RVclaret]

Anthony appears to have gone from MOTM to the bench.

Lots of games, ideally we’d all keep the same 11!

[colne-claret]

We need a win today so I wouldn’t want to change too much but I’m sure we do need to rest some.

Trafford
Roberts CJ Esteve Pires
Cullen Hannibal
Brownhill
Koleosho Rodriguez Sarmiento

[Roosterbooster]

Has to get through the next 2 games, then a decent breather, including a cup game

I imagine there will be some changes, but I also think some of our players can manage it (Brownhill seems to be able to play no matter what), and some have probably not done a huge amount of running because they just haven't had to

You'd think at home against Stoke we have the luxury of depth now to give Foster, Pires, Koleosho and Sarmiento a decent run out if required

[bobinho]

Whatever happens today, and I have no wish for us to switch off in any way whatsoever today, but we HAVE to be ready for Saturday. I’m sure SP knows that Saturdays result is more important than us taking advantage of a poor Stoke side today. Whatever he puts out, fair enough, but Saturday MUST see our strongest team starting, with the strongest mindset. Be nice to go there on the back of an emphatic home win, but we’ll see.
For me, it’s no change, but I understand those calling for players to be rested.

It’s why SP gets paid a staggering amount.

[rincon]

I'd start with Fleming today, but bring Foster on for the second half and maybe reverse that against the horse fiddlers.

[Stonehouse]

Perfect scenario is a big scoring win today ,a draw at Deadwood between Bastards and DL with 2 players red carded for both of them and 4 players injured that keeps them out until the end of Feb.

[Blyclaret]

I think theres far to much envious put on Blackburn game. Its 2 games in a long season when promotion is really the most important thing overall.

[Jakubs Tash]

We’re a much better team without Koleosho in the starting XI.

[bobinho]

You are very fortunate being able to see it like that Bly….

It makes me feel sick…

[Blyclaret]

If we take it as another game it puts less pressure on players.

[warksclaret]

We’re a much better team without Koleosho in the starting XI.

Agreed-great committment but poor execution and decision making. Hate to say this but we may have seen his best days at our club.I dont see a progression in his play. In contrast Anthony is proving our most dangerous attacker

[RVclaret]

We’re a much better team without Koleosho in the starting XI.

We won 2-0 at Stoke with him in the XI. This game happened to have our largest xG in a single game too.

[NewClaret]

I think today is a huge banana skin.

Grim weather, we looked tired last match so will probably rotate more than I suggest but here goes…

Trafford

Roberts CJ Esteve Humpreys

Cullen Laurent

Anthony Sarmiento Hannibal

Flemming (maybe Jay)

(Cannot see him playing Pires or Foster from the start with their height from set pieces/throws)

[123EasyasBFC]

Trafford

Roberts CJ esteve Humphreys

Cullen

Anthony brownhill Flemming Sarmiento

Foster

[CryerBFC]

Trafford
Sonne? Egan Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Hannibal Brownhill Sarmiento
Foster

Guessing with our announcement of Sonne yesterday and the fact he’s been around the squad for a couple of weeks he could well be eligible to play today.
Roberts, CJER, Humphreys, Flemming and Anthony given a well earned rest and hopefully be fresh for Saturday!

[Devils_Advocate]

If Sarmiento plays (which I think he probably should) he needs to play central behind the striker so that means losing Laurent. I think Parker will bring him in for Hannibal though and play him wide.

I think he'll give Flemming a rest and I hope Foster gets the nod but it's a toss up between him and Jay Rod.

Other than that as mentioned might see a change at left back and that's probably it unless he starts Koleosho as well and both Hannibal and Laurent are benched

For me on paper it should be Foster and Sarmiento for Hannibal and Flemming but without Hannibal the team doesn't play as well so what do you do!

[NL Claret]

Expecting a difficult game today, I don’t buy into poor Stoke and is an opportunity for a high scoring win.

Don’t know what the team will be, needs Hannibal in it though.

[Newcastleclaret93]

If Foster is playing, I'd like to see Flemming where he should be playing.

On the bench?

[summitclaret]

If he plays Hannibal wide left today he's lost the plot. We need creativity to get thro a low block. Sarmento or Kolo need to start wide left. I'd play Pires left back as well. Can't leave Brownhill out. Foster to be a much earlier sub.

Ih Hannibal starts, Lauren doesn't.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Trafford

Roberts CJ esteve Humphreys

Cullen

Anthony brownhill Flemming Sarmiento

Foster

I would quite like to see that just to see how it would work.

Although in this system that means Flemming would be playing a lot deeper than he is used to. As I would see both Brownhill and Flemming playing as 8s.

Think if Foster starts Flemming is dropped

[Quickenthetempo]

Rotate as many as possible. I'm not sure there is much drop off.
Need to be as fresh as possible for Saturday.

