PlymouthGeordie

Hopefully ASM is back but I'd have him on the bench. Lamptey absolutely roasted him him in this fixture last year. Alternatively, play Fraser left and ASM right. Should we win this we'd be over 1 PPG for the first time all season and could start targeting Villa, Leicester, Palace and Brighton. A loss would still leave me worried about relegation.

A lot of variables at play. For example, you could argue our form is unsustainable where as Brentford, Leeds and Everton can pretty much only improve they've been that bad of late.

Performance and form wise I'm a 0. Based on the league table I'm a 4. We are still only 4 points clear and the team in 18th have played a game less.

So many posts based on if we beat Brentford. I know we're at opposite ends of the form table but it would hardly be a shock if we lose.

It's difficult to assess because I'd say Norwich are gone and Watford are on life support, leaving 5 teams fighting to avoid the final relegation position which in theory means there is a 20% chance of relegation. Saturday is just too big. If we lose and Burnley beat Palace on Monday night we're back in the bottom 3 having played a game more than Burnley and Everton. If we win, it almost doesn't matter what Burnley do because we're on an upward trajectory and we'll be a point ahead of Brentford with 2 games in hand.

Is he? I didn't spot him.

If I could pick one of the three teams to lose tonight it would be Burnley. If they win they'll have real momentum. I've seen a lot of posts (not just on this forum) of "if we beat Brentford etc. etc." but Toney being back is a huge boost for them. I think I'm just nervous about the Brentford game because it's so big and all the talk is about us winning an important game which I'm really not used to. If we lose it, and results tonight and at the weekend go against us we're back in the bottom 3.

Not sure it's an easy decision. Willock is just hitting form playing in his preferred position. I think disrupting that just to shoehorn Bruno in is a mistake. Additionally, the understanding and cohesion our midfield 3 currently have is something we haven't had for a long time. As frustrating as it is for Bruno and us as fans, it has become too much of a risk to break up the midfield 3 whilst in the midst of a relegation battle. I think he'll have to wait for injures or suspensions to arise before getting the chance to stake his claim. The easy decision is Murphy and ASM wide if Fraser is out. If ASM is still missing then Almiron comes in. Too big a risk to play a player that is not used to the pace of the league in our biggest game of the season. Especially when selecting him means breaking up a part of the team which is functioning so well.

I'm a 5. I'd take a draw against Brentford as I'd back us to pick up 3 points from one of our games in hand to go above them. Been saying for a while Burnley look like they're up for the fight. Today's results were frustrating, more so because we put pressure on them with a good performance and result earlier in the day. The only good thing about Burnley and Watford winning means for the first time this season it has really cranked up the pressure on Brentford, Leeds and Everton. It'll be interesting to see how they handle that. It's no longer 3 teams from 4, given Norwich have played 25 games and are 5 adrift I'd now say it's 2 teams from 6 (us, Burnley, Watford, Leeds, Everton and Brentford). If we beat Brentford I would definitely back us to get 11 points from our last 13 games (3 wins and 2 draws) and surely 36 points keeps us up? We need to be aiming for 4 points from Brentford and Brighton.

For me, that performance was better than any of the 3 wins. We controlled the first half and should've been ahead. We tired a bit towards the end but still looked so solid against a good team whilst missing key players. If Targett or Krafth put in some better deliveries we'd have won.

If it is Miggy, I hope he's on the left and Fraser is right. Not sure I can cope with Miggy running to the corner flag before releasing he has no right foot.

I think Burnley are the biggest threat to us. They've played Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool of late and come out of it with 2 points and a goal difference of -1. In fact, they should've beaten Liverpool. I think they'll win tomorrow.

Really? I quite often see him carry the ball effortlessly 50/60 yards up the pitch by just surging past people that can't keep pace with him.

Absolutely Howe knows what he's doing. But to compare Rice to Ramsey and Coutinho is a weird comparison. Rice is all about pace, power and athleticism. Basically everything Coutinho isn't. To combat that, I think this is the game to bring Bruno in from the start even though our midfield 3 have performed well lately. I don't think Howe will change it though and I get why given recent performances.

