Let's talk about the Evertonu21s game

[selby]

 The second half of a double that can turn our season around after our somewhat lucky win at Forest Green pits us against Everton u21s this time and looks like a game that could be quite interesting.
  Our team could be quite different to the one that played today, all the substitutes from the above game could start , with Lawlor injured could Bottomley come in for Jones, will Faal be allowed to play, I hope so, Ironside could take a break and allow Goodman a start, Sotona and Roberts have recently been first choices anyway, and I expect Faulkner, Close, Marsh. and Rowe who I think can play to start.  Also could young Flint who travelled today get a call up, so lots of permutations possible with the additions from todays side that played the game and a side possibly younger than the Everton side.
  Everton themselves can call on some overage players so may bring in first team players back from injury or on the fringe of the team and need a game, not the original idea of the addition of premiership sides but one that has been used quite often to give players competitive game time.
  So a chance for players to push themselves into the reckoning for a start in league games, not many currently in that great a form they are automatic picks, and a good performance in this game could  kick start more competition in the first team, which is what we want.
  Not a competition evertone is interested in, not one to make any money from unless reaching the latter stages, but one that can bring its rewards eventually both financially  and in player development, we need to do well in it if possible, anything that can attract the floating fan, especially youngsters is worth while.
  What do you think.
  Are you interested in the game?
  Can we make it two wins on the trot?
  What sort of team should we put out?
  Will Everton play any over age players on the fringe of the first team?
   Lots to discuss, please have your say.

[dknward2]

1st let me answer the questions

Are you interested in the game?
Not really apart from building some momentum another positive performance please.

Can we make it two wins on the trot?
We can and should, they are doing rubbish in the under 21 league.

What sort of team should we put out?
Don't we have to put out minimum of 6 that started/played in the previous league game.
We should put out the best team possible.
Think Jones needs to play just to keep confidence up and give lawlor extra time to get back fit. Defence maybe drop Joe get Bobby in. Midfield add Rowe in get his match fitness back up nice 60/70 mins or so. Swap Faal for Marsh.

 Will Everton play any over age players on the fringe of the first team?
Yes any coming back from injury and those that don't play Vs Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Still have to go for the win just to keep the positive feelings around the squad.

Going for a 2-1

[Colin C No.3]

Any win in any competition is a good win.

Unless the game adds to our injury list.

[Alan Southstand]

Looking at the injury list, the last thing we need is another fixture! We can’t make that many changes, unless 1 or 2 were nearly there for today’s game?

[selby]

  Alan, it is a competition we enter, so should approach it as just another game we will go for a win in.
 In the past we have treated the competition as somewhat of just another game, and purposely picked weakened sides,  but if you keep winning the fans will come back to watch games and the competition then becomes worth while to the club financially and reputationally.
  There will be changes Tuesday and some playing yesterday will have to make the numbers up, so what.
  The players coming in this season will not weaken the team too much as we have been poor, and in some cases will possibly strengthen the team, and others will have the chance to show they are not as bad as they have shown up to press this season.

[Chris Black come back]

Would field Jones, Faulkner, Long, Roberts, Sotana, Marsh, along with some first team starters. Anyone remotely carrying a knock or coming back from fitness would not use.

[glosterred]

Tommy Rowe will probably play as he isn’t banned for this game. Plus it will give him a run out and keep up his match fitness


COYR

[steve@dcfd]

Would field Jones, Faulkner, Long, Roberts, Sotana, Marsh, along with some first team starters. Anyone remotely carrying a knock or coming back from fitness would not use.

Long is injured that’s why he’s not been available in for last two matches

[graingrover]

Most of our injuries are sustained on the training ground, not during matches. What are the credentials of our physio I ask!

[roversdude]

Sure the physio can’t do anything about Long dislocating his arm or Maxwell overextending his knee
Is Younger still training with us

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Sure the physio can’t do anything about Long dislocating his arm or Maxwell overextending his knee
Is Younger still training with us

If he's got any sense he's cleared off before Shipman has his way with him.

[Chris Black come back]

That’s a good point about Younger.

[steve@dcfd]

Sure the physio can’t do anything about Long dislocating his arm or Maxwell overextending his knee
Is Younger still training with us

If he's got any sense he's cleared off before Shipman has his way with him.

Yes according to Grant there was no one near Long when he dislocated his shoulder.

[Colin C No.3]

Is it because injuries now dictate how we are able to set up & play or are those injuries ‘caused’ due to the ‘sophisticated’ training we now expect our players to endure?

Are todays players worse or better than ‘dealing’ with their injuries than say players back in the 70’s when pitches were (apart from Belle Vue) harder to play on in as much as some were no better than ploughed fields come October time, then came hard frosts on pitches that were then deemed to be ‘safe’ & fit to play on come late November through to March when the ‘orange ball’ made an appearance due to pitches covered in frost or indeed snow.

Were we watching ‘cloggers’ in the 70’s or ‘harder men’?

Phrases like ‘recovery time, game management etc’ were statements we’d never heard used at that time.

It begs the question are players today more fragile, more savi, more ‘gifted’, are they ‘leaner, meaner more technical individuals’ that need to be ‘managed’ more carefully than those ‘up & at ‘em’ players of the 70’s & 80’s?

[scawsby steve]

Is it because injuries now dictate how we are able to set up & play or are those injuries ‘caused’ due to the ‘sophisticated’ training we now expect our players to endure?

