33 minutes ago, desperado said:

                       Baxter 

        Jones.    Santos.  Johnston 

Cog.              Sheehan.             Schon

               Matete.   Thomason 

                   Charles Collins

Will be good to see Jones back. Hopefully Tommo is fit, if not we’ve got a problem, it’s either the box midfield, Sharples being thrown in or an extra attacker as a 10, all of which have had their problems. Front 2 tricky, just gone for the best two goalscorers.

Like the look of that. If Tomo isn't ready then Sharples in place of him for me, rather than the striker in midfield or no 3 up top options.

25 minutes ago, Stig said:

Like the look of that. If Tomo isn't ready then Sharples in place of him for me, rather than the striker in midfield or no 3 up top options.

Is Sharples the kid ? Reckon he’s strong enough for a Derby? I don’t think I’ve seen him play

1 minute ago, Big E said:

Is Sharples the kid ? Reckon he’s strong enough for a Derby? I don’t think I’ve seen him play

He had a solid debut in the Mickey Mouse cup. Reached Messi status on Facebook immediately. For me he has reached better than Arfield status. 

2 minutes ago, Ani said:

He had a solid debut in the Mickey Mouse cup. Reached Messi status on Facebook immediately. For me he has reached better than Arfield status. 

Good enough for me if he’s better than Arfield. He shouldn’t be anywhere near the matchday squad. Should be just cheering people on in training

9 minutes ago, Big E said:

Is Sharples the kid ? Reckon he’s strong enough for a Derby? I don’t think I’ve seen him play

I didn't see him play either, but prefer him to Arfield

Arfield has been alright coming on as a sub when the game has slowed down, it's when he's started games that he's struggled with the pace of the game.

If he's properly fit, Thomasson will be a big plus balancing the midfield, but if not, I wouldn't  risk Sharples yet ( if it's going badly, having halfwits waving bedsheets & shouting abuse will do him no good ) so would play McAtee there again - it came unstuck at Stockport but we got away with it in previous games.

53 minutes ago, Big E said:

Is Sharples the kid ? Reckon he’s strong enough for a Derby? I don’t think I’ve seen him play

I woundn't be putting him anywhere near a derby game quite yet. He did alright in that cup game but he had lots of time and space. 

1 hour ago, Big E said:

Is Sharples the kid ? Reckon he’s strong enough for a Derby? I don’t think I’ve seen him play

I'd rather put Jimmy in there.

6 minutes ago, gonzo said:

I'd rather put Jimmy in there.

As an enforcer or flare player ? 

58 minutes ago, bolton va va said:

Arfield has been alright coming on as a sub when the game has slowed down, it's when he's started games that he's struggled with the pace of the game.

If he's properly fit, Thomasson will be a big plus balancing the midfield, but if not, I wouldn't  risk Sharples yet ( if it's going badly, having halfwits waving bedsheets & shouting abuse will do him no good ) so would play McAtee there again - it came unstuck at Stockport but we got away with it in previous games.

Exactly, we've "got away" with having only a 2 man midfield against poor teams. Big games like Huddersfield and Stockport we haven't. 

I'd class this game as the latter and say a 3 man midfield is a must

23 minutes ago, Big E said:

As an enforcer or flare player ? 

Enforcer, breaking up play.  

If he plays a 2 man midfield he’s a bigger fool than I thought he was .

They have big issues at full back and no fit strikers. 

Reckon they'll just try and clog the midfield.

Some lad called Coulson at full back getting dogs abuse.

We haven't played with a 2 man midfield since the disastrous plan B at the start of the season.

The injuries to Thomasson & Dempsey have forced us to use McAtee in midfield with mixed results not helped by Matete's erratic form.

If Thomasson isn't fit for Saturday, maybe Lolos could be another option to McAtee in midfield but I haven't seen enough of him to have an opinion.

Yeh it’s been like a 2 and a half recently with McAtee in there 

I think through this period of inconsistency, poor performance levels and mixed results one thing has been proven, if we have a minimum of 3 fit midfielders then we’ll play 3 in there 

Whatever the system, in a game like this, McAtee needs to be on that football pitch.

 

5 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Whatever the system, in a game like this, McAtee needs to be on that football pitch.

 

Have to agree he as that edge we need .

1 hour ago, bolton va va said:

We haven't played with a 2 man midfield since the disastrous plan B at the start of the season.

The injuries to Thomasson & Dempsey have forced us to use McAtee in midfield with mixed results not helped by Matete's erratic form.

If Thomasson isn't fit for Saturday, maybe Lolos could be another option to McAtee in midfield but I haven't seen enough of him to have an opinion.

We played it against Stockport didn't we? Sheehan and Matete? 

Could be wrong like! 😁

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

I'd rather put Jimmy in there.

He could do first 60, the bring Howler on to close it out. 
 

Give John 10 minutes notice so he can there from ESLSC. 
 

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by Ani

7 minutes ago, Ani said:

He could do first 60, the bring Howler on to close it out. 
 

Give John 10 minutes notice so he can there from ESLSC. 
 

Be a lovely sight, Howler retching over everyone at a corner threatening to bite everyone’s noses off 

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by barrycowdrill

1 hour ago, Rizlar said:

Have to agree he as that edge we need .

He might have the passion but for me he's shite. Too slow and drifts out the game for long periods

Difficult to judge SSA but on just that one showing I’d have no problem playing him on Saturday. He doesn’t look like being phased at all so if he’s needed he’d be in for me. Khumbeni also looks to be coming on from his time at Accy and looks a bigger stronger lad than even last year so could be worth bringing back in January if we need him although I think Morley would be ahead of him coming back on that front?

The thing Evatt will no doubt be faffing about will be how many minutes the internationals have played. Previous camps Sheehan has hardly figured, at this one he's played two full games. Similar with Charles, played plenty of mins across their two fixtures. Both enjoying positive experiences and no doubt returning with confidence, both would expect to start and should do, but may only do an hour or so. 

If Thomason is fit to start I'd like to see him and Matete at base of midfield, as 'double pivot' (been reading the modern coaching manual) with Sheehan further forward, with freedom to create. Any two up front, though Charles tends to work better with Vic. If any doubt about him, go with Collins and McAtee, they ought to be fresh

7 hours ago, Stig said:

Like the look of that. If Tomo isn't ready then Sharples in place of him for me, rather than the striker in midfield or no 3 up top options.

And for me I think.

We need 3 in midfield and I’d prefer round pegs in round holes. That doesn’t mean one of the forwards plays at the top of the midfield, it just reverts to 2 in midfield no matter how much it’s set up not to, it means who’s your next best midfielder and they take the 3rd spot. If it’s Sharples then he’s in.

These one off games can surprise a few as well. Remember Joe Riley being thrown in and putting in a couple of decent performances and Andy Kellett as well (Sheff Weds away?).

Who are our best 3 fit midfielders. That’s it

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by Eddie

Any news on Dempsey? 
 

Just seen out till Xmas but surgery went well. 

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by Ani