Up Winter Hill Bah't hat. Home to Barnsley, Tues 7th May 8-0 clock

[boltonboris]

Same starting team tonight then? That’s probably what I’d go for, and I think Evatt will as well.

I would too, but I do think there'll be some science based changes to some areas. Possibly 3 changes- A Wing Back, Centre Mid and Striker change

Wouldn't be surprised to see Iredale come in to help Toal out, with Williams dropping to the bench. Even though his deliveries were spot on, on Friday

Dempsey for Maghoma, perhaps and possibly Adeboyejo for Collins, or Dion

[TANGODANCER]

Not that Mr Evatt will be influenced by it, but taking circumstances into account, maybe this would be my suggested starter team:
Baxter, Jones, Ricardo, Toal, Thomason, J.D.C ,Williams, Sheehan Maghomah, Charles, Jerome........ Collins to be held back as a "if needed" choice. This based a a defensive plan. We've plenty enough on the bench to handle whatever we/they do.

On the other hand, since they are stated as confident, maybe we should upset the apple cart totally and hit them for six from the off. One more goal would surely take wind from some sails. All said, as ever, Que Sera Sera.

[boltonboris]

Not that Mr Evatt will be influenced by it, but taking circumstances into account, maybe this would be my suggested starter team:
Baxter, Jones, Ricardo, Toal, Thomason, J.D.C ,Williams, Sheehan Maghomah, Charles, Jerome........ Collins to be held back as a "if needed" choice. This based a a defensive plan. We've plenty enough on the bench to handle whatever we/they do.

On the other hand, since they are stated as confident, maybe we should upset the apple cart totally and hit them for six from the off. One more goal would surely take wind from some sails. All said, as ever, Que Sera Sera.

I think we're way more likely to be using Jerome's experience off the bench later in the evening, than from the beginning.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Probably think they found the formula in winding Toal up. We just need cool heads and the knacking of Cosgrove can wait until we're out of sight or at the death when any consequence matters little.

Bring on Caleb Taylor purely to smash the f*cker into the stand

[BWFC_Insane]

Same starting team tonight then? That’s probably what I’d go for, and I think Evatt will as well.

I would too, but I do think there'll be some science based changes to some areas. Possibly 3 changes- A Wing Back, Centre Mid and Striker change

Wouldn't be surprised to see Iredale come in to help Toal out, with Williams dropping to the bench. Even though his deliveries were spot on, on Friday

Dempsey for Maghoma, perhaps and possibly Adeboyejo for Collins, or Dion

Iredale is a good point. Put him at LWB to shore us up defensively and aerially? Could see that. But then Evatt hasn’t done that for a fair while but I think there is logic there. The downside might be signalling to our players that we are just trying not to concede which is not necessarily the mentality we want to foster.

Cannot see Maghoma being left out.

Up top I do have a concern about in knockout games that can go to ET or pens having Charles and Collins starting means our best two strikers won’t be on the pitch for the end.

[Worthy4England]

I wouldn't want us too defensive. I don't think it suits us. As mentioned at weekend, they often concede first 20. Win this and worry about any further games, if we get there.

[boltonboris]

I wouldn't want us too defensive. I don't think it suits us. As mentioned at weekend, they often concede first 20. Win this and worry about any further games, if we get there.

10 days recovery and prep time is enough to go full tilt with your "best" XI in my opinion, but the medical guys might be more concerned with previous turnaround than they are with the future turnaround

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Iredale come in to help Toal out, with Williams dropping to the bench. Even though his deliveries were spot on, on Friday

I see the sense in this but in his three games since coming back into the XI, Randell has gone assist-assist-goal.

[TANGODANCER]

Hey, we're the ones with a two goal advantage and it's Barnsley chasing the ace. If we're not good enough to win this we're being a bit optimistic in the Championship. Get out there, play football and see them off. Over confidence is a minus as much as a plus and this is a football match, not an episode of "Sharp". Let them back up their sabre rattling with action.

[Worthy4England]

I wouldn't want us too defensive. I don't think it suits us. As mentioned at weekend, they often concede first 20. Win this and worry about any further games, if we get there.

