The time has come, a must win. A cup final, possibly one of two.

3-0. 

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I’d be paying Jerome’s contract up he’s not up to it, Vic hasn’t done enough yet but I’d take a view next season if he’s still struggling cut our losses in January, Kachunga is a very different player to the 2 mentioned and his press & technical ability is very decent, if he could add some goals he’d be a useful asset…. I’ve been critical of him for a long time but that’s my take on him at the present time. 

But Kachunga is never going to add goals to his game. Yes, he plays a good pressing game, but guys, it isnt enough!, hes a striker, which he said in an interview last week. He has scored 6 league goals in the last 6 years, in 172 league games. He isnt going to change. Hes 31 now, its just not happening!

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Whatever team he goes with we really need to finish 5th, because  playing sheff wed in front of 40k will be a massive task. 

A side like this should be good enough to keep our good run going

                       Trafford

Randel.  Toal. Santos  Johnstone.  Dec

                 Williams. Morley 

                            Lee

                Charles.     Kachunga 

Keeps our best 2 at the moment up front together. Gets our captain back in (if he’s fit) Those rotations in midfield should work and keep everybody fresh. And key players (who we would really miss if they got injured for the play-offs) who’ve been flogged last month get rested - Dempsey, Bradley, Jones

8 minutes ago, desperado said:

A side like this should be good enough to keep our good run going

                       Trafford

Randel.  Toal. Santos  Johnstone.  Dec

                 Williams. Morley 

                            Lee

                Charles.     Kachunga 

Keeps our best 2 at the moment up front together. Gets our captain back in (if he’s fit) Those rotations in midfield should work and keep everybody fresh. And key players (who we would really miss if they got injured for the play-offs) who’ve been flogged last month get rested - Dempsey, Bradley, Jones

It’s a nothing game now and Derby are not winning at Wednesday so we will finish 5th.

I would start with Dan and Victor up top and rest Charles and Kachunga. Also give Lee more rest time and play Shoretire for his last game unless he really shows what he can do

We’ll have a week before the first play off match and then a week again before the next. Momentum is massive at this point so I’d be going full strength rather than resting players - the likes of Bradley / Dempsey and Charles seem to run themselves into the ground every week but then are fresh as daisy next game. There’s no sign of fatigue so I’d be going full strength for the win and as much confidence as possible before Barnsley rock up the week after.

9 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

It’s a nothing game now and Derby are not winning at Wednesday so we will finish 5th.

I would start with Dan and Victor up top and rest Charles and Kachunga. Also give Lee more rest time and play Shoretire for his last game unless he really shows what he can do

I think Shoretire has had enough chance that he can do somthing, he's managed to do nothing.

10 hours ago, perth_white said:

Put off watching it for a good while as I thought it would be an American show taking the piss out of "soccer". I was very wrong it's a brilliant comedy and discussion of mental health and positive masculinity. How we could do with a Jamie Tartt for the playoffs.

All true, and the acting is top class.  Favourite line recently was when Ted was told "Zava is leaving Juventus" -  "But what about their kids?  Sorry I didn't know what any of those things meant"

4 hours ago, radcliffe white said:

I think most have acknowledged that he played very well yesterday myself included who’s been very critical of his performances 

but you can count on one hand his good games and his goal return is still poor, for me it’s come a little late with his contract up  soon. At the very most if we didn’t go up maybe offer him a 1 year deal but I don’t get the scapegoat comment unless someone said something further back 

You should know that any comments about any player that don't just focus on what they are good at, mean that player is then a "scapegoat".  Apparently there always has to be one.

Re the 1 year deal, realistically which 30 year old established player is going to accept that?  Maybe Kieran Lee would take a year at his age but the next deals for the likes of Kachunga and JDB wherever they end up, aren't going to be so short term.  

1 hour ago, London Wanderer said:

Dempsey was class in that second goal. Orchestrated the whole thing and makes it so simple.

 What was the sending off for? Looked like nothing 

Really pathetic that sending off.  And the OG was more blatant than I expected, 2 big strokes of luck there, can we trade one in and keep it for the play offs?

12 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

You should know that any comments about any player that don't just focus on what they are good at, mean that player is then a "scapegoat".  Apparently there always has to be one.

Re the 1 year deal, realistically which 30 year old established player is going to accept that?  Maybe Kieran Lee would take a year at his age but the next deals for the likes of Kachunga and JDB wherever they end up, aren't going to be so short term.  

Then we shake hands for me it would be silly offering anything more, I was shocked we offered R Williams such a lengthy deal 

The bottom line is we can get a player in who would offer as much as Kachunga does for a lot less money, so for me he goes....... Nice bloke but a very very average footballer. 

Just seen that vela challenge

looks horrendous 

2 hours ago, Rizlar said:

Do we rest players for the Bristol game ?

I'd expect Dempsey and Charles to be rested as they have replacements, but the other guaranteed picks for the play off 1st leg like Bradley, Jones and Toal can't easily be replaced so will probably play.  I don't think we'll be going as far as not risking Trafford will we?

Expecting a lot of playing time for most of the 3 new strikers, and Thomasson probably.

Edited April 30, 20233 yr by Johnnyrotten

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Whatever team he goes with we really need to finish 5th, because  playing sheff wed in front of 40k will be a massive task. 

