Team for Tranmere

[James.]

Henderson

Gilbert

Hobbs

Tunchev

(A new signing)

Gradel

Oakley

Adams

Dyer

Howard

Fryatt

Subs: Dickov, Morrison, Martin, Wesolowski, Porter

I assume that's the team you'd like to see as opposed to the team you think will be picked..? Can't see Morrison getting dropped even though Hobbs, by all accounts, has been very impressive.

I'd be well up for seeing that team play as Adams in midfield would be interesting - it's a very attacking line up assuming we get a left back in who likes to push forward.

[Koke]

I presume Tunchev is going away on International with Bulgaria as they are playing Bosnia on Wednesday.

At least it's not a 50 hour round-trip, as it is with Kisnorbo.

[chesterfox]

anyone got any news on Weso? Is he fit? How has he been playing? Good option for midfield?

for me same team - left back needs cover though - as well as Tunchev played he is not a LEFT back

[morris1234]

keep the same team, although i would like to see porter and adams introduced at half time if we are comfortable but if not i would still like to see them both given a chance!

[Asha]

Tranmere are a decent-ish side. But we should still win, comfortably.

[Ric Flair]

I assume that's the team you'd like to see as opposed to the team you think will be picked..? Can't see Morrison getting dropped even though Hobbs, by all accounts, has been very impressive.

I'd be well up for seeing that team play as Adams in midfield would be interesting - it's a very attacking line up assuming we get a left back in who likes to push forward.

The team i'd like to see.

I have a fear that if we start to fall under a bit of pressure, the lack of creativity in central midfield will highlight our wastefulness in front of goal when chances do come our way.

I know it's early days, and i'm yet to seriously worry about our failure to convert chances against Stockport (home and away) but this has been a problem for us in recent seasons and if this continues to happen then central midfield is where we need to dominate to overcome this.

King hasn't impressed me yet this season, I don't think he works well with Oakley. However, King is a player who I rate and i'm not sure where to fit him in. Oakley is going to play whatever the fans think and therefore i'd play a genuine goal scorer in Adams alongside him. He played in central midfield for Bury last season and scored 14 goals and got 15 assists. That's a record that cannot be ignored and although he was poor on Tuesday and hasn't been tried in the centre at all by Pearson, I cannot accept that he's not good enough for central midfield. Out wide, I don't think he'll show his true qualities, which appear to be quick passing and getting in to the box. I don't think he will beat players out wide and get enough crosses in for what we need from a winger.

Perhaps it's too early to change things, but at the very least he should be amongst the substitues, but then again so should Wesolowski and Porter, but we cannae have all three in the 16 from the looks of things right now.

What we need though is a player to take the bull by it's horns on Saturday, as I can see the natives getting a bit restless if we go another game without a few goals. I hope Gradel isn't sacrificed after his below par showing from Saturday. He did a number on Tranmere last season and their defensive stalwart Goodison, whom he forced in to scoring a comical own goal after tearing them to pieces.

[Jonezy]

Think it will be the same line-up:

Henderson

Gilbert - Morrison - Hobbs - Tunchev

Gradel - Oakley - King - Dyer

Howard - Fryatt

Hoping for:

Henderson

Gilbert - Morrison - Tunchev - New Signing

Gradel - Kishishev - King - Porter

Howard - Fryatt

Notes: Morrison for Hobbs at home. Morrison is our player, so its more important to give him games than Hobbs even though Hobbs might be the better player right now. Wanted a left-back all summer, and now more than ever. With Kish in, King should be able to get more freedom to get forward and use his shooting ability from the distance. Porter needs to be tested, he scored goals in pre-season and we need goals. Keep Howard/Fryatt and let them get to know each other. Adams and Dickov must be on the bench. so we can have some impact if we need it. This wont happen, as Oakley is captain and Dyer wont get sacrificed, also doubt we'll get another leftback. Just a bloody foreigner's thoughts...

[Thracian]

Why anyone would dream of dropping Kingy after Saturday's perfomance I've no idea.

There were only two weaknesses against Stockport. Henderson looked iffy in goal at times and Tunchev was way out of position at left-back.

Whether we can improve on either against Tranmere is a matter of opinion but I certainly don't think I'd mess around with the strikers and, to me, King was by far the better of the two central midfielders who really held control of midfield throughout.

It wasn't as if we didn't make chances. For an away team we had lots of chances and there were any number of scrambles in in box which might have produced a tasty opening but didn't. Yes it still concerns me that Oakley doesn't help make enough of them but otherwise he did plenty of things right..

Fryatt and Howard have not really had much time playing as a partnership but they looked promising enough, Fryatt being robbed off a goal by an outstanding save and I see no benefit in making another change for its own sake.

Okay, I'd definitely want to involve Porter and Adams because we do need to increase our strike power and increase the number of players who can play incisive passes but I see no reason we shouldn't adapt our system to 3-5-2 especially as King can easily help out in central defence when necessary.

Whether Martin is actually better in goal than Henderson or we just hope he is is pure guesswork as far as I can tell.

[Joe.]

I think it would be a little harsh to drop King Ric from what I've seen so far. If I was going to drop anybody it would be Oakley. He was fairly lacklusture on Saturday against Stockport and instead it was King who was trying to made things happen in the attack.

[Thracian]

Picking a team is not easy at City now because I'm fairly happy with the whole squad.

