i would play last night Team 

4-0 COYWM 

1 hour ago, desperado said:

 

You are usually a good and informed poster on here.

But if you were watching/listening/following the game yesterday you’ll know that for a period he did switch ACD onto the other side!

But he also got nothing out of the Boltonian Jimmy Ball (next door neighbour to his mum and dad - known him since he was a toddler!) who came on at HT, before moving back.

He also played a few different systems when the subs came on. He’s tweaked the midfield tactics a bit this season too. 

All these uninformed opinions comparing him to Evatt are crackers. 

I did state I didn’t see the game and if he tried Duberry on the other side that fine I just feel we need 3 in midfield as our away form is concerning and I asked us he becoming fixated with the same system . 

7 minutes ago, desperado said:

Great balanced post again 👏

That 33 was very good. Nobody has handled ACD better this year and he was good coming forward too.

I think in the long term games like that are good for ACD (and others) because he’s tested and will have to go away, reflect and come back better - and I think he’s the type of player who will.

Keith Hill was creaming himself over Joel McGregor on the radio - he even said that he was going to “research” him - although I’ve no idea what for.

Anyhoo McGregor is a talent - winger converted to midfield (apologies to the one position theorists) and he’s young, but Swindon won’t be selling him for anything less than daft money.

19 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Clearly. You've got it all sussed out though. What club are you managing at the moment?

I see you are pretty much opinionated in the political threads

Where is your constituency ?

2 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

I did state I didn’t see the game and if he tried Duberry on the other side that fine I just feel we need 3 in midfield as our away form is concerning and I asked us he becoming fixated with the same system . 

Fair enough. I agree with you, I would like to see Dempsey ahead of two base midfielders Tuesday. Simons and one other. Erhahon (if fit enough) Sheehan or Morley in that order.

I’d be having Tutu and ACD either side of Burstow

Macclesfield and Boreham Wood got further in the cup than us.

FFS.

17 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

I see you are pretty much opinionated in the political threads

Where is your constituency ?

I vote in South Ribble. Which football club is currently asking you for your expert tactical insights?

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

My view is Schumacher  knows his best 11 however because it’s a long season is rotating the squad to keep the core 11 fresh for Christmas run of games and come the business end of the season we’re not running on empty.  Well that’s my positive spin on where we’re at. 

I'd tend to be of that view, by and large we have a best 11 when they're all fit, apart from the odd tweak to suit certain opponents, and there are some of those that have looked like needing rest. 

On that basis though, ACD should have had his feet up. He's played a lot of minutes, hardly ever brought off early (for good reason) and has dipped a bit over last couple of games. I was surprised to see him start.

9 minutes ago, Cheese said:

I vote in South Ribble. Which football club is currently asking you for your expert tactical insights?

correct you vote.......your not a bloody MP

Just now, masi 51 said:

correct you vote.......your not a bloody MP

But the point is, you're more qualified than me to 'understand football'. Which clubs have employed you?

1 minute ago, Cheese said:

But the point is, you're more qualified than me to 'understand football'. Which clubs have employed you?

Never been paid to manage a club, same as you have never been a MP yet you talk Drivel in the Political threads.

7 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Never been paid to manage a club, same as you have never been a MP yet you talk Drivel in the Political threads.

At least you have now admitted to talking unqualified drivel. Fair play.

2 hours ago, Mannyroader said:

Reiss Greenidge on telly playing for Slough Town in the FA Cup. 

Wasn't he our long-throw expert? We should have kept him, he'd create loads of goals now.

Supposed to be the fastest player we ever had int he? Apart from Mustapha Riga of course 

2 hours ago, Marc505 said:

Does this include pizza cup QF and SF?

I just counted the league games, if including Port Vale reserves at home the 11th game will be Stevenage.  If we lose there it could undo all the good work of the previous 9 league games so we definitely need to do more than 10!

QF and SFs aren't part of next dozen or so games, can't be before 3rd Feb.

2 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

My view is Schumacher  knows his best 11 however because it’s a long season is rotating the squad to keep the core 11 fresh for Christmas run of games and come the business end of the season we’re not running on empty.  Well that’s my positive spin on where we’re at. 

 

2 hours ago, desperado said:

I agree. I think that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Agreed, he is.  And to do that he's tossed away the FA Cup, that's his choice and I respect that but he can take some criticism and backlash for that too, from fans that wouldn't have minded being in the 3rd round and think we might just be able to win 2 games in 4 days against relatively average teams.

Anyway, I reckon his preferred starting 11 is:

TSL, Christie, Conway, GJ, Toal; Simons, Sheehan, ACD, Gale, Dempsey (occasionally Forss), Burstow. 

His favoured subs are EE, either Tutu or Cissoko, Dalby, Forss.

When anyone needs a rest/injured, the subs plus JDC, Forino, Taylor, Morley, McAtee will step up, but if there's a must-win game, a 6 pointer or a play off 90% of them aren't getting near the starting 11. 

