Team for Leeds

[CoolClaret]

I feel like we have learned a lot today, and SP will have done as well.

I understand him keeping the same personnel and making players earn their start, but I think the international break and our lacklustre first 70 minutes or so performance today presents a perfect opportunity for changes.

------------Dubravka
Walker--?????---Esteve---Hartman
---------------Luis
---------Cullen-----Uguchukwu
Tchaona-----Flemming-----Anthony


??? = Tuanzebe/Ekdal

Flemming has more close control quality and game IQ than Foster - he can drop in and link play better, we need to be thinking more positively about what we can do with the ball than what we can do without it.

Tresor and Edwards have to be on the bench, we need more attacking quality coming onto the pitch when the situation calls for it.

Still have faith in SP and the lads, and they need backing all the way. UTC!

[ollieclarets8]

Pretty much the same thoughts.

Has to be the game when Edwards makes an appearance.

[MrTechno]

Pretty much agree with all of that. Would like to see us move away from 5 at the back now, we looked all over the shop at times and workman like in attack. Also get the ball in the box more often please, the first half we’d get in good crossing positions, recycle and lose it. We put it in twice, fosters offside but better movement and finish leads to a goal and a long throw produces a good save from Cullen.

[Spijed]

What about Humpreys in the middle of the defence?

[CoolClaret]

What about Humpreys in the middle of the defence?

Yes, Humphreys is a shout as well, I'd half forgotten about him.

[Murger]

Agreed with the OPs line up. And we’ve got to get Magic Mike on the bench. It’s criminal that he’s been completely discarded.

[ksrclaret]

If we don’t rip up the back 5 with Laurent at RCB then I’ll wonder just what is going through SP’s head. It can’t happen again at this level, especially when we’ve got what looks like a strong midfield 3.

Stop trying to make players fit a system and start playing in a way that suits your best team.

[ClaretAL]

Humphrey’s or Worral need to be next to Steve

[ollieclarets8]

Humphrey’s or Worral need to be next to Steve

100% not Worrall.

[RVclaret]

It’s obvious we need that midfield 3 and I was surprised Parker didn’t opt for it today. Leeds will look to dominate the ball though so it’ll be a game of counter attacking for us I feel, so Foster should start. Hopefully Ekdal is okay as I’d start him.

[ollieclarets8]

It’s obvious we need that midfield 3 and I was surprised Parker didn’t opt for it today. Leeds will look to dominate the ball though so it’ll be a game of counter attacking for us I feel, so Foster should start. Hopefully Ekdal is okay as I’d start him.

Leeds can look all they want. I'm expecting us to have our fair share of the ball too and not rely on counter-attacking, especially at home. I want us to go at them.

[CoolClaret]

Leeds can look all they want. I'm expecting us to have our fair share of the ball too and not rely on counter-attacking, especially at home. I want us to go at them.

Luis is more than good enough to act as a shield to protect our defence allowing our lads to press on.

As you said, we need to be at them from the first whistle to the last.

[Holmechapel]

Parker seemed to ditch his super defence plan we had for the last 3 games and had 4 pressing at times,but this meant a huge hole in midfield.

[Goody1975]

I stand by what I said this week in regard to the Leeds game being 'must win'. It just isn't, a draw doesn't leave us needing snookers or anything near it.

Many will disagree but if we draw, are the contributors to this board chucking the towel in? We need to win games and it looks like the home form is going to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

However, what we need to do in games like this is setup in a way that gives us the best chance of getting three points, if we don't start with a central midfield three against Leeds, then I'd question what we really hope to achieve this season.

The majority of fans on this board will select the same eight players in every one of their predicted starting XI's. The only question marks are right centre back, right sided midfielder/forward and our option at number nine.

These eight should be in the side every week and then work out what the options are for the remaining three slots, that eight includes Luis, Cullen and Ugochukwu, it just HAS to.