10 days recovery and prep time is enough to go full tilt with your "best" XI in my opinion, but the medical guys might be more concerned with previous turnaround than they are with the future turnaround

As ever mate - not requesting we do anything medically dumb!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Probably think they found the formula in winding Toal up. We just need cool heads and the knacking of Cosgrove can wait until we're out of sight or at the death when any consequence matters little.

Bring on Caleb Taylor purely to smash the f*cker into the stand

A grand plan

[TANGODANCER]

One item I forgot; they'll be penalty hunting from the off, particularly if they win the toss and kick off, so beware the divers. Cole is quick and he'll be target one. For agony impressions they'll compete with a Punch and Judy show.

[Mar]

It'll be interesting to see how we handle this game. Usually we're out of the blocks strong and then plan the game accordingly. With this we've got a 2 goal lead and we're having to see it out, which might give us a tendency to lean towards a bit of time wasting, which I don't think suits our game at all.


We've had some questionable refs over the last couple of years and notably had a massive impact against us in play off situations (Knight for example), so hopefully we get someone whose fair.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I wouldn't want us too defensive. I don't think it suits us. As mentioned at weekend, they often concede first 20. Win this and worry about any further games, if we get there.

Aye - see grab (ignore alphabetical interlopers Blackpool). If (big if, etc) the first 15 go to form, the tie could be effectively put to bed.
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However... fascinatingly, Barnsley's first-15 minute record at home is 1 scored, 9 conceded. (That's an astonishingly bad way to start - the worst in the division by a street and probably the worst I've ever seen.) Away, they're not quite so soft early-doors - still conceding, but also scoring:
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Screenshot 2024-05-07 at 13.02.01.png (47.51 KiB) Viewed 212 times

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...and we're generally strong starters at home (no ther third-tier team has scored more than 7 in the opening 15):
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[Mar]

Turns out the ref is Oliver Langford. Our record under him isn't great, but that's hardly surprising given the time period and how poor we were.

P9W1D2L6 F5A13

2022/23 Morecambe (A): 0-0
2020/21 Morecambe (H): 1-1 (Marcus Maddison red carded)
2018/19 Nottingham Forest (A): 0-1
2018/19 Aston Villa (A): 0-2
2018/19 QPR (H): 1-2
2017/18: Birmingham (H): 0-1
2017/18: Barnsley (H): 3-1 (2 penalties, one for either team)
2017/18: Hull (A): 0-4
2015/16: Fulham (A): 0-1

[DJBlu]

Turns out the ref is Oliver Langford. Our record under him isn't great, but that's hardly surprising given the time period and how poor we were.

P9W1D2L6 F5A13

2022/23 Morecambe (A): 0-0
2020/21 Morecambe (H): 1-1 (Marcus Maddison red carded)
2018/19 Nottingham Forest (A): 0-1
2018/19 Aston Villa (A): 0-2
2018/19 QPR (H): 1-2
2017/18: Birmingham (H): 0-1
2017/18: Barnsley (H): 3-1 (2 penalties, one for either team)
2017/18: Hull (A): 0-4
2015/16: Fulham (A): 0-1

The one win being Barnsley at home, 3-1.

[TANGODANCER]

We've had some questionable refs over the last couple of years and notably had a massive impact against us in play off situations (Knight for example), so hopefully we get someone whose fair.

Mike Dean, Mike Riley also come to mind..

[BWFC_Insane]

Look - I suspect most are getting jittery. Mentions of Knight and that night should be banned (I was there I still feel sick thinking about it).

This isn’t about referees. That night we were done but we also did ourselves. Tonight if the ref is bad we have to rise above it and do our jobs.

[officer_dibble]

Look - I suspect most are getting jittery. Mentions of Knight and that night should be banned (I was there I still feel sick thinking about it).

This isn’t about referees. That night we were done but we also did ourselves. Tonight if the ref is bad we have to rise above it and do our jobs.

Agreed!

[DJBlu]

Look - I suspect most are getting jittery. Mentions of Knight and that night should be banned (I was there I still feel sick thinking about it).

This isn’t about referees. That night we were done but we also did ourselves. Tonight if the ref is bad we have to rise above it and do our jobs.

Agreed!

Detaching the emotion can be difficult when players are getting away with scraping studs down players legs.

Said nob will be starting tonight, guaranteed.