Starting Eleven? As it stands .....

[ITFC2024]

I’m pretty sure Burns and Luongo will both start if fit. Woolfy will probably start too, unfortunately. Can see Taylor coming on for Luongo in the second half.

I really hope we give it one hell of a go and give Liverpool a reality check. What a statement it could be if we won or even draw. On paper, I don’t expect either but I’m hopeful we’ll come out all guns blazing! You can’t write off KM’s Ipswich!

[shabba]

What is the best/most likely selected XI now?

Muric (it fit soon)

Johnson
Greaves
Wolfie
Davis

Morsy
Phillips

Burns
Omari
Szmodics

Delap

I know Philips can’t play vs city, and has there been any news on Muric?
I’d like to see Axel partner greaves in central defence.

Suspect we might go with Johnson and Axel vs city to make a 5 at the back out of possession. We can’t leave Davis so open, suspect burgers was more used to covering that area than greaves (who was immense to be fair).

[AzzurroMark]

What is the best/most likely selected XI now?

Muric (it fit soon)

Johnson
Greaves
Wolfie
Davis

Morsy
Phillips

Burns
Omari
Szmodics

Delap

I know Philips can’t play vs city, and has there been any news on Muric?
I’d like to see Axel partner greaves in central defence.

Suspect we might go with Johnson and Axel vs city to make a 5 at the back out of possession. We can’t leave Davis so open, suspect burgers was more used to covering that area than greaves (who was immense to be fair).

Burns has hamstring injury so will be out for a while.

[ITFC2024]

Harness comes in for Burns. Burgess or Edmundson starts. The rest I agree with…but, all joking aside who’s gonna cover the beast that is Haaland? Whoever it is they need to be physical. Haaland doesn’t like to be pushed about.

[shabba]

Really shows how much we need another attacker if harness has to start - he has done well pre season etc but not sure he is good enough for the prem.

[Ricco]

Could we see something like this at City? Maybe more likely to stick with the safer known quantity of Tuanzebe instead of Johnson, and we can only hope Muric's injury is behind him, but if we're going to try it and have 5 at the back, then there might not be a better time?!

[shabba]

Could we see something like this at City? Maybe more likely to stick with the safer known quantity of Tuanzebe instead of Johnson, and we can only hope Muric's injury is behind him, but if we're going to try it and have 5 at the back, then there might not be a better time?!

Oh Ricco, top work on the graphic!

I'd say more likely Axel plays over Wooflie or Burges, then you can push johson up to make 3 behind delap when you have the ball, i.e the normal 4-2-3-1, then switch to a 5-2-2-1 like you show there without the ball with Axel moving to RB.

[Bluemike]

I think after the way Woolfy played against Liverpool he'll still be in the side.

[Ricco]

Oh Ricco, top work on the graphic!

What else am I meant to do on a Monday morning? Work?!

I suppose there is Szmodics actually, he'd start over Harness in a formation like that I should think. Even though I think Hutchinson could be our best player this season and he's best on the right, it's still a massive blow losing Burns, I considered him one of the players who would step up well.

[Bluemike]

We actually suffered a fair bit after Burns went off.

[clethbridge8]

We actually suffered a fair bit after Burns went off.

I rate Burns a lot, I think he's one of our best players and will be a big miss. If he's out for a while, I could imagine we might try and get somone else in to cover.

On the starting 11, maybe Townsend at leftback and push Leif up to in front of him, might give us some nice balance on the left and make as a bit more sure defensively.

[ITFC2024]

Johnson was nonexistent when he came on, to be honest. Chaplin's gonna have to put in better performances if he wants to start. I'm beginning to think Chaplin might be better used as an impact sub. Davis is gonna need help defensively, especially against the top teams. Morsy's gonna need help in the middle, hopefully Phillips will fill that role. As many have said, Greaves was immense and probably deserves the captain's armband when Morsy isn't playing.

I think we're definitely gonna score goals with Hutchinson and Szmodics on the pitch. Delap is a beast, and if he can improve his ball control he'll score or set up a few himself.

I thought Walton did really well, especially after not starting a match for so long.

