FairWooney

Great surprise to see Digne back. Didn't expect him back so soon, hope he's not been rushed back and is carefully managed back. I'd have liked DCL to get a chance to break his run but can fully understand giving him a much needed break.

a lot of people putting Iwobi in the team. Is he fit? He missed the last game completely so I wondered if he had an injury. Or was he ill?

Olsen Coleman Keane Godfrey Niels Davies Gomes Bernard Gordon DCL Richarlison I'd give James 30 minutes whatever the game situation (unless they are chopping us down all over the park!). I toyed with Richarilson in the number 10 role but realistically he's not going to play there regularly so keep him on the left, Niels a natural attacking wing back would benefit him as well as he's missed having Digne there. DCL needs goals and against a weaker side with the crossing of Niels (and hopefully Gordon) he should be able to get himself on the score sheet. I'd take him off early second half if we're comfortable as he doesn't really need to be playing another 90 minutes. Based on their games this season they don't create the least or concede the most shots in the league by any stretch but struggle for possession and if those weaknesses are anything to on I'd want to see Richarilson and DCL to be making to make some good runs...likely resulting in a penalty! Rotherham have given away 6 goals from penalties this season so my money would be on Richarlison or DCL wining a penalty at some point. They've also given away 7 goals from set pieces so we need to make the most of our good record at scoring from them!

Agree with Gomes voters that he looked very good when he came on. But i've gone Doucoure, the last few games without Allan I've noticed him a lot more. He's making brilliant challenges to win the ball in dangerous positions then you see him up the other end looking to make something or get a chance at goal. An immense players and really shown what an important signing he is.

oh and I haven't dropped Pickford for performance reasons, just "Rotation" same as Carlo, I'd expect him to play in the cup game so give him the game off on Saturday.

Olsen Coleman Holgate Keane Godfrey Doucoure Gomes Iwobi Rodriguez (if fit) Richarlison DCL I've gone a couple of changes, I'd keep the same team as the weekend for the cup game but give Coleman his first start back on Saturday against Sheff Utd. Sheffield United haven't offered a huge amount attackwise so I'd like to see us be a bit more attack minded. Doucoure to cover things defensively with Gomes with him in the middle and Rodriguez in front of them in the middle. If Rodriguez isn't fit then with limited options I'd go back to Davies. Seems Bernard is very much out of favour and I guess we may see him leave in January otherwise I'd suggest him in the 10 role.

Same line up as Chelsea. Tough match this, hoping we can follow up that Chelsea performance with another good resilient performance hopefully another win and clean sheet.

Niels to open them up with Richarilson down the left, DCL to have so many crosses coming his way he doesn't know what to do with them. James to spend 90 minutes sweeping the ball their way and Pickford to light up a cigar and sit in the stands. One can dream. I'm pretty confident we'll put them away though I'm going to say a rare clean sheet with a 3-0 win. 2 for DCL, one for James or Richarlison Not sure on line up, I fancied the 3 at the back again as it gives Niels some cover to really attack them but perhaps with more possession likely in this game and 3/5 man defence not doing wonders for us it might be better to go back to 4 and accept the risk allowing an extra man in midfield to give help control the game more. Pickford Godfrey Holgate Keane Niels Allan Doucoure Iwobi James Richarlison DCL For me James is better with that freedom to move around and dictate things from the middle so rather than leaving a hole on the right when he comes in I'd go Iwobi there. He did a great job against Fulham and having spent a couple of weeks doing defensive duties he's capable of helping to cover down that wing whilst getting forward plenty too.

Why did he not get a look in even on the bench this weekend? Digne is out for 2-3 months and we have only 1 other natural left back, he's already impressed all be it against lower league sides mostly in the league cup but with no real competition for the spot surely this should be his chance. If he doesn't play against Burnley who have created the least shots (and scored the least goals) so far this season then I'll really be wondering what he's done wrong! I can kind of accept Leeds is a big challenge because of the way they dominate teams but given how Iwobi struggled in the position (no left foot!) I can't possibly see how he won't start. If we stick with the 3 Centre backs he will also have some protection. With his and Richarilson's pace down the left it should really give James players to aim for and plenty of interest for DCL in the box.

