Capital One Cup first round - Burton (H) this tuesday

[KeyserSoze]

you wait for a Bolton game for ages and then two come at once, or something.

Anyway, this is in a few days. Who would you play? Are you going? thoughts, predictions, etc.

[Dr Hotdog]

I couldn't go today but I'm gonna go on Tuesday.
I don't expect many changes - maybe 2-3 tops. One forced if Spearing's supsention is immediate, although I would have expected Vela to come in for him anyway as one of the changes.

Not sure if anyone on the bench deserves a start - maybe Dobbie, as he had a decent pre-season, in place of Feeney. Give Feeney a rest as I can see him playing a lot of games for us again this season. Maybe Mark Davies also - although Clough sounds like he needs some game time also and they're both contenders for the 'top of the diamond' position.

Be nice to see Ream or Walker make the bench. Hope their injuries clear up soon so we can have a full(ish) bill of health.

[palekm08]

I think Lennon will rest majority of his first team players that played against Derby for Middlesborough. Heskey Dobbie to start up front, Vela, Trotter, Walker, Pratley in the middle, Ream if hes back, Prince, Moxey and Wilson, at the back with Amos in goal. is my prediction.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I'd like to see Clough get at least 45 minutes running at a lower-league team. Would be good to get Davies, Trotter (yes), Vela and Dobbie some match time. Maybe Fitzsimons too, to see if he can handle it (might even convince us we don't need a bench-sitting standby). Back four depends on fitness.

None of which is to underestimate a decent Burton side who'll fancy their chances but we need to assess how fit - and frankly how good - some of our squad members are.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'd play a strong team. We just started well with a decent point. Try to win this and build some momentum. Burton are league two champions are they not? And won their first game yesterday in league one. Jimmy floyd Hasselbaink their manager. Won't be pushovers. Let's build some momentum.

Would like one of our young defenders to come in somewhere, probably one of the centre backs for some experience. Mark Davies and Vela too. Beyond that not many changes for me.

[Bruce Rioja]

I've longed for the day that we might play Burton Albion, and I'm working away this week so'll miss it.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'd play a strong team. We just started well with a decent point. Try to win this and build some momentum. Burton are league two champions are they not? And won their first game yesterday in league one. Jimmy floyd Hasselbaink their manager. Won't be pushovers. Let's build some momentum.

Would like one of our young defenders to come in somewhere, probably one of the centre backs for some experience. Mark Davies and Vela too. Beyond that not many changes for me.

Fair point and well reasoned, however do we want to risk any further injuries to more of our first team? I'm split between agreeing with you and thinking that we should rotate other players in (Trotter, Vela, Mavies, Dobbie etc) with possibly some yoof on the bench both for game time, and to minimise risk of injury to first team players like Clough, Madine and Pratley.

Certainly a tough decision.

Players can get injured any time. We could equally start saying protect people at Boro because we are likely to lose there.

Don't take risks on any knocks and rest a couple, but we want to get something going because we've never managed that early season since relegation.

I fear that if we lose Tuesday through too many changes, we then face two tough away days and the positivity against Derby is soon forgotten...

[bobo the clown]

^^ You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you. You couldn't be positive with 30,000 volts through you.

Which is a thought.

[BWFC_Insane]

^^ You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you. You couldn't be positive with 30,000 volts through you.

Which is a thought.

I am being positive. I'm saying pick a strong team on Tuesday and win. Get momentum and confidence going and we will be on a roll. What is more positive than that?

The negative thing right now would be resting loads for Tuesday and losing surely?

[TANGODANCER]

^^ You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you. You couldn't be positive with 30,000 volts through you.

Which is a thought.

I am being positive. I'm saying pick a strong team on Tuesday and win. Get momentum and confidence going and we will be on a roll. What is more positive than that?

The negative thing right now would be resting loads for Tuesday and losing surely?