Last year against Sunderland they had less than 33k on, still a great crowd, but I think they days of 40k at Hillsborough are in the past.  There was about 30k on when we drew 1-1 there and they were fairly quiet most of the time, playing on that pitch brought out the best in us (after the awful first 20 minutes!).

28 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

Then we shake hands for me it would be silly offering anything more, I was shocked we offered R Williams such a lengthy deal 

I bet Hull were too 😀

2 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I’d be paying Jerome’s contract up he’s not up to it, Vic hasn’t done enough yet but I’d take a view next season if he’s still struggling cut our losses in January, Kachunga is a very different player to the 2 mentioned and his press & technical ability is very decent, if he could add some goals he’d be a useful asset…. I’ve been critical of him for a long time but that’s my take on him at the present time. 

Agree re Jerome, can't see what the plan was with him. If we can't pay him up loan him out. Vic's a maybe for me too, would need that pre-season and solid start, even to be what we need for another L1 push. Not seeing a likely Championship player in him. 

Evatt puts Kachunga in when a football match might be likely to break out, gets lost when we play the agricultural sides but v more open outfits who want to play out and maybe give a bit of space he can be very effective. 

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Really pathetic that sending off.  And the OG was more blatant than I expected, 2 big strokes of luck there, can we trade one in and keep it for the play offs?

The sending off was for pulling MJ back by his flowing locks. Apparently refs don't take too kindly to hair pulling.

3 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

The sending off was for pulling MJ back by his flowing locks. Apparently refs don't take too kindly to hair pulling.

He pushed MJ in the face. Was a different player who (twice) pulled his hairband out and somehow got the free kick. 

47 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

He pushed MJ in the face. Was a different player who (twice) pulled his hairband out and somehow got the free kick. 

Just goes to show that there might be a place for headbands in football

 

4 hours ago, Eddie said:

We’ll have a week before the first play off match and then a week again before the next. Momentum is massive at this point so I’d be going full strength rather than resting players - the likes of Bradley / Dempsey and Charles seem to run themselves into the ground every week but then are fresh as daisy next game. There’s no sign of fatigue so I’d be going full strength for the win and as much confidence as possible before Barnsley rock up the week after.

Balance that with not really being able to replace Dion should he get injured.

We need him fit for the play offs.

3 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

re Jerome, can't see what the plan was with him

I think people are getting confused here over “What was the plan signing him?” and “Is the plan working at the moment?” 

2 completely different debates.

I don’t know why people keep bringing the first question up. In my eyes the plan was very clear.

We desperately needed forwards after JDB and Dapo became unavailable for different reasons. Furthermore, at the time he ticked lots of boxes; big target man, a striker who would compliment Charles, a forward who brings a wealth of experience, a striker who was valued and appreciated at the championship club he was at, an impact sub to give us a different option and a respected professional within the game who the younger players can learn from 

The 2nd question is debatable as a lot of those intentions are arguably not evident. 

Don’t think picking up niggly injuries has helped. But after that first game against Charlton it seemed those plans for signing him would prove fruitful.

He certainly hasn’t kicked on from this, but even as recent as the Wembley game you saw what he can bring when his hold up play and movement created a couple of late chances.

By all means debate and argue his contribution and lack of it so far.

But to use this as another stick to beat Evatt with as if it was just a random signing with no plan in place is just wrong.

Edited April 30, 20233 yr by desperado

2 hours ago, desperado said:

I think people are getting confused here over “What was the plan signing him?” and “Is the plan working at the moment?” 

2 completely different debates.

I don’t know why people keep bringing the first question up. In my eyes the plan was very clear.

We desperately needed forwards after JDB and Dapo became unavailable for different reasons. Furthermore, at the time he ticked lots of boxes; big target man, a striker who would compliment Charles, a forward who brings a wealth of experience, a striker who was valued and appreciated at the championship club he was at, an impact sub to give us a different option and a respected professional within the game who the younger players can learn from 

The 2nd question is debatable as a lot of those intentions are arguably not evident. 

Don’t think picking up niggly injuries has helped. But after that first game against Charlton it seemed those plans for signing him would prove fruitful.

He certainly hasn’t kicked on from this, but even as recent as the Wembley game you saw what he can bring when his hold up play and movement created a couple of late chances.

By all means debate and argue his contribution and lack of it so far.

But to use this as another stick to beat Evatt with as if it was just a random signing with no plan in place is just wrong.

Agree with that entirely.

Jerome has some quality, we haven't seen it very much but how many minutes has he played?   

But he has shown some, not just at Wembley but in a couple of earlier appearances, and for all the reasons you state he was a logical signing.  I thought he looked really composed and influential at Wembley - and yes its a completely different scenario on a smaller pitch, when its 0-0, when the opposition only want to defend, and when we just aren't playing very well.  Fact is he's proven above this level over many years, and I'm not taking a blanket "he's past it", he may be passed 90 minutes Championship football but no way is he passed 30 minutes L1 football.

The Adbeyajo signing far more of a puzzle to me, given the reported transfer fee, length of contract, lack of pedigree and from what I'm seeing, just being very limited in his all round game.  

7 hours ago, radcliffe white said:

Then we shake hands for me it would be silly offering anything more, I was shocked we offered R Williams such a lengthy deal 

He as scored more league goals this season than Kachunga!

Only just caught up with this incident.

That’s fucking awful from Vela.

21 hours ago, radcliffe white said:

Just seen that vela challenge

looks horrendous 

Not heard anything- is there a link?