This could be a very nervy affair. Sheffield haven't won for five games and we are on a run of three consecutive defeats. Both sides will feel they cannot afford to lose. Guessing our starting line-up has become Mystic Meg territory lately, and it's no easier this week because of injuries to key players. Will we stick with trying to shoehorn both Pukki and Sargent into some kind of 4-3-3 or perhaps 4-2-3-1? Will we drop one of them to the bench? Or will we try some version of two upfront, either 4-4-2 or 3-5-2? The last option seems unlikely given Smith's preference for 4-3-3, but we can't go on playing the way we have so far this season. Fifteen games into this crazy season and there is still little idea how the league is going to shape up. All the parachute clubs are seriously under-performing and both the automatic slots and the play-off places are completely up for grabs. No one seems to want to take this league by the scruff of the neck. A few weeks ago, it looked like both of these teams might break away from the pack. Now they're competing for which can sink into the pack more quickly. At the risk of stating Basil Fawlty's 'bleeding obvious', this is a crucial match for both clubs.
I'm going to a pumpkin farm in Suffolk on Saturday with my daughter to pick one for Halloween. Might try and book a prostate exam and some root canal surgery for 3pm rather than endure watching the footy. Bring back Glenn Roeder all is forgiven
With Giannoulis not ready to start and McLean suspended, is this the time to shift to 3 at the back in a 3-4-1-2 with Aarons and Nunez as WBs? With Omobamidele out until after the World Cup, it would give Tomkinson more valuable first team experience as he is now our only CB backup. The Blades also play a 3 man back line.
Update from Dean Smiths press conference: Kieran Dowell is out with laryngitis. Byram (hip) and Gianoulis not fit enough for the whole game. - Mayeb they could do a half each? Hayden - it would be a push to start him after only playing 45 and 10mins in the last two games.
McLean's red card appeal has been dismissed, so he will now miss the games against Sheff Utd, Burnley & Stoke. Would be nice to see maybe Hayden (if fit) take his place in midfield, then maybe it would toughen our midfield up a bit.
That's great. Let's win this one on paper! The fans can chant "Yeah, but we were the better team" Honestly, I'm not giving up on Smith, but he has some mental work to do with the team. (and I believe we'll win this game. I just don't want to say it out loud and jinx it)
I think today's performance will tell us a lot about how the players at the club are feeling. We can only guess that, of course, from what happens on the pitch. But for me, today has a kind of 'stand up and be counted' feel. Let's see how it goes.
Was thinking exactly the same thing (.At least Robbie will have been impressed). I am beginning to think he might be using XG stats in his motivational speech to the players.
Exactly. I thought that after Preston we'd see a reaction against Watford. We didn't. And after Watford? We didn't. In fact it was worse as we lost tamely to Luton with one shot on target (1). Stuff xG - we need points and goals.
That looks like a 4-2-3-1. Good to see both Giannoulis and Hayden starting as both will be key positions in this one. OTBC!
Good question. Another is where is Byram? Giannoulis is not fit enough for a whole match. It could be that, if necessary, Gibson could move to LB and Tomkinson comes on. Alternatively, we could go to a 3 man back line with Aarons and Springett as WBs.
