RM Poll

[Charlie BCFC]

A position I can't decide who start for is the right midfield position. Obviously Brownhill has been playing there all season but is he more effective through the middle of midfield? Eliasson looked good v Watford, Leko is probably West Brom's hottest prospect at the moment. Not to mention we also have O'Dowda. So who would you choose?

[JBFC II]

Leko right mid

Elliasson left mid

Brownhill centre mid with smith

[Tom]

30 minutes ago, JBFC II said:

Leko right mid

Elliasson left mid

Brownhill centre mid with smith

I'd do the same, but with Pack at CM.

[Bar BS3]

42 minutes ago, JBFC II said:

Leko right mid

Elliasson left mid

Brownhill centre mid with smith

Away at Reading..?!

[RedM]

15 minutes ago, Tom said:

I'd do the same, but with Pack at CM.

Me too, Pack instead of Smith.

[Bar BS3]

Frankie

Pisano (or I quite like Korey at RB) Wright/Flint(depending on Wrights fitness post international), Baker, Bryan

Leko, Brownhill, Pack, Patto 

Reid, Fammy 

Either that or possibly go 433/451, but I don't think Reid can be dropped OR play up top on his own.

 

[BobBobSuperBob]

Id throw Leko straight in 

With his potential attacking prowess Id be happy to be 'solid' in the other three positions (Bit of a left field call but I'd consider Kelly in front of Joe)

(Lee won't do this I accept)

I think I'd actually go 4-5-1 with Leko and Elliason (or Patterson as less of a gamble) 'unleashed' to support FD , either side of a three of Smith/ Pack/Brownhill probably , with a potential argument of GON to play centrally

Tell the back four to keep their shape , two of the central midfielders to shield back four and the responsibility to support FD coming from the two wide players and to some extent JB (Or BR ?)

Very harsh on BR , but think it would work well going forward and yield more pts than our current set up.and tempted to have him in Brownhills role but think that's heart over head

 

Lee has a strong belief in the system and new players learning that and their role (Which is an understandable strategy) so I don't expect him to make significant changes - He May be tempted to throw Leko in and in that case I think he'd leave JB out

[BRISTOL86]

31 minutes ago, RedM said:

Me too, Pack instead of Smith.

Every day of the week. Smith is easily the weakest link in our midfield. 

[ZiderEyed]

Still Smith with Brownhill at cm for me, Eliasson on the left, Leko down the right. Exciting bit of talent on the wings now, its like having two Alberts.

[BobBobSuperBob]

Maybe controversial here but I'm becoming (sadly) convinced that neither Smith or Pack will take us forward at this level - if that's our aim

Really like both , their part in the L1 title , and appreciate the qualities they have  I've traditionally been more of a Smith than Pack fan but Pack has improved for me while Korey has struggled to find his best

In simple terms I look at them both and tend to think they're not quite good enough defensively or as an attacking threat - they're not poor players , they're both very good players but at this level I'm increasingly thinking they're not going to take us forward - they're 'okish' in both roles defensively/creative but not great in either

They're not a disaster but I think both need upgrading 

I would like both of them to play a part in our journey forward () but I just don't see it as it stands (IMHO Smith , if he found his best and alongside a quality midfield general / creative partner could carry on the journey but needs to get motoring)

Head over heart says upgrade

Am I being harsh - I'm Sure there will be , but many ? , who can see Pack / Smith being part of our midfield in 12-18 months time ?

[Gilli74]

I like Brownhill but he's no RM ... he drifts inside into the middle all the time and offers no width and often little support to the RB ... I would play him in the middle though as I feel he could be the creative source we are looking for ... 

[JBFC II]

Think Smith provides more energy which we will need away at a high possession side such as reading, can see why people would have pack though

[Septic Peg]

I think Pack has raised his game and can put a shift in most matches.

Thing with Korey is he's inconsistent. He either has a stormer or he's on his backside more than he's on his feet. Just falls over like a pisshead in the taxi queue.

[GrahamC]

Based on his recent substitutions I think that LJ rates Smith above Pack.

If Leko is to start wide right (though maybe not on Saturday, as he has missed much of this week away with England), I'd guess Brownhill and Pack are then competing for the spot to play alongside Smith.

As for the post suggesting Eliasson (and Leko) start away at Reading, have a word, Eliasson has loads to learn about positioning when we don't have the ball, aside from the fact that Paterson is probably about our second likeliest scorer, at present..

[Unan]

Fielding

Pisano Wright Baker Bryan

Brownhill Hegeler Pack

Leko Elissaon

Fammy

[RedM]

26 minutes ago, Septic Peg said:

I think Pack has raised his game and can put a shift in most matches.

