Do we go with a back four against Sunderland?

[Spijed]

Or was today's lineup and formation one Parker is likely to go with on Saturday?

[Hedontplayforyou]

More than likely. I think he will change shape per opposition

[fidelcastro]

Or was today's lineup and formation one Parker is likely to go with on Saturday?

I sort of already asked this question on the players' ratings thread, but either way, I'd be tempted to play either Worrall or Tuanzebe (if fit), or even a new signing in place of Ekdal.

[CoolClaret]

Yes.

I'd also be tempted with Foster and Broja up top. We need to score goals and occupy defenders.

[Tricky Trevor]

We are not good enough to be constantly changing systems. If this is what they’ve been training for we stick with it. For a home match and with Walker on the right of our back 3 we could possibly play a winger instead of Sonne on that side.

[taio]

Yes, would make lots of sense

[1914tyrone]

Yes from me, back three and zonal left Richarleson free for both. Great finishes they were but he had plenty of time and space.
Back 4 is what we've built on, and it gives us an extra man going forward.

[Goliath]

I think it's pretty flexible. Walker moves to the right when Sonne pushes on anyway to make it a 4. So it depends really if we want more attacking threat than Sonne.

I'd be tempted to go for it, the adrenaline won't be as high for Sunderland so I'd be getting after them.

......Dubravka

Walker..Ekdal..Esteve..Hartman

Edwards..Ugochuku/Hannibal..Cullen..Anthony

................Jbl/Fleming

...................Foster

[GetIntoEm]

Stick with a system

[matttheclaret]

I think so

Dubravka
Walker Tuanzabe (if fit) Esteve Hartman
Lesley Cullen
Edwards Flemming Anthony
Broja

[LincsWoldsClaret]

A back four is essential

[RVclaret]

I’d go with the same base shape but make an attacking change with Larsen / Edwards / Tchaouna in for Hannibal. And Ugochukwu in for Laurent.

[boatshed bill]

A back 7, perhaps?

[Procrastinate B]

I don’t think he’ll change things. I know last-season we were moaning about the style of play and playing Flemming up top. He stuck to his guns and was proved right.

[IanMcL]

Flemming will score, if fit.

[ollieclarets8]

Yes.

[Roosterbooster]

Anyone else think Anthony has all the attributes to be a RWB?

[Boss Hogg]

A back four for me. Could do with replacing Sonne and Ekdal too.

[123EasyasBFC]

Anyone else think Anthony has all the attributes to be a RWB?

Yes I do and I think he would be excellent there but no chance he gets moved from the left

[ksrclaret]

Anthony played from the right hand side around the Christmas and New Year period last season and he was excellent.

I've no idea what the answer is to the OP though. I thought the record-breaking 4231 shape we used last season would be used again this season with some added quality, but we've changed it up completely so what do I know. Personally, I hope we return to that system.

[dougcollins]

Anyone else think Anthony has all the attributes to be a RWB?

Apart from tackling like my gran?

[Jakubs Tash]

For large parts today the team didn’t look well enough drilled in this shape and some layers looked a little lost and confused as to where they needed to be. Too many weren’t involved enough and completely ineffective. Hopefully a back four next week.

[Jakubs Tash]

Yes.

I'd also be tempted with Foster and Broja up top. We need to score goals and occupy defenders.

Yes, agreed…. Said this to my dad earlier. When Dyche played 442 he said he liked to play two up front because it’s unusual for defenders to have to play up against two forwards and it changed the feel/challenge for the opposition. If we’ve got two big, powerful lads up front it would certainly give the opposition defenders something very different to think about.

[aggi]

We didn't really look like the back 3/5 was properly drilled. Wing backs weren't stopping crosses, when crosses came in there were players free in the middle and big gaps left by centre halves. It didn't look at all solid and it didn't help us going forward.

[CrosspoolClarets]

A back five would be madness. It gives us a weak right wingback, moves Walker from his best position, confuses Esteve, removes Edwards from the lineup and takes away attacking width (or isolates the striker). It didn’t work despite good moments.

We showed last season that a four can be solid, with better players than last year it can be again.

I don’t mind it away to the big six. But at home we have to go for the win. Otherwise there is no point even turning up.

[Clive 1960]

Play to your strengths and get a settled team..

[Woodleyclaret]

Tackle in midfield not waiting to give the opposition a free run on goal like yesterday.