[Pickles]

Humphrey’s or Worral need to be next to Steve

Seen zero from Worrall to tell me he should be starting for us in the league below, never mind this one.

He's a classic Sean Dyche "good in the dressing room" player. Unfortunately he's crap on the pitch. Cushy job if you can find it, lad's living the dream.

[CoolClaret]

I stand by what I said this week in regard to the Leeds game being 'must win'. It just isn't, a draw doesn't leave us needing snookers or anything near it.

Many will disagree but if we draw, are the contributors to this board chucking the towel in? We need to win games and it looks like the home form is going to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

However, what we need to do in games like this is setup in a way that gives us the best chance of getting three points, if we don't start with a central midfield three against Leeds, then I'd question what we really hope to achieve this season.

The majority of fans on this board will select the same eight players in every one of their predicted starting XI's. The only question marks are right centre back, right sided midfielder/forward and our option at number nine.

These eight should be in the side every week and then work out what the options are for the remaining three slots, that eight includes Luis, Cullen and Ugochukwu, it just HAS to.

Agreed with all of this, especially the 'question mark' positions.

[Vino blanco]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal/Humphreys Esteve Hartman
Luis
Cullen Hugo
Flemming Foster Our best wide player (God knows who that might be).

[ollieclarets8]

Our best wide player (God knows who that might be).

Well I certainly wouldn't be dropping our leading goalscorer.

[Spijed]

I stand by what I said this week in regard to the Leeds game being 'must win'. It just isn't, a draw doesn't leave us needing snookers or anything near it.

Many will disagree but if we draw, are the contributors to this board chucking the towel in? We need to win games and it looks like the home form is going to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

However, what we need to do in games like this is setup in a way that gives us the best chance of getting three points, if we don't start with a central midfield three against Leeds, then I'd question what we really hope to achieve this season.

The majority of fans on this board will select the same eight players in every one of their predicted starting XI's. The only question marks are right centre back, right sided midfielder/forward and our option at number nine.

These eight should be in the side every week and then work out what the options are for the remaining three slots, that eight includes Luis, Cullen and Ugochukwu, it just HAS to.

Wouldn't be a great surprise if both managers "settled" for a draw, just like last season.

[Goody1975]

Well I certainly wouldn't be dropping our leading goalscorer.

Villa know who it is, they spent most of this afternoon booting him from pillar to post.

[Pickles]

Wouldn't be a great surprise if both managers "settled" for a draw, just like last season.

One of the dullest games I've ever been on. I'm not so sure someone would've guessed those were the two best sides in the league.

[Goody1975]

Wouldn't be a great surprise if both managers "settled" for a draw, just like last season.

I can cope with the match ending in a draw but the manner in which we approach the fixture cannot be the same.

If we are risk free and not on the front foot whenever possible, then a percentage of the fan base will be very vocal about it, that is something I am confident about.

[CoolClaret]

Wouldn't be a great surprise if both managers "settled" for a draw, just like last season.

I think it would - entirely different circumstances this season.

[DCWat]

If we are to persist with the Laurent role, for me, it needs to be Luis who takes Laurent’s place allowing us to play Cullen, Luis and Ugochukwu.

What the five at the back isn’t delivering is defensive stability, we still look too open on occasion, and it’s certainly not offering much at the other end. I’d prefer more of a 4-2-3-1.

We need to get some more creativity and threat into the side and perhaps the likes of Edwards and Tresor might help on that front, given some opportunities.

[AlargeClaret]

Dubravka
Walker-Humph -Esteve---Hartman
Luis
---------Cullen-----Uguchukwu
Edwards ---- Anthony
Broja

[Paddy1882]

Got to be a bit more positive. A Back 4 with Les, Cullen and Florentino in front is more than enough bodies to be defensively solid, you don’t always need 11 behind the ball, let the other 3 whoever they may be not have to come all the way back so when the break is on they can break at pace with options. At the moment it’s too slow and when someone does get away they are on their own.

