Team for Brum

[KeiranShikari_2 0]

Know it was only a friendly game but but Marshall did not look like a right back that could play in a 4. Perhaps a wing back in a 3. Think he was also playing on the right side of midfield when he was actually performing well. Onel Hernandez has been playing well at left midfield so I can''t see him starting anywhere else.

So for me it''s;

Krul

Passlack / Hanley / Klose / Husband

Marshall / Thompson/ Leitner / Trybull / Hernandez

Rhodes

Could easily be Godfrey over Thompson and even Pukki over Rhodes. Will be pretty damn hard to pick a midfield once Vramcic and Tettey get back fit.

[Goss93 0]

For me it’s:

Krul

Marshall Hanley Klose Stiepermann

Godfrey Trybull

Hernández Leitner MacLean

Pukki

DF seems to have gone off Stiepermann as a left back but I think he’s our best option assuming Lewis is injured and with Husband having had a poor pre-season. Would be unfair to stick Aarons in given he’s always played on the right.

Don’t think he’ll risk Rhodes from the start, but expect him to come on if we’re chasing a goal.

If Leitner still looks like he’s struggling to get into his rhythm then Buendía, who’s looked impressive, could come on to give us some forward momentum.

[king canary 7,599]

@Bethnal

My concern is that Farke goes back to packing the midfield with lightweight playmakers as you mention. I think Godfrey supplies mobility which is important too so I''m hoping we''re looking at him starting in the holding role.

[The Great Wall Of Tettey 0]

Krul

Marshall Zimm Klose Hanley Husband

Trybull McLean

pukki Hernandez

Rhodes

Having said that I’ve got a feeling the heavily adopted 4141 used in pre season will be used Saturday.

[hogesar 9,653]

[quote user="king canary"]@Bethnal

My concern is that Farke goes back to packing the midfield with lightweight playmakers as you mention. I think Godfrey supplies mobility which is important too so I''m hoping we''re looking at him starting in the holding role.[/quote]

To be fair, last season Farke had his hands tied to a degree in that we didn''t often have the option of strengthening the midfield in that sense. We only had Tettey (struggled to do 2 matches a week) and Trybull (in and out with injury frequently). When they were both fit we started with both of them quite a few times! Which coincided with our best results, generally, I think.

This season having Mclean who seems to be able to tackle, along with hopefully Thompson and Godfrey gives us more options in that department.

[Yellowbeagle 0]

hopefully wont go with a flat back 4, as I don''t think Passlack has adapted yet and Marshall doesnt look like he should be being used in a flat back 4.

Godfrey or Thompson in midfield along side Trybull. Definitely not Trybull holding on his own. The rest is pretty much of a muchness apart from Hanley who has to start.

[Jim Smith 2,317]

For me we have to keep Husband off the pitch as he''s a complete liability and I also feel quite strongly that Trybull alone as a holding midfielder leaves the defence exposed. I think our defence looks much more solid with 3 CBs but the pre-season friendly formations strongly suggest Farke is not going to go for that. i think we therefore need Godfrey or Thompson alongside Trybull until such time as Tettey is back.

Marshall may have to play right back until Pinto is fit or Passlack gets used to English football although i think we could do worse than play Aarons there. I would go for:

Krul

Marshall Hanley Klose Aarons

Thompson Trybull

McClean Leitner Hernandez

Pukki

[king canary 7,599]

@Hoegsar

Disagree- he had Tettey, Reed and Trybull all who could have provided more solidarity. He only started playing Tettey and Trybull together when his hand was forced by the team leaking goals.

That led to the run we had but then later in the season he seemed to go back to his love of diminutive playmakers. There were injury issues, sure, but the impression I''ve had is that Farke liked to have as many ball players and one defensive midfielder if possible.

[Samwam27 527]

I agree with Jim that Husband still looks a complete liability and has again looked poor in pre season. There''s a part of me that feels we''ll do better with grit and determination over technical ability, and I fear we''ll want to play Leitner who could be a luxury. For me I''d go with

Krul

Marshall Hanley Klose Aarons

Godfrey/Thompson Trybull

McClean Pukki Hernandez

Rhodes

[Just Dan 10]

Just tried to write mine - very tough which, I think, is a really good sign. Plenty of options in terms of both Personnel and Systems. Ok, let''s give it a go....

Krul

Marshall Hanley Klose Stieperman

Thompson

Hernandez Leitner McLean

Pukki

Rhodes

[CANARYKING 637]

Anybody at the back except Husband, what did we see in him ?

[hogesar 9,653]

[quote user="king canary"]@Hoegsar

Disagree- he had Tettey, Reed and Trybull all who could have provided more solidarity. He only started playing Tettey and Trybull together when his hand was forced by the team leaking goals.

