Johnnyrotten

I think its one thing wanting out of the pizza cup with about 5 games before Christmas causing fixture congestion, but turning down the opportunity for a 2nd round tie also removes the option of bedding in some of the new signings (already here, or still to come). Every single signing, including Dong and Watson, now has to make his first competitive start in a championship game. Last year when we played Sheff Wed in the cup we got an exciting 3-3 draw (we helped them with another sending off - Inwood), Gale and ACD each scored a cracker and had "arrived" as 1st teamers, Miller got his nervy debut out of the way, Warren got an opportunity to show he wasn't ready for L1, etc. Most other championship teams will be signing players this month and using them in the 2nd round, without caring too much for the result compared to the league.

Of course it is, he has to stand by his decisions and we'll let him get on with that. The same can be said for Evatt's signings and tactics, and at a higher level Tuchel - they get most decisions right, and occasionally they make a decision that a lot of fans of Bolton or England question. Professional managers, whether its football or business (or politics), don't get every decision right and its surely valid for the rest of us to also have opinions. I don't have a strong opinion on Watson FWIW, I've hardly seen him kick a ball for us or anyone else, so if SS rates him that will do for me. I was only questioning the option of him making his first start this coming Saturday, As I said though, tallest dwarf competition.

I'm not writing him off, I'm saying I'd pick Randall before him for next week. Not writing anyone off, talking about one game. Its hard enough starting your first game in any circumstances (getting used to how we play etc) but the first game in the championship in a local derby is not the time to be thrown in the deep end. SS picked Randall game after game for a spell last season, he's not quite as crap as everyone says, its just we're expecting to sign better (RR replaced him last season but we also had Dempsey and Kenny keeping him out). If you've seen enough in Watson to give him a start, fair enough. I already know the answer is SS knows more about the players than us because he sees them in training. But we are just chatting on a forum about who'd we pick or leave out if it was upto us. Folk wanting Watson to start are literally basing it on SS knows best, not their own judgement.

I know its a smallest dwarf situation, but I'd play Randall above Watson from what I've seen. It won't happen, but I'd expect Randall to have more impact on the game, we know he can't score to save his life, but he does have some attacking qualities. But I'd play neither preferably, we've got ourselves into a right pickle for next week. Has to be RR midfield and McAtee up front. And FWIW the punishment of 3 games and 30 minutes suspension for Simons for the least violent "violent conduct" is a joke. No punishment for the Sheff Wed player for blatant cheating twice (shirt pull then holding his face), if I was the ref I'd be itching to send him off for feigning injury.

Its not impossible to go through with 10 men. PNE had 10 for over an hour and won on pens, we won at Plymouth with 10. We lost because we couldn't score, 0-0 after an hour, 11 v 11. It just looked like we weren't very good, either at the back, in midfield or up front. Not sure where to start really, impossible to just say we need this or that. Dempsey would improve us straight away even if just from the bench, but with the current availability he'd be starting next week.

Still the best player on the pitch in the 2nd half from what I saw, thankfully the game isn't all about running around.

Or September! Scary fixture list in September even if we'd signed every player we think we need to make us competitive.

Hard to judge. If we give him a free pass for relegation here, because of the financial situation, he also can't be judged on getting Wrexham out of divisions where they were the equivalent of Man City financially. Can't have it both ways. I do give him loads of credit for being a proper football man and a great bloke, and bringing squads together etc. But some of his tactical decisions were baffling.

Although I enjoyed watching Lennon and Hill teams, generally. It was purgatory watching Parky's team much of the time. ALF on the bench or the left wing, Armstrong on the right wing, neither entertaining or productive.

Chris Taylor played for us in the championship. In L2 we had Dapo, Kieran Lee and Santos.

Massive exaggeration. Managed Barnsley in the championship, we can't claim managing BWFC in financial dire straits on minus 20 points or whatever is the best job he had. If got the job when SS got it, fair enough, but he got poisoned chalice.

I do think folk only focused on the negative (rambling interviews etc). Given the restrictions, and impossible job of making us an attractive proposition to sign for, he made some good signings and gave us some reasonably entertaining games. Deservedly drew home & away v Sunderland too.

That takes me back to Rotherham away - lost 6-1 but it was momentus as the first game with real professional footballers instead of the kids, and Keith Hill's first game, away end buzzing when we took the lead. I remember Emmanuel looked very unfit, but as the season went on he definitely improved and really gave 100%. I also thought the LB Adam Chicksen was half decent! We did have some good experienced players and won a few L1 games - Bridcutt, Daryl Murphy, Darcy, Politic, Hamilton, Crawford, Lowe, Hobbs, O'Grady, Verlinden, Earl. A lot of that squad disappeared below the EFL but there were plenty that had careers at or above L1 level and I am still grateful that they contributed to keeping the club going and giving us a competitive game to watch each week, until Covid intervened.

I'd have Tutu back whoever else is here. We arguably don't have a championship standard LW, RW, RB or RWB currently. He can cover all 4 of those positions adequately, I think his versatility has played against him ("we need a better RB for the championship" when he isn't even a RB), but his ability to play anywhere on either wing is underrated for me, I'd love to have him as a squad player. Although I can't blame him for wanting to nail down a position somewhere that isn't RB.

I went last year once and the grandkids enjoyed it. The only "odd" thing was how quiet it was compared to a T20 with a half decent crowd in - when you do get the Lancy chants and if its v Yorkshire plenty others too, as well as more of the lads day out vibe with the beer snakes etc. For the 100, there's none of that vibe, its more of a garden party feel with kids everywhere, even if the crowd had any songs they wouldn't get chance to use them much with all the noise coming out of the speakers. When I got my tickets I didn't know they'd introduced the noise pollution, so presumably most others didn't either so their decision to go was based on how it was previously, or how they enjoyed T20, or other games on TV which don't have that din. I won't be going again, there were enough red flags for the 100 that have been well documented but having the afternoon spoiled unnecessarily is the last straw for me (as one that wasn't invested in it but happy to give it a try).