[Hedontplayforyou]

We finally have 3 central midfielders who would look strong together , but we haven’t started them yet. It would be a travesty if we don’t get to see how it works out.

I feel it would give others a bit more freedom too. Hartman could still get forward , Walker at right back may also give us a chance to use Edwards ?

[CoolClaret]

We finally have 3 central midfielders who would look strong together , but we haven’t started them yet. It would be a travesty if we don’t get to see how it works out.

I feel it would give others a bit more freedom too. Hartman could still get forward , Walker at right back may also give us a chance to use Edwards ?

Yeah I mean, we simply have to play them together - around 40-50 mill tied up in two of them and the other one is our captain, and from what we've seen this season so far, they look to be our best players.

We aren't a million miles away, imo, I'm certainly more optimistic about our chances than a lot on here seem to be.

[claretspice]

Well I'd certainly like to see us play a back four, or if we're going to play a back 3, it needs to be with someone like JBL (for all that he's not really quick enough) as the right wing back. so that we can transition into a 4 in possession. That formation showed some promise in attack in the early weeks of the season but as we've increasingly retreated into a basic back 5 with the slightly random inclusion of Laurent as an overlapping centre back, our attacking threat has retreated with it.

Personally, I think we'd be better off playing with Florentino just in front of the back four, Cullen and Ugochukwu (or Hannibal, if that extra energy is preferred) in front, and JBL and Anthony in the wide roles in a more traditional 4-1-4-1, or a 4-4-1-1 if you wanted Cullen to sit in as a second holding player (doesn't make much difference). That feels like a more solid formation than what we tried today (which had centre backs stepping out into midfield all over the place and huge gaps appearing as a result), it gets Walker closer to the centre of the game where he can influence it (he's too peripheral when he's playing as a right wing back, aside from the fact it's asking too much of a 35 year old engine to get up and down as much as we need) and most importantly it gets more of our best players (on paper) on the pitch. At present it feels as though we're partly picking a formation to cover the fact that Parker isn't entirely confident in his centre half options so he's going to strength in numbers there, but in doing so sacrificing the potential strength of this team (the centre of midfield).

[brexit]

I am assuming the team will be in amorim format 3-4-2-1
This is because our next manager will be a vinny clone who will convince Mr pace that a radical approach is needed.
I think potter will be in place by the end of october.
Claude Opus 4.51d

[colne-claret]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Esteve Hartman
Cullen Luis
Les
Edwards Foster Anthony

[ClaretPete001]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Esteve Hartman
Cullen Luis
Les
Tchaouna Foster Anthony

I think Tchaouna needs one more go with Big Les playing

[Ampth7]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Esteve Hartman
Cullen Luis
Les
Tchaouna Foster Anthony

I think Tchaouna needs one more go with Big Les playing

I agree with this except for Flemming up top and Edwards on the right. I just don’t think Fosters good enough tbh and Edwards can be a difference maker against a team like Leeds.

[Woodleyclaret]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Esteve Hartman
Tachoma Cullen Tino Anthony
Les Foster

[ClaretPete001]

I agree with this except for Flemming up top and Edwards on the right. I just don’t think Fosters good enough tbh and Edwards can be a difference maker against a team like Leeds.

I agree on Flemming - should have put him in but Tchaouna I think would be a better player if we had a more forward thinking midfield runner so one more chance in my book.

[willsclarets]

Dubravka

Walker
Tuanzebe
Esteve
Hartman

Luis
Cullen
Les

Edwards
Flemming
Anthony

[jlup1980]

At present it feels as though we're partly picking a formation to cover the fact that Parker isn't entirely confident in his centre half options so he's going to strength in numbers there, but in doing so sacrificing the potential strength of this team (the centre of midfield).