There seems little doubt that Pearson will stick with 4-4-2 so I'd choose::

Henderson;

Gilbert, Hobbs, Tunchev, Dyer;

Gradel, Oakley, King, Porter;

Howard, Fryatt.

Subs: Martin, Morrison, Adams, Dickov, Campbell.

This team would be more fluid than Saturday's.

[act smiley]

There were only two weaknesses against Stockport. Henderson looked iffy in goal at times and Tunchev was way out of position at left-back.

Awful set pieces was a fault that we still couldn't shake. Some of those corners near the end were shockingly bad.

As for the team I wouldn't be changing much, except probably being more active with substitutes - bringing on players like Porter, Adams, Dickov etc with a good bit of time to have an impact if necessary, rather than just a bit of desperation in the dying minutes. I can understand the suggestions to have one of King/Oakley and one of Kishishev/Wesolowski, for a bit of balance, even though I'm undecided on it.

[Thracian]

Awful set pieces is a fault that we still didn't shake. Some of those corners near the end were shockingly bad.

They weren't "shockingly bad" at all. They were no better nor worse than what we've taken ever since Sheehan left. Kingy's quite a decent free-kick taker given a bit of patience from the fans but he's no Sheehan and neither is anyone else. Porter would be as good as any for most set pieces with King taking the shots at goal.

[act smiley]

King's were too high and too long, a couple went straight out of play and the rest went straight to the keeper and gave him all the time in the world to collect them. Its certainly not just the constant aiming toward the far post but the execution of a few of them was pretty off too. Dyer's attempts were just haphazardly put into the box with pace - although it did ruffle the Stockport defense a bit, it wasn't accurate enough to be a threat. We definitely do lack a specialist and I'm certainly not blaming King as like you say, everyone who tries them seems to be rubbish at it.

[maddog]

Id drop Howard, i still think he's a donkey.

Dickov in for Howard would be my change, if 2 small men don't work, get Howard on at half time.

Wheres Adams? Is he injured? Is he just shit? Was he on the bench Saturday i can't remember?

[Ash]

Henderson

Hobbs

Tunchev

Morrison

Gradel

Oakley

Adams

Dyer

Fryatt

Dickov

Howard

GUNG HO!!!

[Ric Flair]

I think it would be a little harsh to drop King Ric from what I've seen so far. If I was going to drop anybody it would be Oakley. He was fairly lacklusture on Saturday against Stockport and instead it was King who was trying to made things happen in the attack.

But as I have said, Oakley isn't going to be dropped whether the fans rate him or not and I don't think King and Oakley are suited together IMO. That's the reason for me dropping King. I rate the lad, just don't think he's been allowed to show his true ability whilst playing alongside Oakley so far.

[clazkel]

Hendo

Gilbert Hobbs Morrison Dyer

Gradel Oakley King Porter

Fryatt Dickov

or

Hendo

Gilbert Hobbs Morrison

Gradel Oakley King Dyer

Howard

Fryatt Dickov

If Howard has to play then he would serve a more of a purpose behind the front 2 strikers knocking it on. He gets drawn into midfield quite alot and this way the other striker will have support.

[J.Lisemore]

Tranmere are a decent-ish side. But we should still win, comfortably.

On paper we can beat every team in this league...but doesnt work like that unfortunatly

[20mj08]

same team or just put porter left back n tunchev back in the center and drop hoobs or morrison to the bench,

we have got to get a team settled together so its got to be the same team most games for a while

[Thracian]

same team or just put porter left back n tunchev back in the center and drop hoobs or morrison to the bench,

we have got to get a team settled together so its got to be the same team most games for a while

I'd sympathise with that except that he's somehow got to keep the rest of his squad fit and motivated. We've had situations in the past where fringe players were allowed to lose their sharpness and that does no-one any good.

[Babylon]

As long as morrison plays and scores I don't care... £5 on at 42/1 to score first or second goal.

[Thracian]

As long as morrison plays and scores I don't care... £5 on at 42/1 to score first or second goal.

That would be resistable at 100-1 but good luck anyway.

[Ric Flair]

I'm looking forward to Tunchev scoring his first goal for us and me pocketing a wedge all being well.

Defenders to score first is always a good bet. Kisnorbo and McAuley have done it quite a lot over the past few seasons. Probably not made much in terms of putting a few quid on every game, but you don't mind losing a few quid each game. But when you win £50-100 then it pays for a good night and it's well worth it.

[davieG]

I'm looking forward to Tunchev scoring his first goal for us and me pocketing a wedge all being well.

Defenders to score first is always a good bet. Kisnorbo and McAuley have done it quite a lot over the past few seasons. Probably not made much in terms of putting a few quid on every game, but you don't mind losing a few quid each game. But when you win £50-100 then it pays for a good night and it's well worth it.

LCFC Savings Account (managed by Ladbrokes) better than their credit card

[Joe.]

I'm looking forward to Tunchev scoring his first goal for us and me pocketing a wedge all being well.

Defenders to score first is always a good bet. Kisnorbo and McAuley have done it quite a lot over the past few seasons. Probably not made much in terms of putting a few quid on every game, but you don't mind losing a few quid each game. But when you win £50-100 then it pays for a good night and it's well worth it.

Yeah you can always find odds of around 25/1, usually more than that. Although this season I've vowed not to bet on Leicester as I literally never win.