Team for the run in?

[CoolClaret]

The sooner we put today in the rear view mirror the better, though it has really cheesed me off.

I think at least it's shown which players really aren't up to it at all - one silver lining, if you could call it that.

Hopefully we can keep the (Preston games aside) recent run of form going, but how do we achieve it?

With Humphries injured, the left back position genuinely frightens me - I genuinely think we have better options on loan at Swansea and Burton Albion. Heck, I bet a player like Hannibal could do a bit of a job there if called upon.

Stick with that midfield three of Cullen, Laurent and Hanniball/Brownhill, go to a two man midfield or perhaps change at times to that sort of 'hybrid' 3/4 at the back which we used against Luton and Southampton?

All I know is that Traff, Roberts, CJ, Esteve, Cullen, Edwards and Anthony, for me are absolutely pivotal.

I think I'd stick with the team from the Sheff Wednesday game, but part of me would like to see a midfield of:

Edwards-Cullen-Hannibal-Anthony

with Flemming and Barnes up top... You may scoff at Barnes but he actually can occupy a centre half and give the team a bit of a platform to work off.

Over to you. UTC!

[Vegas Claret]

We always throw a "didn't see that coming" performance in now and again, seems to happen in the cup`- it'll refocus their minds. There is no wiggle room at all in the league. `

[Vim Fuego]

Our core to come back. I expect a big reaction and bounce on Tuesday

[CoolClaret]

Our core to come back. I expect a big reaction and bounce on Tuesday

Here's hoping Vim Fuego - otherwise it really would be 'Bad News', for you and you and you and you and you!

[bumba]

Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Shelvey, Pires, Foster, Flemming, Sarmiento.....none of these should play again this season, pick an 11 from what's left but I don't hold out much hope on catching the top 2 or winning the play offs

[boatshed bill]

Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Shelvey, Pires, Foster, Flemming, Sarmiento.....none of these should play again this season, pick an 11 from what's left but I don't hold out much hope on catching the top 2 or winning the play offs

Certainly not if we set up with several of these players and play that way.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

Think I’d add Koleosho to that list Bill. Has any player promised so much and delivered so little?

[Taffy on the wing]

Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Shelvey, Pires, Foster, Flemming, Sarmiento.....none of these should play again this season, pick an 11 from what's left but I don't hold out much hope on catching the top 2 or winning the play offs

Foster is fine, Flemming has been played out of position since his arrival but is a very good player.
Pires we are stuck with.......the other 5 i agree.

[BleedingClaret]

Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Shelvey, Pires, Foster, Flemming, Sarmiento.....none of these should play again this season, pick an 11 from what's left but I don't hold out much hope on catching the top 2 or winning the play offs

Flemming?

[Bowclaret]

Foster is fine, Flemming has been played out of position since his arrival but is a very good player.
Pires we are stuck with.......the other 5 i agree.

Foster is fine ?????? I’ve had a knee replacement and I would offer more than that fake !

[ElectroClaret]

Insane not to play Flemming again, really good player.
As for Foster, he belongs on Blackpool beach with a bell round his neck.

[bumba]

Flemming?

When was his last good performance? I don't mean when did he last scored, when did he actually put in a good 90 minute performance? I can't even remember one.

[bumba]

Foster is fine, Flemming has been played out of position since his arrival but is a very good player.
Pires we are stuck with.......the other 5 i agree.

Flemming isn't a striker but I also can't make or see a case for why he'd start in a 10 before Brownhill or Hannibal

[morninbob]

Trafford
Roberts CJ Steve pires
Cullen Hannibal
Edwards brownhill Anthony
Foster

Laurant to play in tough away games and against sheff utd.

[BleedingClaret]

When was his last good performance? I don't mean when did he last scored, when did he actually put in a good 90 minute performance? I can't even remember one.

He’s our best chance of a goal at present
For that reason alone and no other goalscoring options he plays for me
Even yesterday his shot was better than any other effort

[Ric_C]

Agree with most of this. Yesterday showed that we have a core group of players that have been so so consistent and have been carrying some of our flakey players for most of the season. I think we have made some really poor signings and we are lucky that our main group have been top notch.

The left back situation could cost us promotion. There were rumours that Manning from Southampton was in the building in the last few days of the window. Wonder if it was close or just bull? Either way we missed a trick not signing a left back and a striker, and instead brought in a clearly unfit Shelvey, Barnes and a right back where the jury is still out.

The only shining light is Edwards. Fingers crossed he stays fit or we are screwed.

[dougcollins]

I also worry about Pires. Opposition managers will target him.

And I really don't believe that Roberts at LB is the answer either.

[Shaggy]

Hopefully Humphries is back soon as the back 5 picks itself.

Midfield has to be Cullen, Brownhill and Hannibal for me.. out wide, Edward’s and Anthony with Flemming up top.

Whether we go up or not this season one thing is for certain we need to cut the squad from all the below average players on our books and bring in some quality up front. Absolutely essential.

