Changes -  erahon for sheehan,  half time tea lady for randall and derek Scott for cogley.

We,ll piss it,  I,m going 3-1 victory.

18 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Dalby back in full training for over a week.........Taylor since Friday

Can see Dalby getting last 20/30 both games to ease Burstow workload......Taylor again could get the last 15 depending how the game lies

Two more out of the squad  to sit with Schon and Gomes

Injuries and suspensions happen during the season so a squad of 20 (i.e. Dalby and Taylor added to the 18 we took to Barnsley) seems about right. Will be tough competition though to make the squad when they're all fit, that's for sure.

Especially if we do get another striker.

Wait, on top of that 20 who I'd say are the core squad we've got Dempsey still to come back and Vic who we won't be able to move on this summer, plus potentially another striker. That's a big squad and I hope we get loans for Inwood and Sharples lined up because they're not going to get matches and would benefit from the game time, like Conway did.

Schon and Gomes (and Dan) all probably surplus to requirements now.

Get dempsey fit and get shut

#andranikfactor

24 minutes ago, Casino said:

Get dempsey fit and get shut

#andranikfactor

Contracts up next summer. Can see him staying until then. 

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

Dalby back in full training for over a week.........Taylor since Friday

Can see Dalby getting last 20/30 both games to ease Burstow workload......Taylor again could get the last 15 depending how the game lies

Two more out of the squad  to sit with Schon and Gomes

It will be interesting to see which two, aside from any injuries. 

Of the 6 outfield subs at Barnsley, Cissoko and Erhahon aren't getting dropped.  That leaves 4 places for Dalby, Taylor, Forino, McAtee, Tutu and Morley.  Tutu probably safe as the only "RB" cover.  

My feeling is Randall won't get in the 18 soon and possibly one of Morley and Sheehan too (no idea which).

If Taylor is used as CB cover, it might put Forino's place on the bench in doubt but unlikely.

FWIW I don't care who, they are all good players on their day and I'm happy for SS to make the big calls. 

They'll all be needed sooner or later but there will be some established first teamers not in the 18 at times.

6 hours ago, Arrested development said:

I think he sees him as a winger but one that's not better than gale, ACD or Cissokho. Against Plymouth after he brought cogley on , tutu played wing for the last 20. Also worth nothing it was Schuey who played him as a winger last year after he came in. He just isn't getting in this team as a winger with these options. 

Maybe they don't want to sign another RB because they have 3/4 players who don't specialise in that position but can play there and the funds are better used elsewhere. 

In regards to Tutu , it's difficult to put him ahead of gale and ACD as a winger. We've not seen enough of Cissokho, but he looked good when he came on at Barnsley. 

I think Tutu is being used as a utility player this year covering the wing and RB. 

Yeh agree to a certain extent. But he was technically our 3rd winger before Cissoko came in and with Schueys preference for wingers to play on the opposite side you’d of thought him on the left alternating with Gale would’ve been the solution. Particularly if Schuey does rate him as a winger?… 

his move to RB implies he rates him behind ACD, Gale, Cissoko, CMG and even Warren in the winger stakes and he’s trying to utilise him as a secondary right FB to perhaps focus any remaining budget elsewhere… 

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by barrycowdrill

1 hour ago, Stig said:

Wait, on top of that 20 who I'd say are the core squad we've got Dempsey still to come back and Vic who we won't be able to move on this summer, plus potentially another striker. That's a big squad and I hope we get loans for Inwood and Sharples lined up because they're not going to get matches and would benefit from the game time, like Conway did.

Schon and Gomes (and Dan) all probably surplus to requirements now.

There's currently a squad of 32 including the youth played in pre- season. At this point we need various outgoings before we get the striker/defender/full-back, etc

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by jmjhb

33 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

FWIW I don't care who, they are all good players on their day and I'm happy for SS to make the big calls. 

They'll all be needed sooner or later but there will be some established first teamers not in the 18 at times.

There will, and if it happens to them regularly as we go into Autumn and Winter they might be ones that either angle for an exit or are ushered towards it 

53 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

It will be interesting to see which two, aside from any injuries. 

Of the 6 outfield subs at Barnsley, Cissoko and Erhahon aren't getting dropped.  That leaves 4 places for Dalby, Taylor, Forino, McAtee, Tutu and Morley.  Tutu probably safe as the only "RB" cover.  

My feeling is Randall won't get in the 18 soon and possibly one of Morley and Sheehan too (no idea which).

If Taylor is used as CB cover, it might put Forino's place on the bench in doubt but unlikely.

