CC: Yeah Sorro definately, no reason why Simo should replace him
JK: Tommy has to start, key player last season and still pure class
DB: Just as easy as I thought, now the defence, start with what I imagine is another easy choice centre backs. Abdoulaye and Shawcross are the men in possession, and rightly so, but we've got Cort and Sonko waiting. That's the way it should be for me
JK: Yeah the pair were so good last season and the back up we have illustrates just how much we need a new centre back as cover
CC: This is easy! Abdoulaye, with the armband, and Ryan are nailed on starters for me
DB: It'll get harder, like now, full backs. Higgy is struggling with injury but if fit doesn't have much strong competition but Wilko could easily lose his place to Shotton.
CC: Shotton has played well but we need Wilko's experience and Higgy, if fit, isn't going to lose out to Dicko or Pugh
DB: Wilko has been struggling though. With Liverpool on Wednesday can we afford to risk both out full backs
JK: Well we have enough players who can fill in. Whitehead and Rory can both play at right back if needed
CC: Yeah it's not as if were scraping round for full backs
DB: So Shotton and Dicko would be ok at Anfield. Good players but not enough experience for me. I'd rest Wilko and go with Shotton on the right and Higgy on the left.
JK: I'll stick with Wilko and Higgy
CC: Anfield's Wednesday, tomorrow comes first and this is the most important game out of the two. Doesn't matter who we send out at Anfield chances are we'll lose, even after last years heroics
DB: So thats Higgy in unanimously and Wilko with the majority vote. Moving onto the midfield Ethers seems a solid choice on the right and Liam, with his great end to last season, must start on the right
CC: Back to the easy pick's. Got to be them two.
JK: What about Cresser lad's(smiles). Best pick Liam and Matty I suppose
DB: Right now central midfielders are here in abundance. Amdy Faye and Diao offer a defensive option whereas Whelan, Rory and new signing Dean Whitehead are more attacking and then squad players Matthew Lund, Tom Soares, Nathaniel Wedderburn and Danny Pugh are all sniffing around but competing for the bench at best.
JK: Yeah you could have added Tonge had it not been for his bout of flu so we have plenty of numbers in CM. Anyway back to tomorrow and I think Whitehead can come in for a competitive debut and do all the running whilst Whelan pulls the strings.
DB: So his appearance for Ireland would have been good, rather than bad for him you think?
JK: Yeah. Match fitness is what players strive for this time of the season and to get an extra game, now hes come through it, will have done him the world of good
CC: Whelan and Whitehead for me too. We all know what Rory gives us but Whitehead seems too similar. Post-Villa we saw exactly what Whelan offers the team and he HAS to start for me
DB: I think Whitehead has looked impressive so he's got my vote aswell and I think, due to the style of player he is Whelan just about shades it over Delap. Very close thing for me though. To finish with we have to pick the front two. Now this seems hard enough as it is, imagine if we'd have signed some of the strikers we've been linked with
CC: We'd have passed it over to Tone. I know though Kitson, Fuller or Beattie.....just who should partner Cresswell
DB: Now, now steady on enough of the Cressie bashing
CC: Yeah, yeah I know. He did get some important goals for us when we got promoted so should be remembered for that. Fuller has to partner Beattie. It worked so well last season and pre-season form means nothing, Kitson will have to fight into the team via the bench I think
DB: Beattie and Kitson for me. Ric is going to have to run his legs off on Wednesday and will have to be fully fit. Kitson deserves a start for his commitment and goalscoring in pre-season, a complete new player. Beattie and Kits have also struck up a decent understanding and we all know how lethal Ric is off the bench. I'm one of his biggest fans but looking at the bigger picture if plan A doesn't work and we need a goal, who would you, or more importantly Burnley, prefer to see stepping off the bench, a pumped up Fuller, raring to go and prove he should be back in the side, or Kitson. Kitson maybe be good but he isn't a player in the mould of Fuller, his pace and dribbling terrifies defenders
JK: I'm going for Fuller and Beattie also. The goal he scored against Derby showed just what he is all about. Kitson has done well but I don't think he could ever have possibly done enough to take Ric or Beat's place tomorrow. Burnley wouldn't want to see Ric coming on but they wouldn't want to see him in the XI even more
So our XI is:
Sorenson
Wilkinson-Shawcross-Abdy Faye-Higginbotham
Lawrence-Whelan-Whitehead-Etherington
Beattie-Fuller