[morninbob]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Steve Hartman
Cullen Les Hannibal
JBL Foster Anthony

[Newcastleclaret93]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Steve Hartman
Cullen Les Hannibal
JBL Foster Anthony

I would be tempted by that team. Looks pretty strong all over.

However I thought yesterday’s system produced some decent football against a very good side. So I’m torn between the two formations I’m tending to lean towards yesterdays formation.

[RVclaret]

I would be tempted by that team. Looks pretty strong all over.

However I thought yesterday’s system produced some decent football against a very good side. So I’m torn between the two formations I’m tending to lean towards yesterdays formation.

Exactly my thoughts. Think it’s more tweaks to personnel in the 11 (Ugochukwu, Roberts/Tuanzebe and possibly Larsen/Tchaouna for more goal threat than Hannibal, though he was also part of our impressive off the ball work). You ‘could’ also go with Larsen as a hybrid right wing back / winger for Sonne, as an example of another attacking change to the base system.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Exactly my thoughts. Think it’s more tweaks to personnel in the 11 (Ugochukwu, Roberts/Tuanzebe and possibly Larsen/Tchaouna for more goal threat than Hannibal, though he was also part of our impressive off the ball work). You ‘could’ also go with Larsen as a hybrid right wing back / winger for Sonne, as an example of another attacking change to the base system.

I think changing formation might be a bit too much of an over correction.

Like you say a few tweaks to personel (such as Ugochukwa and perhaps Edwards) will dramatically change the team.

Worth noting I can’t remember the last time we went away to a top 6 side and created that many chances. I think at half time we actually had a similar Xg to Spurs and had the most shots.

I think that team yesterday is something to build on both start something different.

[claretspice]

Seems to me that to play this back 3 system effectively at this level, we need a far more athletic wing back outside Walker - someone who'd be comfortable playing as a right winger as much as as a full back. Vitinho had his limitations but he's the mould we need.

We also need a dominant centre half to play between Walker and Esteve. Perhaps that's Tuanzebe but firstly, he's injured and secondly, he's always appeared more right sided to me.

[taio]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Steve Hartman
Cullen Les Hannibal
JBL Foster Anthony

This, or very similar to this, is hopefully what Parker will go with. I get playing three centre halves against some sides, especially away, but it gives us the best chance of beating Sunderland in terms of both formation and balance. Foster played well yesterday, but he desperately needs to score.

[Roosterbooster]

Apart from tackling like my gran?

I've genuinely never noticed his lack of tackling ability

He certainly has a good defensive shape and track when 2v2 out wide

[blatherwickstattoos]

Was tough to see us concede more than 1 goal. We are weaker without Trafford and Egan Riley.

[bart_claret]

As long as it doesn't include Ekdal anything will be an improvement. His marking is non-existent. The Solanke turn and shot near the end was embarrassing.

[NL Claret]

Have to agree that Ekdal needs replacing, a few times I looked to see where he was and it usually about 10 yards off where he wanted to be.

I’ve been surprised by his inclusion, he’s played less than 20 games in 2.5 seasons at Burnley and been loaned out to the Netherlands, done well to get back into the starting lineup however the PL is probably beyond him.

[warksclaret]

Think Roberts is a miss at the moment-I think for Sonne the PL is a step too far at present but he is young and can develop. Going to a back four v lesser opposition might be an option. What I saw yesterday was that we need the physicality and pace of Les, proved by that chase back to dispossess Van De Berg one of the PL's quickest players and the speed of Tchaouna who looked very lively and direct. Much as I love Hannibal he overdoes a lot of things including that great chance he got. We will get punished for his attempt at trickery. If Broja is not ready yet then

Dubbrovka
Walker Ekdal Esteve Hartmann
Cullen Les
Tchaouna Larson Anthony
Foster

Hopefully Broja can make the bench

[ollieclarets8]

I'm not convinced with the back 5 at all and hope we don't play it that often. 2 holding midfielders in Cullen and Lesley would be what I'd prefer, shielding Esteve and someone else (not Ekdal).

[daveisaclaret]

Hope so. Seems really odd that we've got two defenders who've played more league minutes this season than last season. May be controversial but I feel like if you make 13 signings you should improve your team rather than changing formation to fit in last season's reserves.

