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whiffa
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by whiffa » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:45 pm
Good afternoon everyone, today we visit Villa Park. Let's back the lads!
Here's Madge with the team news:

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whiffa
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by whiffa » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:46 pm
Today's opponents:

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Murger
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by Murger » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:46 pm
Ekdal injured?
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CoolClaret
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by CoolClaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:50 pm
Sticking with the back 5 then!
Should have enough pace at the back there to keep up with Watkins, but still think Ugochukwu is too good to be on the bench.
We can get at these, let's have it.. UTC!
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Roosterbooster
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by Roosterbooster » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:53 pm
CoolClaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:50 pm
Sticking with the back 5 then!
You'd imagine so. Tuanzebe central with Esteve and Laurent either side
Also possible that it's a 3 man midfield of Laurent, Florentine and Cullen. Tuanzebe and Esteve could be a central back 2
But I'd be surprised away from home
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Goody1975
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by Goody1975 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:53 pm
CoolClaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:50 pm
Sticking with the back 5 then!
Should have enough pace at the back there to keep up with Watkins, but still think Ugochukwu is too good to be on the bench.
We can get at these, let's have it.. UTC!
Not necessarily, Tuanzebe coming in may release Laurent further forward. I know there shouldn't be sentiment in selection but Laurent doesn't deserve to be dropped, Ugochukwu will find his way in sooner rather than later.
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CoolClaret
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by CoolClaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:59 pm
Roosterbooster wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:53 pm
You'd imagine so. Tuanzebe central with Esteve and Laurent either side
Also possible that it's a 3 man midfield of Laurent, Florentine and Cullen. Tuanzebe and Esteve could be a central back 2
But I'd be surprised away from home
That's how I interpreted it as well - unless it changes in/out of possession as we have done at times.
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Herts Clarets
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by Herts Clarets » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:03 pm
Back 5 with 2 defensive midfielders in front?
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Dark Cloud
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by Dark Cloud » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:05 pm
Ekdal has to injured to not even make the bench and as has been mentioned, I'd definitely be starting Big Les ahead of Laurent who tbf has performed pretty well.
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willsclarets
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by willsclarets » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:05 pm
Swap Laurent for Les in the midfield with a back 4 and that's close to our best side I'd say.
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summitclaret
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by summitclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:06 pm
Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?
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Murger
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by Murger » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:06 pm
Magic Mike not making the bench again is a joke.
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ollieclarets8
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by ollieclarets8 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:07 pm
willsclarets wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:05 pm
Swap Laurent for Les in the midfield with a back 4 and that's close to our best side I'd say.
I was thinking the same thing.
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Bacchus
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by Bacchus » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:07 pm
Ekdal has arguably been our best CB this season. His seeming inability to stay fit for for any period of time is a real shame.
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taio
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by taio » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:07 pm
summitclaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:06 pm
Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?
Worrall and Humphreys
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Murger
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by Murger » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:07 pm
summitclaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:06 pm
Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?
Worrall and Humphreys.
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summitclaret
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by summitclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:07 pm
Bit concerned only 2 defenders on the bench. Pires injured?
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Quickenthetempo
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by Quickenthetempo » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:08 pm
Hopefully this is the last game for a while of 5 at the back.
We have conceded 116 shots in 6 games. Nearly 20 a game.
I think we need to beef up the defensive midfield area and try and stop these shots.
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RVclaret
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by RVclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:08 pm
Bacchus wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:07 pm
Ekdal has arguably been our best CB this season. His seeming inability to stay fit for for any period of time is a real shame.
Matt Scrafton says he has been told no injury..
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Procrastinate B
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by Procrastinate B » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:08 pm
Telling that Worrall still doesn’t get in. Not that I want to denigrate him or anything, but he seems low down the pecking order.
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ollieclarets8
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by ollieclarets8 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:09 pm
summitclaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:06 pm
Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?
Worrall and Humphreys
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ollieclarets8
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by ollieclarets8 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:10 pm
Procrastinate B wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:08 pm
Telling that Worrall still doesn’t get in. Not that I want to denigrate him or anything, but he seems low down the pecking order.
A Championship defender imo and at best, someone to bring on when defending a lead/point in the last few minutes.
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Murger
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by Murger » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:10 pm
RVclaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:08 pm
Matt Scrafton says he has been told no injury..
You’d think he’d take Worralls place on the bench then.
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Tribesmen
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by Tribesmen » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:12 pm
Afternoon all from a sunny 24c here in Rhodes , now was all set to watch the game in a pub but as the wife said " its too cold to be sitting watching football outside " you have to wonder what she would say at watching a game at the Turf in December .
Just hope we can get something from todays game as i think we need a bit of luck on our side for a change .
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Bacchus
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by Bacchus » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:13 pm
RVclaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:08 pm
Matt Scrafton says he has been told no injury..
Curious. Hopefully just some other non-serious reason for being unavailable today. I'd find it really odd for him to be completely dropped from the squad otherwise.
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Vino blanco
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by Vino blanco » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:14 pm
Looks very, very defensive set up to me. Not confident, can’t see us scoring. I really hope I’m wrong.
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northernpowerhouse
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by northernpowerhouse » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:14 pm
Can't understand not playing a midfield three of Cullen, Florentino and Ugochukwu. Feels like Parker is overthinking it with this five at the back, it's not worth it if it means leaving out someone as good as Les.
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claretburns
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by claretburns » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:15 pm
The Ekdal absence might be down to the old "Hamstring International break" injury.
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expoultryboy
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by expoultryboy » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:17 pm
Just boarded a flight to Porto , so I'll be panicking all the way hoping for a Burnley win . Gutted I'm not there , but I've got a ticket for the Benfica match tonight . Other halfs not to happy (cost me in duty free !! ) .