Are todays players worse or better than ‘dealing’ with their injuries than say players back in the 70’s when pitches were (apart from Belle Vue) harder to play on in as much as some were no better than ploughed fields come October time, then came hard frosts on pitches that were then deemed to be ‘safe’ & fit to play on come late November through to March when the ‘orange ball’ made an appearance due to pitches covered in frost or indeed snow.

Were we watching ‘cloggers’ in the 70’s or ‘harder men’?

Phrases like ‘recovery time, game management etc’ were statements we’d never heard used at that time.

It begs the question are players today more fragile, more savi, more ‘gifted’, are they ‘leaner, meaner more technical individuals’ that need to be ‘managed’ more carefully than those ‘up & at ‘em’ players of the 70’s & 80’s?

Yes, I remember the orange ball on white pitches, and the line markings painted blue.

[selby]

  Tomorrows game should be looked at as an opportunity to lighten the mood around the club and for some players on the fringe to put their case forward  for a start in the first team, a team that up to this juncture have not exactly set the world on fire and have mixed up acceptable performances with some very very poor displays, sometimes showing both trends in one game as at MK Dons.
    Most players that will be in the squad tomorrow apart from Faulkner and Goodman have been involved in those games and have shown flashes of being talented good players but have not been able to sustain that form shown in parts of games, Roberts and Sotona being very good at Hull and poor in other games and need the confidence to attack players while not forgetting the other parts to the game.
   One player I would involve would be the youngster Flint who is back fresh from a successful loan at Gainsborough where he played centre half although a mid fielder mainly, he could be a good fit as a defensive mid fielder a position we ae short of if Bailey is not there and an opportunity in this game to see if he can cut the mustard if needed.
   The Everton team because of their start to the season I think could be  a make up of youngsters and players who are on the fringe of the first team and stronger on paper than the teams we would normally face at this stage of the competition, and they will use it to their advantage and if they do we could really see what some of our youngsters like Faulkner are all about.
  So a game that holds no attraction to others dead set against the format as is their want, but could be one of the most interesting for ages as far as what both sides can get out of the game and more importantly a view of just at what level our youngsters are at, and can they put themselves forward for starts in the first team, and players like Rowe and Close to get game time.
  I for one am looking forward to it.

[Spud]

If I'm home I'll probably go, it would be nice to see how some of the fringe players perform, not seen Sotona or Marsh yet, not seen Bobby play for a while either.
I hope he sticks with Louis in goal, the more experience he can get the better.

[Silkscarf]

It will be good to see Faulkner and a few others play. If Bobby doesn't get picked for this then when does he?

Basically anyone in the squad who hasn't played much should be getting some game time. We need some new options given all the injuries, especially at the back, so let's see what else we have.

[Spud]

7pm ko tomorrow.
Anyone know which stands are expected to be open?

[steve@dcfd]

Looking what Cliff  Byrne has said there won’t be wholesale changes we haven’t got the players
Quote from interview

Injuries have ensured there will be limited opportunity for changes to the squad for the game.

But with manager Grant McCann having previously spoken of a desire for a good run in the EFL Trophy, Byrne said sweeping changes would have been unlikely any way.

“When you look at the numbers and the availability to make wholesale changes and I don’t think that’s something the manager would want to do any way,” he said.

“There will be a couple of changes here and there but it certainly won’t be wholesale.

https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/september/byrne-pre-everton-u21/

[dknward2]

Think only east stand is open

[steve@dcfd]

Ticket information says West Stand Only for Home Fans

[dknward2]

Stand corrected, normally only east so the only have to open one with away fans and executive boxes

[Sammy Chung was King]

     


 
I would go with. Three changes, I think the defence needs some familiarity building. Get some time on the pitch for Close and Rowe. Give Marsh an opportunity instead of Faal, save him for the Gillingham game.
                      Jones

           Bailey.   Olowu Anderson

Nixon.                                        Molyneux

          Westbrook. Close.  Rowe

                Marsh.      Ironside

[ScillyRover]

7pm ko tomorrow.
Anyone know which stands are expected to be open?

7pm ko. Is that because the Everton U21’s youngsters have to be up early for school?

[5minstogo]

Everton u21s also have a game on Friday so they may include a couple of fringe players tomorrow evening.

[Donnywolf]

If I'm home I'll probably go, it would be nice to see how some of the fringe players perform, not seen Sotona or Marsh yet, not seen Bobby play for a while either.
I hope he sticks with Louis in goal, the more experience he can get the better.

Hope you make it. Sotona looks promising.

Only saw Marsh for the time he was on at FGR and he did several bits that caught the eye including the shot that forced good save from keeper low down in his bottom left corner.

Hope to see him and you later 

[silent majority]

Most of our injuries are sustained on the training ground, not during matches. What are the credentials of our physio I ask!

I’m sure that being of Chartered status would ensure that there is a level of competence there?

[ForsolongaRover]

We seem to have had an overload of injuries since SOD’s days when it was admitted, I think, that were artificial components in the Keepmoat pitch.

I not sure whether we have had a definite statement about the make-up of the training surfaces that are used currently, but I take it we assume that the match day pitch is bona fide natural.

Because successive groups of players have seemingly had more injuries than we might expect, it has to be acknowledged that the common factor is the training facilities rather than the individual physios etc that have been at the club. This makes it less likely that poor therapy has been the cause.

When it comes to medical consultations and surgical etc., treatment, who knows?

[graingrover]

I feel that the support training staff should all be expected to keep themselves fit and set an example. It looks as though we tolerate a lack of personal discipline in so far as fitness is concerned.