I'd play a mixture of experienced players plus those under-21's who seem to me to be genuine prospects, excluding those who are out on loan. I wouldn't risk Fuller even on the bench. Pope: Cousins;Cort;Morrison;Evina: Wilson;Jordan;Dervite; Harriott: BWP; Kermit. SUBS: Hamer; Fox; Jackson; Pritchard; Bover; Gerrard; Osborne. If BWP or Kermit got injured we'd just have to go 4-5-1.
Hamer Wilson, Morrison, Devite, Evina Wagstaff (Green), Pritchard, Stephens (Jackson), Kerkar (Harriott) Kermorgant, BWP The alternatives if the first-named are planned to leave us in January. Reasoning: Wilson is effectively our reserve right-back (not Cousins) so give him a run there and rest Solly. Rest Cort as the younger pairing is the future. Would prefer to protect Kermorgant too, but we are short of strikers if Hulse has left. Would like to protect Jackson but we are short of midfielders.
I think Billy is assuming Button will still be unavailable. If available he must go in otherwise a real slap in the fahim ce. Azeez is out on loan. I think we could recall him in an emergency but this is hardly that.
Button is available, but he's only on a 1-year contract I think. Putting 2 + 2 together and probably making 5 my reasoning is that in a year Pope will be ready to challenge Hamer for a first team place, and so Button will be surplus to requirements. Anyway Pope is on a long-term contract and looks a terrific prospect, so in he goes.
Whoever we've got left... Taking your team as a template FHB, I'd have Dervite and Taylor in the middle at the back and RBI in the midfield and Cort for Jackson on the bench. Nothing to lose in this one, and a good opportunity to see how far on some of our 'fringe' players are.
I think we definitely need squad rotation to keep everyone happy so would need those who don't play that often. Providing they are staying. Therefore. Button if fit - Pope if not Wilson Taylor Dervite Evina Green Hughes (If fit) Izquierdo (If not) Cook Kerkar BWP Wagstaff
This short-term loan situation is a farce. Needs sorting out. "Emergency" loans are rarely if ever that. Clubs like Watford can sign as many continental loans as they like. Some players are flitting from one club to another throughout the season. Also used to cheat the "window" by converting from loan to permanent. In the old days fans used to identify with "their" players. Nowadays even guys like us, who waste half our lives reading the news and gossip on forums and twitter, have a job to track where our own players are.
Why is everyone starting Wilson, after his broken nose on Saturday? I know he wouldn't be rested if it was a league game, but I don't think there's a need to play him in the Cup. All the same, I'll leave Mr Powell to pick the team. Azeez news is interesting. 'Jolly Good Fellow' will be my nickname for him.
----------------Pope-------- Solly-----Dervite----Morrison------Fox Wagstaff--Stephens--Pritchard--Bover ---------Kermorgant---BWP--------- (Sullivan, Taylor, Evina, Jackson, Green, Harriott, Azeez)
The only reason for rushing Azeez back would be to put him in the squad for Saturday, maybe even start if BWP is on his way out.
Excellent interview with Powell on the OS: http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130103-powell-on-transfers-577446.aspx?pageView=full#anchored He mentions Cort is injured and unavailable plus Haynes, but no mention of Wilson. What a brown-noser's comment, Irish! I bet you used to bring the teacher an apple in school, too. Of course, we have to leave it to "Mr" Powell to pick the team. To sign and release players, to make changes and substitutions during matches, and maybe to decide which brand of toilet-paper in the bogs. But do you have to molest the fragile fantasies of us sad would-be managers by pointing it out? I refuse to acknowledge the truth of what you posted. I shall go to bed tonight, as every night, believing that the Good Doctor's first action every morning is to log on here and ponder deeply any pointers I have given him on how to manage the team.
Wilson said on Twitter that he had a broken nose. Obviously not a career threatening injury, and no way would he be rested if it was a league game, but I don't really see the value in starting him rather than resting him. You're one to talk, with your comments on Mr Powell's "excellent interview". Not good. Not very good. "Excellent". I had my lesson in the Watford match. Thought BWP should have started. I was wrong. Mr Powell was right. He gets to pick the team for this one.
