Team V Brighton

[Reg Smeeton]

What's the difference in practice between 4-2-1-3 and 4-2-3-1?

Doesn't it just depend on where the wingers are standing when you look?

I'd love to see us giving it a go as we've got the players to do it and could rip other teams up that are behind the times. But unfortunately I can't see Wilson risking it, he'll most likely stick with the 4-4-2 that worked well last season.

You've got to be very careful asking players of somewhat limited ability to play sexy football. Without wishing to be derogatory to our boys, they are playing in the third tier of English football for a reason.

Ardiles turned us into a sexy football machine, but he did have 2 up front, and 4 at the back.

Hoddle had us playing something sexy, but it relied on him as the libero, and he was probably the most gifted English player of his generation.

The availabilty of a raft of substitutes provides opportunity, to alter formation within a game, and hence why a decent bench is important.

We can put out a decent 18 man set up...without injuries etc.

[Stegenfreud]

Anyone else starting to get more than a little excited about saturday? 

[Processed Beats]

I didn't realise Glenn Murray was out as well, Although he's not prolific, he's certainly their main goalscorer, so it's brilliant news for us.

[A Gent Orange]

4-2-3-1 is a possession-based formation. You need to have, and keep the ball, to play it. At our level - and in so much of English football 442 works because you get given the ball back so you can attack again, lose it, fight to get it again and start over. With 4-2-3-1 you have to be able to give the ball to anyone and expect them to lay off a pass and be ready to  get it back again and again. And as much as I admire Douglas, he isn't Busquets and O'Brien certainly isn't David Villa.

[Bert1981]

I'm struggling to get excited about Saturday to be honest, it's probably the disappointment of Wembley and the World Cup still lingering over me, but i'm sure as soon as I leave to go to the game I will forget all about that.

Wilson has put together a great squad over the summer and we're already looking stronger than last year imo, just a centre back and left winger short of being complete really.

As much as I would like to see Dossevi, Ferry & Caddis start I think they will all be on the bench and we will go with the same team that started vs Forest, but with Charlie in for Dossevi.

How great is it to have the luxury of leaving players of that quality out of the side though? It won't be long before Dossevi and Caddis are first choice, but I do think Ferry will have to play second fiddle to Douglas & Prutton.

[ChinaWhitenRed]

He's a Brighton fan mate, and was speaking about the bummers back 4

What's a bummers back four?   Squirting on?

[Reeeeeves]

Lucas
Caddis Cuthbert LJF Rose
Douglas
Prutton Ferry
McGovern
Austin Dossevi

4-4-2 with a diamond midfield would do nicely imo.

[MichaelPook]

Strangely in spite of Wembley Im really optimistic about this season - Im hoping we can make the kind of start we made when we won this division under Steve McMahon and set a bit of an early pace ... Brighton will be a toughie to begin with but at least Greer and Brez wont be there to stop us (suspension and injury!)

[SCM]

Bit off topic - anyone know what time the ticket office closes?

[MichaelPook]

5pm normally

[seagull]

Well for those of you who would like to know a little more about the Brighton team.

We'll line up 4-5-1/4-3-3:

---------------Ankergren---------------
Calderon - Elphick - El-Abd - Painter
-----------------Navarro----------------
-------Kishishev------Sparrow--------
Bennett--------------------------Smith
-----------------Barnes-----------------

Ankergren: You know as much as me as we only signed him today. Has been a regular at Leeds for the past few years but certainly has his faults. Probabily a solid enough L1 keeper though.

Calderon: We would argue he's the best right back in the league. He was captain of his second tier Spanish side before Gus signed him last season. Excellent defender and also loves to get forward.

Elphick: Young but reasonably experienced center back. Excelled in the past next to the experienced Guy Butters but has struggled a bit in recent years without a more senior partner. Greer will be the perfect partner for him but he'll be with El-Abd today.

El-Abd: Another local lad. In the past he's had a tendency to make the odd massive fuck up with a short back pass etc but he really stepped up a level last season and removed them from his game. Formed a decent partnership with Elphick at the back end of last season.

Painter: Very solid left back we signed from Swansea. Won promotion from this league with the Swans and massively improved our defence when he signed last season.

Navarro: Breaks up play and keeps the ball moving. Reads the game very well and an intelligent passer of the ball.

Kishishev: Made his name with Charlton in the Premier League. 35 now but has looked superb in pre-season. Hopefully that translates into the league.

Sparrow: Former Scunthorpe captain, scored twice in their play-off final a couple of years back. Excellent midfielder at this level.

Bennett: Excellent winger who chips in with a number of goals and assists.

Smith: Left Wing is our problem area and it was supposed to be LuaLua but that hasn’t happened. Smith is a young lad, technically good and had a great game against Aberdeen last week.

Barnes: Scored 4 goals in 8 games on loan to us last season before signing this summer. Works hard and has a good touch. Still some doubts as to whether he’s really a top striker at this level though.

Our defence was very solid at the end of last season although Elphick/El-Abd still have a few question marks over them. If they continue as they left off they’ll do great but who knows. Midfield is excellent bar the gapping problem on the left and still question marks over Barnes. Although we’re not reliant on Barnes for goals as the midfield can help out too.

Less question marks over your side so I’d have you as slight favourites but if we continue as we finished last season, we’ll keep the ball well and be pretty solid. We’ll be relying on a moment of magic to get a goal though. If we play well I think we’ll nick it 1-0 but if our question mark players get exposed I can see you winning by a couple of goals. Hard to call, it’ll be interesting that’s for sure.

[leefer]

Not enough firepower to worry our defence...Sparrow is a good player but surely would be better on the wing!
Wont be easy but fancy us to win by the odd goal.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Nice write up Seagull. As I said before, I honestly don't know much about your current squad but I imagine you'll come out and have a bit of a go and won't just sit back and defend. That should suit us and make it a decent game as well. I like the way our squad has shaped up over the summer and I can see us just knicking this one.

[Meth Test]

Lucas

Amankwaah Cuthbert Lescinel Rose
McGovern Douglas Prutton Ball
Dossevi Austin


S: Morrison, Caddis, Ferry, Timlin, O'Brien, Peri Peri, Smith

[nochee]

Not enough firepower to worry our defence...Sparrow is a good player but surely would be better on the wing!
Wont be easy but fancy us to win by the odd goal.

Was there any intention of a pun there Leefer?