[NewClaret]

Think if Foster starts Flemming is dropped

Agree. I don’t think we have the 10 role Flemming is perceived to be in our current system.

[morninbob]

Trafford
Sonne? Egan Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Hannibal Brownhill Sarmiento
Foster

Guessing with our announcement of Sonne yesterday and the fact he’s been around the squad for a couple of weeks he could well be eligible to play today.
Roberts, CJER, Humphreys, Flemming and Anthony given a well earned rest and hopefully be fresh for Saturday!

Sonne is ineligible and suspended.

[billyhamilton82]

Rotate as many as possible. I'm not sure there is much drop off.
Need to be as fresh as possible for Saturday.

The concern IMO isn't really the game on Saturday but the fear of picking up injuries to key players.

This is why SP is paid the big bucks, to field a team with enough to beat Stoke whilst resting players who have performed brilliantly throughout December.

Its a squad game so lets see what happens.

Rather you than me SP.

[taio]

If there are any changes they should be minimal. One game at a time. We can rotate lots against Reading.

[RVclaret]

Agree. I don’t think we have the 10 role Flemming is perceived to be in our current system.

Our current system, which has been around a 4-4-2 with Brownhill and Flemming as two ‘false’ strikers, but with Brownhill doing the running beyond / later box crashing and Flemming doing the more back to goal stuff, does have that role (Brownhill’s). But obv Brownhill has been in great form in this new-ish role.

[CoolClaret]

I expect Stoke to sit in so I'd pick this team (shape in posession)

----------Traff
-----Roberts-CJ-Esteve
Anthony-Cullen-Hannibal-Koleosho
----Flemming----Brownhill
-----------Foster

[Spijed]

In terms of promotion, Saturday's game is no more important than today's, so I'd go with the strongest possible lineup to try and get the three points against Stoke.

[Ric_C]

Would quite like to see Hannibal playing alongside Cullen, Foster brought in and maybe Sarmiento in one of the wide positions

[CFS]

Trafford
CJ Esteve Bash
Luca Cullen Laurent piers
Sarmiento
Foster Flemming

[Swizzlestick]

I’d like to see Koleosho and Foster in the team today.

[Elizabeth]

Trafford
Roberts
CJ
Esteve
Pires
Anthony
Cullen
Brownhill
Hannibal
Flemming
Foster

I think Lauren might be rested. While I'd like to see Foster start I wouldn't be surprised in Sarmiento started instead.

[JohnMac]

This is what I would like to see -

Trafford
Roberts
Egan-Riley
Esteve
Humphreys
Cullen
Brownhill
Anthony
Laurent
Flemming
Foster

4-3-2-1-1

[Blyclaret]

In terms of promotion, Saturday's game is no more important than today's, so I'd go with the strongest possible lineup to try and get the three points against Stoke.

Exactly. My thoughts too.

[taio]

I expect Stoke to sit in so I'd pick this team (shape in posession)

----------Traff
-----Roberts-CJ-Esteve
Anthony-Cullen-Hannibal-Koleosho
----Flemming----Brownhill
-----------Foster

I'd be stunned if Parker went with three at the back and disrupted our shape

[FCBurnley]

We had a lot of tired legs in the second half at Boro so I expect a few changes especially with rovers only 3 days away Time for Foster to earn his money

[Jakubs Tash]

We won 2-0 at Stoke with him in the XI. This game happened to have our largest xG in a single game too.

Ok, thanks Stat Man.

If only football was played with spreadsheets, eh?!

Are you suggesting we are a better team with the aimless Koleosho in it?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Our current system, which has been around a 4-4-2 with Brownhill and Flemming as two ‘false’ strikers, but with Brownhill doing the running beyond / later box crashing and Flemming doing the more back to goal stuff, does have that role (Brownhill’s). But obv Brownhill has been in great form in this new-ish role.

I don’t see that as our current formation at all.

I see Laurent and Cullen as a sitting two with Brownhill a slightly more advanced right sided box to box midfielder.

Certainly not any kind of 442

[jedi_master]

Think we should have a bit of rotation today ahead of Blackburn personally:

Trafford
Roberts CJ Esteve Hunphreys
Cullen Laurent
Anthony Sarmiento Koleosho
Foster

Brownhill is so crucial to us but gets flogged every game that I think a game off (with opportunity to sub on) might be an idea - controversial perhaps!

[RVclaret]

I don’t see that as our current formation at all.

I see Laurent and Cullen as a sitting two with Brownhill a slightly more advanced right sided box to box midfielder.

Certainly not any kind of 442

Since the change, 2 of the last 3 games Brownhill has had a higher average position than Flemming. This supports my view. The press has been in a 4-4-2 and then on the ball Hannibal has been drifting inside with Anthony looking to break in behind. It’s been fairly clear tbh.