Against Bristol Rovers, I would like to see the following team: Gilmartin A Northern Irish Right back Mariappa Mirfin Dickinson Deeney Jenkins or Eustace Walker Forsyth Sordell Taylor It would be harsh not to start Massey, who under ordinary circumstances would be a shoe-in for a Carling Cup start. But I think Sordell needs to keep playing until he starts scoring, and I'm unconvinced that Marv and Gavin are ready to be a Championship partnership. Given that, I believe we should put out the player who most closely matches Iwelumo's stengths. Of all the centre backs we've had in the last ten years, I'd sooner go with Martin Taylor up top than any of them, Marcus Gayle included. Thoughts?
I don't agree with this on a number of fronts. First off - Emergency, a League Cup game against 4th division Bristol Rovers? If you were referring to a crunch league game later in the season then maybe? Martin Taylor upfront? I would rest him out of this game, not get him running around like some kind of "forwrd player". I would play Sordell and Deeney for match practice - Sordell is on a good streak of form, not the best but good. Deeney needs match practice up front, today proved this. Do you want Adam Thompson at right back? Why the scarcasm? I might be tempted by James at Left back. I want Whichelow and Waker to play in midfield, maybe in place of Eustace and Yeates (who I want used sparingly). I'm not sure, but no Taylor upfront and this match is no "emergency". NNW, why the "panic".
It's not sarcasm. We have two Northern Irish right backs and I can't choose between them. As for Taylor, I think he is a logical choice. Dyche has clearly put quite a few eggs into the Iwelumo basket, and if it is to have a chance of paying off Sordell needs to get used to playing with someone like him. Now Iwelumo isn't available, so I see this match as our only realistic opportunity of experimenting with someone who while not a striker is physically and technically quite similar. Sordell is not going to get used to playing alongside a target man who does relatively few miles with Deeney or Massey alongside him. Good shout on James actually, forgot about him.
Walker Walker Walker. Have i mentioned Walker? I would far rather see him on the pitch then Jenkins...at least we should give him a go in this game. I agree that Sordell and Deeney should keep playing Elixir, though i don't think Tiny needs resting, imo he had is best game of the season so far today. I'd like to play him with Murfin, but i'm not sure who i'd drop. Certainly Dickinson needs to stay on the pitch i suppose Mariappa would have to go for this game if Murfin played. I'd keep Doyley. So, i'd play: Loach Dickinson Murfin Taylor Doyley Deeney Walker Eustace Whichelow Forsyth Sordell
At the moment I wold suggest resting Taylor as he is our only centre half - Mirfin is just a 2nd rate Mariappa. I saw some footage of Mirfin playing for Scunny last season and boy it wasn't pretty, so I can see him given game time. So Taylor is a scarce commodity, don't get him running around at 4th division Bristol Rovers. Save him for Birmingham, this game will be a big one for him especially so rest him. Why the clamour to play Deeney wide? I've never liked him wide with MacKay, and then we grumble when he looks "rusty" up front - you can't have it both ways!!! If you gave me a lose to Bristol, win at home to Birmingham option I'd bite your hand off.
i think we'd all take that option Elixir. I think Deeney can be central and out wide...i don't have a problem putting him in the middle either. Take your point about Tiny...hmm...maybe Thompson instead then...
I do get what Elixir is saying. But I think it would be less of a loss to know that we might need to substitute Tiny after 60-75 minutes against Birmingham, than it would be to waste our one chance at experimenting by playing two strikers who have virtually no chance of being played together in the league, and are nothing like each other's likely partners.
one thing's for certain..good idea or not, it won't happen...but i take your point too NNW...and in games like this it's good to experiment..i'm just not sure it would ever be that radical..
I guess you're right, although if there's one thing I've learnt from supporting Watford it's that you have never seen everything. If Iwelumo is still injured and Massey is still ill, we're only one training ground incident from it being a realistic possibility.
At least Taylor would win a header or two and can pass a ball. Not sure about the running part though. We should paly a young midfield with pace I feel but then I guess we really want to win this one just for confidence.
I think we should experiment with some new players. We've put out pretty much the same team for every game so far. I'd play this: Loach Hodson Mirfin Mariappa James (would be a great chance for him to prove himself) Whichelow Walker Eustace Forsyth Sordell Deeney Need to keep some first team players in there though, losing heavily will probably cause some of our 'fans' to call for Dyche to get sacked...
I think we need to win this and should field the strongest possible team, just for confidence. If we field a weakened team we just might regret it, go for the win yes fill the bench with the kids and if we cruise it fine bring them on but our first team regulars need a confidence building win. IMHO! It is panic button hitting time yet, but we need a win!