Forrester and Randall won't be in any matchday squads barring injuries.  IMO.

Edited December 7, 2025Dec 7 by Johnnyrotten

He may feel he knows best players- perhaps 11 is too few though.

Dempsey has come straight back in to that thinking.

If don't think he deliberately tossed the game away yesterday, but knew it was a risky selection.

Not the first time though, and he must know such a lightweight midfield is a recipe for disaster.

Everyone sees it, and for that, given Swindon would be up for it, he has questions to answer.

As do the hapless performers. 

1 hour ago, Wanderlust said:

Macclesfield and Boreham Wood got further in the cup than us.

FFS.

Boreham Wood are FA Cup giants compared to us over the last few years!

This is the 4th year in the last 6 they've got to the 3rd round.  We've managed it once.

They got to the 5th round 3 or 4 years ago, lost at Everton.  What a waste of time and effort, its not like they won the thing, they must have been exhausted.

Cup game or not, first XI or not, the away form is alarming.

4 hours ago, desperado said:

Another chalk and cheese example to Evatt.

- Called it out for what it was - rubbish

- He didn’t sugar coat it

- No excuses

- No baffling explanations

- A level headed response to a very poor day.

He’ll keep in-house (as he should do) any individuals that he feels aren’t cutting it along with any self-criticism/reflection about the side he picked.

As he said - Mansfield WILL (and has to be) better 

Bob on. Yesterday was shambolic, he's admitted it and hopefully we move on with a win next time out.

There are some parts of the squad that aren't working as well as needed, but makes no sense in publicly slamming a team that has generally been good when we've got 6-7 games in quick succession before we can make any changes in January 

4 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Why not?  IE was sacked to be replaced by a "better" manager, so its natural that when we have great days (Wigan) or great runs (unbeaten at home) we compare with what went before. 

And if things have deteriorated (away form, striking options) its normal to question it based on what went before, are we better than last season (etc)?  We were having those discussions a year ago too, its just that we were comparing the 2025 Evatt with the pre-Oxford one.

And its just chat on a wet boring December Sunday.

Exactly. He's the immediate predecessor so we're going to constantly compare them. So far:

-big games against local rivals or top 6 teams: Schumacher wins

-racking up the points in lesser games (especially away at small grounds): Evatt wins

-getting embarrassed in the cup: draw

-not going around headbutting people and instead being a generally nice person: Schumacher wins

4 hours ago, desperado said:

Think we need to differentiate between judging SS against his predecessor - fine

And saying SS is just doing what Evatt did and it’s no different - nonsense (and I think is the comparison most of us are being critical of) 

Probably should have read this before my previous response! Anyone saying "the tactics being stubbornly the same every game" are the same as Evatt can't be watching.

We've already moved between 433 and 4231 on a number of occasions, and while I would like to see a 433 with a more solid midfielder in one of the wide positions on occasion (think Nolan playing wide left or wide right on occasion, or Foden for City who is also more of an attacking mid) it's hardly tactical inflexibility. 

The only reason SS was switching between 4 at the back and 3 at the back mid game last season was because the squad was so one dimensionally built for 3 at the back.

2 hours ago, tshape said:

Supposed to be the fastest player we ever had int he? Apart from Mustapha Riga of course 

Not so fast now, put a bit of timber on.

Same game David Lee's lad came on as a sub for Macc and got carried off with a serious looking leg injury.

 

3 hours ago, Cheese said:

At least you have now admitted to talking unqualified drivel. Fair play.

No i said you do not understand Football.....Nothing you say changes that.

You then go into politics and carry that on.

Trying to get one over me is pointless i can lose you at both.....My Political views matter not on a football forum so i never express them

1 minute ago, masi 51 said:

No i said you do not understand Football.....Nothing you say changes that.

You then go into politics and carry that on.

Trying to get one over me is pointless i can lose you at both.....My Political views matter not on a football forum so i never express them

You are clearly a football genius. Strange how you only ever share your expertise on football tactics in hindshight after we have lost a game?

11 minutes ago, Cheese said:

You are clearly a football genius. Strange how you only ever share your expertise on football tactics in hindshight after we have lost a game?

Not at all i do it when we win though i am more than happy to let every

one enjoy the win........No need to spoil folks days/nights when they are enjoying a win.

I am no football Genius but i understand what i am talking about

Not going to get this into a slagging match. It is only a forum about opinions, but come back to me with a counter opinion and not more drivel

Just now, masi 51 said:

Not at all i do it when we win though i am more than happy to let every

one enjoy the win........No need to spoil folks days/nights when they are enjoying a win.

I am no football Genius but i understand what i am talking about

Not going to get this into a slagging match. It is only a forum about opinions, but come back to me with a counter opinion and not more drivel

Thanks for clarifying why you rarely post after a victory. We football-illiterate plebs who actually attend games appreciate you letting us enjoy a win. 🙏