Tyking the Mickey? Home to Barnsley, Boxing Day, Dec 26th 3-0'clock

[KeyserSoze]

Merry Christmas all.

Bit foggy driving through westhoughton!

[The_Gun]

Who’s getting a start in midfield then? Presumably one of either Arfield or SSA, and I know which I’d prefer.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Who’s getting a start in midfield then? Presumably one of either Arfield or SSA, and I know which I’d prefer.

Might not be quite as simple a choice as that.

If we're thinking the 3-1-4-2 we abandoned then reinstated, that's one 6 behind two free 8s... With Sheehan and Matete out, Evatt might trust Thomo with minding the shop. That leaves us needing two 8s, which look like they could be drawn from Lolos, McAtee, CMG, Arfield and SSA. The first three of those are arguably 10s (or 9s) masquerading as on-running midfielders, so it would be bold to pick two of them; Sonny is diligent and disciplined but young and inexperienced; Arfield is anything but inexperienced but has yet to do much bar stomping around looking disappointed, but this could be the time for him to shine, sitting deep with Thomo alongside him.

If Evatt prefers to play three up front - whether it's that 3-4-2-1 he preferred at the start of the season, or a 3-4-1-2 - then there's less cover and he may choose someone more solid but energetic to play alongside Thomo. To me, only Sonny ticks both those boxes, but on a very small sample of first-team minutes. If he plays that combo, it's a risk; if he does it and we're overwhelmed, it's very bad PR.

I suspect it will be Thomo, Lolos and Arfield, with the old fella trusted to be positionally savvy. But I could be wrong. As I said earlier in the week, with options in some positions (imperfect options in others), it'll be interesting to see the XI - and whether the subs; bench is used more fully than on some recent occasions.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Other games to keep an eye on this "arvo":
• Reading, above us by one goal but on bad form, host Nobby Nolan's Northampton
• Lincoln, above us by four goals, travel to rock-bottom Shrewsbury
• 4th-placed Huddersfield (39pts) host 5th-placed Stockport (36pts). We're on 31 so if we win we'll close up on one or both
• on the other hand, if we lose, Mansfield could go above us by winning at hapless Posh. That'd leave us 10th; highest we can go is 6th

[TANGODANCER]

i

I suspect it will be Thomo, Lolos and Arfield, with the old fella trusted to be positionally savvy. But I could be wrong. As I said earlier in the week, with options in some positions (imperfect options in others), it'll be interesting to see the XI - and whether the subs; bench is used more fully than on some recent occasions.

I still maintain we leave to much open grass in our quarter of the field and thus invite attacks from teams whose sole aim is to bully us into our own nets. If Santos plays he'll surely not have time for Beckenbaure style arrogance. Get the passing done in their half and park the bus where needed in ours. More importantly, get the first goal and give nothing away.

COME ON YOU WHITES...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Rico in for JDC; Forrester survives.
Arfield in for Matete; Lolos survives.
McAtee & Collins up top.

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[DJBlu]

DSB with the ESP.

He's not even featured on the bench in however many games.

I fear this is going to be grim.

[The_Gun]

Williams on the right, hopefully.

I wouldn’t have picked Arfield, but he’s got a platform now to show that he’s not been one of our worst signings of the modern era.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Williams on the right, hopefully.

I wouldn’t have picked Arfield, but he’s got a platform now to show that he’s not been one of our worst signings of the modern era.

Agreed on both. Hard to picture Randy not being RWB, where he played well at Wycombe. And yes on Arfield - time to prove he's worth it.

DSB with the ESP.

He's not even featured on the bench in however many games.

I fear this is going to be grim.

Tealeaf-reading really. If not now, then when? (Arfield was on bench at Wycombe, scowling.)

Thoughts:
• Arfield's third league start. The others? Opening day at Orient and at Birmingham.
• Adeboyejo not even on the bench.
• Given Lolos, McAtee & Collins playing, still not sure who plays where and in what formation. Could be front 2 or 3; McAtee/Lolos could be 8s. Arfield-Thomason *could* play centrally in a 3-4-3... theoretically.
• Four double-barreled surnames on the bench. Or maybe 11 players on the bench.

Connell and Phillips are back for Barnsley.

[jimbo]

It doesn’t feel like the ideal midfield for a crunch home match against a big rival.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It doesn’t feel like the ideal midfield for a crunch home match against a big rival.

It's not, but that's what you get with Sheehan and Dempsey both injured, Matete suspended.

I do wonder whether we'll be getting a midfielder next month - Evatt's comments on "moving the needle" with a first-XI player are interesting in that regard. When Demps/Sheehan/Matete are back we have numbers, but every team can improve. Given recent bolsterings of the forward line I find it harder to imagine that's the area he's focusing on. He may target a keynote centre-back - remember he was after Liam Cooper - but he's also acknowledged we miss Maghoma's gamechanging work in midfield.

[HMX]

That’s Vic off then. I suppose McAtee has to start against his old club.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Worth noting too that Arfield has never latsed more than 68 minutes so someone will probably get some minutes off the bench. Could be Sonny, unless we're losing, in which case Evatt might go for a gung-ho "Thomo behind two attackers cosplaying in midfield" job

[Worthy4England]

There are available Twiglets. What could possibly go wrong?

[TANGODANCER]

Be of good cheer; McAteer and Collins are due to show why we signed them. Today could be the day.

[HMX]

There are available Twiglets. What could possibly go wrong?

Oof, don't leave them on the arm of the Couch.

I've got couple of Belgian beers lined up. Thankfully.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Given we've struggled in midfield for months, todays line-up is scary stuff. If we're not 2-0 up in the first half hour I fear it will be one of those days again

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Judging by shape in the first minute or so it's Tomo as the lone 6, Arfield pushing on as a free 8 with Lolos.

[DJBlu]

Bright start.

Santos slowing it down.

Barnsley slowly getting into it.

[DJBlu]

Gethin Jones, so frustrating. Great play then just presses the self destruction button. Great save Baxter.