Burnley (A) - Fri 11th Aug | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction

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Withnail said:
Debut for Josko ?
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I think it’s unlikely. Well, I’m terms of starting the match anyway, even with Dias not travelling. I think it’s crucial to send the right messaging to Ake that he’s still the man, that we love him etc. Ake is a non-negotiable starter imo. It’s much easier to explain to Gvardiol that he’s on the bench, just settle into the squad, no rush, still adapting etc than it is to tell Ake he’s on the bench because… because what?? There’s no reason.

Then Pep has always seemed averse to playing 2 left footers in our back 3 in possession (I don’t know why) so Akanji would seem nailed on for the central role next to Stones, meaning Walker is then locked in at right back. Rodri a no brainer, Kovacic definitely starts, as do Grealish and Haaland. So the gaps to plug in are who plays as the other 8 next to Kovacic and who plays on the right. Kevin’s fitness comes into it, is he ready to play at least 60 mins? If he is then of course he starts. If not, bench. Bernardo I think is more likely to play than Foden, so for me Phil seems destined for the bench this game sadly.

Ederson

Walker
Akanji
Ake

Stones
Rodri

De Bruyne
Kovacic

Bernardo
Haaland
Grealish
 
Tricky_Trev said:
I think it’s unlikely. Well, I’m terms of starting the match anyway, even with Dias not travelling. I think it’s crucial to send the right messaging to Ake that he’s still the man, that we love him etc. Ake is a non-negotiable starter imo. It’s much easier to explain to Gvardiol that he’s on the bench, just settle into the squad, no rush, still adapting etc than it is to tell Ake he’s on the bench because… because what?? There’s no reason.

Then Pep has always seemed averse to playing 2 left footers in our back 3 in possession (I don’t know why) so Akanji would seem nailed on for the central role next to Stones, meaning Walker is then locked in at right back. Rodri a no brainer, Kovacic definitely starts, as do Grealish and Haaland. So the gaps to plug in are who plays as the other 8 next to Kovacic and who plays on the right. Kevin’s fitness comes into it, is he ready to play at least 60 mins? If he is then of course he starts. If not, bench. Bernardo I think is more likely to play than Foden, so for me Phil seems destined for the bench this game sadly.

Ederson

Walker
Akanji
Ake

Stones
Rodri

De Bruyne
Kovacic

Bernardo
Haaland
Grealish
Click to expand...
Ake was brilliant last season and it will be harsh on him if he misses out, but got a feeling Pep will start with Josko.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
I think it’s unlikely. Well, I’m terms of starting the match anyway, even with Dias not travelling. I think it’s crucial to send the right messaging to Ake that he’s still the man, that we love him etc. Ake is a non-negotiable starter imo. It’s much easier to explain to Gvardiol that he’s on the bench, just settle into the squad, no rush, still adapting etc than it is to tell Ake he’s on the bench because… because what?? There’s no reason.

Then Pep has always seemed averse to playing 2 left footers in our back 3 in possession (I don’t know why) so Akanji would seem nailed on for the central role next to Stones, meaning Walker is then locked in at right back. Rodri a no brainer, Kovacic definitely starts, as do Grealish and Haaland. So the gaps to plug in are who plays as the other 8 next to Kovacic and who plays on the right. Kevin’s fitness comes into it, is he ready to play at least 60 mins? If he is then of course he starts. If not, bench. Bernardo I think is more likely to play than Foden, so for me Phil seems destined for the bench this game sadly.

Ederson

Walker
Akanji
Ake

Stones
Rodri

De Bruyne
Kovacic

Bernardo
Haaland
Grealish
Click to expand...
Completely agree about Ake...

Although what kind of message is it sending Phil if Kocacic(who struggled to consistently start for Chelsea) walks into the starting XI of the best English team of all time over him...?
 
Tricky_Trev said:
I think it’s unlikely. Well, I’m terms of starting the match anyway, even with Dias not travelling. I think it’s crucial to send the right messaging to Ake that he’s still the man, that we love him etc. Ake is a non-negotiable starter imo. It’s much easier to explain to Gvardiol that he’s on the bench, just settle into the squad, no rush, still adapting etc than it is to tell Ake he’s on the bench because… because what?? There’s no reason.

