[WBAinDEVON]

Come on you baggies a win here today and we go 14th and in good mood for Stoke

[Legend]

I think we can get a draw if we play to our best.

[wimbledon baggie]

Think they're going to be smarting from last week & I'm expecting a very aggressive game.

I'd like to think we could pull off a win, but I would be happy with a 1 - 1 draw.

I agree. Mourinho will be moody and upset from last w/e and I think this will translate to their players. This game all set up for a red card. They go down to 10 and we struggle to break them down. We sneak a late winner 1-0!

Mourinho leaves with chants of 'sacked in the morning' ringing in his ears...

[frazzle]

Is Phillips fit?

[Aussie Baggie]

Is Phillips fit?

Apparently yes, but no Chadli or Morrison I believe.

[Aussie Baggie]

So, how do we set up against Man Utd?

Hard to say when you don't know who's available.

But I want to see Burke start. I want us to take it to them and give them a game.

If Matty is fit, then him on the right and Burke on the left are going to cause problems.

Here's how I would go:

Foster
Nyom Hegazi Evans Gibbs
Phillips, GK, Yacob, Burke
Rondon, Rodriguez.

[frazzle]

Apparently yes, but no Chadli or Morrison I believe.

Excellent - we really need Phillips in the team for me.

[frazzle]

I'd probably go with Brunt instead of Burke.

I think Pardew was talking up the importance of Barry so I reckon he will start. Livermore may be dropped to keep Yacob and Greg in the team.

Personally I would go with your side but switch Burke for Brunt. However he may decide to go with a midfield three of Yacob and Brunt with Greg more box to box, and the Phillips and Brunt/JRod either side of Rondon.

I guess I'd be fairly happy with any of the above. The key for me is that we see Yacob, Greg and Phillips in the starting eleven.

[mank baggie]

0 3 Utd unfortunately

[Aussie Baggie]

I'd probably go with Brunt instead of Burke.

I think Pardew was talking up the importance of Barry so I reckon he will start. Livermore may be dropped to keep Yacob and Greg in the team.

Personally I would go with your side but switch Burke for Brunt. However he may decide to go with a midfield three of Yacob and Brunt with Greg more box to box, and the Phillips and Brunt/JRod either side of Rondon.

I guess I'd be fairly happy with any of the above. The key for me is that we see Yacob, Greg and Phillips in the starting eleven.

Yes mate, even though I want it, I don't have any faith that Pardew will start Burke. I'd just love to see him in full flight.

I remember when he first signed and I watched video of him at RB Leipzig. His pace and creativity caused so many problems, would love to him doing that in a Baggies shirt.

[frazzle]

To be fair, you could put him in behind Rondon in a 4,4,1,1 formation and just see what happens. Someone with the ability to do something unexpected could be just what we need and its not as if JRod is pulling up trees.

[lewisant]

I agree with the Burke suggestions. We need a little unpredictability.  Right now you know that Gibbs, Nyom and Phillips will take people on on the wings and sometimes it will come off and sometimes it won't. However it's through the middle and in behind where we are not really doing enough. I feel that the inclusions of Brunt and Burke could solve this.

[zippyandbungle]

I agree with the Burke suggestions. We need a little unpredictability.  Right now you know that Gibbs, Nyom and Phillips will take people on on the wings and sometimes it will come off and sometimes it won't. However it's through the middle and in behind where we are not really doing enough. I feel that the inclusions of Brunt and Burke could solve this.

We should never play brunt through the middle, it really has been tried many times and never worked
Today is a game when you can get away with trying something new, for me Phillips nyom, Gibbs and Burke going down the sides would hurt them, keep Claudio in to shield and we could actually beat them
My worry would be our finishing but in fairness to HRK he did not look bad against the scousers.

[SirTonyPulis]

McClean should be playing. We always tend to do well when hes starting

[frazzle]

We should never play brunt through the middle, it really has been tried many times and never worked
Today is a game when you can get away with trying something new, for me Phillips nyom, Gibbs and Burke going down the sides would hurt them, keep Claudio in to shield and we could actually beat them
My worry would be our finishing but in fairness to HRK he did not look bad against the scousers.

Despite the odd flash, I just don't think we can keep HRK in the team. I accept that he scores the odd good goal out of nothing but he is not a consistent threat and I just don't think we can carry him in the first eleven. Same for McLean - while they are decent honest players they are not good enough for us, especially as we now have Brunt and Phillips available again for selection.

[frazzle]

Burke starts! Looks like a 452. No Phillips again though.

[lewisant]

We should never play brunt through the middle, it really has been tried many times and never worked
Today is a game when you can get away with trying something new, for me Phillips nyom, Gibbs and Burke going down the sides would hurt them, keep Claudio in to shield and we could actually beat them
My worry would be our finishing but in fairness to HRK he did not look bad against the scousers.

Didn’t suggest Brunt through the middle nor would I ever. I said he’d solve the problem of our predictability through the middle and getting in behind. I meant with his passing which season after season has opened up defences.

[lewisant]

McClean should be playing. We always tend to do well when hes starting

Do we?

Well I hope you’re right because he starts today!

And we finally get to see Burke start a game!

[TheJacko2000]

Burke starts! Looks like a 452. No Phillips again though.

Might have a chance with 12 men 

[Smooth Lad]

0 - 2

FGS Rashford 

[WBAinDEVON]

Can't believe I ain't there, hopefully enthusiasm comes  back next season. Just put a few more logs on fire

[koren]

1st start for Burke, hope he does well and bring us some spark.

[koren]

Come on Albion!!!

[WBAinDEVON]

So far ''tis like Pulis is back, far to much respect

[KYA]

Glad Burke as started we need to give this kid a run in the side.