Huge blow which is only worsened by the fact that instead of going from Trippier to Manquillo we're likely to go from Trippier to Krafth. Don't get the calls from people calling for a change in formation off the back of this though. The 433 works because it allows Joelinton to cover ASM's workload. Murphy cannot defend and not sure Targett would offer enough going forward as a wing back. We just need to stick with our current set up and go with Krafth. The defence gets good protection with our current formation and allows us to press aggressively.

As others have said, this will be really tough. As good as our midfield 3 have been, Rice will simply have too much pace, power and athleticism for Shelvey. So for that reason, I'd like to see Eddie replace Shelvey with Bruno as Bruno offers more protection to the back 4 and recycles possession better. I think Eddie will go with the same front 6 players though. Targett will rightly come in at LB and at RB it'll be Krafth if Trippier and Manquillo are both injured. I'd like to see (4-3-3): Dubravka Trippier/Manquillo/Krafth Schar Burn Targett Willock Bruno Joelinton ASM Wood Fraser But as stated, can't see Howe dropping Shelvey. I really hope he doesn't recall Lascelles though. It was refreshing to have two CB's so comfortable on the ball for a change.

A giant in every sense of the word. He was so confident and composed on the ball, won every header and was a real leader at the back. Absolutely superb debut.

Tomorrow is the big one. Win and I'd back us to get a point at West Ham and we won't look back all season. If we win and Burnley lose tomorrow, they'll be 7 behind with 2 games in hand. Even if we only won another 3 games all season (after tomorrow), Burnley would have to win 6 of their final 17 after winning only 1 of their first 21 to catch us. It would be borderline impossible for them. I don't think Norwich will sustain their mini revival. Watford, despite being so poor are the biggest threat purely because at some point Hodgson will get them to shit house a few 1-0 wins. If we win tomorrow, I'm a 2. Draw and I'm a 3 and if we lose I'm a 5.

I thought he'd be a big player under Eddie but unfortunately for Miggy the formation we've landed on doesn't play with a number 10. I think that's his only position. He can't play in midfield, is awful on the right because he's all left foot and doesn't have the craft or guile to cut inside ala Raphina, Mahrez etc. He's a high pressing, high energy 10 who forces the opposition in to mistakes rather than a 10 that crafts chances. It's quite a niche skill set / position. I agree with you and think he'll go in the summer. I'll be sad to see him leave as under Rafa it looked like we'd unearthed a gem. Plus he works his socks off so I'll always miss players that graft for the team.

I don't think he'll bring Bruno in for this one. Barring injuries the only change will be Burn or Manquillo for Targett. I'm not a fan of sticking with a winning team regardless and given then gap between Everton and this one is small I'd be all for keeping the team fresh but more than trust Eddie to get it right. A win here would be huge given you'd expect Norwich to lose to City, Burnley to lose Liverpool and at least 2 of Brentford, Palace, Everton and Leeds will drop points.

Was underwhelmed when we signed him but he was really impressive tonight. How nice is it to have two full backs that can get up and down the pitch, are fairly quick over 10 yards, good positionally and solid defensively.

Clearly lacking confidence but on more than one occasion he sprinted out to left hand side to cover ASM after ASM had been on one of his runs. Works tirelessly for the team, is good defensively and tactically, just needs a goal. He's putting in a shift so he won't be getting any grief from me.

Speaks so well. Always talks about us and what we can do. So refreshing given Bruce would big up teams such as Watford and Norwich whilst also allowing them to have the ball for the whole game. The most important quality Howe has instilled in the team is the best way to close out a 1 goal lead is to score another goal. Bruce, Rafa, Pardew all used to park the bus at 1-0 up and hope to close the game out. Under Eddie the players have a real belief in what they can do to cause the other team problems and that to me is massive.

Really happy with this appointment. He has done an unbelievable job at Brighton.

I wouldn't say more likely but Burnley's games in hand are a concern. It's also annoying that Watford and Burnley face each other this weekend. I really don't want Hodgson getting off to a winning start as relegation battles are his forte. Equally, a Burnley win and they go level with us but with 2 games in hand. Anything other than a draw is a bad result. We need a minimum of 4 points from Everton & Villa and that won't be easy.