All Change at Shrews: Shrewsbury Away, EFL Cup 2nd Round, Tue 27th Aug 19:45

[brommers95]

Thanks for the hospitality DJB.

Enjoyed watching that. Certainly wasn’t perfect but it’s great to see us with so much strength in depth and second stringers pushing for league starts.

Exeter probably a bit too soon for him, but Matete will be starting league games in the not too distant future IF he stays fit. He’s lacking a bit of match sharpness after not playing much over the past two seasons but he flashed his ability, most notably with that run in the second half resulting in winning a free kick on the edge of the box.

That line-breaking ability from central midfield is something we’ve struggled with, so a fit and firing Matete will be a massive boon for our attacking output if he can create more space for the attacking trio by breaking into that second level.

Osei-Tutu also did well considering he was on his weak side. I’d like to see him starting over Dacres-Cogley at RWB soon. I like Josh, he’s a solid player, but his attacking output isn’t good enough for a promotion chasing team in L1.

[GhostoftheBok]

Think I'd agree with all that, Brommers.

When Paris moved on we probably needed two players in this system to replace what he did as an 8.

Matete's carrying from deep is half that puzzle. Also worth remembering he's younger than Thommo. Loads of headroom.

Tutu on the right could be a real game-changer. He's created chances in cameos and now from the start and even got a goal. We've needed that player for 2 years. Please god he stays fit.

[The_Gun]

No comment from Evatt regarding last night’s absentees then?

[BWFC_Insane]

No comment from Evatt regarding last night’s absentees then?

There has been. He says Vic out due to injury and nothing transfer related.

Not seen anything on the others though.

[The_Gun]

No comment from Evatt regarding last night’s absentees then?

There has been. He says Vic out due to injury and nothing transfer related.

Not seen anything on the others though.

Yeah I was more thinking of Dan, Iredale and Williams.

It looks as though the junior BN reporter was there last night rather than Iles, so maybe he didn’t push Evatt.

[officer_dibble]

I’ll be utterly bemused if we let Randell go. Man of the match in the play off semi wasn’t he?

[dave the minion]

It's a win and a clean sheet so all's well. Thanks for the couch DJ.

Yes, the couch was very much appreciated asalways

[GhostoftheBok]

I’ll be utterly bemused if we let Randell go. Man of the match in the play off semi wasn’t he?

I like Randell (I think most of us do), but there are some pretty strong reasons for moving him on if we could.

He was supposedly one of our better earners when he came in, but since his arrival he's only been fit to start just over half the league games he's been eligible for. He's 27 and now behind Schon in the pecking order, who is 23.

Add to that that he's in the last year of his contract, so if he leaves we get nothing for him. Which means if we could get even a very small fee it'd look good on the books. Especially if we could replace him with a lower earner.

There're also strong reasons to keep him - primarily that we know he's good when he's fit. Playing second fiddle might save his body somewhat and allow him to be available when we need him, as a reliable back-up to our shiny new international.

Playing him through his contract would let us assess Conway whilst he's at Crewe and then make a decision about phasing him in, whereas a new signing could block a pathway there.

So if there's a market there for the player it becomes a judgement call. On both flanks we have a dependable, but not ideal, player who is now being challenged by a younger signing who looks like a step-up in quality. Both the existing lads have one year left on their deals.

[boltonboris]

Thought we played well last night and were unlucky not to be leading comfortably at the break

Thomason, Arfield, Dempsey and Charles linked up well. Matete looked good and moves around the pitch effortlessly. We crated a bundle of chances!

Charles looked a bit rusty in the box for a while. Ball bouncing around his heels a bit and couldn't get his shots off, but it was a fine finish for his goal!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

[GhostoftheBok]

Both slightly scrappy goals produced by work rate, having missed the ones set up by quality creative play.

I kind of love it.

[GhostoftheBok]

Arsenal away. Cool.

[officer_dibble]

Good tie! Will please Ian anyway - his quote was something about never getting good ties in the cup - probably cos we’ve usually been knocked out before!

[Prufrock]

Oh yes please

[GhostoftheBok]

Fixtures are 16th to 23rd. Arsenal have the North London Derby on the 15th and City on the 22nd, both away.

[jmjhb]

Arsenal have Spurs and City away around the time of this tie, as well as a Champions League match.

We'll shit 'em.

[BWFC_Insane]

I assume we get half the ticket revenue? If so good tie. We will get knocked out so won’t have a bunch of extra games and will get a pay day.

[officer_dibble]

Just seen the whole draw was fixed / seeded so ‘big’ clubs avoided each other…which doesn’t quite feel right…

[DJBlu]

Best crack out the Heavy Duty Polythene Sofa protectors for this one.

[BWFC_Insane]

Fixtures are 16th to 23rd. Arsenal have the North London Derby on the 15th and City on the 22nd, both away.

Champions league is w/c 16th. So games with chumps league clubs will be w/c 23rd.