Thing with Korey is he's inconsistent. He either has a stormer or he's on his backside more than he's on his feet. Just falls over like a pisshead in the taxi queue.

Exactly the point I was going to make. A Korey on form is a starter without question, but I really think we have only seen glimpses of that since he's come back from injury, I really don't think he's fully fit or something.

So give him games to get his sharpness back or let someone else take his role at the moment? I don't think we can afford to drop too many points or we might find ourselves on a negative roll once again, we've got a lot of players to bed in still without having to nurse the old ones along too. Play your strongest team and let him fight for his place back, he's not captain now afterall.

[And Its Smith]

People want a wide open team against a side who will have 70% possession?!  Amazing.

To get anything from this game we will need to be hard to break down, press, and hit on the break.

Diedhiou hold up play has been poor so far but I guess he needs to play for the greater good of him learning 

.                  Fielding

Pisano.  Wright Baker. Bryan

          Brownhill Smith Reid

      Leko. Diedhiou. Paterson

Sure posters will pick up on Reid in midfield but he can still get forward from there I would hope and that is a busy midfield

[Nibor]

7 minutes ago, RedDave said:

People want a wide open team against a side who will have 70% possession?!  Amazing.

To get anything from this game we will need to be hard to break down, press, and hit on the break.

Diedhiou hold up play has been poor so far but I guess he needs to play for the greater good of him learning 

.                  Fielding

Pisano.  Wright Baker. Bryan

          Brownhill Smith Reid

      Leko. Diedhiou. Paterson

Sure posters will pick up on Reid in midfield but he can still get forward from there I would hope and that is a busy midfield

Looks ok to me but I suspect it will be a game too early for Leko and it will be the usual 442 with him on the bench.

I also think if Reid plays he'll play up front, he'd be at the back of the queue for central midfield.  Smith's a better player than Pack but Pack is on much better form at the moment.  

We do have some decent balance to the side.  I'd like to see Taylor back on the bench and Kelly getting some game time.

I wonder if Flint will come in for Wright given the internationals.

[And Its Smith]

7 minutes ago, Nibor said:

Looks ok to me but I suspect it will be a game too early for Leko and it will be the usual 442 with him on the bench.

I also think if Reid plays he'll play up front, he'd be at the back of the queue for central midfield.  Smith's a better player than Pack but Pack is on much better form at the moment.  

We do have some decent balance to the side.  I'd like to see Taylor back on the bench and Kelly getting some game time.

I wonder if Flint will come in for Wright given the internationals.

Flint could easily play. Would be temped to throw Kelly in and have Bryan in midfield instead of Reid.  Problem is if you set up 4-3-3 where does Reid play? Hard to drop someone in such good form.

If he had more about his as a striker he could play instead of Diedhiou but can't see him capable of playing lone striker 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Never had Brownhill down as a Right mid. Leko for me.

4-3-3/4-5-1 hybrid too, can't go 4-4-2 usual style at Reading away. It does leave dilemmas though...

O'Neil- who is much criticised- in fact got 5 assists in the League last year for us so maybe he would be worth looking at again as one of the central 3.

Yeah though, Leko on the right, Brownhill back in the middle tbh.

[Nibor]

30 minutes ago, RedDave said:

Flint could easily play. Would be temped to throw Kelly in and have Bryan in midfield instead of Reid.  Problem is if you set up 4-3-3 where does Reid play? Hard to drop someone in such good form.

If he had more about his as a striker he could play instead of Diedhiou but can't see him capable of playing lone striker 

Tend to agree, but I don't think putting Reid in central midfield will be that different to putting him up front - he isn't great at the defending side of the game mainly due to concentration and awareness when out of possession.

25 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Never had Brownhill down as a Right mid. Leko for me.

4-3-3/4-5-1 hybrid too, can't go 4-4-2 usual style at Reading away. It does leave dilemmas though...

O'Neil- who is much criticised- in fact got 5 assists in the League last year for us so maybe he would be worth looking at again as one of the central 3.

Yeah though, Leko on the right, Brownhill back in the middle tbh.

O'Neill or Hegeler in a midfield of three will probably help a lot.  Smith or Pack protecting the defence, Brownhill roving and one of those two steadying in the middle should give us a decent balance both going forward and defensively.  

[Bar BS3]

2 hours ago, ZiderEyed said:

Still Smith with Brownhill at cm for me, Eliasson on the left, Leko down the right. Exciting bit of talent on the wings now, its like having two Alberts.

Can we just confirm how many games you've seen Eliasson or Leko play..?

[Bar BS3]

1 hour ago, RedDave said:

People want a wide open team against a side who will have 70% possession?!  Amazing.

