"Ask not for Whom the bell tolls" Home to Fleetwood. Tues, 12th Nov. 19-45.

[BWFC_Insane]

The thing I keep coming back to with Matheson is he is young but he’s not some totally new kid. He’s played a fair number of games at this level and the one below already. He’d been at premiership wolves in their academy. It’s not the same as someone who has never played any football or only seen your u18’s environment.

I feel like he’s a much better attacking threat than Cogley but all round defensively would be much weaker. I wonder though if a savvy manager might use him when we are struggling to break a team down at home. To inject width and a bit more quality in forward areas?

It feels to me like Evatt doesn’t think he’s up to much but then if that’s the case why keep him? Like I say he is at this stage what he is. I doubt there is much room for him to significantly get better.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I don't think the widely held view, that players naturally progress is necessarily a good one. Putting the complexities of injuries and internationals to one side, but excluding folks loaned out, we have 25 listed First team players, including Matheson. Every game, 14 aren't starting and need game time, so I disagree first team is a natural landing point for B Team players outside the first team squad, aside from maybe injury cover.

In general, but with maybe some reservations around specific circumstances when we have lots of injuries in specific positions, we should normally rely on squad depth (as we did last year with folks like Bod, Cam and Dan, for example). You would expect B teamers to get limited opportunities.

Matheson is a strange one for me as he's listed as a first team player and given JDC plays pretty much every game, you'd probably expect him to get more game time.

As he's overage, Matheson would take up a squad slot.

As we still have one left, it suggests that he - the closest thing the Bs have to an oven-ready first-team player - isn't all that close really. The manager would literally rather thave nobody in that squad slot than give it to Matheson.

As I said – in a strong squad, you'd expect cup games to feature rotation among seniors. It's not really happened this season. For instance at Barrow, he only made three changes - two of which were due to internationals - from the previous weekend. Now, the previous weekend was a humiliating 0-2 home loss to Exeter, so maybe it was another punishment beating - although (1) if that was supposed to be a harsh lesson, he's had to roll it out again and (2) I seem to recall a fair few folk saying if he lost at his old club, he might lose his job. On the night, as we laboured to a late narrrow win, the only kids to get on were Matheson (for the injured Osei-Tutu) and Lewis (for a mascot's minute).

For the Villa game he made seven changes - but five were forced by internationals. Maybe he'd have rotated anyway. But what had happened the weekend before? Drawing 2-2 at home to the 23rd-placed team. On the night, as we laboured to a late equaliser, the only kid to come off the bench was Inwood for the desperately poor Randell.

Then last night, five changes – three enforced by internationals, one rested ex-captain and a rotated No.10. We all know what had happened at the weekend. On the night, as we laboured to a late narrrow win, no kids were brought on.

Basically all three of the Pizza Cup games have come after hugely disappointing league games and the manager has been in no mood (or position) to take risks.

[boltonboris]

Basically all three of the Pizza Cup games have come after hugely disappointing league games and the manager has been in no mood (or position) to take risks.

And yet all were disappointing performances

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Basically all three of the Pizza Cup games have come after hugely disappointing league games and the manager has been in no mood (or position) to take risks.

And yet all were disappointing performances

Hey, we beat two much-changed fourth-tier teams (eventually)

And, er, equalised against pubescents

Good 'ere innit?

[Worthy4England]

I don't think the widely held view, that players naturally progress is necessarily a good one. Putting the complexities of injuries and internationals to one side, but excluding folks loaned out, we have 25 listed First team players, including Matheson. Every game, 14 aren't starting and need game time, so I disagree first team is a natural landing point for B Team players outside the first team squad, aside from maybe injury cover.

In general, but with maybe some reservations around specific circumstances when we have lots of injuries in specific positions, we should normally rely on squad depth (as we did last year with folks like Bod, Cam and Dan, for example). You would expect B teamers to get limited opportunities.

Matheson is a strange one for me as he's listed as a first team player and given JDC plays pretty much every game, you'd probably expect him to get more game time.

As he's overage, Matheson would take up a squad slot.

As we still have one left, it suggests that he - the closest thing the Bs have to an oven-ready first-team player - isn't all that close really. The manager would literally rather thave nobody in that squad slot than give it to Matheson.

As I said – in a strong squad, you'd expect cup games to feature rotation among seniors. It's not really happened this season. For instance at Barrow, he only made three changes - two of which were due to internationals - from the previous weekend. Now, the previous weekend was a humiliating 0-2 home loss to Exeter, so maybe it was another punishment beating - although (1) if that was supposed to be a harsh lesson, he's had to roll it out again and (2) I seem to recall a fair few folk saying if he lost at his old club, he might lose his job. On the night, as we laboured to a late narrrow win, the only kids to get on were Matheson (for the injured Osei-Tutu) and Lewis (for a mascot's minute).

For the Villa game he made seven changes - but five were forced by internationals. Maybe he'd have rotated anyway. But what had happened the weekend before? Drawing 2-2 at home to the 23rd-placed team. On the night, as we laboured to a late equaliser, the only kid to come off the bench was Inwood for the desperately poor Randell.

Then last night, five changes – three enforced by internationals, one rested ex-captain and a rotated No.10. We all know what had happened at the weekend. On the night, as we laboured to a late narrrow win, no kids were brought on.

Basically all three of the Pizza Cup games have come after hugely disappointing league games and the manager has been in no mood (or position) to take risks.

Yes - in short, I think we're saying the same thing. These irrelevant cup games should serve the purposes of the first team squad, then if there's owt left look further down the pecking order.

[officer_dibble]

I thought playing Gethin for the full 90 last night was a decision by Ian Evatt, benefitting Ian Evatt only. Gethin was blowing out of his arse. Now he has over a week to recover - so no issue right? But at one point he got beat over the top, turned and sprinted then rubbed his hamstrings after. Had he been injured it would have been another tale of woe… look at how unlucky I am Sharon… but why on earth Matheson couldn’t come on I don’t know. Fleetwood had an 18 year old playing in their defence. Villas team was 17 and 18 year olds! Evatt was shit scared of losing last night that’s all…

[Mar]

I thought playing Gethin for the full 90 last night was a decision by Ian Evatt, benefitting Ian Evatt only. Gethin was blowing out of his arse. Now he has over a week to recover - so no issue right? But at one point he got beat over the top, turned and sprinted then rubbed his hamstrings after. Had he been injured it would have been another tale of woe… look at how unlucky I am Sharon… but why on earth Matheson couldn’t come on I don’t know. Fleetwood had an 18 year old playing in their defence. Villas team was 17 and 18 year olds! Evatt was shit scared of losing last night that’s all…

Evatts subs are very prescriptive at times. Maybe this was preagreed with Geth. Either way it didn't seen to make sense at the time or upon reflection.

Presumably Evatt wanted to progress into the next round and subbing Geth then conceding a goal would've added to the criticism. Matheson is the closest thing to a first teamer that we've got so I don't think it would've mattered all that much if he had come on.

[knobpolisher]

See the draw has been made.

Home to 'udders week of 9th Dec

Northern Section

Morecambe vs Lincoln City
Wrexham vs Crewe Alexandra
Stockport County vs Bradford City
Bolton Wanderers vs Huddersfield Town
Rotherham United vs Tranmere Rovers
Blackpool vs Aston Villa U21
Chesterfield vs Wigan Athletic
Doncaster Rovers vs Port Vale