Some thinking to do about Leeds

[Matthew Le God]

At Leeds I'd go 4-5-1.

 

Get James out of right back and get Thomas in. Would line up like this:

 

Bart

Thomas Jaidi Perry Harding

Wotton Schinderlin

Waigo Hammond Lallana

Lambert

 

That is not how 451 is played by Pardew. Wotton sits in front of the centre back and Schneiderlin and Hammond play in front.

[Rod Le Shearer]

Come on be honest had you heard of him before he joined us?

 

yes,he was a very hot prospect on FM

that isnt so daft as it sounds. many people first become aware of players via that game,and check them out afterwards.

 

I`ve also seen him on the show "Eurogoals" on Eurosport a couple of times !

[Toadhall Saint]

That is not how 451 is played by Pardew. Wotton sits in front of the centre back and Schneiderlin and Hammond play in front.

So 4 1 4 1? Or 4 1 2 2 1? I prefer 4 1 4 1 myself.

[derry]

I don't lack confidence but I think we've got to be careful about billing this as the "game of the season" so far. If we do that and end up losing it could dent confidence and create a dodgy streak. Let's take it as "just another game".

 

Having said that, based on what I've seen I'm in the camp that thinks we're better on the front foot. So I'd be tempted to have a go at them from the start, using right-side width to stretch their defence and to help negate the threat of Snodgrass. If he doesn't track back to help his defence they will be vulnerable, just as we are if James is left to fend for himself.

 

In truth I'd feel more confident about picking up three points if Murty was fit but we can still get a result there.

 

And with regard to the JPT I'm all for putting our best side out. Some experience of an important game at Wembley could come in very handy next May.

 

Spot on Bill, you may be being a bit optimistic talking about width as I'm not sure it's seen as a priority although it should be.

 

Waigo will give us a lot more than Antonio down the right and he doesn't get offside much when he is on the touchline. He is pretty good at tracking the wide runners and his pace means he doesn't get outrun.

 

He is also a much better footballer than many on here give him credit for. He rarely gives the ball away and his crossing is good. Antonio had the touch of an Elephant yesterday. His poor ball control cancelled out his pace and he isn't at all clever.

 

James slowness worries me, he does some good things but he is painfully slow. Thomas is the other alternative and I personally prefer him to James at right back. Either way Waigo would give better support to either and provide a cutting edge on the right.

 

I expect Lallana to be a lot wider against Leeds as I think there will be an emphasis on supporting the full backs against their wide men. That could well work in our favour with the extra width giving the midfield wide options to get the passing game going.

 

Perry had a decent game yesterday and Jaidi is very good in the air but is a bit slow. Trotman may be quicker than Perry but he is nowhere near as competent.

[Big John]

as a precursor to the jpt final, winning next week will be amazing. the toughest test since brum and we weren't quite ready for that. hope it's on the net somewhere.

 

prediction - 1-4

[Matthew Le God]

the toughest test since brum and we weren't quite ready for that.

 

Birmingham are in the top 10 of the Premiership and Leeds are top of League One. Big difference. I'm not saying Leeds will be easy, of course they won't, but it can't be compared to the Brum game.