Stockdale Chester Faye Hobbs Elmo Meyler Quinn Fathi Brady Boyd Gedo We need to be tighter in midfield. Stick Fathi in there to sit in front of the defence with Meyler. Koren to come on for Quinn\Boyd to freshen things up. I suspect if Bruce is to go with a 2nd defensive midfielder, it would be Bruce though.
When we lost at Leicester everyone said the 3-5-2 had been 'sussed', then after winning for most of the season we lose a couple more away games and again it's down to the formation. I don't see why we can't just lose because the other team were better than us. Too much reading into formations sometimes for me. We play 3-5-2 because it suits our better players and we'll play it until that stops being the case. I'd like to see Fathi start but I reckon Bruce in midfield is more likely. Stockdale Chester Faye Hobbs* Elmo Meyler Fathi Quinn Brady Gedo Boyd *That back line probably lacks a bit of pace but Bruce and McShane hardly offer speed in abundance do they?
As its only Burnley and SB is not one for knee jerk reactions i dont see many changes at all if any ? But all things considered SB may just freshen things up a wee touch. Maybe McShane for Bruce jnr and Simpson up top for Koren with Boyd dropping into the hole. 3-5-2 works for me. Hopefully Dean Marney will still be missing for the Clarets. I would keep Koren fresh and hungry for saturdays game with Nottingham Forest.
Looking at the state of the Udders pitch i would keep Fathi for this game as a starter. Its worse than the KC by far and the Udders game should be one where SB rests a few especially the ones just back from the International games. Watford on the tuesday night is a far bigger game. Udders is ideal for the likes of Fathi, Cairney, Simpson, Proschwitch and Evans IF fit again to start. Plus Fathi may soon have to cover for Meylers 2 game ban.
That would be my line up but with Fathi combining with Elmo on the right side and Meyler playing a little deeper in CMF to keep an eye on Austin with Faye. Fathi is an outstanding player, both in defense and attack, and he is now ready to play almost a full 90. The triangulation with him, Elmo, and Gedo will be interesting and should open things up for Georgie. IMO this is our best starting 11.
Cant see Bruce not starting. Not saying I would start him but I dont see him not being in the starting 11.
This Alex Bruce thing is ridiculous. He's never once been deployed as a midfielder in his career until this season, so with Fathi - a classy DM with 91 caps for Egypt - Olofinjana - Who's not very good but is a Nigeria international and built like a brick **** house AND a midfielder and Meyler - an Irish international with quality on the ball and the confidence from playing in the first team, my question is this: Why on Earth do we persist in playing a CB with the ball passing skills of a toddler in a DM role? It'd be great to see SB say to Alex, "you've had a great season, but start the game on the bench for us because I'm going with a more natural midfielder". As many have said, if AB doesn't play again this season he'll have had a wonderful stint with us, but we all know he'll feature in some capacity and that's totally fine, provided it's in the position he's played for all his career. I am also aware that we won the last time he played in DM, but it was a 4/10 performance from the whole team. Not saying he was to blame, not at all, but we did look disjointed in the midfield and slow to react to counters.
This is the one for me. I would not be against Faye for Macca, but Macca has a true 90 mins in hin whereas Faye will struggle. AB should not be anywhere near our DM role.
Stockdale Elmo Chester Faye Brady Boyd Meyler Fathi Quinn Gedo Simpson Have to play 442 in my opinion away from home, 8 goals conceded in the last 2 away games we need to be solid. I put Elmo right back because we often see him preferring to come from deep with the ball, and Rosenior hasn't played for a long while, a lot more solid line up is needed away from home at the moment in my opinion.
I've been as frustrated as anyone with him, but he scored on tuesday and I think he might do better up top with someone like Gedo who will play off the last man.
That team's more attacking than the one we played on Tuesday night, if we're playing 4 at the back Rosie has to start IMO. But we won't so it's irrelevant. If we HAVE to play a centre back in midfield (which is a ridiculous idea in itself) then it should be Chester or Faye, because at least then we might have half a chance of keeping the ball when they get it back.
The reason I put Elmo at right back is because I remember watching him play on the right hand side of a 4 man midfield he wasn't as impressive, when you watch him play he never gets in behind the full back he wants the ball into his feet so he can run at people from deep. The team doesn't have to be attacking if the players play it right, Quinn offers a lot defensively, Boyd played on the wing for pretty much all his Peterborough career, Simpson will offer a lot of running and hold the ball up well.
