Let's talk about the Accrington Stanley game

[selby]

  On to the next game on Tuesday v Accrington Stanley in a cup game that to the winner could well be a big money spinner, something that both clubs will be interested in and the players would want to play in if they drew an attractive tie in the next round.
  I expect more changes, and the use of our big squad although I don't expect an easy game against a team that drew 1-1 v Grimsby today and beat Peterborough in the first round in front of a meagre crowd of just over 800 spectators with over 200 away fans, and beat Oldham  in a preliminary round 3-1 so their
 third game in the competition.
 Lawlor absolutely deserves another game after his heroics in the last round, and one or two players who have not been great in the last couple of games will hope they get a game to show their real worth.
  And with the transfer window closing soon one or two fringe players would like to play well in the shop window to attract clubs to get regular game time.
  The team could well be on the lines of the team that played so well at Middlesbrough and if they are allowed to play as well will not let anyone down and will enhance their standing.
  Tyler Walton with 3 goals and Kelsey Mooney with 2 goals are the main danger and at home have a good record their away record letting them down somewhat and was a place we always struggled to get a result intil the last few games and they will be keen once again to put one over us and hopefully draw a big name out of the hat.
  So how important is the fixture, very in my opinion as good money could well be at strake, are we good enough to make changes, the last round result says we are, and players will want to play well to put pressure on a starting place on a regular basis.
  Interest is high and we could take a decent following who will back the team to the hilt for what should be a good open game.
  What do you think? can we do well there again? Close, Ironside, Lawlor, Pearson, Grehan, Crew if fit, Sbarra, Westbrooke, Hanlan, Ajayi would all want game time given the opportunity and throw in a couple of full backs and you have a decent team on your hands.
   What do you think?  Will we go for it? can we again make a lot of changes and surprise ourselves like we did at the Bora.
    Will Accrington once again be a banana skin and dump us out of the cup? then pull a big one out to make things worse?
  Lots to talk about, lots to discuss, please have your say.

[drfchound]

I also,expect us to make lots of changes, possibly a whole team again.
But I also expect Accy to make plenty of changes too.
Whatever team we put out I think we will win the game.

[Chris Black come back]

Terrible home form in the league. Haven't won a home league game in 8 attempts going back to last season. Have though managed to win their two League Cup games this season at home. Weird form.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Be interesting to see who plays. Would expect a full 11 change but we might have some outgoings working their way through so this could be a good insight into who maybe on the move

[Alan Southstand]

Making too many changes could be a recipe for disaster, especially with a team like Accrington.

But, I agree, we definitely need to give a few a rest night - no risk of injury, no need to travel and no late night getting back. We could potentially get the banana skin treatment, but it’s got to be worth it, if we beat Rotherham on Saturday.

Lawlor deserves a start, as does Grehan and (maybe) Maxwell. As for who partners Grehan, I would think maybe McGrath. Nixon will have to fill the RB slot.
A midfield of Close, Crew and Gotts (if he’s over his injury), with Gibson and Ajayi out wide and Hanlan up top. On the bench would be TLT, Senior, O’R, Westbrook, Ironside, S’Barra.

[steve@dcfd]

Allowed 9 subs for this game

[Usher wide.]

If we’re keeping Ironside & as it appears Hanlan isn’t showing GM what he wants from him yet (in games & one assumes in training either) then I’d start Joe with Ajayi & Gibbo out wide as support.

Lawlor should be ‘a given’ with Nixon & Maxwell either side of Grehan & Pearson. Let’s rest O’Riordan & Jay for Saturday. I don’t think Jay is quite there yet fitness wise so don’t want to risk him in a game we should win whichever XI we field.

GM might give Sterry some minutes if we’re winning & in ‘cruise control’ & Maxwell is 50/50 with Senior in my opinion when it comes to that left side berth, so needs to show ‘he’s the man’.

I’d have Crew & Close in midfield (like Joe, if we’re keeping Ben let’s see if he can replicate that performance he put in against Boro) with S’barra in there with them. We don’t want to risk Gotts if he’s carrying an injury & Owen needs a breather before the derby game.

With nine subs allowed Grant can use whichever nine he feels can affect the game whether we’re winning, drawing or losing. All bar Westbrooke who in my opinion has nothing to ‘offer’ the squad going forward. He’s been at the club along time now & has never impressed me in any game at any level. Same can be said for one or two or three others of course but you catch my drift.

[IDM]

Making too many changes could be a recipe for disaster, especially with a team like Accrington.

But, I agree, we definitely need to give a few a rest night - no risk of injury, no need to travel and no late night getting back. We could potentially get the banana skin treatment, but it’s got to be worth it, if we beat Rotherham on Saturday.

Lawlor deserves a start, as does Grehan and (maybe) Maxwell. As for who partners Grehan, I would think maybe McGrath. Nixon will have to fill the RB slot.
A midfield of Close, Crew and Gotts (if he’s over his injury), with Gibson and Ajayi out wide and Hanlan up top. On the bench would be TLT, Senior, O’R, Westbrook, Ironside, S’Barra.

Too many changes a recipe for disaster.?

I can’t understand that comment after what happened at Boro.?

[Prez]

Not sure why grant wouldn’t just start the same team as he did against Boro injuries permitting.

Edit, with the exception of Sharp. Need him fully charged for the Rotherham game.

[Fal]

Not sure why grant wouldn’t just start the same team as he did against Boro injuries permitting.

