Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Bare Bones....

[Worthy4England]

Sheehan's lack of physicality (maybe moreso since he's come back from a bad injury) worries me too. Especially on a tight pitch, if they get in our faces. That free-kick v MKD at the start of last season feels a long time ago..

[GhostoftheBok]

But you’ve dropped Morley in your side?

Oh, I see. I just mistyped because I was talking to someone else about Dempsey whilst typing the reply.

My mistake.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I ask again if Kachunga starts and Jerome therefore also starts up front who is coming on to change it for Jerome and Kachunga OR crucially for the possibility of extra time?

No extra time on Wednesday. Only the final can go to extra time. All other games go straight to penalties if level after 90.

https://www.efl.com/papa-johns-trophy/t ... ion/rules/

Depending on Geth/Demps fitness, we have 16-18 senior players available: Traf, Dixon, (Jones), Toal, Santos, Mbete, Bradley, Isgrove, John, R Williams, Thomason, Morley, (Dempsey), Sheehan, Lee, Kachunga, Charles, Jerome.

Given the importance of scoring first, I wouldn't bench a striker "just in case". I would play our strongest possible XI – and IMO if Demps is out that's Lee (rather than Sheehan) at 8 and Kacha at 10. I don't think Sheehan has proven post-injury that he brings enough to the team even when we're not facing a Tough Away Fixture.

I also wouldn't take a flyer on playing a teenager in a brand new position. Interesting idea; potentially suicidal to do it in a big game.

Another option - perhaps risky, but an option - is to have a midfield 3 of Morley, Thomo and Lee. I don't think Thomo would shirk the challenges - and he may not last the 90 but we'd get a good hour of him, then decide what to do from there.

So that XI would be
Traf; Toal, Santos, Mbete; Bradley, Morley, Thomason, John; Lee; Charles, Jerome.
Subs: Dixon, Sheehan, Isgrove, R Williams, Kacha + 2 B-teamers.

Wouldn't surprise me though if Jones, Demps or both played....

[GhostoftheBok]

Accy are nearly 30 points below us in the table.

There are multiple ways we can beat them and multiple teams we could put out to get at them. It's up to Evatt to pick the best line-up.

If Thomason is fit then him, Dempsey and Kacha offer a lot of work in that midfield area.

Sheehan can play against Accy in a winning side, as he did for Newport. I don't think he's the same level of player as Morley, for example, but he's good enough to play in this league and he will put himself about.

Our fans are far too nervous about this one. They'll give us a game, but we are much better than them.

They have won 4 home games all season and people are talking about them as if their place is a fortress. We beat them last time and we're a far better side now than we were then.

We should be full of confidence.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

IIRC we also went 2-0 down to ‘em and were a hair off it being 3-0.

I’m an optimist by nature but I also recognise danger - and a weakness. Saturday’s result, or rather the manner of it, has reawakened the Big Bad Wolf bogeyman.

And for all the derogation of the cup - something I happily chorused in the early rounds - I don’t want us to lose any game, particularly one step from Wembley.

[BWFC_Insane]

IIRC we also went 2-0 down to ‘em and were a hair off it being 3-0.

I’m an optimist by nature but I also recognise danger - and a weakness. Saturday’s result, or rather the manner of it, has reawakened the Big Bad Wolf bogeyman.

And for all the derogation of the cup - something I happily chorused in the early rounds - I don’t want us to lose any game, particularly one step from Wembley.

Also we changed the game by bringing Dapo on.

I get the view that Accy aren't Wycombe, they aren't as good and we are a much better side. BUT there are big red danger flashing warning lights up...

1) Some of our fans treat this game like a foregone conclusion...
2) Physical side small ground - basically our recipe for 'danger'
3) Likely a heavy pitch
4) Player availability - no Shola, Victor and perhaps no Jones, Dempsey either
5) Options to change from the bench very lacking - these games often need impetus off the bench but our options won't be great

Add in the fact its a cup tie that Accy have little to lose from and a 'break' from the league. Also they just beat Shrewsbury at home 1-0. Its not like beating top half opposition is beyond them. They also will probably half and half play for penalties. Which now I'm aware are after the 90 screams danger....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I don’t think they’ll play for penalties. I think they’ll try to pepper our box. But if they go a goal up they might not go hell for leather for a second.

We are a decent team with a lot of clean sheets. One concession doesn’t change that dramatically.

[Worthy4England]

IIRC we also went 2-0 down to ‘em and were a hair off it being 3-0.

I’m an optimist by nature but I also recognise danger - and a weakness. Saturday’s result, or rather the manner of it, has reawakened the Big Bad Wolf bogeyman.

And for all the derogation of the cup - something I happily chorused in the early rounds - I don’t want us to lose any game, particularly one step from Wembley.

Also we changed the game by bringing Dapo on.

I get the view that Accy aren't Wycombe, they aren't as good and we are a much better side. BUT there are big red danger flashing warning lights up...

1) Some of our fans treat this game like a foregone conclusion...
2) Physical side small ground - basically our recipe for 'danger'
3) Likely a heavy pitch
4) Player availability - no Shola, Victor and perhaps no Jones, Dempsey either
5) Options to change from the bench very lacking - these games often need impetus off the bench but our options won't be great

Add in the fact its a cup tie that Accy have little to lose from and a 'break' from the league. Also they just beat Shrewsbury at home 1-0. Its not like beating top half opposition is beyond them. They also will probably half and half play for penalties. Which now I'm aware are after the 90 screams danger....

We shouldn't underestimate them, and I'm sure Evatt won't.