He provided a lot more this week than against Fulham. He is and will always be a luxury player to some extent. If we had more possession I think he'd do a good job controlling attacks in the middle and we saw that in those early games. When we don't have much of the ball he doesn't have as much involvement apart from to create chances on quick attacks. In that sense he did pretty well: 3 shots (2 on target) 5 key passes 2 dribbles Fouled 3 times 8 Crosses (though only 3 considered accurate - assume that includes corners/free kicks) 4 out of 7 successful long balls He also had 46, more passes than anyone else in the team . On the downside he was disspossed 4 times. He took that offside chance beautifully and also had a few decent bits of attacking involvement. He won't charge around winning the ball back and making darting runs like Richarlison and we have to accept that. I've found as a team we've looked very flat recently, in early games Richarlison seemed to be making really good runs forward that James was picking out, We seems to look a bit short on that at the moment and the balls he's playing have been much more speculative in a lot of instances.

Maybe not but I'd certainly like to see that formation again, he did a decent job defensively but in attack looked really good. Good decision making, quick to get the ball in the box and a real threat out there. I think in some games that formation could work and I think with James rarely sticking to the right wing it's good to have more regular attacker filling that hole.

A few stand out performances I'd say. Iwobi - really made his mark in this game looked a lot more decisive with the ball and did well getting the ball into dangerous spots a few times, always looked a threat in the first half and the run for our (2nd or 3rd?) was fantastic. Second half he struggled to get forward like everyone but did his job defending well for the most part. I'd definitely like to see him given another go n that role. Digne - perhaps benefited from the 3 centre backs also as well as the quality of Richarilson in front of him but really attacked with a lot of freedom in the first half, such a good player and rarely wastes a chance when presented with space to put the ball across the box. Doucoure - I wouldn't say I noticed him all the time but he did a hell of a lot, more passes than anyone, 6 interceptions, gets about everywhere and chipped in with a nice (if very unchallenged) headed goal. Really saw the value in him here. Allan - As usual Allan got about breaking everything up. Though Fulham had a lot of the ball in the second half we generally held a solid line and the 2 in front of the defence contantly stopped much of any real threat happening. I've given it to DCL though, not just for the 2 goals which was his now usual quality 1 touch finish in the right place at the right time but for his link up play in the first half and his real lone forwards hold up in the second. We did nothing going forward but he won us a few fouls, did his best with the scraps that we had and really lead the line well throughout. He's really starting to show that he's the all round real deal up front.

First half v second half Passes First Half - 331 - success rate 86% Second Half - 186 - success rate 65% Possession - FH - 58% SH - 35%

Weird game really. First half we played lovely slick attacking football, showing exactly why we'd missed Richarlison. The set up with Iwobi as an attacking wing back and 3 CB's allowed us to cause them loads of problems in no small part because of quality performances from Digne and Iwobi. Fulham looked poor at the back giving the ball away and not challenging enough. The second half after our 1st min chance we barely troubled their final 3rd and couldn't string more than a couple of passes together. Felt their second was always coming and we panicked after that, bot getting forward and just hoofing the ball. Praise for DCL' brilliant hold up play and foul winning tmat times. Doucoure was immense as was Allan and hopefully see more of that quality from Iwobi. James good at times but often a passenger. Richarlison quality first half but nothing in second, may be flagging from his travels

BBC really been given the dregs for their games! Hoping with Richarilson back we'll turn it on and produce a proper performance to stop this bad run of results. We've got a few very winnable games now before a very tough December so best pick up some form again now. I see James scored in a humiliating defeat to Columbia's neighbours Ecuador (6-1), hopefully he's had a bit of time to recover from his injury as i feel he's been struggling a bit with that injury over the last few weeks and not really having any training in between games. No doubt having injections to make sure he can play as well. I'd go back to Olsen for another game Other than that I don't think we need a lot of changes. Coleman Holgate Keane Digne Allan Doucoure Gomes James DCL Richarlison Going Gomes over Sig as hoping with a bit of a break he'll have worked on his fitness and should be up for trying to earn his place. I'd prefer to see James in the middle in more of a free role as he'll get more of the ball but don't see that happening at the moment. He tends to come across pretty free anyway. to get James in the middle I'd be tempted with the below. It's a pretty attacking line up but it's not like we're short of combative midfield and it gives James more freedom to pick the ball up from them in the middle while giving 3 outlets with plenty of pace. Allan Doucoure James Gordon DCL Richarlison

I felt he's not done much in the last couple of games but think he really missed Richarilson. The key to our success in those first 4 games was Richarlison making runs coming off the left wing and James often picking him out. Even when he wasn't picking him out he was causing a lot of work for their defenders and helping to open things for others. With no Richarilson no one really replaced that running. the Sigurdson & Gomes game gave Rodridugez nothing while against Man Utd at least with Bernard and Digne working together there was something to aim at but nothing like the pacey runs that Richarilson gives. It's pretty clear from these last 3 games how much we need him as we really struggle to produce the same performances without him in the team. No one does a similar job really even to a a lower standard. Gordon could hopefully do that at some point but isn't trusted with it at the moment. Looking forward to seeing him back next week against a shite Fulham side with hopefully a more fit James.