That led to the run we had but then later in the season he seemed to go back to his love of diminutive playmakers. There were injury issues, sure, but the impression I''ve had is that Farke liked to have as many ball players and one defensive midfielder if possible.[/quote]

But, as I said, we rarely had Tettey AND Trybull fit. Reed was decent reading the game but he didn''t offer much more solidarity than Vrancic. Then we needed him at Right Back AND we didn''t have Tettey and Trybull both fit. I''m not 100% but i''m sure there was a time where Farke said (in an article on here) that not having Tettey available for both games in a week and missing Trybull was forcing his hand.

[hogesar 9,653]

It''s worth noting Trybull missed 14 matches due to injury and Tettey missed 12, and that''s ignoring Tettey''s ability to play twice in one week and the catch-up fitness work Trybull had to do.

[hogesar 9,653]

In fact, to go further, when Tettey was fit, which was mid December onwards - we played either him and Trybull or a combination including one of those and Reed in pretty much every match they were available for. I''ve only looked through 10 or so line-ups following Tettey''s return but looks to be the cae generally.

[Jim Smith 2,317]

And our record with the two in tandem was amazing. 7 wins and 1 draw I think in 8 games. Possibly two draws.

[king canary 7,599]

Hogesar- wasn''t Reed playing right back for most of those matches?

My point is though that Farke started the season packing the midfield with playmakers (the midfield vs Millwall being a particular highlight) and then results forced him into the switch. Then as the season progress and he bought Leitner in he seemed to move back to that even when other options were available. The move to a back three slightly negated this but look at our run in of 5 games- always a back 4 and always packing the midfield with playmakers.

My concern is now with the options he has that is what Farkes instincts will return to. If he sets up on Saturday with two of Godfrey, Thompson and Trybull then great. We''ll see.

[Michael Bates 9]

......................Krul

Passlack Hanley Klose Lewis

.................Godfrey

.......McLean...........Trybull

Marshall......................Hernandez

...................Pukki

I''d rather rest Rhodes and ensure he is fit for the rest of the season. LEWIS however, is an athletic machine and I wouldn''t be surprised if he can slot in comfortably despite lack of pre season minutes.

I''m not sure Leitner or Trybull have done enough to show he deserves to start in pre season. However Trybull will add more bite in an away game so he gets the nod.

Leitner

Buendia

Rhodes

Srbeny

Stiepermann

Marshall

Zimmermann

That also meets the home grown quota i think also? :)

[hogesar 9,653]

[quote user="king canary"]Hogesar- wasn''t Reed playing right back for most of those matches?

My point is though that Farke started the season packing the midfield with playmakers (the midfield vs Millwall being a particular highlight) and then results forced him into the switch. Then as the season progress and he bought Leitner in he seemed to move back to that even when other options were available. The move to a back three slightly negated this but look at our run in of 5 games- always a back 4 and always packing the midfield with playmakers.

My concern is now with the options he has that is what Farkes instincts will return to. If he sets up on Saturday with two of Godfrey, Thompson and Trybull then great. We''ll see.[/quote]

Yes, but you''re literally looking at about 5 matches where he done that whilst having the option of holding midfielders. Of course he got it wrong at Millwall, but this was right at the start of his first season at this level. It''s not like he reverted back to packing it full of playmakers although at home towards the end he did a bit and it worked - people were complaining about the lack of creativity at home as soon as we stopped the goals going in the other end.

I do agree he was naive in certain away games thinking we could pass teams off the park but he seemed to have learnt from that. Saying all this, looking at the midfielders that can pass and create now, also have a bit of grit about them. That includes Mclean, Godfrey, Buendia, maybe Thomson. You''d hope this would make it easier.

[Samwam27 527]

I honestly thought we had a natural replacement for Tettey in Godfrey, but hopefully Thompson can stay injury free and develop.

I''m a little disappointed we haven''t seen him used in that role pre season, only Thompson, but it''s exciting we have got Tettey, Trybull, Thompson and Godfrey to cover, so we''re much better stocked than last season

[king canary 7,599]

I suppose it depends on whether you think he made the change because he really wanted to or if you think it was forced on him by circumstances. Based on how he set up towards the end of the season I lean towards the latter.

I''m refraining from commenting much on the newbies because I''ve barely seen them but yes it seems we''ve got options for more balance. I just have visions of, when all are fit, us asking Tettey or Godfrey to protect a midfield of Hernandez, Leitner, Vrancic and Buendia.

[Indy_Bones 441]

I''m very surprised at the number of people placing Godfrey in the DM role - not because I think he''d do a poor job (far from it), but purely because all the evidence we''ve seen so far is that Farke prefers him at CB rather than DM, and with Tettey, Trybull and Thompson all fighting for the more defensive role in midfield, I''d be amazed if Godfrey got the nod over any of them at the present.

I''ve not been overly convinced by Marshall at RB so far and think he suits RWB or RW far more, but I also don''t think we''ve brought Passlack in to sit on the bench for most of the season either (one of the reason''s he was previously recalled from his last loan).

