Team For Birmingham (a)

[Gordons Cumming]

My worry is if we concede early we will be exposed because of our lack of firepower.

End up with a few heavy defeats chasing games..................

[jar95]

Sold out initial allocations, been given extra tickets

[Ian Royal]

............................Bond
..Gunter..Hector..Ferdinand..Taylor
................Norwood..Quinn
Samuel..............Williams...........Obita
...............................Sa

Al-Habsi, McShane, Keown, Tshibola, Fosu, Stacey, Blackman


If Gunter, Hector, Ferdinand, Obita, Quinn and Williams don't start I'll be amazed, but the other four, and exactly where Quinn and Obita will play is so open. I guess Sa is almost as nailed on to start as those six, but whether up front on his own, with a partner or as the centre of a three is going to be interesting.

[SCIAG]

I'd be shocked if we play Obita on the wing and Taylor at full back. Edit: fkin Dodd

I'd be surprised if Samuel starts on the wing ahead of Fosu.

I think Fosu on the right and Quinn on the left is more likely than vice versa, but I don't know Quinn too well.

[Ian Royal]

I'd be shocked if we play Obita on the wing and Taylor at full back. Edit: fkin Dodd

I'd be surprised if Samuel starts on the wing ahead of Fosu.

I think Fosu on the right and Quinn on the left is more likely than vice versa, but I don't know Quinn too well.

I think asking Fosu to start the first game of the season is a big ask, let alone ask him to start the first game of the season playing on the wrong side as our only real width (I don't see Quinn hugging the touchline from what I've seen of him). Although I admit our options on the right are somewhat limited (is Stacey injured actually?), unless we want to give Blackman yet another chance...

I'd just want to protect Fosu a bit more - ease him in carefully - and give Samuel a chance to show what he can do... but I'm not sure he's really appropriate for the right, I just can't bring myself to pick Blackman.

[Royal Ginger]

............................Bond
..Gunter..Hector..Ferdinand..Taylor
................Norwood..Quinn
Samuel..............Williams...........Obita
...............................Sa

Al-Habsi, McShane, Keown, Tshibola, Fosu, Stacey, Blackman


If Gunter, Hector, Ferdinand, Obita, Quinn and Williams don't start I'll be amazed, but the other four, and exactly where Quinn and Obita will play is so open. I guess Sa is almost as nailed on to start as those six, but whether up front on his own, with a partner or as the centre of a three is going to be interesting.

Isn't Stacey injured? I'd have put him in if he wasn't.

[Esteban]

............................Bond
..Gunter..Hector..Ferdinand..Taylor
................Norwood..Quinn
Samuel..............Williams...........Obita
...............................Sa

Al-Habsi, McShane, Keown, Tshibola, Fosu, Stacey, Blackman


If Gunter, Hector, Ferdinand, Obita, Quinn and Williams don't start I'll be amazed, but the other four, and exactly where Quinn and Obita will play is so open. I guess Sa is almost as nailed on to start as those six, but whether up front on his own, with a partner or as the centre of a three is going to be interesting.

Isn't Stacey injured? I'd have put him in if he wasn't.

He tweeted that he was going for a CT scan yesterday and if that went well, he would start full training today. No update on that.

I think we'll see the same team that started against Espanyol, with Sa in for Pogrebnyak. Set pieces probably our best chance of scoring. Fosu and Samuel from the bench to try to nick a win.

I'd take a draw right now.

[John Smith]

In what lifetime is Dominic Samuel going to start on Saturday? A lot of you on here have heads buried way too far in the sand

[Coppelled_Streets]

Fosu has a knock and may miss Birmingham as well now.

[Esteban]

In what lifetime is Dominic Samuel going to start on Saturday? A lot of you on here have heads buried way too far in the sand

Samuel is the only fully fit striker who has had a pre-season. Unlikely to start, but not unreasonable to think it.

[JakeTheRoyal]

Bond

Gunter
Hector
Ferdinand
Obita

Norwood
Quinn
Tshibola
Williams

Sa
Blackman

The midfield in a diamond with Norwood holding

[John Smith]

In what lifetime is Dominic Samuel going to start on Saturday? A lot of you on here have heads buried way too far in the sand

Samuel is the only fully fit striker who has had a pre-season. Unlikely to start, but not unreasonable to think it.

Nick Blackman will be up top and you know it. I think he'll score too

[paddy20]

Bond

Gunter
Hector
Ferdinand
Obita

Norwood
Quinn
Tshibola
Williams

Sa
Blackman

The midfield in a diamond with Norwood holding

Think you are spot on with that choice

[Royal Ginger]

In what lifetime is Dominic Samuel going to start on Saturday? A lot of you on here have heads buried way too far in the sand

Samuel is the only fully fit striker who has had a pre-season. Unlikely to start, but not unreasonable to think it.

Blackman is a better striker than he is a winger and has played as such most of pre-season. I'd put money on him starting up top on his own.

[THE HUMAN BISCUIT]

Bond

Gunter
Hector
Ferdinand
Obita

Norwood
Quinn
Tshibola
Williams

Sa
Blackman

The midfield in a diamond with Norwood holding

Yup. That's probably right. Though I can see McShane playing instead of Hector. It would be a very Steve Clarke thing to do. Why else the weird armband swap against Espanyol?

[paddy20]

Bond

Gunter
Hector
Ferdinand
Obita

Norwood
Quinn
Tshibola
Williams

Sa
Blackman

The midfield in a diamond with Norwood holding

Yup. That's probably right. Though I can see McShane playing instead of Hector. It would be a very Steve Clarke thing to do. Why else the weird armband swap against Espanyol?

I think he may feel Mcshane is not quite match fit although I think he may be a better option than Hector. Wonder if Hector can play as a striker!

[andrew1957]

---------------------------- Bond ----------------------------
Gunter --- Ferdinand ----- Hector ----------A Taylor
-------------------------- Norwood ------------------------
----- Quinn ----------- Williams ----------------- Obita
------------------- Sa ------------------ Blackman ----------

Subs

Al Habsi
McShane
Akpan
J Taylor
Cox
Samuel
Hyam or ANO defender

Think moving Obita forward very likely with HRK, Stacey and Fosu all injured.

[Simon's Church]

Our 3 best attackers are out, we can't afford to take too many risks

Bond
Mcshane ferdinand hector Taylor
Gunter Norwood tshibola obita
Quinn Williams

[genome]

[RoyallyFcuked]

Yeah maybe Blackman will start upfront with Sa or Samuel, possibly even on his own although that is probably an even worse idea.

Having said that I'm prepared to give him a chance, as striker is his preferred position and hasn't had a run of starts there.

Big season for Blackman, still has A LOT to prove.