Until Dalby can do more than 10 minutes, McAtee has to be in the 18, surely

1 hour ago, Stig said:

Wait, on top of that 20 who I'd say are the core squad we've got Dempsey still to come back and Vic who we won't be able to move on this summer, plus potentially another striker. That's a big squad and I hope we get loans for Inwood and Sharples lined up because they're not going to get matches and would benefit from the game time, like Conway did.

Schon and Gomes (and Dan) all probably surplus to requirements now.

Dan has already  been told to look for another club

30 minutes ago, Casino said:

Until Dalby can do more than 10 minutes, McAtee has to be in the 18, surely

Yes.  Also if Randall gets dropped (just guessing), that strengthens McAtee's case as he can fill in for the so-called no.10 role, or just be the one striker last 15 minutes especially if not necessarily chasing a goal.

2 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Yes.  Also if Randall gets dropped (just guessing), that strengthens McAtee's case as he can fill in for the so-called no.10 role, or just be the one striker last 15 minutes especially if not necessarily chasing a goal.

The problem being, the two times he’s gone into that number 9 forward role this season, he’s looked completely ineffective.

FWIW I still think there’s a player there behind the forward.

We definitely need another replacement for Burstow that doesn’t include Mcatee having to do it.

 

32 minutes ago, desperado said:

We definitely need another replacement for Burstow that doesn’t include Mcatee having to do it.

 

Certainly not a McAtee who’s already played from the start. The loan 9 is a tough, hard-working role, if done properly. Any replacement should be fresh from the bench, to get the benefit of the substitution.

40 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Yes.  Also if Randall gets dropped (just guessing), that strengthens McAtee's case as he can fill in for the so-called no.10 role, or just be the one striker last 15 minutes especially if not necessarily chasing a goal.

Think you have summed McAtee up, he can cover the striker role…just as long as we do not need a goal👍😎😂

I know that is not exactly what you mean. 

2 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

Certainly not a McAtee who’s already played from the start. The loan 9 is a tough, hard-working role, if done properly. Any replacement should be fresh from the bench, to get the benefit of the substitution.

Think the 9 and 10 roles are tough. There is a real need to be closing their defence down when out of possession as well as being a factor when attacking. 
 

Strangely we had a centre forward that could do this last season but sold him. Not arguing to bring Dion back but he really did work hard. 

Once Dalby's fit it'll be him and Burstow doing alternating shifts game to game as the no9, 60 mins and 30ish to share the workload out. 

McAtee's no idea of how to play as a 9 unless the back four are midgets. He has looked though, in fairness, more able to run around and annoy defenders a bit if brought on to do that

16 minutes ago, Ani said:

Think the 9 and 10 roles are tough. There is a real need to be closing their defence down when out of possession as well as being a factor when attacking. 
 

Strangely we had a centre forward that could do this last season but sold him. Not arguing to bring Dion back but he really did work hard. 

Was thinking about this earlier. I’ve always been. In the school of thought that we never change a winning team and players are winning and they don’t want to come off.

That said they are clearly being worked harder with constant pressing and I do wonder/worry that Tuesday/Sat is not doable for our wingers and forwards. Or am I just being soft

I think this current system lends itself to the no9 not having to drop deep and Harry defenders like previous system did.

The no9 needs to be a focal point, man in the box type man rather than charging about like a fucking lunatic all over the pitch.

 

30 minutes ago, desperado said:

The problem being, the two times he’s gone into that number 9 forward role this season, he’s looked completely ineffective.

FWIW I still think there’s a player there behind the forward.

We definitely need another replacement for Burstow that doesn’t include Mcatee having to do it.

 

I'd want that replacement to be a senior head rather than this lad from celtic

2 minutes ago, frank_spencer said:

I'd want that replacement to be a senior head rather than this lad from celtic

@gonzo needs to close his ears! 😂

…But a fit less injury prone Bodvarsson would be ideal 

15 minutes ago, gonzo said:

I think this current system lends itself to the no9 not having to drop deep and Harry defenders like previous system did.

The no9 needs to be a focal point, man in the box type man rather than charging about like a fucking lunatic all over the pitch.

The number 9 has to close down the centre half, the number 10 the other CH and the wingers cover the full backs. It worked well v Plymouth as they were fucking about 

tbf worked well in all games 

Just now, Ani said:

The number 9 has to close down the centre half, the number 10 the other CH and the wingers cover the full backs. It worked well v Plymouth as they were fucking about 

tbf worked well in all games 

Aye exactly. Not Dion bowling about in the center circle smashing into folk

6 minutes ago, desperado said:

@gonzo needs to close his ears! 😂

…But a fit less injury prone Bodvarsson would be ideal 

He's not injury prone. He just gets injured loads