I''ll hazard a guess (which will likely be totally wrong) at:

                       Krul

Passlack, Hanley, Klose, Lewis (if fit)

              Trybull, Leitner

Marshall,    McLean,    Hernandez

                    Rhodes (if fit)

We could just as easily see:

                     Krul

Passlack, Hanley, Klose, Husband

                Thompson

Marshall, Leitner, Mclean, Hernandez

                   Pukki

Complete guessing game on everyone outside of Krul, Hanley and Klose I reckon, but I also expect to see Passlack given plenty of match time in the back line, and midfield is just anyone''s guess tbh!

[Indy_Bones 441]

On a side note, I think we''ll also see a lot of Buendia this season, but don''t think he''s likely to start the Brum game due to lack of pre-season minutes etc.

[ZLF 273]

Perhaps I am alone but I dont see Trybull as a def central midfielder.

For me he is a box to box player, uses the ball far better than Tettey and defends well alongside a specialist defence focus player - but gets by passed &/or lacks the positional discipline to stay deep.

Have TT alongside one of the three specialists - but I will be nervous if he is the anchor.

[king canary 7,599]

@Indy Bones

I can see either of those but they both concern me quite a bit- two attacking fullbacks, two playmaker types in the middle, very little cover for the defence. Could easily see that midfield being overrun.

[Indy_Bones 441]

[quote user="king canary"]@Indy Bones

I can see either of those but they both concern me quite a bit- two attacking fullbacks, two playmaker types in the middle, very little cover for the defence. Could easily see that midfield being overrun.[/quote]I can''t really disagree with your concerns there King.

That being said, teams like Arsenal and Barca have frequently played with similarly attacking setups and relied on their use of the ball and possesion to keep things sensible, but of course they have FAR better players than we do and are playing in leagues which aren''t quite as rough and tumble as the Championship is.

Clearly we''d be far better suited in midfield if we had Tettey providing the defensive support, but in truth we don''t know if Thompson or indeed Godfrey could perform the role just as well (even if we accept that Trybull isn''t an out and out DM).

I could even see us set up more like England did at times:

                                           Krul

               Passlack/Godfrey, Hanley, Klose/Zimm

Marshall                                                                Lewis

                                 Tettey/Thompson

                    Leitner/Mclean  Trybull/Vrancic

                                          Pukki/Buendia

                                  Rhodes/Pukki

The key issue there being what happens to players like Hernandez who have looked good in pre-season but don''t really fit into that sort of system very well, and this also includes someone like Cantwell for that matter?

[king canary 7,599]

@Indy

With a back three I think you could line up like this...

Krul

Godfrey, Klose, Hanley

Passlack, Leitner, Trybull, Lewis

McClean, Rhodes/Pukki, Hernandez

Width is provided by Marshall and Lewis so McLean can play narrower and Hernandez can cut in from wide positions. Pukki and Buendia could also fill these roles, you could drop McLean back into a more central position if needs be and it gives much greater cover in behind the midfielders. Another option is to use Hernandez''s pace and play him up next to the striker like we did with Josh at times.

If we''re going back 4 then we need a really disciplined holder in the middle, who will drop in between the central defenders when we attack. This is something Godfrey might be really good at as he''s played central defence quite a bit. You then also need a bit of steel/mobility infront of them (Trybull, Thompson or maybe McLean) as otherwise we''re really vulnerable to losing the ball and being hit with quick counters.

[nutty nigel 7,526]

At the beginning of the season Farke chose to ignore Tettey. After he started including him he only left him out if he was injured or needed resting. Our record when he had Tettey and Trybull together was P8 W7. Hopefully Louis Thompson can add to the Tettey option.

[ZLF 273]

Plenty of love for a back 3 (also my preferred use of the squad) but given its lack of use during pre season I can''t seeing it not being a back 4.

[Jim Smith 2,317]

I was slightly dismayed at the ditching of the 3CB system last season after it had worked well in my view.

I''ve seen comments elsewhere about how Farke has sorted out our leaky defense but I am far from convinced that he has done when we''ve played a back 4. We looked very solid with the 3CB''s and wing backs but once we reverted to a back 4 we started to leak goals again (plus give the opposition far more chances) and we shipped a fair few goals in the last few games. Zimmerman in particular is nowhere near as effective in a back 4 as he is when deployed as one of 3 centre backs.

[Yellowbeagle 0]

[quote user="Zimmers Left Foot"]Plenty of love for a back 3 (also my preferred use of the squad) but given its lack of use during pre season I can''t seeing it not being a back 4.[/quote]

Trouble with this is, has Farke really been given the players to play a flat back 4? The fullbacks to me do not look great in a flat back 4, Marshall is a winger he will be ok in a wing back position but long term as a all out RB I really have my doubts if that will benefit club or player. Pinto defensively is poor so similar problem. Passlack appears not to have adjusted yet, so that probably leaves Aarons who I actually know very little about. LB is almost as bad, Lewis is fine but when he''s out we''re left with Husband and Steiperman, neither who I have much confidence in. He may well go for a flat back 4, he as after all as you said gone for that preseason, but for me it looks a huge risk with the players available.