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