Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Barmby Rover on February 26, 2026, 02:36:35 pm

Title: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Barmby Rover on February 26, 2026, 02:36:35 pm
All available for the Cardiff game, it will be interesting to see the team sheet when it comes out.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Smyth on February 26, 2026, 02:46:24 pm
All available for the Cardiff game, it will be interesting to see the team sheet when it comes out.
Yes it will, we being Rovers fans and being interested in who plays and things like that.
Don't think there's many on here wouldn't find it 'interesting'.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Fal on February 26, 2026, 02:49:57 pm
Can't see him putting, Close, Clark and Okorownko straight back in so they will be on the bench, imagine Hanlan will start.

TLT
Sterry, Byrne, McGrath, Senior
Bailey, Gotts, Clifton
Molyneux, Hanlon, Middleton

Bench - Adelakun, Nixon, Clark, Okoronkwo, Sharp, Broadbent, pearson

Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Thorney on February 26, 2026, 03:18:02 pm
Can't see him putting, Close, Clark and Okorownko straight back in so they will be on the bench, imagine Hanlan will start.

TLT
Sterry, Byrne, McGrath, Senior
Bailey, Gotts, Clifton
Molyneux, Hanlon, Middleton

Bench - Adelakun, Nixon, Clark, Okoronkwo, Sharp, Broadbent, pearson

No spot for Elliot Lee?
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: karldew on February 26, 2026, 03:44:01 pm
Can't see him putting, Close, Clark and Okorownko straight back in so they will be on the bench, imagine Hanlan will start.

TLT
Sterry, Byrne, McGrath, Senior
Bailey, Gotts, Clifton
Molyneux, Hanlon, Middleton

Bench - Adelakun, Nixon, Clark, Okoronkwo, Sharp, Broadbent, pearson



Sharp and Pearson out for Close and Lee on the bench.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Fal on February 26, 2026, 03:44:19 pm
Can't see him putting, Close, Clark and Okorownko straight back in so they will be on the bench, imagine Hanlan will start.

TLT
Sterry, Byrne, McGrath, Senior
Bailey, Gotts, Clifton
Molyneux, Hanlon, Middleton

Bench - Adelakun, Nixon, Clark, Okoronkwo, Sharp, Broadbent, pearson

No spot for Elliot Lee?

Totally forgot about him to be fair, good spot. Maybe Lee instead of clifton then, no idea who to remove from bench though
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: mrfrost82 on February 26, 2026, 03:50:18 pm
Can't see him putting, Close, Clark and Okorownko straight back in so they will be on the bench, imagine Hanlan will start.

TLT
Sterry, Byrne, McGrath, Senior
Bailey, Gotts, Clifton
Molyneux, Hanlon, Middleton

Bench - Adelakun, Nixon, Clark, Okoronkwo, Sharp, Broadbent, pearson

No spot for Elliot Lee?

Totally forgot about him to be fair, good spot. Maybe Lee instead of clifton then, no idea who to remove from bench though

I'd start Lee instead of Clifton. I think this game will suit him more. Clifton on the bench rather than Broadbent.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Branton Red on February 26, 2026, 04:11:33 pm
If fit Clark and Okoronkwo (for the latter if fit enough to last 60 minutes) have to start as they are both streets ahead of the alternatives in their respective positions.

Whether Close starts or not depends on what sort of game the manager is expecting.

I think playing a top team like Cardiff increases his chances of selection as they'll be more focussed on playing their own game over stopping Rovers from playing through closing us down.

Close is significantly better when given time and space to play.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: roversdude on February 26, 2026, 04:38:31 pm
Not sure you could drop Timmy
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: wing commander on February 26, 2026, 04:59:49 pm
Clifton over Lee for this game for me. tbh Lee hasn't shown enough yet to say he should be a starter imo.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: LincolnDonny on February 26, 2026, 05:27:11 pm
                                                            Clark
                                             
                                            Sterry, Byrne, Pearson, Senior
                                                 
                                                Bailey, Gotts, Clifton

                                          Molyneux, Okoronkwo, Adelakun


Bench -  TLT,  McGrath, Nixon, Lee , Broadbent, Hanlon, Middleton

Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: sf9944 on February 26, 2026, 05:39:59 pm
Based on the game in Cardiff earlier in the season I think Lee might be effective in this one.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Donnybax on February 26, 2026, 06:34:01 pm
Hanlan surely deserves to start after his 45 minutes last week, and I think he scored at Cardiff as well? I wouldn't be in a rush to throw Frankie straight back in from the start when he's had hamstring issues
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: LincsRover on February 26, 2026, 06:47:53 pm
I think Close will start but the other two will be on the bench. I think Grant will stick by TLT until he makes a howler (hopefully he doesn’t!), and use Frankie from the bench so as not to put him into too difficult a game too soon, maybe just the last 30mins if we need a goal (or 2)?

 :rtid: :rtid: :rtid:
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: GazLaz on February 26, 2026, 07:44:57 pm
If Clark was the best keeper before he got injured, he’s still the best keeper now. He should start.

Why would you start Close against the best passing team in the league? You wouldn’t, it would be madness.

Frankie can’t start, he’s not fit.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Chris Black come back on February 26, 2026, 07:49:07 pm
                                                            Clark
                                             
                                            Sterry, Byrne, Pearson, Senior
                                                 
                                                Bailey, Gotts, Clifton

                                          Molyneux, Okoronkwo, Adelakun


Bench -  TLT,  McGrath, Nixon, Lee , Broadbent, Hanlon, Middleton



Would start Hanlan otherwise that's my side also.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: colincramb on February 26, 2026, 08:01:23 pm
I really think Middleton should start after Saturday. Clifton should as well. We aren’t likely to have a great deal of the ball so playing without it and intelligent pressing will be key to breaking up their passing game.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: sf9944 on February 26, 2026, 08:25:17 pm
I understand the calls for the likes of Clifton, Hanlon and Middleton but it isn’t just about who played well last time out.

Cardiff play very open and attacking. It will likely be a totally different game to the last one against Rotherham. We need to select a team that gives us the best chance of winning against this particular opposition.

We went toe to toe with them in the away game and came within seconds of a great result. I think we should do similar this time. Ie attack them and not try to scrape a result.
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: Butchers Red on February 26, 2026, 09:12:24 pm
Not sure you could drop Timmy

Would be a major mistake
Title: Re: Close, Ooronkwo and Clark
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on February 26, 2026, 09:23:17 pm
I'd start with Hanlan with Clifton behind because I think they've earned it over Frankie and Lee. Plus both scored at Cardiff and both know our game inside out.

Lee hasn't really delivered yet although not necessarily his fault, so he hasn't really developed an understanding with his teammates yet, so impact from the bench in this one.