Team v Millwall

[Addison]

Our best midfield performances since Coutts hasn't played were Cardiff and Boro where Fleck Lundstram and Evans all played. People really have it in for Lundstram when in my opinion he's been superb the last few weeks along with Bash. I don't think Blackman should walk back into the side on principal although I think we've now realised how much better Stearman is than Wright? Good assist from Brooks but still a long way to go in terms of his reading of the game and overall contribution to defending which I think we will need Saturday. With that in mind I'd go

Moore
Baldock Basham Stearman O'Connell Stevens
Evans Fleck Lundstram
Duffy
Clarke

I

 

[Addison]

I

Its not about principal at this stage in the season its about ability and Blackman is a much better prospect than Moore IMO especially when Millwall will be launching the ball into the box.

 

[wizadry]

Its not about principal at this stage in the season its about ability and Blackman is a much better prospect than Moore IMO especially when Millwall will be launching the ball into the box.

Millwall won’t only be launching a ball.

How far can flags be launched?

 

[sufcboy95]

Leave Brooks out, you are joking surely

Bearing in mind he’s still not 100% fit, and has a bigger impact coming on as a sub IMO. Plus as I said can see Millwall sitting back so Duffy would be better at finding a hole

 

[Ricky]

I want to see more of Duffy and Brooks on the pitch together. That will surely see us at our most creative.

 

[Addison]

I want to see more of Duffy and Brooks on the pitch together. That will surely see us at our most creative.

We are playing a team renowned for soaking up pressure with a solid 2 banks of four across the pitch. We need pace and movement to undo them. Brooks and Duffy together provide that. No brainer for me if both are fit they start.

 

[SB_90]

Lundstram is a perinial problem in all football. The defensive midfielders never get the praise they are due because they do all the dirty work. Just like monty & doyle before them. Everyone would complain espically about doyle but i couldnt explain but always noticed we were better team with him in. But then really on the world stage only kante got praised for that role when he won PFA player of the year because thinking back to Claude makelele is only getting the appreciation as 1 of the great holding midfielders of his generation. Back when he played he wasnt as highly thought. Back then it was zidane & figo or robben & drogba that got all the plaudits

I like to see sharp back in the side because he still our best forward at club in my opinion. Brooks its a hard one because he is just on the recovery so would starting 3 games in a week be pushing him too far too quickly.

 

[Hollinsend]

So, back to the main question. Is Fleck going to be fit?

 

[Dnblade]

Same line up an Boro game for me,apart from Blackman and Stearman back in.

 

[Come from away]

Other than Stearman not sure he will tinker with the team.

 

[brownie4583]

Blackman

O’Connell
Basham
Stearman/Wright
Baldock
Stevens

Duffy
Evans
Fleck

Clarke
Brooks

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I want to see more of Duffy and Brooks on the pitch together. That will surely see us at our most creative.

It would be suicidal in a 3-5-1-1.

 

[Addison]

It would be suicidal in a 3-5-1-1.

We don't play 3-5-1-1 when Duffy and Brooks are in the team together more like 3-4-1-2. We need to win the game and we are up against 4-4-2.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

We don't play 3-5-1-1 when Duffy and Brooks are in the team together more like 3-4-1-2. We need to win the game and we are up against 4-4-2.

Brooks & Duffy rarely feature on the pitch together for long periods of time, usually no more than 20mins. It's usually done at the end of a game if we're chasing it. I'd respectfully suggest that there's a reason for it.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Would love to see Duffy in the same side as Brooks, but its pretty much nailed on to be the same side as Borough a part from Blackman and Stearman coming back in.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Subject to injuries, start with the same side as started against Boro, replacing Moore & Wright with Blackman & Stearman. Start 3-5-1-1 and then with 60 gone, take off Brooks & Evans and bring on Duffy & Sharp and go 3-5-2, still maintaining the pressure and playing in a shape that we are competent/confident in. If with 10 left we're in need of a goal throw Donaldson on for a CB, go 4-3-3 and unleash the dogs of war.

 

[Addison]

Brooks & Duffy rarely feature on the pitch together for long periods of time, usually no more than 20mins. It's usually done at the end of a game if we're chasing it. I'd respectfully suggest that there's a reason for it.

I'm not sure what that reason is other than Brooks was finding his feet at the start of the season and Billy was firing the goals in. Brooks then gets glandular fever and is out for 3 months and Billy loses a bit of form so there has been little opportunity to play them together with Clarke. Away from home maybe a more conservative approach. At home in a game you need to win against a team sitting back with two banks of four you need a creative number 10 to get in between the two lines and open them up IMO. That player is Duffy. Brooks provides the pace and running off the ball sat on Clarkes shoulder. Start with the same midfield as Tuesday and I fear Millwall will just let us play the ball around in front of them. Hope I'm wrong if we go with the 3-5-1-1 formation but there was enough evidence in the second half against Boro when they changed to two banks of four to suggest we may struggle to break them down.

 

[Ricky]

I don't see how Duffy with Brooks and Clarke would be more risky than Duffy with Sharp and Clarke.

Having Brooks there provides an extra outlet and will allow us to keep the ball for longer periods and give them more to worry about.

Against Cardiff and Boro, two big games against two good teams, Brooks played a tidy, disciplined game. This is a similar game and there's no reason not to trust him to start.

Duffy's far from a defensive liability either, in fact it's the opposite. He's a hardworking, intelligent player and doesn't make it easy for opponents to play through the middle.

There'd be a lot of pressure on Clarke starting with those two, but then again there is every week.

 

[FTPE]

Like Ricky has pointed out, I'm desperate to see Brooks play with Duffy supplying him.
We work the ball out wide Brilliantly, we overlap, we get crosses in but with the ammont of players that uses we can get countered that way.
If we need a crafty little ball playing through to a striker, if we need to mix it up and slot a ball through the middle for a player to turn their defence... then Duffy is the best we have.

 

[FTPE]

Final point, for a creative player who tries low percentage balls Duffy doesn't lose the ball very easy at at.
He's not ehat I'd class as defensive but he niggles, harasses, and intercepts balls almost as much as Fleck does.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Accept all the reasons why Duffy should start, but that would mean Brooks not playing. Perhaps Billy has been saved for this game?

Evans/Fleck and Lunny in midfield to start. Brooks and Clarke up top. Blackman and Stearman back in (please)

We do not need to win, a draw would be ok, but we can't afford to lose and go 6 points behind them with 3 to play.

Millwall play Us (A), Fulham (H), Boro (A) and Villa (H) - chances are Villa will play numerous fringe players but Millwall may not even win a game. We need to try and win but defo not lose.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Like Ricky has pointed out, I'm desperate to see Brooks play with Duffy supplying him.

Think we all do in the correct circumstances - do you think CW & AK will experiment in a game of this importance? Not convinced it will happen.

UTB

 

[derfblade.3]

I can't help thinking that Fleck is going to miss out. Nowt being said but he was struggling with summat on Tuesday and the silence is usually a sign that a player may miss out. Hope that i'm wrong but no-one has said anything at all about why he was carrying an injury.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

GERRUMALLBACKIN TUFTEH!!!

 

[wizadry]

I can't help thinking that Fleck is going to miss out. Nowt being said but he was struggling with summat on Tuesday and the silence is usually a sign that a player may miss out. Hope that i'm wrong but no-one has said anything at all about why he was carrying an injury.

Not one of the journalists have even asked Wilder the question.