[warksclaret]

Fleming by far is our best finisher-I appreciate at times he needs several chances but is capable of scoring the impossible. But yes yesterday we learned a lot of our fringe players and its going to be I suspect another season of comings and goings whether we get promoted or not

[Bowclaret]

Yesterday answered as lot of questions but the main issue for me is how goosed we would be if we got a few injuries.

Playing the reserves is fine as long as they show fight, desire and heart - we did not see any of that, at all.

I still think we go up but we need to be extremely lucky with injuries and suspensions because yesterday proved we are in the s hit.

I expect one hell of a win on Tuesday now to make up for that pathetic performance yesterday - that was not Burnley !

One bright thing from yesterday was at least we should never hear that pathetic Tresor / Shelvey song again !

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Need Humphreys back asap and to hope Roberts doesn't get an injury. Sonne and Pires are miles off the required level.

[BleedingClaret]

Trafford

Roberts
CJER
Esteve
Pires

Cullen
Hannibal

Anthony
Brownhill
Edwards

Flemming

[Ric_C]

Defence picks itself.
Left back is a major problem
Midfield should be Cullen, Hannibal, Brownhill (With Laurent for certain games)
Edwards and Anthony should be our starting wingers (with Benson and others to come off the bench if needed)
Flemming and Foster to rotate up top

Koleosho, Sarmiento, Shelvey, Barnes should only start if we have injuries

[daveisaclaret]

I also worry about Pires. Opposition managers will target him.

And I really don't believe that Roberts at LB is the answer either.

He's played 26 times for us and we've had 16 clean sheets in those games. Opposition managers aren't getting too much from targeting him.

[Bowclaret]

Pires is a good solid footballer. He’s done well for us but some Burnley fans have to find a player to pick on. He’s never let us down when called on.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Pires is nowhere near as good a defender as Humphries - but he’s better going forward and that’s what we have to do in our remaining games, so maybe it might work out well for us

[Overseascricketer]

With Humphreys injured it has to be

Trafford
Roberts CJ Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Edwards Hannibal Anthony
Flemming

I do not want to see Brownhill in that side. Is not a captain. Is not a box to box midfielder. Not a 10. Not a tough tackling midfielder. Just someone who has “good vibes” and relies on Josh Cullen to make him look good. If he was any good he would have been snapped up by a premier league side. His interview after the game for a captain yesterday was embarrassing.

I’ll wait for the usual “but he scores goals”. Not good enough. End of

[Ric_C]

You could put Flemming in that category as well I suppose. We don't really have a decent number 10 at the club

[CoolClaret]

With Humphreys injured it has to be

Trafford
Roberts CJ Esteve Pires
Cullen Laurent
Edwards Hannibal Anthony
Flemming

I do not want to see Brownhill in that side. Is not a captain. Is not a box to box midfielder. Not a 10. Not a tough tackling midfielder. Just someone who has “good vibes” and relies on Josh Cullen to make him look good. If he was any good he would have been snapped up by a premier league side. His interview after the game for a captain yesterday was embarrassing.

I’ll wait for the usual “but he scores goals”. Not good enough. End of

Bit harsh on Brownhill.

I think he's just more suited to a team that is expected to concede possession, he's more of a 'shuttler' - like that Ramires that used to play for Chelsea (albeit not quite at that level).

He certainly isn't a deep-lying midfielder who can play on the half-turn, nor is he a nimble '10' who can break down stubborn defenses.

What he is great at though is counter-pressing, making recovery runs, making late runs into the box, and sticking the ball into the net - he's the best in the division in midfield at those skills.

[Taffy on the wing]

Flemming isn't a striker but I also can't make or see a case for why he'd start in a 10 before Brownhill or Hannibal

Miles better than those 2 in the 10 position........where we should be using him.
I've never understood this playing out of position (Southgate the biggest offender).

[Overseascricketer]

Bit harsh on Brownhill.

I think he's just more suited to a team that is expected to concede possession, he's more of a 'shuttler' - like that Ramires that used to play for Chelsea (albeit not quite at that level).

He certainly isn't a deep-lying midfielder who can play on the half-turn, nor is he a nimble '10' who can break down stubborn defenses.

What he is great at though is counter-pressing, making recovery runs, making late runs into the box, and sticking the ball into the net - he's the best in the division in midfield at those skills.

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree. He wouldn’t get into Leeds team so can’t be the best in the division at that. Has he scored a goal this year by making a late run into the box, or has he already been in the right position? If he has I can’t remember it. Recovery runs are not his strong point, relies on Cullen to mop up all the time which will go unnoticed. Much better team without him in it

[Burnley1989]

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree. He wouldn’t get into Leeds team so can’t be the best in the division at that. Has he scored a goal this year by making a late run into the box, or has he already been in the right position? If he has I can’t remember it. Recovery runs are not his strong point, relies on Cullen to mop up all the time which will go unnoticed. Much better team without him in it

Couldn't disagree more, hence why the last 3 managers pick him. He's a very good player

[CoolClaret]

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree. He wouldn’t get into Leeds team so can’t be the best in the division at that. Has he scored a goal this year by making a late run into the box, or has he already been in the right position? If he has I can’t remember it. Recovery runs are not his strong point, relies on Cullen to mop up all the time which will go unnoticed. Much better team without him in it

He's scored quite a few this year from really well-timed runs into the box, does it matter if it's because he's made the run or already in the right position, strange comment... if you can't remember it's probably because you don't want to remember!

