First win of the season 3-1 Town. Hirst, Delap and Burgess. Walton Burns Wolfy (omg can't believe it) Burgess Leif Phillips Cajuste Hutchinson Chappers Clarke Hirst I would give Clarke and Chappers first half, if not working bring in Szmodics for either
We’re up against another team struggling defensively, but Leicester are the ninth highest scorers in the league. There should be goals in this match! I’ll be there in Portman Road (we’re unbeaten in the two games I’ve been to this season - Fulham and Villa - if that helps any of the superstitious among us). I can’t be optimistic with the defence playing how it is - so I’m going for a 2-2 draw.
Sorry fellas, 3-1 Leicester. Where is George Edmundson when you need him? I want to see us do this: Slicker Townsend Woolfy O’Shea Burgess Davis Phillips Chaplin Szmodics Hirst Delap
I will go with Spanish line-up, but Szmodics instead of Clarke. Then destroyer Delap on at 60. Gotta be a home win, 2-1 Town, crowd ecstatic, our season kicks off.
Agreed, Szmodics should start - full of energy, took his goal well, but should regret missing that chance to put us 3-0 up. Clarke’s not done enough for me yet, and probably needs easing into the first team. Delap definitely on at the 60 minute mark, but I won’t be surprised if McKenna starts him. Only thing I’d push back on Spanish’s starting eleven is Burns at right back. That scares me. Right wing back is fair enough, but he’s not defensively solid enough to start that far back. I think we have the bite the bullet and give Johnson a start there - he’s likely to be the only available right back. Hopefully his horror show against West Ham was a one off! Then again, I think I’d prefer Burns at right back than crowbarring O’Shea there!
Johnson was awful defensively against Man City too. He’s got some zip going forward but he’s extremely weak defensively and we don’t really have time for him to learn on the job.
RB is such a tricky issue, oddly Burns got back often and defended like a terrier. Perhaps time to give Johnson another go. Time to show courage of conviction. If we brought him in, use him. O'Shea convinces no-one.
Maybe this is the game McKenna plays the three at the back formation we used during pre-season? Burns at right-wing back solves the current lack of a quality out-and-out right back. Three centre-backs hopefully means we'll see fewer mistakes at the back and more defensive solidity. We still have width with Davis and Burns getting forwards. Yes, we'll be short an attacking player up top in those three out-and-out attacking positions. But McKenna will have his 'finishers' to come on. Choose two from Chaplin, Szmodics, Clarke, and Hutchinson and one from Hirst or Delap to start. Bring on the three who missed out on the 60 minute mark.
How about a back four of O-'shea, Burgess, wolfy and Davis. A midfield three of Townsend (who can fill in when Leif goes on attack), with Morsy & Taylor (or phillips) then a three of Hirst, Hutch and Chappers?
After last nights mauling, the Foxes will have lost some of their bite. We need to be out the traps fast. Gotta be a win, and our tails will be up. Any more wildlife puns?
