Vertu next? A cup visit from the Yorkies. Home V Huddesrlfield, Tues. 10 Dec 17-45.

[TANGODANCER]

Four football - free days to suffer before another trophy cupboard dust gatherer dawns to ask do we really care about? The Vertu Trophy? Where do they get em from?

Because Huddersfield are League opponents (4th and just two points above the Whites,) will either side show their hands in what's likely to be little more than an unfriendly/friendly rehearsal game of blind-man's-bluff? If there are any plusses at all here, the Bristol postponement gives some options re injury recovery and trying out future J.J. O kochas, but will General Evatt gamble, or have less mind movement than Nat's statue outside the Unibol?

Plenty time then for the armchair prophets and the Nostradamus Club citizens to air views..

[officer_dibble]

Given they battered us last time if the players had anything about them they would want to put that right. sadly apathy reigns - think we’ll settle for a 1-0 defeat.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Originally posted this reply in a nother thread, but will move it here.

Huddersfield’s a free hit really. I think there’s a fair few who would be happy to be out of that. I’d forgotten about it!

For me anything but a win, ideally a convincing one, v Wigan and that should be that, it really should.

But I don't think it is, Dibs. I mean, it's vastly less important than being in (at the very very least) the top six – something we might have managed this afternoon, but could slip further away again with the five teams around us all playing this afternoon.

But think how it looks if Duff rocks up and once more hands Evatt his arse. The trophy doesn't matter, the real "competition" is the teams vying for the top six. Duff's Huddersfield are right in there among those above us, and him beating Evatt yet again would only exacerbate the feeling that he has Evatt's number, that Evatt isn't good enough, and would perhaps affect the players' confidence too.

It's highly likely that in order to gain promotion we're going to have to vanquish Mike Bloody Duff - either by ovettaking him (and several others) into the automatics or simply in a playoff showdown. Huddersfield have already humiliated us on our patch this term; if they beat us again, with a league trip to their mini-Reebok yet to come, it could become a big psychological problem.

For that reason, and with Wigan looming thereafter, Evatt's selection for Tuesday is going to be fascinating. Were we playing Crewe or Bradford or Vale or Lincoln - who were all potential opponents before the names came out of the hat - I think he might have played the shadow squad and saved the rest for Wigan. But Duff's Huddersfield? I think he might go as strong as he dares, because he knows if he loses again it will only exacerbate the doubts among the fans, possibly the players and maybe his employers.

And then he's got to do it all over again, against Wigan.

Just. Keep. Winning.

[TANGODANCER]

And then he's got to do it all over again, against Wigan.
Just. Keep. Winning.

From Pirates to Pie-Rates then.?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

And then he's got to do it all over again, against Wigan.

From Pirates to Pie-Rates then.?

As long as we Wanderers aren't, by next Saturday night, all irates....

[jimbo]

Having no game yesterday means we’ll be able to go stronger on Tuesday without risking burning players out to the same degree.

[jmjhb]

It'll be a strong team but I would still expect 6-7 changes.

[The_Gun]

It'll be a strong team but I would still expect 6-7 changes.

I would expect to see Southwood, Forrester, Sharples Ahmed, Williams and Lolos start. Not sure we have many other rotation options.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Having no game yesterday means we’ll be able to go stronger on Tuesday without risking burning players out to the same degree.

Perhaps, and Ilesy notes that a rain-sodden Bristol pitch might not have been ideal for those with muscular injuries on the rap sheet. However, the focus this midweek is presumably forward to Wigan.

Infamously, one of Evatt's predecessors rested nine first-teamers in the Uefa Cup to protect them for the following weekend's game against Wigan. We lost both games without scoring (despite the Pies being down to ten men from the fourth minute), prompting the never-popular manager to say "There were a lot of harsh words said at half-time because that performance was not acceptable. We've rested players midweek for this game and clearly it hasn't worked because we didn't turn up or start well. We looked lethargic and leggy and weren't good enough."

Plus ça change and all that.

[The_Gun]

I’m somewhat more interested in this one as a result of us not playing at the weekend. Still, my preference would be to risk as few first team players as possible prior to Wigan.

Southwood

Forrester Santos Johnston

Arfield SSA

JDC Lolos Williams

McAtee Collins

[Mar]

I’m somewhat more interested in this one as a result of us not playing at the weekend. Still, my preference would be to risk as few first team players as possible prior to Wigan.

Southwood

Forrester Santos Johnston

Arfield SSA

JDC Lolos Williams

McAtee Collins

Bench is interesting aswell. No Coleman or Matheson, that would suggest both are out the door on loan via a Declan John style ending.

Both have impressed me in parts and disappointed me in equal measure.

Matheson not being listed on the bench for a cup game certainly suggests he's had his chances and failed to impress. Frustratingly, I get that impression that he was trying to play it safe in his last which has cost him any future chances with the squad. Same treatment Brandon Comley got I guess.

[Bertie Wooster]

Why on earth is the idiot playing such a strong side in such a meaningless game with the Wigan game on Saturday.

The guy is an absolute knob.

[dave the minion]

Probably because if he didn't, half the fans would be on here lambasting him for playing a weakened team in a game that gives us a chance to get one over a promotion rival and make up for the last game, whilst sending us into the Wigan game with a bit of confidence.....

[Bertie Wooster]

Probably because if he didn't, half the fans would be on here lambasting him for playing a weakened team in a game that gives us a chance to get one over a promotion rival and make up for the last game, whilst sending us into the Wigan game with a bit of confidence.....

Will you be saying that if either Santos, Matete, Thomason, Charles or Tutu get injured ?

[officer_dibble]

I think Lolos had to start - they’ve earmarked his position as an upgrade in Jan so he’s pretty much at last chance saloon this season. Victor and Dion are starting in the hope they get a goal and some form I think.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

As I've been saying, I don't think he has much choice - literally in terms of players and publicity-wise in terms of not getting his arse plated up again by Micky D.

He's made seven changes. At centre-back, I guess he could have picked JDC but without Santos we'd be literally short - against a Duff team. In midfield, I'm surprised Sonny hasn't started and I assume Arfield's retired. Up front, well, he could have played McAtee/Collins but is that a forward line or are they both "split strikers" at heart?

[dave the minion]

Probably because if he didn't, half the fans would be on here lambasting him for playing a weakened team in a game that gives us a chance to get one over a promotion rival and make up for the last game, whilst sending us into the Wigan game with a bit of confidence.....

Will you be saying that if either Santos, Matete, Thomason, Charles or Tutu get injured ?

Injuries are part of football, and whilst I don't want any of them to get injured, its a risk he obviously thinks worth taking.

However, if we spank Huddersfield, which knocks them off their stride in the league, and Vic & Dion both grab a couple which kick starts their seasons and we go unbeaten for the rest of the season and go up champions, then our absolute knob of a manager might have just pulled off a masterstroke.



(** for the avoidance of doubt, I don't actually think this will happen)

[Bertie Wooster]

He didn't need to risk Santos and we have 2 fit midfielders available for Saturday - so the idiot risks them both in a nothing game that no one gives a toss about - why couldn't he have started Sharples & Arfield as the two midfielders ?

[DJBlu]

He didn't need to risk Santos and we have 2 fit midfielders available for Saturday - so the idiot risks them both in a nothing game that no one gives a toss about - why couldn't he have started Sharples & Arfield as the two midfielders ?

Because he has to win games, more so against the team that pumped us 4 nil. It's that simple. Every loss is a bullet in the gun.

[officer_dibble]

We overplay one out of play and they go direct and nearly score. When will we ever learn?