Obviously Carlo doesn't see him as quite ready yet despite giving him a fair bit of game time at the end of last season. This weekend I'd say he didn't make the squad because he'd rather see him get 90 minutes in an u23 game than sit on the bench for most of first team game. I think his time will come, as someone mentioned a loan might be a great move for him. Give him some regular first team experience in a championship side, against slightly easier opposition that just helps him develop a bit and be ready to step up and come back into the first team.

Coleman put in some good attacking runs, his classic runs where he kind of looks like he's out of his depth and doesn't know what he's going to do next but manages to cruise through several players. Bernard at times showed why he should be Richarlison's cover on the left, linked up with Digne well and did some good stuff but then at times disappears or makes several mistakes. To get statty on it he got dispossed twice and had bad control that lost the ball 4 times. good to see him getting a goal though, I always compare him to Pienaar, lots of good pacey skills and link up but often scared to have a shot. Took that well. I was quite impressed with Iwobi when he came on, did a decent job on the right wing, pretty composed on the ball and always looking to do something with it but I'm not sure that the right wing is a great place for him, he struggled to get the cross in most of the time finding it hard to make space around their left back. Overall can't wait to see Richarilson back, we really do miss him and him being missing has a huge affect on so many players. James loves being able to pick out his runs, DCL has someone to feed off, it makes our attacks so much more fluid

Sorry I know we want to back up our player but that still really doesn't show what happened does it. Pickford was not malicious in his intent but he lunged with both feet up and out towards the player and ball. Van Dyke was only heading in the direction of the ball, a ball that did not have another player near it at the time! Pickford has put himself in the wrong position and in his head had to make that lunge and spread himself, he shouldn't have done it and that's that. The media need to move on, he needs to move on and learn from that and the other mistakes he's been making recently and if he doesn't then he needs to find a comfy chair on the side lines and see what the Norwegian has to offer.

Bernard doesn't seem to be favoured by Ancelotti and he prefers to play Iwobi but personally I'd say the most natural replacement is Bernard. He has pace, flare and skills to work the wing and come inside. He's not as much of a goal threat as Richarlison but is certainly capable of opening up space and and setting up DCL. Like Richarilson he works hard around the pitch too, putting in dodgy tackles in an attempt to help out defense! I'd go with the same line up but put Bernard and Kenny in. Gomes could also be swapped for Sigurdson but depends how Ancelotti is feeling after watching Gomes in training for a week since the last game.

If we get into Champions League I don't see Richarlison leaving unless it was for Barca or Real. He's got a great manager, a good young team who he will have seen heading in the right direction. I would also say that if he was going to go he'd go but only if a team is willing to pay what we want for him which would be big big money. If they won't pay it he won't go and I'm sure he'd get on with things (no doubt looking just as surly but working just as hard as ever!). Dominic wouldn't be in a rush to leave, Ancelotti has done wonders for him (not forgetting Big Dunc as well) and he has a team that are feeding him chances. He doesn't seem the type that would chase down the quick buck and glory of a "big side" just because they come knocking. Plus we're keeping his mate Tom on board to keep him happy!

I'm hoping Bernard hasn't gone anywhere. He is at times a quality player for us, a bit lightweight but works really hard, has some good skills and importantly can do a job on both wings and in the middle. He might not be happy at being on the bench but we can't afford to let him go right now.

I think his reason for wanting him dropped from England no.1 is to as he said "give him a wake up call". He's made his mistakes, he's seen a new keeper come in, if he was dropped to the bench by England it would just backup that he really needs to pull his finger out his arse and cut out those mistakes. Hopefully the addition of a new experienced international goal keeper will spur him on and perhaps help him out in training too.

would make good backup from the bench....but would he really be happy with that? Who would you replace if we had him?

I'd like to have seen Lookma get more game time, always felt he could make it for us. Think he'll do well at Fulham