To get anything from this game we will need to be hard to break down, press, and hit on the break.

Diedhiou hold up play has been poor so far but I guess he needs to play for the greater good of him learning 

.                  Fielding

Pisano.  Wright Baker. Bryan

          Brownhill Smith Reid

      Leko. Diedhiou. Paterson

Sure posters will pick up on Reid in midfield but he can still get forward from there I would hope and that is a busy midfield

I don't mind that formation, or selection, but surely you'd swap Reid & Paterson, based on this season..? 

[And Its Smith]

1 hour ago, Bar BS3 said:

I don't mind that formation, or selection, but surely you'd swap Reid & Paterson, based on this season..? 

Paterson not a central midfielder and reid not a winger in my opinion 

[Bar BS3]

2 hours ago, RedDave said:

Paterson not a central midfielder and reid not a winger in my opinion 

If you are thinking of it as more of a 4-5-1 formation, then I'd agree. 

In an actual 4-3-3 (as you displayed it) I think it could work. 

Granted, you'd probably choose a more solid midfielder that Paterson for that role. 

It will be interesting to see what LJ does with Bobby on Saturday. 

Can he drop someone in his form, for the good of the team formation..? The reaction from (some) fans would be severe, especially if it didn't work. 

I guess it depends if, in reality, we try to stop Reading playing their game, or go at them in our own way and let them deal with us. 

[42nite]

 

Scotty

 

[brady bunch]

6 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Maybe controversial here but I'm becoming (sadly) convinced that neither Smith or Pack will take us forward at this level - if that's our aim

They're not a disaster but I think both need upgrading 

This, 100% this! you have summed up how I feel about the pair,

Smith of old would have been worth keeping, but he is nowhere near what he was when he first came (injury and family life I think has set him back). now the pair of them are okay, but unless there is a radical upturn in form, they are lower half championship/top L1 players.

[Whitchurch1966]

10 hours ago, JBFC II said:

Leko right mid

Elliasson left mid

Brownhill centre mid with smith

If you had seen Elliason at Watford you would know that he is not ready for that role, especially away from home, needs to to work on his defensive awareness.

[bristolcitysweden]

To play Eliasson we need a game plan. A build up of the play for him to take over from. He is not used to people constantly running around like headless ADHD chickens.

[UREDS_91]

9 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Id throw Leko straight in 

With his potential attacking prowess Id be happy to be 'solid' in the other three positions (Bit of a left field call but I'd consider Kelly in front of Joe)

(Lee won't do this I accept)

I think I'd actually go 4-5-1 with Leko and Elliason (or Patterson as less of a gamble) 'unleashed' to support FD , either side of a three of Smith/ Pack/Brownhill probably , with a potential argument of GON to play centrally

Tell the back four to keep their shape , two of the central midfielders to shield back four and the responsibility to support FD coming from the two wide players and to some extent JB (Or BR ?)

Very harsh on BR , but think it would work well going forward and yield more pts than our current set up.and tempted to have him in Brownhills role but think that's heart over head

 

Lee has a strong belief in the system and new players learning that and their role (Which is an understandable strategy) so I don't expect him to make significant changes - He May be tempted to throw Leko in and in that case I think he'd leave JB out

Spoke to a Baggies fan in work today, said Leko is an exciting talent, however he is lacking the end product, for me sounded like bolasie when he was here. 

He said he hopes that we can help him learn and gain some end product and become more of the player bolasie was at palace.

[Lanterne Rouge]

Leko only joins up with the squad on Friday so I can`t see him starting.

[Davefevs]

Think it will be 10 if not all 11 of the starters from last game.

I'm really excited to see Leko and Eliasson, but away to Reading is a big call.

@BobBobSuperBob @GrahamC @RedM @Septic Peg And all the others deciding between Pack and Smith.  My personal preference is Pack, but it's a close thing.  I think we will find out what we miss when either of them don't play.  Whether their replacement negates that and gives us more I don't know.

Its probably one where it would be really useful to know in-depth what LJ expects from them, and how it fits the style / tactics.

I agree that a top player in that position is a necessity to move to the next level.

Tough call.  Brownhill....still got a lot to prove fir a whole 90 in a central 2.  Got the talent though.  GON not fit for Reading.

[Negan]

Pack over smith all day long, Brownhill to join him with Leko and Patterson on the wings. 

[WECANDO]

                   Fielding

Pisano. Wright. Baker. Bryan.  

                      Pack

Patterson     Brownhill      O'Dowda

                               Reid

                 Diedhiou

 

[steviestevieneville]

As of today leko hasn't even trained with us yet as he been away with England . Eliasson needs work on the  defensive side of his game , which if he loses shape we'll get ripped apart at reading . So I went for josh but expect that to change in the next few games with Korey dropping to the bench . 