Then Pep has always seemed averse to playing 2 left footers in our back 3 in possession (I don’t know why) so Akanji would seem nailed on for the central role next to Stones, meaning Walker is then locked in at right back. Rodri a no brainer, Kovacic definitely starts, as do Grealish and Haaland. So the gaps to plug in are who plays as the other 8 next to Kovacic and who plays on the right. Kevin’s fitness comes into it, is he ready to play at least 60 mins? If he is then of course he starts. If not, bench. Bernardo I think is more likely to play than Foden, so for me Phil seems destined for the bench this game sadly.

Ederson

Walker
Akanji
Ake

Stones
Rodri

De Bruyne
Kovacic

Bernardo
Haaland
Grealish
Click to expand...
Gvardiol will start.
 
TrentGrisham said:
Completely agree about Ake...

Although what kind of message is it sending Phil if Kocacic(who struggled to consistently start for Chelsea) walks into the starting XI of the best English team of all time over him...?
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Don’t think Phil is in the thinking for midfield anywhere near as much as Kovacic is tbh. It can only be defensive awareness or positioning or something like that that Pep wants him to improve to gain his trust. Out of possession, we press in a 442, with KDB up alongside Haaland, so the other 8 has to defend in the centre of a midfield 2 with Rodri at times, so imo that is why Pep would prefer Kovacic there to Foden. Just my opinion. So the messaging to Foden if he’s on the bench often in the early part of the season is that he must improve. Whatever the areas of his game are that Pep wants him develop, he needs to do it. I can only guess what those areas are, based on what the role requires.
 
Only think Gvardiol will start if Stones isn’t available (rumours he also picked up an injury in training).

My prediction:

Ederson
Walker
Akanji
Stones/Gvardiol
Ake
Rodri
Kovacic
De Bruyne/Foden
Bernardo
Grealish
Haaland
 
Tricky_Trev said:
Don’t think Phil is in the thinking for midfield anywhere near as much as Kovacic is tbh. It can only be defensive awareness or positioning or something like that that Pep wants him to improve to gain his trust. Out of possession, we press in a 442, with KDB up alongside Haaland, so the other 8 has to defend in the centre of a midfield 2 with Rodri at times, so imo that is why Pep would prefer Kovacic there to Foden. Just my opinion. So the messaging to Foden if he’s on the bench often in the early part of the season is that he must improve. Whatever the areas of his game are that Pep wants him develop, he needs to do it. I can only guess what those areas are, based on what the role requires.
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I just don't understand how Phil is ever supposed to improve on these things if Pep never gives him the opportunity... I agree that he's a bit lightweight off the ball although the upside of starting him versus Kovacic is pretty significant and far outweighs the risk... but it's hard to question Pep, isn't it?

I just fear he's going to run out of patience.
 
TrentGrisham said:
I just don't understand how Phil is ever supposed to improve on these things if Pep never gives him the opportunity... I agree that he's a bit lightweight off the ball although the upside of starting him versus Kovacic is pretty significant.

I just fear he's going to run out of patience.
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The training pitch is his opportunity though. I feel the same when people defend Phillips and say he hasn’t had a chance. Training every single day infront of Pep’s eyes are his chances. They have to show what he’s looking for.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
The training pitch is his opportunity though. I feel the same when people defend Phillips and say he hasn’t had a chance. Training every single day infront of Pep’s eyes are his chances. They have to show what he’s looking for.
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Well, it's been five years now so maybe the hard truth is that it's not ever going to happen under Pep as it likely would have by now if it were in his plans in the slightest.

It's tough to swallow as I can't recall a performance of his playing centrally where he was EVER poor, looked out of his depth, etc... Quite the opposite in fact.
 
I hate going to promoted teams first home match, they are at their most dangerous with a team high on confidence and a crowd giddy after promotion. That said we look in decent shape, if KDB and Phil get decent minutes we should be more creative. If we’re anywhere near our best we should be fine.
 
pavelsrnicek said:
I hate going to promoted teams first home match, they are at their most dangerous with a team high on confidence and a crowd giddy after promotion. That said we look in decent shape, if KDB and Phil get decent minutes we should be more creative. If we’re anywhere near our best we should be fine.
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Couldn't agree more, and if we start slow this year imo we ain't catching whoever is at top, need a winning start but very nervous tbh
 
Ric said:
Only think Gvardiol will start if Stones isn’t available (rumours he also picked up an injury in training).

My prediction:

Ederson
Walker
Akanji
Stones/Gvardiol
Ake
Rodri
Kovacic
De Bruyne/Foden
Bernardo
Grealish
Haaland
Click to expand...
@Ric, Ric, Ric, don’t say John Stones is injured, I was so looking forward to the match to see him play.

Complete downer now! ;-) ;-)
 
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