Couldn't agree more. This is exactly what's happened in recent weeks. Even Esteve looks a little shakey, and I think SP is well aware of this. Laurent isn't the answer though, and I aim no criticism toward Laurent. He's a good player, and would be an effective player off the bench. He can give us physicality and energy late in a game, which can be useful if we're chasing a game or trying to close one out.

Our strength is in Florentino, Big Les, and Cullen. These three simply have to start. I've already seen enough of Florentino to suggest he'd be more than capable of sitting in front of a centre half pairing to offer the extra support SP clearly feels we need. Big Les can push on and press further up the pitch, and Cullen knits it together going from box-to-box. The quality of these three, when added to the workrate of Anthony on one wing, should allow for some individuality on the other wing. We're desperate for a Edwards/Tresor type who can pick a pass and SP has to find a way of integrating one of them into the team.

Yesterday we looked like we did this time 12 months ago; static and blunt. We all know the difference Edwards made when he arrived in January. We have to get some creativity into this team.

[claretfern]

Dubravka
Roberts Walker Esteve Hartmann
Les Cullen Luis
Edwards Flemming Tresor

[dougcollins]

Flemming has more close control quality and game IQ than Foster - he can drop in and link play better, we need to be thinking more positively about what we can do with the ball than what we can do without it.

I absolutely disagree with your statement. Flemming's ball control is almost non existent

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Dubravka
Walker Ekdal Esteve Hartman
Cullen Luis Les
Foster Flemming Antony

[Pickles]

Not sure on the line-up but the suggested ones, as if we didn't already know, scream that we need a centre half and a striker.

[warksclaret]

Have we written Tuanzebe off after one game. Thought he kept Ollie Watkins pretty quiet during the game. I think Humphreys and particularly Worral would have struggled yesterday. Worral is great for game management-bring him on with 10-15 minutes to go. Same applies to Laurent

For me

Dubrovka
Walker
Ekdal first choice/Tuanzebe
Esteve
Hartman

Cullen
Ugo
Luis

Anthony
Foster
Tchaoumu

The midfield three above are vital. I witnessed the frustration of Foster in yesterdays fans, but he is still the only one central forward we have, who can break through, but we need to sub him sooner if its not going his way. Fleming is not quick enough to lead the line, and I dont know what to make of Broja but he just fails to get involved

Parker does not make radical changes and I can see the above team

[brexit]

Interesting, none of these suggestions mention Hannibal. Do we have an issue with him?
I would use him a Cullen replacement at 60 min.

[RVclaret]

Interesting, none of these suggestions mention Hannibal. Do we have an issue with him?
I would use him a Cullen replacement at 60 min.

Funny enough I was just clipping some of the Sunderland game (given we won) to use as discussion for systems on here.

If Lesley is brought in, to form a 3, as many want, it will be interesting to see how Parker sets up off the ball (equally as important).

Against Sunderland it was a front 2 press in a 4-4-2 shape, Hannibal and Foster central. Who would do the job Hannibal does here, and does well? Doesn’t seem suited to Ugochukwu’s profile in my view.

From memory Parker likes the 4-4-2 off the ball, and only ever really used that last season, or more recently 5-4-1 variations (high press v Villa / no press v Liverpool).

[Tricky Trevor]

4-5-1 flexible to a 4-3-3. Would improve us in winnable matches. I can understand SPs pragmatism with the horrendous fixtures we were handed, again, but now he has to let the dogs of the leash and win the next two games.
Dubravka
Walker..Ekdal..Esteve..Hartman
Ugochukwu..Cullen..Luis
Anthony..Broja..Foster

Tresor on the bench and on after an hour if we are not winning.

[CoolClaret]

Funny enough I was just clipping some of the Sunderland game (given we won) to use as discussion for systems on here.

If Lesley is brought in, to form a 3, as many want, it will be interesting to see how Parker sets up off the ball (equally as important).

Against Sunderland it was a front 2 press in a 4-4-2 shape, Hannibal and Foster central. Who would do the job Hannibal does here, and does well? Doesn’t seem suited to Ugochukwu’s profile in my view.