At theirs, Dapo started. The first changes we made were to bring Iredale, Thomason and Kacha on at 2-0 to them for Isgrove, MJ and Dad Bod - we were 3-2 by the time we made the last couple of changes...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Accy away was the game Dapo started at LWB. Dad Bod started up top and was by his own admission awful. Evatt changed personnel and formation - the 4-2-3-1 came back (and bogeyman Kacha came on) - and it worked, wonderfully.

So, credit for that change, but it's notable that they dominated early on. It's also fair to say that our bench will not have such a depth of options this week. Indeed, if we were theoretically to try a 4-2-3-1 now, who'd go where?

[DJBlu]

Have we heard any more on Dempsey and Jones?

[The_Gun]

Someone think of a good title and get an Accy thread going...

[Prufrock]

Accy away was the game Dapo started at LWB. Dad Bod started up top and was by his own admission awful. Evatt changed personnel and formation - the 4-2-3-1 came back (and bogeyman Kacha came on) - and it worked, wonderfully.

So, credit for that change, but it's notable that they dominated early on. It's also fair to say that our bench will not have such a depth of options this week. Indeed, if we were theoretically to try a 4-2-3-1 now, who'd go where?

I was wondering about this yesterday. I think you'd "buy" one more attacker in that Randy has played wide right, but you get into some weird places like Jerome/Kacha wide left/10 in some combination. Feels like a hail Mary to mix it up if it's not going well when we don't have many options off the bench.

I think we're clear favourites, but they can still defo win. We're going to be as full strength as possible if through necessity more than anything. We won't have many options off the bench, but it seems backwards to me too pick a weaker starting XI to give yourself the options to change it if not working. Assuming Dempsey, Thomason and Jones not fit enough to start, I'd go:

Traf
Toal, Santos, Mbete
Bradley, Sheehan, Morley, John
Lee
Charles, Jerome.

There's only one of those who would inarguably not be in our best fit XI.

[GhostoftheBok]

I’m an optimist by nature but I also recognise danger - and a weakness. Saturday’s result, or rather the manner of it, has reawakened the Big Bad Wolf bogeyman.

And for all the derogation of the cup - something I happily chorused in the early rounds - I don’t want us to lose any game, particularly one step from Wembley.

Every game has danger. We can lose on Wednesday and Accy will give us a game, but we are better than them and will win 7 or 8 times out of 10. Maybe now with our injuries they have us down to 6 or 7 out of 10, who knows. If they beat us, fair play to them. I just hope we make them earn it and don't bottle it.

The cup is a tinpot competition, but I want to win it. Like I said before, you can't claim to be too good for a comp you can't win. Most of our fans would say Accy belong in that cup and if we are terrified of playing them away then what does that say about us belonging in it?

I'm not scared of Accrington, especially as they are right now. They're not close to the side they were last season with Bishop, Butcher, etc.

[Worthy4England]

I dunno how worried to be about that last sentence, because you were reet worried by Posh and we shit 'em.

[GhostoftheBok]

I dunno how worried to be about that last sentence, because you were reet worried by Posh and we shit 'em.

I said we'd beat them, but yeah - they remain a dangerous side. More so than Accy. I certainly didn't expect to beat them 5-0. Their style of play suited us more than Accy's will, but they're a better team, so hopefully that balances out into a nice 5-0 again

Posh went to another ground we're supposed to be terrified by and beat Morecambe 3-0.

The cliche of "anyone can beat anyone" remains true, but I mean come on. They have won 4 at home all season and are crap. We can lose the game, for sure; but why should we be worried about it? You can lose any game, no point always going in on a downer.

If you're scared to play this Accrington side then you're in bother. I'm not fussed by any of these sides, despite the fact we'll sometimes lose to one. We should be excited to go and play against them. The players should be chomping at the bit to go out and win their battles in order to dominate a team like that. The staff should look at the tools they have to a win a game and what John Coleman has available to him and think "Yes, please."

I rate Coleman. I think he does exceptionally well with sod-all resources, but his guys haven't given him what he needs this season so he's in pure survival mode. Tommy Leigh and Ryan Astley will end up at a better level, but they've not many others who might.

[BWFC_Insane]

We beat them only just with a better team than we can likely put out on Wednesday. So I’d not be getting too carried away with thinking we are guaranteed or nailed on or even odds on.

[GhostoftheBok]

So I’d not be getting too carried away with thinking we are guaranteed or nailed on or even odds on.

I don't think anyone thinks this is nailed on. No game is.

I just don't see why we should fear this Accrington side. "There's no easy game at this level" blah blah blah, but that doesn't mean there aren't easier games than others. Accrington are one of the worst sides in League One and we should go into this game excited about our chances. Their home record is awful and we should get at them.

[BWFC_Insane]

So I’d not be getting too carried away with thinking we are guaranteed or nailed on or even odds on.

I just don't see why we should fear this Accrington side.

Experience. Bitter, bitter experience.

[GhostoftheBok]

Experience. Bitter, bitter experience.

If the players go out there nervous and fearful we'll lose. As we would any game.

Even with the injuries we have better players. Not only that, we have some big, strong lads at the back now and enough work rate to match them up.

Last season's Accy I'd have been more concerned, but they're just not very good this time around.

Like I say, we can lose any game and they're not a joke. They will work their arses off and cause us problems. If we don't deal with them it'll be our own faults, though.

I'd not trade our potential line-up for theirs, even with injuries. I doubt many others would either.

It's a semi final, it's not supposed to be a gimme. We should be confident, though.

[GhostoftheBok]

Right then. Do we know what's going on with the missing ones as we stand?

Who is available for Evatt to whip Vale with?