Literally did it in the last league game against Sheff Wednesday!

[maidenover]

I’d like to see:

Trafford

Roberts. CJ. Esteve

Cullen. Hannibal

Edwards. Antony
Brownhill
Flemming
Foster

I know that now is not the time to experiment, (and Parker won’t anyway) but imo a back 3 of Roberts, CJ and Esteve is adequate to maintain the clean sheet record. Hannibal, alongside Cullen in defensive midfield, has the energy to bolster a “leaned out” backline and imo it’s his best position anyway. And the ethos of “our whole team contribute to our superb defensive record” doesn’t change either.

Edwards and Antony seem logical picks for the wing positions. The mercurial Edwards is already chipping in with goals and will cause some distractions for others to score. General fitness may be an issue so Koleosho or Sarmiento to sub as neccessary.
Up front I agree with many on here that Flemming ought to take the number 10 role behind the much maligned Foster. That was the position he excelled in at Millwall. Flemming is not a center forward and is taking a physical battering most weeks. Foster may not be the answer up front but so far he’s been out wide on the left or pre his injury left isolated feeding off scraps. Whether it’s a loss of confidence or that he’s plain not good enough, we don’t have anyone else at conventional number 9 and it seems odd to shoehorn Flemming in there when he’s a 10.

Brownhill isn’t everyone's cup of tea on here but he has 10 goals this season. He has to be part of the attacking triumvirate as an attacking number 8.

[Taffy on the wing]

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree. He wouldn’t get into Leeds team so can’t be the best in the division at that. Has he scored a goal this year by making a late run into the box, or has he already been in the right position? If he has I can’t remember it. Recovery runs are not his strong point, relies on Cullen to mop up all the time which will go unnoticed. Much better team without him in it

Nonsense.......we are a lot better with him in the side.
If played in the right position of course.

[Overseascricketer]

Nonsense.......we are a lot better with him in the side.
If played in the right position of course.

Which is where?

[RVclaret]

Which is where?

Number 8 in a 4-3-3 alongside a single pivot.

[Taffy on the wing]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This!^

[boatshed bill]

Trafford,
Egan-Riley, Worrall, Esteve,
Roberts, Brownhill, Cullen, Hannibal, Pires,
Flemming, Edwards.

[RVclaret]

——————--Trafford
Roberts —CJ —-Esteve——Pires
———————Cullen
———Brownhill Hannibal
Edwards —————————-Anthony
——————Flemming

[morninbob]

Trafford,
Egan-Riley, Worrall, Esteve,
Roberts, Brownhill, Cullen, Hannibal, Pires,
Flemming, Edwards.

No way does Parker drop the golden child...

[boatshed bill]

No way does Parker drop the golden child...

I know.
And Anthony has been generally very good, but you don't play wingers with wing-backs.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Probably a similar team to the one that's unbeaten in 21 league games. Lose one and people are after changing formation. Players who haven't played for weeks getting wrote off on one performance.

Some absolute nonce's on here.

[summitclaret]

I know.
And Anthony has been generally very good, but you don't play wingers with wing-backs.

Then play Anthony as a wing back in that system. He'd be fine.

[boatshed bill]

Then play Anthony as a wing back in that system. He'd be fine.

I'm really not so sure about that. Is he a better RWB than Roberts?
I based the line-up and formation on the belief that promotion hinges on solid defending (and Humphreys being out for a while) We aren't likely to outscore many teams so looking at clean sheets as a priority.

[morninbob]

I'm really not so sure about that. Is he a better RWB than Roberts?
I based the line-up and formation on the belief that promotion hinges on solid defending (and Humphreys being out for a while) We aren't likely to outscore many teams so looking at clean sheets as a priority.

Anthony for worral, Roberts right CB.

[boatshed bill]

Anthony for worral, Roberts right CB.

Possibly.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Barnes is worst than Jay was and Jay was slow and past it. We've literally no striker who’s a good enough championship striker. He should be nowhere near our starting 11

[jrgbfc]

Barnes is worst than Jay was and Jay was slow and past it. We've literally no striker who’s a good enough championship striker. He should be nowhere near our starting 11

It looks like the rumours about Barnes being an Alan Pace signing are true. Parker has barely used him.

[CoolClaret]

Barnes is worst than Jay was and Jay was slow and past it. We've literally no striker who’s a good enough championship striker. He should be nowhere near our starting 11

I don't think he is worse than Jay and of course Barnes is past his best but he made a positive impact against Southampton and gave the team a platform to build from - the ball can actually stick to him and we can play off him, which is more that can be said for any of our other striking options.

Is he 'ideal'? No, not at all, I also wouldn't change from the team that started against Sheff Wed (Pires in for Humph aside), I just said, 'part of me would like to see....'