Final note, I know it's KM's philosophy to bring the ball out from the back and I know why we do it. But we also need to have a plan B to counter when the opposition plays such a high press.

[Dubai Blue]

The passing out thing is a funny beast isn't it. IMO our plan B is just t be better at beating the press. Countering the high press is exactly what we are challenging ourselves to do as it creates a lot of space behind which our pacy forward players and neat passing can exploit.

I know it gives us a nervous breakdown sometimes to watch but booting the ball upfield must be only an emergency measure.

I thought we did pretty well on Saturday against their press and made less errors than they did against our press tbh.

[Ricco]

If he's out for a while, I could imagine we might try and get somone else in to cover.

We're already trying to get some injury cover in to the club for Hirst and Broadhead That's a full quality forward line rolling around in the physio room at this point. Nightmare!

We actually suffered a fair bit after Burns went off.

Yeah really sad to see this, I hope he's back soon and fairly unaffected, I think that's being very optimistic though, damn hamstrings. But yes, not only being a player that stays wide and stretches defences (rare these days), but I've always said he was our best forward player defensively too, I think Clarke/Tuanzebe from memory had really tough days when he wasn't about to help them.

More reason to move to a back 5, that is how I would have started the season. Full credit to McKenna for sticking by his guns, but he may have his hand forced at some point this season I feel.

[shabba]

I actually thought we did go long on occasion vs Liverpool, especially from Walton - and I was OK to see that as liverpool's press was improving and there is a big step up in this league. Delaps hold up play was good, some of his first touches were excellent - I actually think he has alot of great attributes - his finishing just lets him down from what I've seen so far.

In KM we trust.

[Bluemike]

We actually suffered a fair bit after Burns went off.

I rate Burns a lot, I think he's one of our best players and will be a big miss. If he's out for a while, I could imagine we might try and get somone else in to cover.

On the starting 11, maybe Townsend at leftback and push Leif up to in front of him, might give us some nice balance on the left and make as a bit more sure defensively.

Yes I like Burns too, he's one of those players that you miss more when he's not there and appreciate what he brings to the team defensively. I hope it's not a long term injury. Davis was at fault for both goals so it's an area that definitely requires scrutiny.

[Bluemike]

Johnson was nonexistent when he came on, to be honest. Chaplin's gonna have to put in better performances if he wants to start. I'm beginning to think Chaplin might be better used as an impact sub. Davis is gonna need help defensively, especially against the top teams. Morsy's gonna need help in the middle, hopefully Phillips will fill that role. As many have said, Greaves was immense and probably deserves the captain's armband when Morsy isn't playing.

I think we're definitely gonna score goals with Hutchinson and Szmodics on the pitch. Delap is a beast, and if he can improve his ball control he'll score or set up a few himself.

I thought Walton did really well, especially after not starting a match for so long.

Final note, I know it's KM's philosophy to bring the ball out from the back and I know why we do it. But we also need to have a plan B to counter when the opposition plays such a high press.

Pretty much agree with all of that.

[Bluemike]

If he's out for a while, I could imagine we might try and get somone else in to cover.

We're already trying to get some injury cover in to the club for Hirst and Broadhead That's a full quality forward line rolling around in the physio room at this point. Nightmare!

We actually suffered a fair bit after Burns went off.

Yeah really sad to see this, I hope he's back soon and fairly unaffected, I think that's being very optimistic though, damn hamstrings. But yes, not only being a player that stays wide and stretches defences (rare these days), but I've always said he was our best forward player defensively too, I think Clarke/Tuanzebe from memory had really tough days when he wasn't about to help them.

More reason to move to a back 5, that is how I would have started the season. Full credit to McKenna for sticking by his guns, but he may have his hand forced at some point this season I feel.

I think a back Five could be a must Saturday if we want to keep it respectable, whether KM thinks the same remains to be seen.

[AzzurroMark]

Never imagined myself saying this, as I've not always been a fan, but how about Edmundson in a back 3 against City? KM played him to try to negate Delap last season when we played Hull and if we're going to use physical strength with pace against Haaland, I'd personally throw 'The Fridge' at him!!

[Bluemike]

Yep, I'd be happy with Edmundson in there

[shabba]

I'd be happy with that too.

