So who should come in against Brentford?

[1973Blade]

I think Freeman could do with a rest, so another opportunity for Baldock on the right (I would be amazed if this didn't happen). Also a chance for Coutts to start, possibly instead of Norwood, I'm a big fan of Norwood but the competition for midfield places will benefit everyone. I'll get my tin hat on, but I'd be tempted to start with Marvin Johnson, to give him the chance to amend for Saturday's error, to let him show us what we can contribute and to add some pace to the team.

 

[Eric Cartman]

Baldock and Coutts. No radical changes but we need to keep them on their toes because they were pathetic yesterday and have gone off the boil since going too similar to last year.

Send Johnson back to Middlesbrough. He hasn’t got a football brain.

 

[Darlington82]

only Baldock and thats the problem, no real competition. Though i would not be surprised at Chris changing a couple more as a kick up the backside / rest for leeds.

 

[guancheblade]

Baldock and Coutts. No radical changes but we need to keep them on their toes because they were pathetic yesterday and have gone off the boil since going too similar to last year.

Send Johnson back to Middlesbrough. He hasn’t got a football brain.

What is it about players from Oxford United that are ones to watch and then turn out to be bobbar once they move on? Lundstram, Johnson, Bobby Ford... the list goes on!

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

Baldock certainly.

 

[Eric Cartman]

What is it about players from Oxford United that are ones to watch and then turn out to be bobbar once they move on? Lundstram, Johnson, Bobby Ford... the list goes on!

Not a clue but the write ups from Boro fans weren’t exactly universally positive! And I suppose yesterday was a prime example why.

 

[JKBlade]

Coutts.
Knows when to hold it, when to move it quick, when to run with it.
Something which we lacked massively yesterday

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Coutts.
Knows when to hold it, when to move it quick, when to run with it.
Something which we lacked massively yesterday

Is he 100% fit though?

I’d bring him on when we want to slow the game down. At the moment we need to speed the game up.

Johnson in, alongside Sharp, for me.

 

[bromtom]

Is he 100% fit though?

I’d bring him on when we want to slow the game down. At the moment we need to speed the game up.

Johnson in, alongside Sharp, for me.

If you're wanting pace up front, why not Washington? He's at least a recognised striker, or do you mean in behind Bill?

I'd be willing to try something like that but Wilder has to be more decisive with his subs if it's not working. We leave it too late too often.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I reckon he’ll bring Baldock and Clarke in. He will want Baldock to give him a dilemma for Leeds and Clarke so he can go back to Sharp and McG against Leeds.

Coutts might get an hour at a push and he might play Stearman if Egan is feeling any further issues from the NI injury.

 

[DronnieBlade]

More chance of Leon being sole striker with 2 out of Duffy, Marvin or Dids in behind.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

The midfield 5 just didn’t do enough for me yesterday, not enough getting into the front two and I’d be inclined to mix the wing backs up a bit

Baldock for Freeman and Johnson for Stevens

I’d also be inclined to bench Duffy and play Coutts, and Fleck in front of Norwood. Duffy is a cracking player but I think we need those crisper balls in from the midfield on Tuesday

 

[Topplayersleave]

Coutts in for Norwood
Baldock in for Freeman
Fleck to give Duffy a rest with clear instructions to make shit happen in the penalty area
Stearman in for Egan
Clarke in to give Billy a rest, I think Clarke might work well with McGoldrick

 

[BigBed]

Baldock, Washington and Coutts.
In place of Freeman, Mcgoldrick and Norwood.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I reckon he’ll bring Baldock and Clarke in. He will want Baldock to give him a dilemma for Leeds and Clarke so he can go back to Sharp and McG against Leeds.

Coutts might get an hour at a push and he might play Stearman if Egan is feeling any further issues from the NI injury.

That’s exactly what I think.

 

[1066blade]

Send Johnson back to Borough butt only after you've shackled Freeman to his Fukin legs.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Coutts in for Norwood
Baldock in for Freeman
Fleck to give Duffy a rest with clear instructions to make shit happen in the penalty area
Stearman in for Egan
Clarke in to give Billy a rest, I think Clarke might work well with McGoldrick

Billy's just had a rest. Need to give Goldy a rest and also to stop him treading on Billy's toes, it cost us a certain goal yesterday. I'm for Washington or Johnson up front with Billy to give us a bit of pace and something different. Leon is a busted flush.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

The midfield 5 just didn’t do enough for me yesterday, not enough getting into the front two and I’d be inclined to mix the wing backs up a bit

Baldock for Freeman and Johnson for Stevens

I’d also be inclined to bench Duffy and play Coutts, and Fleck in front of Norwood. Duffy is a cracking player but I think we need those crisper balls in from the midfield on Tuesday

Totally mate. Sadly I can't see any way we can shake up the midfield 5 to get what we were lacking in games like yesterday. As soon as Duffy isn't available our midfield have very few options who to pass to and Bill has very few options With whom to hold the ball up for...