Who would you think it most important to have the strongest XI against, Burton in a cup game or Boro away in the league with the two games four days apart?

[Montreal Wanderer]

^^ You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you. You couldn't be positive with 30,000 volts through you.

Which is a thought.

I am being positive. I'm saying pick a strong team on Tuesday and win. Get momentum and confidence going and we will be on a roll. What is more positive than that?

The negative thing right now would be resting loads for Tuesday and losing surely?

Who would you think it most important to have the strongest XI against, Burton in a cup game or Boro away in the league with the two games four days apart?

Play a weak team in a cup to make sure you have a good team for the league? Wait, you are Gary Megson and I claim my five pounds. Mind you, it is Burton and not Sporting Lisbon...

[thebish]

^^ You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you. You couldn't be positive with 30,000 volts through you.

Which is a thought.

I am being positive. I'm saying pick a strong team on Tuesday and win. Get momentum and confidence going and we will be on a roll. What is more positive than that?

The negative thing right now would be resting loads for Tuesday and losing surely?

I agree with Insano. pick a strong team ffs!!! get the fecker won!

game two of the season is not the time to rest players!!!

pre-season was the time for experimenting and finding out how good players are... (and working on set pieces!)

[BWFC_Insane]

^^ You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you. You couldn't be positive with 30,000 volts through you.

Which is a thought.

I am being positive. I'm saying pick a strong team on Tuesday and win. Get momentum and confidence going and we will be on a roll. What is more positive than that?

The negative thing right now would be resting loads for Tuesday and losing surely?

Who would you think it most important to have the strongest XI against, Burton in a cup game or Boro away in the league with the two games four days apart?

Well what team would you pick for Burton? I'm saying rotate a few, but keep it strong. Don't risk anyone with knocks. But surely early days in the season, minutes on the pitch are valuable?

If people are talking about resting the majority of first team players then that leaves us throwing a lot of kids in against Burton who don't sound like they'll be pushovers.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

surely early days in the season, minutes on the pitch are valuable?

Yep - which is why it would be good for Vela, Davies etc to get a runout. I don't think anybody's saying "We're a Premiership team, Allardyce should be playing the Academy". I wouldn't be looking at say Twardzik or Woolery, although it might be useful to have a couple of shavers on the bench *just in case* we're winning and can give them experience.

[LeverEnd]

surely early days in the season, minutes on the pitch are valuable?

Yep - which is why it would be good for Vela, Davies etc to get a runout. I don't think anybody's saying "We're a Premiership team, Allardyce should be playing the Academy". I wouldn't be looking at say Twardzik or Woolery, although it might be useful to have a couple of shavers on the bench *just in case* we're winning and can give them experience.

I'd like to see Woolery on the bench, he impressed in pre season. Like has been said, I'd give the bench lads from weekend a game but keep the back 4 together so they can get experience of playing together, learn each other's names, that sort of thing.

[thebish]

surely early days in the season, minutes on the pitch are valuable?

Yep - which is why it would be good for Vela, Davies etc to get a runout. I don't think anybody's saying "We're a Premiership team, Allardyce should be playing the Academy". I wouldn't be looking at say Twardzik or Woolery, although it might be useful to have a couple of shavers on the bench *just in case* we're winning and can give them experience.

I'd like to see Woolery on the bench, he impressed in pre season. Like has been said, I'd give the bench lads from weekend a game but keep the back 4 together so they can get experience of playing together, learn each other's names, that sort of thing.

now, that's a very good idea! you should do that more often!

[jaffka]

NL in the press conference has said its a dangerous game for us and we won't be treating it any differently.

[jaffka]

Pratley might be rested as he has picked up an ankle strain.

[BWFC_Insane]

Pratley has strained his ankle ligaments out for a "week or so" according to the BN. Guess that means Vela definitely plays with Spearing out too.

Hope Pratley is fit for Boro as he will be important especially away from home.

[jaffka]

^^parrot