Line up for Burnley......

[London Irish]

Chippy was my player of the season last season, I just think Charlie is just that little bit fitter than him at the moment and gets the nod.

The big problem is who we play on the opposite flank to Currie, McGhee hasn't cracked this problem, the wing backs for WH merely delayed resolving this - Hinsh (needed in defence), Reid (needed at RB?), Jarrett (tackling no good), OGH (passing?), Nicolas (looked a little uncomfortable in his half-hour there). So that leaves Hammond, or Reid if you can risk El Abd again after his Derby nightmare, or continuing with the 3-5-2/wing backs with Mayo in central defence.

 

[Napper]

On saturdays performance alone you simply can't leave Oatway out, I thought he was MOM.

 

[dougdeep]

I'd like to see Hart back, Claridge would appreciate some crosses.

 

[perseus]

Too early to make up my mind. Burnely's record does not make this an easy match.

Four 0-0 draws on their travels, Goals for 4, against 6. Lost 0-3 at QPR when they went down to some unlucky goals, played badly and had a Cup match on their mind.

Before Cotterill joined I would have tipped them to go down, but it cannot really be assumed they are a defensive team with all the 0-0 draws. They could be a half useful team that cannot score?

Burnley won 2-1 at Leeds, but I think Leeds are a poor team so not much to go on there.

Burnley could be predictable though. I bet they play a standard 4-4-2 and will attempt to match Albion man for man.

I am inclined to think they will play quite deep and try to exploit Albion's lack of pace through the middle at the back. I would be inclined to play Hinshelwood in the back four.

I have heard that they are quite a tall side, so I would not want two (2) many midgets from Albion in midfield.

I would put in Charlie Oatway definitely as we will need ball winners in midfield more than creatives?

Will we play one winger or no wingers at all? Currie is not really a winger getting to the by-line and crossing. But it will be him or Chippy as somebody has to take the corners and free kicks. Burnley must excel at stopping set pieces or else they would have let in more goals. Especially as they seem to get a lot of bookings as well.

I think MM will go for experience in the starting line-up. I expect Paul Reid to play and I would like to see Gary Hart on the bench (if he cannot make the first team), but I have my doubts?

Leon Knight is a definite.

Kuipers
? Butters, Hinshelwood, Harding
Reid, Oatway, ?, Currie (or Carpenter)
Knight, Claridge

subs:

Nicolas
Roberts
? (left-sided player =) Mayo
El-Dabd (defender)
( ? winger, or at least somebody that can cross the ball) I expect this will be Hammond.

Forecast: as it has got 0-0 written all over it, it will probably be a high scoring game with a win for the side who scores first.

Who is the referee?