[Guest]

13 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Maybe controversial here but I'm becoming (sadly) convinced that neither Smith or Pack will take us forward at this level - if that's our aim

Really like both , their part in the L1 title , and appreciate the qualities they have  I've traditionally been more of a Smith than Pack fan but Pack has improved for me while Korey has struggled to find his best

In simple terms I look at them both and tend to think they're not quite good enough defensively or as an attacking threat - they're not poor players , they're both very good players but at this level I'm increasingly thinking they're not going to take us forward - they're 'okish' in both roles defensively/creative but not great in either

They're not a disaster but I think both need upgrading 

I would like both of them to play a part in our journey forward () but I just don't see it as it stands (IMHO Smith , if he found his best and alongside a quality midfield general / creative partner could carry on the journey but needs to get motoring)

Head over heart says upgrade

Am I being harsh - I'm Sure there will be , but many ? , who can see Pack / Smith being part of our midfield in 12-18 months time ?

I don't think harsh, but I reckon Pack would flourish alongside quality too. For me they are both good at this level, but neither particularly suited to their role or eachother to see their best. 

I think Pack is the more consistent of the two, but that Korey is easier to find a partner for. If I was manager, Pack would have been the player replaced this summer.

It is not really that dissimilar to Baker for Flint. Flint is good at this level and I don't doubt he could be part of a promoted team, but Baker is more rounded and doesn't demand surrounding with acceleration. 

[hoxton casual]

I think I am the only one to vote for COD. He has improved his defensive positioning and he is a genuine winger who carries the ball into danger areas. Am i the only one seeing the improvement? I'll get my coat.

[BobBobSuperBob]

24 minutes ago, hoxton casual said:

I think I am the only one to vote for COD. He has improved his defensive positioning and he is a genuine winger who carries the ball into danger areas. Am i the only one seeing the improvement? I'll get my coat.

Don't think I'd start him atm , and I know it goes against the consensus atm , but I do think there's a good and effective player in there - just needs to grow to this level 

 

[hoxton casual]

7 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Don't think I'd start him atm , and I know it goes against the consensus atm , but I do think there's a good and effective player in there - just needs to grow to this level 

 

I think he is growing into that level as The Irish seem to see. Not sure he fits into the shape that LJ wants however. He doesnt seem to want wingers but wide players who drift and float to provide angles and extra men through midfield for link up play.

[shelts]

Frankie . Pisano.Baker . Flint . Bryan . Need creativity and imagination in our side . Getting rather bored watching Smith/ Pack, drop Smith and play Brownhill, Eliasson and Leko on the wings . 

Taylor and Bobby up top 

[Charlie BCFC]

22 hours ago, RedDave said:

People want a wide open team against a side who will have 70% possession?!  Amazing.

To get anything from this game we will need to be hard to break down, press, and hit on the break.

Diedhiou hold up play has been poor so far but I guess he needs to play for the greater good of him learning 

.                  Fielding

Pisano.  Wright Baker. Bryan

          Brownhill Smith Reid

      Leko. Diedhiou. Paterson

Sure posters will pick up on Reid in midfield but he can still get forward from there I would hope and that is a busy midfield

I would disagree with Diédhiou's hold up play I think it's been rather good I just don't think he's getting in the right positions. I like the team though and maybe could use it as an alternative. The formation could utilise Diédhiou well

[KingLear]

                            Fielding

Pisano        Wright         Baker         Bryan

                 Smith                  Pack

Brownhill               Reid                  Paterson

                            Diedhiou

 

How I think it will be, when Leko has settled in, put him at RM and push Brownhill into Smith's position.

[City Ben]

10 minutes ago, KingLear said:

                            Fielding

Pisano        Wright         Baker         Bryan

                 Smith                  Pack

Brownhill               Reid                  Paterson

                            Diedhiou

 

How I think it will be, when Leko has settled in, put him at RM and push Brownhill into Smith's position.

I think this is how we've been set up recently anyway isn't it? I know it's nominal 4-4-2 but looking at it Reid drops back and Brownhill and especially Paterson are further forward (although Paterson also seems to come a lot narrower).

[KingLear]

1 hour ago, City Ben said:

I think this is how we've been set up recently anyway isn't it? I know it's nominal 4-4-2 but looking at it Reid drops back and Brownhill and especially Paterson are further forward (although Paterson also seems to come a lot narrower).

Yeah it is pretty much as per usual and I can't see Johnson chopping and changing too much. I was just making the point that I would move Leko to RM and drop Brownhill in for Smith really in an ideal world and when Leko has trained with the squad etc.