Doesn't look much like the marauding left back we rely on in our 433 to give us the width... But you never know!

Side picks itself to be honest -------------------Kaminski Nyambe----Lenihan-----Branthwaite----Douglas ---------Travis-----Holtby----Rothwell --------Elliott----Armstrong----Brereton That was basically what Tony wanted at the stat of the season (although Williams for Branthwaite). He's started all the recent games 433. Holtby, Travis and Rothwell as a three looked really good till Travis got injured. Second half when the Dackster comes on it shifts to : -------------------Kaminski Nyambe----Lenihan-----Branthwaite----Douglas ----------------Travis-----Holtby --------Elliott---------Dack -----Brereton/Rothwell/Dolan --------------------Armstrong That's the pattern we have seen in recent games. If Douglas can't play due to child Bell is a straight swap in. The City lad will be on the bench, Subs : Pears, Harwood-Bellis, Bell, Davenport/Downing, Dack, Dolan, Gallagher

I mean he's improved a bit this season, but what on earth makes your think BB will be in the prem?!?

Yes, as it stands we now have three proper centrebacks, 2 of which are kids on loan. All of them will get games. If Ayala comes back that puts us at a serviceable 4. Really good signings by Mowbray. Means we can move forward with some confidence Nyambe can stay at RB and Johnson won't be drafted into the defence. Otherwise we would be an injury away from Nyambe at CB and Bennett at RB... Reckon we do need to look at 3 at the back too. We need it as an option against other teams who play 3 at the back imo. The extra CB signed let's that at least be a possibility.

I agree Lenihan is excellent for us. Don't get why he gets the stick he does. If we lose him to injury we are screwed.

Looks a top player. Very physical, wins everything in the air, got decent pace and can tackle well due to his freakishly long legs. Not obviously a passer but moved things around okay. You can usually tell after three games, and I'd say he will play in the Premier League next season. Maybe not at Everton though at the moment as you've got a solid squad, but already looks like he's got the quality for a loan to a lower half / newly promoted pl team. (Hopefully us!)

Yes that's our big hope. Our bench had a lot of quality on it. Not many teams would be able to bring on players like Dack, Dolan and Holtby, even Gallagher gives a new dimension. The games are a pretty consistent one a week now so we should get a lot of time to improve fitness and work on ourselves tactically. Got to keep the back five fit, any injuries there and we are screwed. And in our training sessions we need to work on the formation and tactics to give ourselves a bit more flexibility. I think the 433 thing just is too intense for us and only really works when we are totally in command of a game. Need something a bit more practical to mix it up with. 4231 looked decent today. I'd be tempted just to go 4231 and play conservatively to avoid injuries. That's the key. We can always shift to 433 mid game when required. Starting games 433 hasn't really worked since the first dozen games of the season, and even Johnson on commentary was saying that the intensity of it had been huge. He kind of hinted that it may have played a role in injuries.

Yes! Exactly like Rio. Same East London accent.

I think to be honest we improved a lot when we went 4231. Reckon we will shift to that as our starting formation in a game or two. Also have to sort out the pitch. Don't think we will be going up playing on that.

Branthwaite is quality. Him and Lenihan back there totally eliminate our long standing weakness under a high ball. Wharton also good from that perspective. Prefer someone like Branthwaite to a Tosin to be honest. Tosin is a very good ball player but just never convinced defensively.

He's better than Rhodes in that he has real pace that worries anyone, also can score long range, can play wide. Sure he is not perfect but he is an excellent player. Rhodes career completely fizzled out after Rovers as his allround limitations (lack of pace, strength, movement etc) meant successive managers just refused to play him. I'm sure Armstrong will continue to get plenty of games right through to retirement. Not convinced he's Premier League quality though.

Not really sure what we should do. Luton look poor, pitch is worse, but the way we are playing has delivered quite a few chances..... Reckon maybe straight swap of Brereton for Dolan and maybe Downing for Dack. And go 4231 Kaminski Nymabe. Lenihan. Branthwaite. Douglas Travis. Rothwell. Elliott. Dack. Dolan. Armstrong ?

Think he's retained the ball okay.

This game feels like a good one for Dolan. Loads of room and the ball, and Luton defence looks ponderous. We should really be ahead considering the areas we've had the ball but we haven't tested the GK.

That's what makes it such a hard league though. 12 or more teams with decent squads in the division, but so so many games that it's really about avoiding injuries more than anything. I think I'd spend as much on my physios as a new player.

Towards the end of the last game against Boro we went route 1 and it worked pretty well. Gallagher and Brereton we both effective. Think Dack helps as he's so good at working the space off big forwards. Reckon we will probably start in our usual 433 then maybe change things if it doesn't work to something more direct.

I'd have Rothwell in over Davenport in that deeper role. He's absolutely exceptionally running from deep and has got much better defensively. Play BB wide left. But otherwise agreed. I do wonder if TM really will give up the 433 though. He's stuck with it for so long.

Agree with the teams. I would say we should be looking at switching between 4231 and 433 in game as necessary. As an aside I think it would also to have a 352 option also for times we come up against 3 at the back and struggle (eg. Bristol City, Notts Forest) Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Branthwate Elliott Dack Travis Rothwell Douglas Armstrong Brereton But probably a while away from being comfortable enough to do that.

Sorry Swansea at home!

Had a look at the fixture list. We've got one game a week now for the next four weeks - unless Swansea gets rescheduled in there - and all games where on balance we look favourites. Got Travis and Dack coming back, Douglas looks finally fit, Branthwaite looks like a solid CB. If we are going to get into the top six now is the time to do it. Indeed if you look through the list for the rest of the season only Norwich, Reading and Swansea away look like nailed on losses. Everyone else above us we have at home so.... It really is the hope that kills you.

I think the force he swung at it in the penalty area at head height was definitely excessive.

I think he is talented, and has already scored a few useful goals despite very limited minutes. Gets himself in the right places and can pick a pass. But you can't get away with being that lightweight, especially if you're not particularly quick. Realistically he doesn't have a future in the team unless he can become physically much much stronger. Hes so wiry I do wonder whether he can bulk up.

I think Mowbray tried to correct that by committing to 433 at the start of the season but after a good first half dozen games or so it's really struggled as we arent really good enough to dominate decent teams in the way the system needs. So now I think weve gone back to being a bit reactive and muddling through game by game like last season. What we really should have done at the start of the season is had a couple of different tactical setups we were happy with so we have a ready made plan b. Anyway Mowbray has pulled out a win when he needs to. He's so good at that... Just wish he could do it to get us into the top six, not just take the pressure off his job.

I agree every player in the Championship need to be physically competitive and he doesn't have it. Either he bulks up like Breo did last season or he's going to need to look down the leagues for his career.

With Gallagher and Breo on it gives him a lot of room to do what he wants to do.