North by North West. Away to Blackpool Sat 24th Feb, 3-0'clock

[TANGODANCER]

With a distinct odour of Ozone, hamburgers and fish and chips on the breeze on Saturday at Blackpool, (followed by pies and gravy, at Wigan Pier next Tuesday,) a near as we're local to get northern rivalry trilogy is on the cards. Not going to be any chances of walkovers in either and the Seasiders are ever a tasty affair that has more to do with rock than candy-floss. It's as North West as it comes and we can surely expect no favours from the neighbours. We need to show our best efforts with every single game a Cup Final if we're marching up the slope. Come on then, let's see if we can pop a few bulbs and blow a few fuses in Blackpool's Illuminations. At em...



Game Stats and video.

[officer_dibble]

Thomason back in or not?

Not for me; too much of a risk in the next two games.

[Worthy4England]

With a distinct odour of Ozone....

Does Ozone smell like disinfected pi$$, TD? If so that'll be it.

[Mar]

Thomason back in or not?

Not for me; too much of a risk in the next two games.

He's back, he's eligible, but he's a risk.

We seem woefully short of midfielders for some reason and yet they're all fit and available. Maybe this is something to do with the levels Sheehan, Maghoma and Dempsey are reaching rather than the drop offs for Thomason and Morley.

Used to be the case we'd rotate enough to give one a break, but given this is crunch time that may end up raising a bit more speculation.

Question is, would you rather have Thomason or Morley coming into this game, or the next?

I'd say off the bench for the Blackpool game and then starting the Wigan game, providing he can stop from lunging in.

[irie Cee Bee]

Thomason is a must start for me. He is our best and most combative midfielder and fresh.

[The_Gun]

Yeah Thomason probably starts tomorrow. For me the ‘8’ position isn’t a huge concern - we have three strong options there, so we’re always going to be able to rest someone without markedly weakening ourselves.

It’s Sheehan’s position that I worry about, in that Josh is virtually irreplaceable and thus will probably need to start every game from here on in. My hope is that we can maybe get comfortable leads in a few matches and bring Morley on in his place.

For tomorrow the returning player that’s likely to have the biggest impact on our fortunes is Santos. Do we chuck him straight back in, or give him the extra days until Wigan?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Thomason is a must start for me. He is our best and most combative midfielder and fresh.

+1

Yeah Thomason probably starts tomorrow. For me the ‘8’ position isn’t a huge concern - we have three strong options there, so we’re always going to be able to rest someone without markedly weakening ourselves.

It’s Sheehan’s position that I worry about, in that Josh is virtually irreplaceable and thus will probably need to start every game from here on in. My hope is that we can maybe get comfortable leads in a few matches and bring Morley on in his place.

For tomorrow the returning player that’s likely to have the biggest impact on our fortunes is Santos. Do we chuck him straight back in, or give him the extra days until Wigan?

+1

Rico in, for me. Flanked by Iredale and Geth. With Rico back we are more likely to risk going 1v1 at the back and pushing the outside centre-backs on for overloads. Nothing against Toal but Jack's better advancing with the ball, so for me - until either Jack drops form or fitness, or we play some longballers - Toal's back on the bench.

Iles saying Ogbeta likely to be rested with Ashworth returned, and it makes sense to me for those to rotate. Would like Ramsay to offer more threat to JDC on the right but he's been thwarted thus far by mild underachievement and JDC's indefatigability. And Williams is back soon...

I'd go Coleman; Geth-Rico-Jack; JDC-Maghoma-Sheehan-Thomo-Ashworth; Collins-Vic. Nothing against Tuesday's front two - they can come on after an hour - we just need to keep rotating. Demps can also come on, possibly Morley.

[TANGODANCER]

"A rose, by any other name still smells just as sweet" sayeth The Bard, (or as sour, in the case of football), so Blackpool or Barnsley, Wycombe or Wigan, the name matters little when the final whistle sounds. Sure, some we relish more than others, but like the three inch putt counting the same as a 300 yard drive in golf, doing it is more important than how. Treat em all like Barcelona and to xxxx with propaganda...A scalp is a scalp no matter what colour it's dyed. Get in there and count some coup.

[Worthy4England]

Thomo starts, assuming fit, for me. No mileage, in saving him for "big games" when you don't have 3 points in the bag from the next game.

Don't think Rico is much of a debate - Fit he plays. Only he and Evatt will know if he needs a few more days...

Not sure how "experimental" their starting line-up was for football league trophy, but ours had Coleman, Ogbeta, Morley, Ramsay, CMG, JDB and Jerome in it, at least 6 of which you might think wouldn't start if everyone fit.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Not sure how "experimental" their starting line-up was for football league trophy, but ours had Coleman, Ogbeta, Morley, Ramsay, CMG, JDB and Jerome in it, at least 6 of which you might think wouldn't start if everyone fit.

Eight changes, it sez here. Same as us, per Iles.
https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/spor ... ie-4498904

[BWFC_Insane]

I will be stunned if the back three isn’t…

Toal
Rico
Jones

I think Evatt considers that his strongest back three with everyone fit in the absence of Johnston.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I will be stunned if the back three isn’t…

Toal
Rico
Jones

I think Evatt considers that his strongest back three with everyone fit in the absence of Johnston.

That was indeed the default back three through much of that ludicrously good run in Oct-Jan. Indeed once they re-assembled after the October break - although they'd played as a trio vs Derby and Reading, for the run-up to that break Geth had been suspended and Rico injured - we then went WWWWWWDLWW when they all started, until Geth went away.

However, by January opponents had noted that Toal was a weak link on the ball. That might figure in Evatt's mind. For much of that run Iredale was also in the XI, at LWB. As I say, it might depend on opponents as well as whether we expect to dominate the ball.

[The_Gun]

Woke up feeling cautiously optimistic about our prospects today, especially given Rhodes is out for them.

Putting Rico in my starting lineup, but would be looking to sub him for Forrester around the hour mark.

Coleman

Jones Rico Toal

Sheehan

JDC Maghoma Thomason Ashworth

Vic Collins

1-2 Bolton

[officer_dibble]

I’d go Victor and Carlos up top I think. Like that unpredictability coupled with someone who will work his socks off and not give the defenders a minutes rest.

[TANGODANCER]

Against the grain, but I'd see Charles and Dempsey in there. Certainly Jon Bod at some time. This is important and no time for less than best.

[officer_dibble]

Unless I’ve missed something Charles is still injured?

[Worthy4England]

Unless I’ve missed something Charles is still injured?

Think that's correct.

[Harry Genshaw]

Very lucky to get a ticket for this one. Like most Wanderers of a similar age, I've never seen us win here. Think I've visited at least 10 times too.
A top two side wins this today.

[Worthy4England]

Very lucky to get a ticket for this one. Like most Wanderers of a similar age, I've never seen us win here. Think I've visited at least 10 times too.
A top two side wins this today.

Thanks for those consoling words Harry! COYWM.

[officer_dibble]

There can’t be many grounds we’ve not won at in my lifetime so suspect Harry is far from alone! Fingers crossed we can get one today - would be massive and ease the pressure for Tuesday as well.