I like the look of your team Rameses. Maybe Bird for Huddz or Bielik, I'm not convinced by our big buy. Maybe put Bielik in place of Davies?

I do like that team though.

Beilik does give us the option of a ball playing centre half VC. Good shout.

I think Huddz ca quarterback as well as Rooney so if the oppo try and man mark Wazza then Huddz will have the space to get us going as well.
Rooney is going to be a nightmare for the oppo to plan against.

Northampton away. Have to be happy with that. Great opportunity to progress.

Curses! Saw the draw, went to post it, forgot who it was, checked Beeb (who needless to say hadn't got it), an lo!

I like the look of Rameses team ... if we are allowed 12 players on the pitch!
4 2 3 2 plus a GK 🤔

😂 good spot Peeder

I’ve corrected it and put Beilik in the back four as VC suggests.

Funny I was looking at the results at the weekend and thinking what's the worst game we could have. My choice was Northampton away. Wanted a top Premier League team at PP.

I would have like Chelsea at PP. But if that wasn’t going to happen then a winnable tie is a good tie in my opinion.
Just think we may even get a home draw if we get through.

comment by VC10Ram (U18980)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
I like the look of your team Rameses. Maybe Bird for Huddz or Bielik, I'm not convinced by our big buy. Maybe put Bielik in place of Davies?

I do like that team though.


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Kevin Hector got one last time we played Northampton VC. We won 3-4 in January 1967 old div. 2.

Jan 1967, I was getting ready for the summer of love. I don’t remember the game though but I would have gone to the home game. I went to most of the games in
London and used to stay the night in a very cheap hotel.

Kevin Hector, my all time favourite.

With the players we have at the moment that’s the team I would pick. If we get the minimum expected of two new players in the window then a new CB might be in the team instead of Bielik and he can compete with Huddlestone for one spot. A new right sided attacking player can compete with Knight and Holmes for one of the attacking midfield places.

Good though Rooney was in that position yesterday we might want him further forward at times. There is plenty of flexibility to do that within games. That line-up could easily switch to a diamond with Rooney at the top of it.

...... and more to the point vidal, Rooney to organise it.

If we can keep clear of bad injuries then it will mean that players don’t play if they are carrying knocks or niggles. And it keeps them on their toes when there are quality alternatives chomping at the bit to replace them.

Is Bielik available or does he have one more game for red card?

Good loan move for Vidal fave Mitchell-Lawson to The Gas btw. If he does well there we will have a handy player for next season.

One more match out for Bielik Dixie.

Thought

1967, Northampton. Scorers, Hector, Hodgson, Durban, Waller for Derby. Phill Waller was a mate of my eldest brother and also our PE teacher at the time. I could easily beat him at press ups.

Well I have to admit, Rooney has impressed me, he does seem to have come back from the states a better player, and if he stays fit could well play the role of giving the team the spine it has lacked since Seth Johnson retired. He at the very least seems more aware of what he can do now, and doing that well, rather than trying to be the player he was.

It's also surprised me just how little we missed Lawrence, and how, once he was introduced, he was again one of the weakest links in the team against Palace. I knew we wouldn't miss him much, but those 2 matches showed we didn't miss him at all, and that we have far better options for every scenario. The youngsters have shown they're just as capable of winning a match and Rooney is giving them every opportunity pulling the strings, both Bird and Knight have demonstrated far greater maturity than TL and Sibley has looked more dangerous. Only negative with the youth selections is Whitaker who hasn't really looked the part, a little half-hearted, not looking to be involved enough, maybe carrying an injury (but then why select?)

I think Davies might still be important at the back as a more mature head; he's looked a much better player without the burden of Captain role already.

Bogle and Wisdom you can alternate between, there's not much in it.

Huddlestone and Rooney together might not work when we need more urgency. If we're a goal or two down, or teams don't bother to come at us it might not be the ideal combination.

If we can sell Lawrence, great, but I very much doubt there will be a queue of teams interested in him. If we can loan him out (with option to buy) to say a European team I think that might well be an option to suit both parties.

If we've still got him I personally say this season he needs to be an impact sub for the remainder of the season (on the grounds we can get someone on loan, Ibe possibly?) and next season he's stripped of the No.10 shirt ( does NOT deserve that number).

Have him ideally replaced with someone scouted by Cocu or his trusted scouts.

Line up, I'd something similar to your suggestion Rameses:

Hamer

Wisdom, Davies, Clarke, Lowe.

Huddlestone,

Holmes, Knight.

Rooney

Marriott, Waghorn.

9Gear said

He at the very least seems more aware of what he can do now, and doing that well, rather than trying to be the player he was.

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Agree 100% with this comment.

So do I. But surely something footy related has happened in the last 3 hours and 46 minutes?

Apparently not.

comment by 9earchange (U16914)
posted 9 hours, 58 minutes ago

I think Davies might still be important at the back as a more mature head; he's looked a much better player without the burden of Captain role already.

Or just having a more cohesive midfield in front of the back four..