Like most football fans I like to waste my time between matches selecting our XI for the next fixture, not that any of our managers pay any attention to my opinions (except for Uncle Les who was grateful for any suggestions). Our current manager has ruined my innocent pleasure with his stubborn insistance on naming the same team for each League match. Even the two League Cup matches didn't provide much fun. Once it was obvious CP wouldn't risk any of his "Immortals" the teams more or less picked themselves. But the "Watching Paint Dry" Trophy is ideal for my purposes. Indeed, that may be the only justification for its existence. On the OS our manager makes all the correct PC noises about wanting to win every match but, reading between the lines, you can see that he thinks having to name six of his precious "Band of Brothers" for this meaningless competition is a real pain. But now I can get really excited trying to forecast which six, and which lesser mortals will accompany them. CP's main objective will be to rest those most in need and those least replaceable. He won't give a damn about winning this game and having to undergo this pantomime again in the next round, so: --- Although Sullivan badly needs a game, goalkeepers get less tired and are less likely to be injured, so he might name Hamer. --- With Cort off on his travels, Mambo on loan and Osborne injured, we are already short of a reserve CB to partner Doherty. Sorry, Doc, but given we have to play six regulars, it makes more sense to keep the Morrison/Taylor pairing intact. Centre-backs are like Shire horses. They can keep on haulin' the load match after match. --- Solly really does need a rest. He leaves nothing on the pitch and for the first time looked a shade tired on Saturday. So in comes Francis. He has every incentive to do well to attract a loan move or a New Year transfer. --- We would all like to see Evina, but to make up that six Wiggins must play. At least if he gets injured we can replace him with someone of equal ability against the Trannies. --- Hollands needs a rest to (as the politicians say) spend more time with his family. In comes Hughes. --- Stephens is also looking a bit tired. He is a bit frail for all the midfield tackling he has to do, being more of a creative midfielder. In comes Alonso. --- Green needs a full game and Waggy deserves a rest. --- Jackson coasts through games so he should have enough in the tank to play again. Anyway, it is his responsibility as Captain. --- BWP will be wrapped up in cotton-wool and kept far from the the Valley so in comes Benson if fit, Euell if he is not. --- We would like to see Kermorgant start, but he doesn't help to complete the required six so it's Hayes again. If he gets a knock that will give CP the excuse he needs to start Kermorgant on Saturday. Come on, Chris, you know you really want to, deep down.
A masterpiece of logic, eddie. However, I'd really like to see Alonso and RB-I paired up in midfield and an imaginative, attacking bench, seeing as we're back to seven in this competition.
Yes, that would be a better balance in midfield and more fun to watch. But Hughes is CP's mate so he has to be fitted in somewhere. Maybe at RB as Francis was dreadful against Preston. But that would be a real rebuff to Francis and suggest that we will never get even a minimal fee for him. Same applies to my suggestion about leaving out the Doc.
Great minds think alike Eddie, whilst pondering the pain-in-the-backside selection dilemma I came up with exactly the same 6 players who should remain! However, one possible option would be to include Wagstaff as one of the six, but play him upfront alongside Hayes (thus freeing up one of Hamer/Taylor/Morrison/Wiggins/Hayes to be dropped whilst also trying out Waggy up front for a full-game as opposed to ten minutes at the end).
Would that be Bruno Machiavelli, Pescara's left-back in the '50s or Hugh Machiavelli who appeared in three episodes of Doctor Who as Professor J Acworth, a crazed author from another planet?
Thank you, Tewks. WWOCB however fails the logic test. if we play Waggy upfront alongside Hayes, how could it free up Hayes to be dropped? When I fed WWOCB's suggestions into my BBC B+64, using the program I have written to compute all possible permutations of players for the Johnstone's Trophy, it emitted purple smoke and blew a fuse.
I was in fact referring to Lenny Hayes, the Australian-rules footballer who may possibly sign for us this evening How's that for a save?
Hughes in at right back (Francis will be out on loan soon anyway) Bover in central midfield, Wagstaff in at CF rather than Jason and Evina in rather than Wiggins. job done
Allhell I believe young bover is injured (he has mentioned a few times on twitter about being stuck in the treatment room, unless i have missed something) otherwise I'd agree with you
Considering we're only allowed 5 fresh faces there's no way I'd have Bover in the starting 11, he's done nothing in every match he's played in thus far.
FHB, 7 subs I believe. Hamer Hughes-Taylor-Morrison-Wiggins Green-Alonso-Euell-JJ Hayes-Wagstaff Subs - Sullivan, Francis, Doherty, Evina, Harriott (*) Kermorgant, Smith * I believe Harriott is injured (?) If so any other young midfielder will do.
WWOCB - you must have been watching a different player to the rest of us. Bover would definitely be in my starting line up for the Paint pot alongside Alonso and allowing Stephens and Hollands some rest. Hughes in at RB Wagstaff and Kermit upfront (to see if he is fit enough for 90 minutes) so Hamer Hughes Morrison Taylor Wiggins Green Bover Alonso Jackson Waggy Kermit Bench Sullivan, Evina,Docherty,Cort, Euell, Benson,Smith
Are we still only allowed 3 subs, WWOCB? (By the way maybe you should think about changing your name now that we've got our Charlton back!)
Ooh sorry for the misinterpretation, yeah as far as I know its only 3 subs. ScratchingValley', I've seen nothing to suggest Bover is ready for even our second 11 (bar a place on the bench). He was the only weak link against Reading, and had a slightly better game against Preston (though did nothing of value). I believe many posters see him playing well because they want to see him play well. I don't doubt that he's one for the future, I just feel Callum Harriott has shown a lot more ability on the left flank than Bover has, and that as an attacking central-mid, Bover isn't 'attack-minded' enough. He's been very anonymous in every game so far and is constantly outmuscled/has his passes intercepted. FHB, I'm considering a name change, but I'll keep the WWOCB abbreviation (just so people know its the same poster ). Incidentally, my signature picture is also outdated, but I'm worried about which player to put in it as both Semedo and Elliott left soon after I put them in it
Maybe there's a picture about of Francis and Doherty together, that would be good. Do you think maybe the jinx of the signature works the other way, that if I put a picture of an ex-Charlton player they will re-sign? If so please log in to view this image