[hallamblue]

Edmundson all day long for Saturday

[ashfordblue]

I think after the way Woolfy played against Liverpool he'll still be in the side.

Mike do you think Wolfie is up to matching Haarland's strength on the ball, I think maybe Axel is more up to the task with Edmundson alongside Greaves, I think City at their ground is going to be a real toughie but I would still like to see us keep our composure and certainly don't go chasing the game if we go one or two down, we've always played the passing game and it shows our class, absorb the pressure and look for the quick breaks we are so good at, this will be another stern test and we can come through it, you never know we could spring a surprise

[ITFC2024]

With the signing of Cajuste, I’m of the opinion he and Szmodics should start against MC. Also agree that we should revert to a back five with Edmundson coming into the picture. I’m telling you, if we’re physical with Haaland he’ll get frustrated and lose his composure. Of course there are loads of other threats, but if we contain Haaland it will force them to shoot from distance and limit they’re crosses to Haaland. Can they score from distance? Absolutely! But in my opinion if we close down Haaland in the box, they’ll have less chances to score.

[ashfordblue]

I want to see Broja playing he's so hard to knock off the ball and against Man City if fit, he could have a perfect effect if you watched his games for other clubs on loan he is a direct player who runs at defenders down the byline to get into the box and either shoot or lay off for another to score, he will be an asset up front and I can see Szmodics and him being a real handful getting at defenders, licking my lips on this pairing

[hallamblue]

Depending on his fitness he may well get some minutes on Saturday...but reckon he'll start with Delap

[Ricco]

.............................Muric.............................

Tuanzebe.....Woolfy.....Greaves.......Davis

..................Morsy...........Cajuste................

Hutchinson........Szmodics..........Delap

.............................Broja.........................

So that ^ has to be our best 11 at the club? A few players like Phillips may make break in too.

Don't you think it's a bit much chucking players straight in though? You can probably get away with it with as striker as much as anything, but surely you at least need to see them train! It takes time to get players in to a new system, probably 2 months before it's fully click and their forging partnerships?

[Bluemike]

That really looks a tasty line up to be fair.

[Charnwood]

The player I’m trying to work out where he fits is Kalvin Phillips who I really know little about, probably because Leeds where he played his best football, is one club I rarely choose to watch play.
So I did a bit of online research and came up with this,

On 19 July 2018, Phillips revealed he had been training as a centre back and a deep-lying playmaker ahead of the 2018–19 season, as part of new head coach Marcelo Bielsa's tactics.[30] As the season started, he was deployed as the holding midfielder in a 4–1–4–1 formation.[31] Phillips was utilised as a deep-lying defensive midfielder for Leeds under Bielsa, playing as a centre back if the team lined up in a three-man defence.[13] In October 2018, his impressive form in his new positions under Bielsa's management[32] saw Phillips briefly linked with a possible call up to Gareth Southgate's England national team.

This and the period that followed was the most successful period of Phillips career which led him to international honours and a £45m transfer to Manchester City.

I just wonder if McKenna is thinking of putting him in a back 3 alongside Greaves replacing Woolfie, or maybe putting him in front of Greaves and Woolfie to link up play going forward to allow Morsy to push further upfield and reduce his defensive responsibilities.

There has to be a plan for him given even our share of his wages probably makes him our most expensive player. We’ve definitely not taken him in to sit on the bench and I’m sure he wouldn’t have joined us if there was any chance of that.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

.............................Muric.............................

Tuanzebe.....Woolfy.....Greaves.......Davis

..................Morsy...........Cajuste................

Hutchinson........Szmodics..........Delap

.............................Broja.........................

So that ^ has to be our best 11 at the club? A few players like Phillips may make break in too.

Don't you think it's a bit much chucking players straight in though? You can probably get away with it with as striker as much as anything, but surely you at least need to see them train! It takes time to get players in to a new system, probably 2 months before it's fully click and their forging partnerships?

I'd go with this:
.............................Muric...........................

......Tuanzebe.....Woolfy.....Greaves.......Davis....

...........................Phillips............................

..........Hutchinson.....Morsy.....Cajuste..............

...............Szmodics..............Broja..................