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dermotdermot
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by dermotdermot » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:20 pm
Murger wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:06 pm
Magic Mike not making the bench again is a joke.
Quite ridiculous this.
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ollieclarets8
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by ollieclarets8 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:21 pm
dermotdermot wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:20 pm
Quite ridiculous this.
I keep forgetting we still have him.
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CoolClaret
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by CoolClaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:23 pm
northernpowerhouse wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:14 pm
Can't understand not playing a midfield three of Cullen, Florentino and Ugochukwu. Feels like Parker is overthinking it with this five at the back, it's not worth it if it means leaving out someone as good as Les.
Yeah, got a feeling we will see those three together in our next game, with the international break giving a bit of extra time to gel a new midfield shape/structure - as well as perhaps throwing Leeds' prep off.
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RVclaret
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by RVclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:23 pm
Vino blanco wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:14 pm
Looks very, very defensive set up to me. Not confident, can’t see us scoring. I really hope I’m wrong.
Interesting view. Exact same set up we played v Forest and City, and scored in both!
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CalamityClaret
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by CalamityClaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:27 pm
northernpowerhouse wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:14 pm
Can't understand not playing a midfield three of Cullen, Florentino and Ugochukwu. Feels like Parker is overthinking it with this five at the back, it's not worth it if it means leaving out someone as good as Les.
3 very similar players imo. Primarily defensive midfielders.
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PhiladelphiaChris
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by PhiladelphiaChris » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:28 pm
Bacchus wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:13 pm
Curious. Hopefully just some other non-serious reason for being unavailable today. I'd find it really odd for him to be completely dropped from the squad otherwise.
Maybe he is ill?
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JohnMcGreal
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by JohnMcGreal » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:30 pm
Someone spotted Ekdal on a flight to Copenhagen from Manchester yesterday afternoon.
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BurnleyFC
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by BurnleyFC » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:33 pm
Very defensive line up when I don’t think it’s a bad time at all to be playing them.
And Worrall making the bench ahead of Ekdal is a strange one.
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ollieclarets8
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by ollieclarets8 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:44 pm
Quite a funny read and on the link posted on there.
"Airport guy confirmed"
"Joe Worrall 15 pointer incoming"

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Buxtonclaret
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by Buxtonclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:45 pm
Afternoon All, from some sodden, windy hills.
The perfect day for our first away win.
COME ON UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU CLARETS!!

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derryclaret
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by derryclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:49 pm
Afternoon all from Derry, all quiet after the visit of storm Amy, I think we'll get something today COYC!
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Tribesmen
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by Tribesmen » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:51 pm
derryclaret wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:49 pm
Afternoon all from Derry, all quiet after the visit of storm Amy, I think we'll get something today COYC!
How bad was it Derry ?
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dougcollins
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by dougcollins » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:51 pm
Tribesmen wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:12 pm
Afternoon all from a sunny 24c here in Rhodes , now was all set to watch the game in a pub but as the wife said " its too cold to be sitting watching football outside " you have to wonder what she would say at watching a game at the Turf in December .
Just hope we can get something from todays game as i think we need a bit of luck on our side for a change .
Watched many games in the Arena bar in Rhodes Town, great food in there too.
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Wo Didi
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by Wo Didi » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:52 pm
expoultryboy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:17 pm
Just boarded a flight to Porto , so I'll be panicking all the way hoping for a Burnley win . Gutted I'm not there , but I've got a ticket for the Benfica match tonight . Other halfs not to happy (cost me in duty free !! ) .
Hi expoultryboy I was in Porto on Thursday for Red Star's europa league game. I don’t know if you’ve been before but it’s a beautiful city and it's a fantastic stadium, just a shame about an 89th minute goal to lose 2-1. I'll also miss our game today as travelling to Kruševac for Red Star's game v Napredak. Enjoy your trip

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jojomk1
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by jojomk1 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:52 pm
Vino blanco wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:14 pm
Looks very, very defensive set up to me. Not confident, can’t see us scoring. I really hope I’m wrong.
It's the Premier League
Parker doesn't do attacking football at this level after his two stints at Fulham and Bournemouth
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derryclaret
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by derryclaret » Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:58 pm
Tribesmen wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 1:51 pm
How bad was it Derry ?
Vicious for about an hour then moved away slowly, no power cuts or trees down so got off lightly
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THEWELLERNUT70
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by THEWELLERNUT70 » Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:02 pm
I'm not feeling this line up if I'm being honest and you know me I rarely have a go at Scott. But I'm worried about Tuanzebe in defense because from what I've seen he looks short of full match practice and Laurent, who's done ok so far but he's now part of a weakened defence. Surely it was a time to beef up the midfield and not simply change the players
Anyway upwards and onwards
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brexit
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by brexit » Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:09 pm
just realised we are in black
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Firthy
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by Firthy » Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:10 pm
brexit wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:09 pm
just realised we are in black
Better than being in the red