Brentford (A) Saturday 4 November 3pm (not on TV)
Feeling better?
Well, here come Brentford!
We've lost all four Premier League games against them with our only recent win in the Cup and the combined goal total over 5 matches stands at 8-2
Obviously Ivan Toney (2 goals against us) will be missing but in his absence Yoane Wissa (2 goals against us) has been partnering Bryan Mbeumo (3 goals against us and currently Brentford's top scorer with 6 in 10 PL games) and of course they now have Neal Maupay on loan from Everton (3 goals in 5 games against us).
Along with Toney they will be without LB Rico Henry, out after surgery on his knee, replaced by 21yo Scottish international LB Aaron Hickey. RW Kevin Schade, LW Keane Lewis-Potter and CM Josh Dasilva (1 goal against us) are also on the injured list
In the summer Brentford added CB Nathan Collins from Wolves and GK Mark Flekken from Freiberg
Frank doesn't change his starting XI much and normally sets up in a 3-5-2 although he occasionally goes with 4-3-3
Flekken
Ajer Pinnock Collins
Roeslav Jensen Norgaard Janelt Hickey
Mbuema Wissa
Or
Flekken
Ajer Pinnock Collins Janelt
Onyeka Norgaard Jensen
Mbuema Maupay Wissa
On our side of the pitch what do we do about Paqueta and Alvarez? Kudus has played CM before, maybe play him alongside Soucek with Antonio and Benrahma starting? Fornals? Three at the back?
Discuss
Well, here come Brentford!
We've lost all four Premier League games against them with our only recent win in the Cup and the combined goal total over 5 matches stands at 8-2
Obviously Ivan Toney (2 goals against us) will be missing but in his absence Yoane Wissa (2 goals against us) has been partnering Bryan Mbeumo (3 goals against us and currently Brentford's top scorer with 6 in 10 PL games) and of course they now have Neal Maupay on loan from Everton (3 goals in 5 games against us).
Along with Toney they will be without LB Rico Henry, out after surgery on his knee, replaced by 21yo Scottish international LB Aaron Hickey. RW Kevin Schade, LW Keane Lewis-Potter and CM Josh Dasilva (1 goal against us) are also on the injured list
In the summer Brentford added CB Nathan Collins from Wolves and GK Mark Flekken from Freiberg
Frank doesn't change his starting XI much and normally sets up in a 3-5-2 although he occasionally goes with 4-3-3
Flekken
Ajer Pinnock Collins
Roeslav Jensen Norgaard Janelt Hickey
Mbuema Wissa
Or
Flekken
Ajer Pinnock Collins Janelt
Onyeka Norgaard Jensen
Mbuema Maupay Wissa
On our side of the pitch what do we do about Paqueta and Alvarez? Kudus has played CM before, maybe play him alongside Soucek with Antonio and Benrahma starting? Fornals? Three at the back?
Discuss
Comments
What I think we'll see: Areola; Coufal Zouma Aguerd Emerson; Soucek Ward-Prowse; Bowen Kudus Benrahma; Antonio
What I'd like to see: Areola; Coufal Zouma Aguerd Emerson; Soucek Ward-Prowse; Kudus Benrahma Fornals; Bowen
Areola
Mavropanos - Ogbonna - Aguerd
Coufal - Soucek - Ward-Prowse - Emerson
Bowen - Kudus
Antonio
I think we'll go with alderz's prediction (simply substituting in Mavropanos if Zouma is unavailable):
"I'm not sure if Kurt Zouma will make the trip to Brentford yet. He trained a little bit so we will see how he goes.
"Dinos Mavropanos is a big personality who is making his way back into the Premier League. The games he's played for us, he's done really well. A good character, and we hope he continues to come along."
On replacing Paqueta and Alvarez
"that’s why we play different players in cup games and in Europe, so that when these boys do get their opportunities they are ready to take them. Hopefully the boys who come in can do that.”
As Benrahma started and Fornals didn't that suggests to me that Alderz predicted line up is most likely
Areola
Coufal - Mavropanos - Aguerd - Emerson
Soucek - Ward-Prowse
Bowen - Kudus - Benrahma
Antonio
Because of the fact Paqueta AND Alvarez are out, we don’t really have enough midfielders. But personally I’d play Fornals as an AM or a back 3 with Bowen up front.
We’ve played 4-3-3 all season, not a 4-2-3-1.
Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Souček, Kudus, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Mubama