Another game where we need an outlet like a Brooks and more importantly a Woodburn to come on and give us runners from midfield and outlets...

 

[Jehovah]

Be very surprised if Coutts starts.

 

[Rob86]

Coutts for Norwood and Baldock for Freeman definitely. Neither could get face on following a performance like that on Saturday.

After that the same problem emerges. I’d stick with the same forward 3 and then I don’t really know what to do to improve it if it isn’t working or perhaps we just go with Clarke and Washington. There’s no swap for Duffy in his usual role. Try Woodburn ? Fuck it just see how it’s goes or just go 4-4-2 maybe ? Baldock, Stevens, Egan, O’Connell. Johnson (LW) Fleck, Coutts, Basham (RW), Clarke, Washington.

Bring Duffy, McGoldrick, Sharp on at 65 if we’re still in it for Johnson, Clarke & Washington or Norwood if Coutts is fooked and leave Clarke on.

 

[GuangzhouBlade]

Why does Coutts all of a sudden need to come in? Norwood has been our best midfielder this season and other than yesterday and Birmingham has been superb. I want Coutts to get back to where he was as much as anyone but from the cameos we've seen he looks way off the pace both in terms of his touch and his physicality. We need to ease him back into the side not shove him in as knee jerk reaction to an off day. Baldock for Freeman possibly a change up top but no need for 4/5 changes.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

What system are Norwich using..........we could always play our football the Norwich way.

 

[wizadry]

If Baldock doesn’t get back in now he should hang his boots up.

 

[bladesman3]

Coutts in for Norwood
Baldock in for Freeman
Fleck to give Duffy a rest with clear instructions to make shit happen in the penalty area
Stearman in for Egan
Clarke in to give Billy a rest, I think Clarke might work well with McGoldrick

Too many changes imo

 

[Guesty]

What is it about players from Oxford United that are ones to watch and then turn out to be bobbar once they move on? Lundstram, Johnson, Bobby Ford... the list goes on!

Remember Joey Beauchamp back in the 1990s? Oxford winger, the next big thing from the lower leagues. Went to West Ham but couldn't hack it in the big city and went back to Oxford about two months later, where he played the most of the rest of his career.

 

[ThatJa]

Marv.

 

[snootyfenooty]

What we should be doing is focussing on who should be definite starters and fill in the rest. Based on the last half dozen games Deano, Duffy, Basham and Egan are the only certs for me, the rest are up for grabs. We shouldn't just be looking at like for like swaps either, a bit of creative thinking is required, e.g. Freeeman attacking mid as others have suggested.

 

[SwitchBLADE Smiles]

Perhaps it's time for Woodburn to turn up & show what he's all about. Time for Baldock to break back into the side & possible opportunity for Washington too.

Disagree with the universal "Coutts for Norwood" that's being thrown thrown around. Coutts has only just got himself fit after a year out with a broken leg. Norwood has been our best player all season & some want him dropped for one bad game? Come on...

 

[Digger]

Baldock in for Freeman please. Then I think it's down to CWAK to tweak the formation and tactics. We were found out last season around this time and it's happening again (ok, Coutts injury taken into account).
The pigs sat very deep and we couldn't break them down, Rotherham got in our faces and pushed their wide men up, both effective.
442? 4132? or maybe 433 with Johnson and Washington given a chance upfront to give us some pace. We really do need to find another way of playing.

 

[Jan Age]

Washington in for McGoldrick - McGoldrick was poor and missed a sitter to make it 2-0.

Baldock in for Freeman - Freeman was terrible on Saturday.

Coutts in for Norwood - on his day one of if not the best midfielder in this league but has too many off days and 5 superb passes a game does not make up for poor overall performance.

TBH given the strength of our bench this is the best we can hope for and shows that despite all the noise we haven’t greatly improved our match day squad since last season and certainly not in the key areas required.