"Yes, we have no bananas!" Away to Barrow by the sea. Tues, Sept 3rd 7-45. -45

[officer_dibble]

There’s nothing to be gained playing the first team. Win means nowt. Any injuries will be another nail in the coffin. Play the first team and lose and that’s another nail in his coffin.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

There’s nothing to be gained playing the first team. Win means nowt. Any injuries will be another nail in the coffin. Play the first team and lose and that’s another nail in his coffin.

Yes and no. Manager's in a difficult position now. Beating Barrow isn't saving his job, but losing to them would definitely threaten it.

We're all waiting, with such bated breath that we're turning puce about the face, for the players/team to "click". Drafting in half a dozen newbies is not the way to smnoothness.

You're right that any injuries threaten Evatt down the line. That's true of any game, including pre-season friendlies (Chungy!) and behind-closed doors scratch games during the international break. If any players are at risk (Vic's shoulder?) or in the red zone (how, exactly?!) then clearly don't throw them in carelessly. But I think there's a few of the "first XI" who owe their manager and fans a performance rather than getting the night off.

[BWFC_Insane]

There’s nothing to be gained playing the first team. Win means nowt. Any injuries will be another nail in the coffin. Play the first team and lose and that’s another nail in his coffin.

Yes and no. Manager's in a difficult position now. Beating Barrow isn't saving his job, but losing to them would definitely threaten it.

We're all waiting, with such bated breath that we're turning puce about the face, for the players/team to "click". Drafting in half a dozen newbies is not the way to smnoothness.

You're right that any injuries threaten Evatt down the line. That's true of any game, including pre-season friendlies (Chungy!) and behind-closed doors scratch games during the international break. If any players are at risk (Vic's shoulder?) or in the red zone (how, exactly?!) then clearly don't throw them in carelessly. But I think there's a few of the "first XI" who owe their manager and fans a performance rather than getting the night off.

Save performances for when they matter. This game does not matter at all. Risking any fitness or injury here would be the worst thing. Play the kids. Take a fine. I’d absolutely be on board with that approach.

[The_Gun]

We surely don’t even need to breach the rules to play kids? We could play Southwood, Matheson, Forino and Vic and that would hit our quota.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

This game does not matter at all.

In that case, are you voluntarily banning yourself from criticising anything that takes place during it? (It's kinda germane to context, given what I've said and you've responded to.)

We surely don’t even need to breach the rules to play kids? We could play Southwood, Matheson, Forino and Vic and that would hit our quota.

Keepers don't count - it's four "qualified players" from the 10 outfielders - but *every* member of the first-team squad including Matheson qualifies via the "40+ career apps" rule.

One problem with "play the kids" is that we don't really have any (thanks Ken). Without looking, how many B-teamers can any of us name? I reckon I might struggle to get past five. Sure, they exist. But by shoving them into action, are we really doing anything bar reacting to a psychodrama?

[GhostoftheBok]

Iles says they're not holding a presser for this match. Can't say I'm surprised.

[BWFC_Insane]

This game does not matter at all.

In that case, are you voluntarily banning yourself from criticising anything that takes place during it? (It's kinda germane to context, given what I've said and you've responded to.)

We surely don’t even need to breach the rules to play kids? We could play Southwood, Matheson, Forino and Vic and that would hit our quota.

Keepers don't count - it's four "qualified players" from the 10 outfielders - but *every* member of the first-team squad including Matheson qualifies via the "40+ career apps" rule.

One problem with "play the kids" is that we don't really have any (thanks Ken). Without looking, how many B-teamers can any of us name? I reckon I might struggle to get past five. Sure, they exist. But by shoving them into action, are we really doing anything bar reacting to a psychodrama?

I will only criticise if they risk first team players on it and they get injured. The result is absolutely irrelevant.

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles says they're not holding a presser for this match. Can't say I'm surprised.

That is not a good sign.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles says they're not holding a presser for this match. Can't say I'm surprised.

