I like a bit of 'backs to the wall' with Sunderland ... ... I was at Burnley when we had both full backs sent off
A lad on SMB and another person on twitter (perhaps just copying each other) think the players out are: Dajaku Hoffman Burge Alves If that's the case I'm no longer as worried. Patterson is more than adequate cover in goal, and with Cirkin likely fit again properly it would allow Gooch to move up to cover for Dajaku.
Remember the Wimbledon home game last season. Played an under strength team because of COVID and it bit us on the arse. Especially when you've got most other teams around the country calling games off even when they can field teams, mainly because they have injuries on top, likes of Fleetwood etc. I know we're in great form, but we're got an injury list as long as anyone. Particularly if it turns out 2 or 3 of the starting 11 end up out tomorrow.
If that's the case then happy days. Dajaku is great form and Hoffmann is the dude but we can cope. Will that be the 2nd time Burge has caught* covid? *insert "that's all he has caught joke" here
If those players out are right, we could still put this team out: Patterson Wright / T Hume Flanagan Doyle Cirkin Winchester Neil Embleton Pritchard Gooch Stewart With a bench of: Carney ; Wright/T Hume ; D Hume ; Evans ; Hawkes ; Diamond ; O'Brien And that would still leave Xhemajli. I'd argue it's even stronger than what we've had out recently if you consider we will have a proper left back playing.
We might have failed to beat Wycombe with our chosen starting eleven ... ... winning with this team would be a riot.
This is a real shame given our current form and momentum. And the fact it’s on TV. Just Have to trust the club. Hopefully key players are still fit will be worried if Stewart is out. And hate giving these cheating buggers a chance when I think we could wipe the floor with them
Johnson has been brave and created a cracking team spirit ... ... shirking out of this game would diminish that. I'll guarantee the away support will be just that bit louder after this news, come on!!!!
Actually makes me feel quite proud that our team aren’t trying to use Covid as an excuse to postpone the game. We’re doing what all clubs should do, use the reserve squad and call back loans if required. If you still can’t field a team after that then fair enough. We could after all end up with more players testing positive tomorrow and the game being postponed but looks we have explored every avenue in an attempt to play.
Despite the covid problems I’m really looking forward to the game. Like you say regardless of the team I’ve a feeling we’ll be right at it Statement time. Win tomorrow and I don’t think anything will stop us
He needs to protect himself tbh mate, he's been playing in a lower league and will have learned a fair bit.
They certainly will. I'm not a huge fan of Bailey Wright but he's been excellent recently and set the tone v Sheff Wed with the early haymaker on Patterson. Need him to be at it tomorrow.
I think the Wimbledon fiasco last season had more to do with the EFL not giving any guidance on what would happen to us if we called it off. Rumours at the time said we didn't know if we'd end up forefitting the game, be hit with heavy fines, points deduction or possibly combinations of all three. The club took the view the least worse option was to play and lose, because not playing could have had heavier penalties imposed. And considering the EFL had already imposed their salary cap without consultation and the PPG fiasco there's no way I'd have trusted them. In fact I still don't trust them!