[RVclaret]

Hope so. Seems really odd that we've got two defenders who've played more league minutes this season than last season. May be controversial but I feel like if you make 13 signings you should improve your team rather than changing formation to fit in last season's reserves.

Who are last seasons reserves being ‘fit in’?

[expoultryboy]

Bart : his marking on the first goal was poor.

[daveisaclaret]

Who are last seasons reserves being ‘fit in’?

I have faith in you that you can work this out on your own

[Rileybobs]

I think changing formation might be a bit too much of an over correction.

Like you say a few tweaks to personel (such as Ugochukwa and perhaps Edwards) will dramatically change the team.

Worth noting I can’t remember the last time we went away to a top 6 side and created that many chances. I think at half time we actually had a similar Xg to Spurs and had the most shots.

I think that team yesterday is something to build on both start something different.

Whilst I agree about the positive about the number of chances we created, Spurs aren’t a top 6 side.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Hope so. Seems really odd that we've got two defenders who've played more league minutes this season than last season. May be controversial but I feel like if you make 13 signings you should improve your team rather than changing formation to fit in last season's reserves.

I think it’s less finding a squad to fit reserves in, more Parker is finding a formation that he believes will be most successful for us in a difficult league.

Just because players like Sonne and Ekdal didn’t feature in a back 4 system doesn’t mean they can’t play in a back 3 system.

I do get your point but I think it takes away the nuances of what Parker is trying to achieve.

[RVclaret]

I have faith in you that you can work this out on your own

No, I don’t get it. Sonne and Ekdal aren’t being ‘fit in’, per se. Roberts would be starting if he was fit, for Sonne, and I’d imagine Tuanzebe for Ekdal. He’s not switched formation to fit in those two players, that’s for sure!

As Newcastleclaret said, we had more touches in the box yesterday and more chances than we usually do against this type of opponent away from home, so whether it’s a 3/5/4, it’s about finding different ways to get a result. Frank played a back 5 against PSG, back 4 three days later against Burnley.

[daveisaclaret]

No, I don’t get it. Sonne and Ekdal aren’t being ‘fit in’, per se. Roberts would be starting if he was fit, for Sonne, and I’d imagine Tuanzebe for Ekdal. He’s not switched formation to fit in those two players, that’s for sure!

As Newcastleclaret said, we had more touches in the box yesterday and more chances than we usually do against this type of opponent away from home, so whether it’s a 3/5/4, it’s about finding different ways to get a result. Frank played a back 5 against PSG, back 4 three days later against Burnley.

If you knew I meant Sonne and Ekdal, you actually did get it. You don't need to be perfomative if you want to disagree with a point.

[Rileybobs]

I’m not convinced by this formation. It seems the problem is that we are a centre back short, meaning that Worrall or Ekdal would need to partner Esteve in a back 4 (unless Tuanzebe is the answer), and neither have the pace to play in that system. We’re therefore playing 5 at the back to protect the ‘weak link’ with pace either side.

Our defensive problems yesterday seemed to come from a lack of understanding of the system. Esteve and Walker were both guilty of stepping forward and diving in leaving Ekdal hopelessly exposed. There were also times when the back five were occupied by a single player and leaving a huge gap in the middle of the park which was illustrated by Shearer on MOTD.

I like Ekdal, he’s a classy player and a good defender, but I can’t see how we can play at this level with such a lack of pace. And tailoring a system to negate this weakness is not the answer.

Unless the intention is to play Tuanzebe at centre back, which it may well be, then this would seem the obvious position we need to strengthen, and fast.

[Goliath]

Seems to me that to play this back 3 system effectively at this level, we need a far more athletic wing back outside Walker - someone who'd be comfortable playing as a right winger as much as as a full back. Vitinho had his limitations but he's the mould we need.

We also need a dominant centre half to play between Walker and Esteve. Perhaps that's Tuanzebe but firstly, he's injured and secondly, he's always appeared more right sided to me.

I think Koleosho is the one who would be perfect for that role in time. He's not productive enough to be a winger at this level and not good enough defensively to be a full back but I think wing back would suit him down to the ground.

I think Luton did similar with Ogbene a few years ago and obviously there was Conte with Victor Moses along with Adama Traore at Wolves who have all followed a similar path.

[warksclaret]

How many minutes did Tuanzabe play in friendlies, and do we know his injury