Edit, with the exception of Sharp. Need him fully charged for the Rotherham game.

Sharp has to be rested considering hes just played 4 games in a row at his age, would put Hanlan in as i think this will be a chance for to show McCann that we dont need another striker. Ironside on the bench, can see Crew, Sbarra and Gotts (assuming hes recovered) coming back in with Pearson and Grehan in defence.

[selby]

  I think Pearson will play v Rotherham Usher Wide

[Barmby Rover]

I am sure that GM will be giving others a chance in this game, so he can "rest" some who have played 3 games in a week. Hopefully it is enough to get past Accrington and bring a "big" team to the Eco-Power.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I loved the comment when the team was announced v Boro summat like "Grant not taking the cup seriously then" Now with XI changes it could have been easy to think we could have put out a better team, but the events that followed highlights Grant knows best 

Whatever team he puts out is fine by me and should be one capable of winning the game, eventhough Accrington are there on the same merit as we are.

I hope Close does play again. It would only take a couple of midfield injuries and/or suspensions, he'd be back in the frame. Only then would it be up to him to show he should keep hold of the shirt. Same for Joe too ofcourse.

[selby]

  DBR, McGrath needs the game Tuesday unless injured. Port Vale had done their home work and like last season in the first half made a point of attacking our left side of defence where Ben Wayne especially got at McGrath when he was collecting a moving ball ball which he struggles with and left him standing on more than one occasion.
  To be honest he didn't look match fit and didn't get back at him.

[sedwardsdrfc]

McGarth and Senior start on Tuesday imo. Then the rest should be changed. Maxwell and Pearson should start Saturday.

Not sure what I’d do upfront as I’d love Joe to get a game and score but Hanlan needs games too.

[selby]

  Surely both Hanlan and Ironside will play some part in the game, if only to put them in the shop window to impress other sides if we are signing another striker.
  If not we want one to stand up at least and pressurise for a start.

[ncRover]

Play Joe up top and Hanlan coming in off the wing. BH can show us this pace. If he has it Joe needs someone like that.

[Alan Southstand]

Making too many changes could be a recipe for disaster, especially with a team like Accrington.

But, I agree, we definitely need to give a few a rest night - no risk of injury, no need to travel and no late night getting back. We could potentially get the banana skin treatment, but it’s got to be worth it, if we beat Rotherham on Saturday.

Lawlor deserves a start, as does Grehan and (maybe) Maxwell. As for who partners Grehan, I would think maybe McGrath. Nixon will have to fill the RB slot.
A midfield of Close, Crew and Gotts (if he’s over his injury), with Gibson and Ajayi out wide and Hanlan up top. On the bench would be TLT, Senior, O’R, Westbrook, Ironside, S’Barra.

Too many changes a recipe for disaster.?

I can’t understand that comment after what happened at Boro.?

If you think Accrington are going to play like Boro did in the first round, you’ve got a surprise coming.

[IDM]

That’s not the point.  It’s how our team performs that matters.  A fully changed 11 with our squad should, I say should carefully, be good enough to beat Stanley.

You would expect GM to have done his homework and pick a side he thinks best for this game, regardless of how many changes.

[Alan Southstand]

It’s the point I was making in my initial post - that you quiried.

Should and could are words I’m not a fan of, in the football context. Let’s see what happens.

[Lesonthewest]

We have to be careful here & have to be on it from the off whatever team Grant selects. They will be up for this game & we have to match their effort, don't think it's a game for Close, he struggles in a battle. Would expect maybe 5 or 6 changes maximum from Saturday.

[RoversInSpain]

Really important game, Terry has put in a small fortune to give Grant a big squad. Not sure of the prize money, but I would say Terry would demand a win to boost additional income to supplement paying for this Luxury.
Can’t see McGrath and Senior playing, they looked tired v Vale, I’d love to see Close on a Tuesday night in Accrington, which may tell us something about how he is at the moment. Lawlor, Maxwell, Grehan, Ajayi, Gotts and Gibson probably nailed on.

[Chris Black come back]

Ref is Zac Kennard-Kettle, son of Trevor Kettle.

[BobG]

Poor bugger.

[Fal]

Nixon with the quickest pre match interview ever...

https://youtu.be/OpD4x_1vi9Y?si=_dhluYHgfrUM0-En

[steve@dcfd]

I would suggest the team would be something like this
                      Lawlor
Nixon.   Grehan.      McGrath.    Maxwell

              Close.        Crew

                     Gotts


   Ajayi.           Hanlan.          Gibson

Subs TLT.    Sterry??  ORiordon Pearson
Bailey.   Sbarra  Molyneux Ironside Middleton

       

[ncRover]

Gotts has a thigh injury - out for an unspecified amount of weeks

[steve@dcfd]

Gotts has a thigh injury - out for an unspecified amount of weeks

Yes I’ve just seen that
So it could be Clifton or Sbarra

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Nixon with the quickest pre match interview ever...

https://youtu.be/OpD4x_1vi9Y?si=_dhluYHgfrUM0-En

Ha ha, yes. Heavily edited. I see it's that David doing the interview instead of Liam, refining his questioning techniques.

[Usher wide.]

Just realised it’s 20 years (season 2005/6) that we reached the quarter finals of this competition, losing at Belle Vue on penalties to Arsene Wengers Arsenal side.

If only Heffs had kept that ball in the corner in the dying minute of added on time at the end of extra time.

What a great ‘ride’ that was though.