Will it be Heaven in Devon for the Magnificent eleven? Away to Exeter, 3-0'clock Good Friday.

[boltonboris]

A big loss. Toal is probably the player in the permanent squad with the highest ceiling - Our 'best' player if you like.

We obviously have fantastic cover in Johnston, but he's on the road back after a lengthy injury - I think we can cope

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah, I love Geth but there is now the possibility of teams getting their Big Bastard Up Front to peel off and pick on him.

Last season we might have had the same problem on the other side but Johnston has beefed himself up a bit. Speaking of which, I see a relative (dad?) of the other newly-buff George - Thomason - has divulged a little of the lad's dietary regimen...
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[officer_dibble]

fecking annoyed about Toal - just shows you will always get away with one in a cup final - ref and Lino should be punished for bottling that one.

[Prufrock]

Yeah, fairly sure we started with two outfield players over 6' on Sunday, and one's now out for the season. Good that GJ is back, but we're still thin. Would be a big ask for him to do 180 mins Fri-Mon for example, so suspect we'll see Mbete on Monday.

[BWFC_Insane]

Johnston being back probably mitigates the problem to an extent. It’s a loss though.

You could argue that Evatt might still have picked Gethin anyway and Johnston on the left is an ‘upgrade’ on Toal there.

Who knows.

Obviously bad news. Can’t let it derail us though. Full focus on getting on top 6.

[TANGODANCER]

fecking annoyed about Toal - just shows you will always get away with one in a cup final - ref and Lino should be punished for bottling that one.

Aye, rotten luck for the lad and kicks his international chances into touch for a while too. Bit of a difference between physical football and blatant thuggery. V.A.R. should be mandatory at any level of professional football.

[brommers95]

Yeah, I love Geth but there is now the possibility of teams getting their Big Bastard Up Front to peel off and pick on him.

Last season we might have had the same problem on the other side but Johnston has beefed himself up a bit. Speaking of which, I see a relative (dad?) of the other newly-buff George - Thomason - has divulged a little of the lad's dietary regimen...

I did appreciate that nugget of information from George's Dad. Massive kudos to GT, I remember thinking when he signed 'cool...we'll never see him in the first team though", but he's surpassed all expectation. He's clearly 100% dedicated to being a pro footballer and seems like a top lad.

It does leave the question as to what we do should we get another injury or two back there - MJ emergency centre half? Any of the youngsters up to playing in the biggest of games in the run in? Could Cameron Jerome even do a job back there?

Out of the youngsters Adam Senior would the closest to the first team but he's currently on loan at Halifax and I'm assuming we can't recall him as I'd guess we would've already done it if we could. 19 year old Lamine Toure would probably be the next man up based on him getting two minutes off the bench against Salford in the first round of the Carabao Cup and being on the bench against Tranmere in the group stage of the PJT.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

You could argue that Evatt might still have picked Gethin anyway and Johnston on the left is an ‘upgrade’ on Toal there.

Agree with this in most instances. Johnston probably would have been back in but I think Toal has now progressed to the point where he's a genuine challenge to Geth at RCB - perhaps dependent on opponent (do we need height at the back or better overloads going forward?)

But it's a blow to lose the lad. I genuinely don't think any kid is capable of stepping up, so the backup is now Mbete, possibly MJ.

[TANGODANCER]

)

But it's a blow to lose the lad. I genuinely don't think any kid is capable of stepping up, so the backup is now Mbete, possibly MJ.

M.J. always reminds me of Jordan Henderson; good, sometimes very good, but just that few degrees short of automatic selection. He certainly has the necessary experience, but I suppose the rest is up to him?

[Worthy4England]

)

But it's a blow to lose the lad. I genuinely don't think any kid is capable of stepping up, so the backup is now Mbete, possibly MJ.

M.J. always reminds me of Jordan Henderson; good, sometimes very good, but just that few degrees short of automatic selection. He certainly has the necessary experience, but I suppose the rest is up to him?

Henderson does plenty of important work. Liverpool don't win much without him....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Evatt:
“It is about choosing the right players for the right game, that is what’s important. Every game will offer something different.

“The away game at Exeter will look completely different to the home game against Cambridge, so we have to pick a team accordingly really.”

[The_Gun]

You could argue that Evatt might still have picked Gethin anyway and Johnston on the left is an ‘upgrade’ on Toal there.

Agree with this in most instances. Johnston probably would have been back in but I think Toal has now progressed to the point where he's a genuine challenge to Geth at RCB - perhaps dependent on opponent (do we need height at the back or better overloads going forward?)

But it's a blow to lose the lad. I genuinely don't think any kid is capable of stepping up, so the backup is now Mbete, possibly MJ.

Toal is the clear first choice at RCB, for me. Jones would be back-up for that position and RWB.

[BWFC_Insane]

You could argue that Evatt might still have picked Gethin anyway and Johnston on the left is an ‘upgrade’ on Toal there.

Agree with this in most instances. Johnston probably would have been back in but I think Toal has now progressed to the point where he's a genuine challenge to Geth at RCB - perhaps dependent on opponent (do we need height at the back or better overloads going forward?)

But it's a blow to lose the lad. I genuinely don't think any kid is capable of stepping up, so the backup is now Mbete, possibly MJ.

Toal is the clear first choice at RCB, for me. Jones would be back-up for that position and RWB.

Yeah wouldn’t disagree but Evatt rightly puts a lot of stock in Jones who is one of those players who rarely if ever really lets you down. We also (at least my perception is this) tend to miss him when he’s out.

I fully agree Toal is a big blow. I think it’s a lot less significant now Johnston is back. The main issue as has been pointed out is the height we lose. Could be mitigated somewhat by playing one of the bigger lads up top at least to help out with set pieces and even MJ in midfield at times.

I’d like to think we are working on MJ in the back three in training in case he needs to play there. I think he might be ok on the right.

Mbete will get some games too. Less convinced by him. Shame Iredale is out.

[BWFC_Insane]

I’d like to start Jerome here. Again at Wembley when he came on I thought he was superb. Harsh on Victor maybe but he can come on against tired legs.

Harsh on Kacha too to be fair. In fact I might even be tempted to pick the ‘final team’ with GJ in for Toal.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah me too. Make changes for Monday.

[Worthy4England]

Happy to have some "who should we play" rather than "who can we play." COYWM.

[officer_dibble]

Happy to have some "who should we play" rather than "who can we play." COYWM.

Indeed - we ‘only’ had mbete fit and eligible who didn’t make the squad Sunday. There are goi Ng to be some disappointed players after the next couple - can’t see nlundulu getting a look in for example.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Aye it suddenly feels like luxury - and as I say I’d like us to take full advantage.

We could start with the Wembley XI (except Johnston for Toal) and bring in five subs in midfield/forward positions - say Adeboyejo, Jerome, Shoretire, Lee and Thomason. Maybe Randell could start Monday to rest John. Still leaves Nlundulu, MJ & Mbete. Good to see.

Indeed you could create a very fresh XI on Monday - same back three and Bradley but add in the above. So Jones-Santos-Johnston; Bradley-Lee-Tomo-Randell; Shoretire; Jerome-Adeboyejo. However I would expect a slightly more even balance between “Wembley XI” and others over the two games, perhaps with a slightly “stronger” lineup at Exeter. I’d also not be surprised to see Dion do the first hour in each game - he sets the tone and scores the goals…

[Worthy4England]

Big Ric injured too...

[officer_dibble]

feck* sake !