From memory Parker likes the 4-4-2 off the ball, and only ever really used that last season, or more recently 5-4-1 variations (high press v Villa / no press v Liverpool).

I don't recall how we did it, but when we (rarely but did happen) played a 4-3-3 formation last season, was our shape off the ball predominantly a 4-4-2 as well?

I'd probably say if it was Les/Luis/Cullen, then Cullen would be the one to go to 'rm' off the ball, with the right winger joining our striker leading the press.

[RVclaret]

I don't recall how we did it, but when we (rarely but did happen) played a 4-3-3 formation last season, was our shape off the ball predominantly a 4-4-2 as well?

I'd probably say if it was Les/Luis/Cullen, then Cullen would be the one to go to 'rm' off the ball, with the right winger joining our striker leading the press.

Definitely played 4-3-3 a fair bit last season, typically when Brownhill and Hannibal started, with both of them 8s alongside Cullen, when Laurent started then it was, typically, more 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 with Brownhill playing on the final line and Laurent / Cullen as a 2. But yeah, the 4-3-3 would still become 4-4-2 off the ball with Hannibal taking up that role further forward.

Not sure on using the right winger as the front 2 and shifting Cullen right side, still got to think about the profiles being in the right areas as soon as we break. See where Larsen is on my second pic above, can’t imagine Cullen that wide, right? It’s definitely a conundrum for Parker. Leeds are a 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 team themselves and from what I see it’s also their pressing shape, but they’ve been drilled in that all pre season and season so far. Maybe we just match them up.

[CoolClaret]

Definitely played 4-3-3 a fair bit last season, typically when Brownhill and Hannibal started, with both of them 8s alongside Cullen, when Laurent started then it was, typically, more 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 with Brownhill playing on the final line and Laurent / Cullen as a 2. But yeah, the 4-3-3 would still become 4-4-2 off the ball with Hannibal taking up that role further forward.

Not sure on using the right winger as the front 2 and shifting Cullen right side, still got to think about the profiles being in the right areas as soon as we break. See where Larsen is on my second pic above, can’t imagine Cullen that wide, right? It’s definitely a conundrum for Parker. Leeds are a 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 team themselves and from what I see it’s also their pressing shape, but they’ve been drilled in that all pre season and season so far. Maybe we just match them up.

I only say Cullen because he used to drop in at fullback under VK and play balls from wide (albeit deeper) areas when we used to invert the full backs - also would have Tino and Luis central (two big, combative lads).

Be interesting to see what happens next game anyway - I do think we could end up matching them, would probably throw them off their gameplan as well.

[ClaretPete001]

I think if you take the two goals scored by Villa it gives you pretty much everything that is wrong with the 5 man back line.

The first goal scored by Villa was simply a ball knocked over the top (to coin a phrase). We had squeezed up so much it was possible for a Villa player to run from our half way line and score. The culprit for this was Hartman and not Esteve btw. The second goal found a Villa player on his own in the middle of our half behind our midfield despite the fact that we have a 5 man back line and a defensive midfielder.

It just seems to me that the players are not comfortable playing as we are...! Defence and midfield are not pushing up in tandem, Ironically, we are creating chances but not taking them but that is a different problem. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw away at the likes Villa Park sees us comfortably staying up.

I think we go to a back four, a double pivot with Big Les pushing forward and the two wingers joining a central striker, which I think for the most part we played last season. I also think it gets our best players in positions they are mostly comfortable and where we have players to make an impact off the bench.

We are not getting battered, a combination of careless defending and the silliness of giving away last minute pens is costing us dearly. However, you can't be complacent in this division and there is no reason why anything should change unless the manager takes action.

[Ric_C]

Unfortunately none of our attacking options are good enough. I was hoping Tresor and Edwards would kick on this season, but Parker doesn't seem to fancy them. We have to get Lesley, Cullen and Luis in the team and get them used to the system.