That is not a good sign.

Thought it didn't matter? You lasted literally two minutes!

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles says they're not holding a presser for this match. Can't say I'm surprised.

That is not a good sign.

Thought it didn't matter? You lasted literally two minutes!

Thats not the game. It’s a press conference.

[GhostoftheBok]

Thats not the game. It’s a press conference.

I can assure you it's not

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles says they're not holding a presser for this match. Can't say I'm surprised.

That is not a good sign.

Thought it didn't matter? You lasted literally two minutes!

Thats not the game. It’s a press conference.

Oh, I see!

So it matters even less than something that "does not matter at all".

[irie Cee Bee]

Is there a managerial change going on behind the scenes why no press conference?

[GhostoftheBok]

So it matters even less than something that "does not matter at all".

Presser was called off before kick off on Saturday.

Clearly they knew in advance that they were going to lose.

Not a good sign.

[DJBlu]

There’s nothing to be gained playing the first team. Win means nowt. Any injuries will be another nail in the coffin. Play the first team and lose and that’s another nail in his coffin.

Doesn't matter who we play, nothing game and should be zero pressure. They'll hopefully play with freedom and probably beat them comfortably.

Lose and it's just more ammunition for EvattOut.

[GhostoftheBok]

Doesn't matter who we play, nothing game and should be zero pressure. They'll hopefully play with freedom and probably beat them comfortably.

Lose and it's just more ammunition for EvattOut.

If we win it'll be a nothing game and he'll have risked too many players.

If we lose it'll be a sign the players don't want to play for him and he'll have wasted a chance to get confidence into the group.

There were some today opining that we've never recovered from the loss of Declan John's quality.

Others were saying Sam Hird was the power behind the throne and Evatt didn't actually deserve any credit for any good results he got, it was all Hird.

The guys who were always nuts have decided Evatt struggling means they were right about everything they were shown to be wrong about.

[TANGODANCER]

Barrow seems a nice place, in fairness.

COME ON YOU WHITES.

[TANGODANCER]

Big Ric's charging out at past bloops and heading for a lungful of seaside ozone tonight . Let's hope he thinks "win em all" and forgets "not important". Every match is important other wise why not just stay home and play ping-pong?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So - we travel to Barrow without Southwood (international duty), Charles (international duty), Sheehan (international duty), Toal (international duty and thigh injury anyway), Arfield (hamstring), Lolos (ankle), CMG (achilles), and Forrester (toe). Probably also Jones (knee) - not been mentioned recently, perhaps unlikely to be rushed back for this.... although we are somewhat short.

That leaves us with 15 first-teamers, two of whom are goalkeepers (smells like a Coleman game to me) and one of whom is the lesser-spotted Randell Williams.

There's a particular lack of depth at centre-back. With Toal out, Forrester out, Jones not yet back in and Iredale gone, all we have without dipping into the Bs is Forino, Santos and Johnston.

At wingback we've got Schön, (Williams), JDC and JOT. JOT deserves a start. Is it also a game for Matheson? He's one of four Bs/kids to have made it to the first-team bench this season - the others being Sonny Sharples-Ahmed (central midfielder), Ben Andreucci (forward) and Ajay Weston (LB/LWB). If Matheson plays, presumably with JOT left, JDC could be used as an ersatz centre-back to rest Forino (or Santos if we play Forino centrally).

In central midfield it looks like Matete gets a start alongside Thomason, unless Dempsey plays deeper; if so, that means it's McAtee and Collins behind Adeboyejo (rested from last week's cup game to protect his shoulder). And no subsies.

Resting as many as possible, you could go something like

Coleman; JDC, Forino, Johnston; Matheson, Matete, Sharples, Weston; Dempsey, Collins, Andreucci

Do you think that would win? Do you care?

(FYI Barrow are third in the table)

[The_Gun]

Forino i think also unavailable after being called up by Saint Lucia.