Team for Saturday

Quoted from diehardmariner

Rose has had his critics since signing, myself included, but I thought his role allowed Matete to push forward to the level he did last week.

I still think he slows play down too often but him sitting at the base of that little triangle in midfield was quite crucial.  Bringing Hewitt or Clifton in would bring more energy but I think both are probably less inclined to sit and hold.  Of the two I'd probably favour Clifton for his more physical game.

Joss Labadie always seems to dominant our midfield when he plays against us, both physically and mentally.  Be interesting to see how he handles Matete.  I wouldn't be surprised he lands a few early challenges on him but I fancy El Mizouni to shine with that space created.

It would be fairly justified for all the new signings to start, isn't anyone who can seriously claim they deserve a starting slot from the lads here all season.  Can't see that though, too many changes and Hurst has hinted that it's difficult to get them to gel with the training restrictions. Then again, we need something drastic.  Including them all would look something like:

                            Eastwood
Adams Meyanese Waterfall Habergham  Bunney
             Matete Clifton/Rose  El Mizouni
                        LJL  Payne
            
  

I like the look of that.  Although I'd put Matete more central and have Max on.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

What we lack in experience, we gain in youth and energy.

We all need to appreciate Matete whilst we can, as he's clearly a level above

True, but you need a wise old head in there I think.

Coke was looking like the one to fill that role until the signing snafu.

I wonder if PH will try to get a free agent signing for that position?

It's gonna take us all several games to get used to all these new players when they finally allow us back into BP!  

Here is a typical Saturday for me........

It's two hours to kick off.

Around now I start to get a sense of optimism. Players who have not kicked a ball for us suddenly seem to grow in ability in my dreamlike thoughts. I start speculating that today will be one of those when everything goes our way, we get the rub of the green, the lucky bounces, the kind refereeing decisions, and the opponents have an off day.

At this stage I am looking forward to the game because it will mark the turning point. Then, about an hour before the kick off the team is announced.

Invariable the line up is not what I was hoping for. Fewer changes than I thought were needed. Now I have doubts. Will some of our leopards change their spots today and put in a real shift, show glimpses of the skill we all thought they had buried deep for the last few horrific months?

No. I begin to realise that it is unlikely. Now I start to worry. Ok, I think. Maybe we shouldn't expect too much too soon. Perhaps a draw wouldn't be such a bad result, all things considered.

Then the game starts. I check in on the match thread. Not sounding good. The leopards are keeping the same spots. Mistakes are happening.  Then a glimmer of hope. After a shaky start we start to come into the game, Come on we can win this one.

And then dreaded 'FFS' post. Then the swear filtered reactions, 'Intercourse', 'sodomist', and eventually a description of the 'member up'.

Now a draw is the best I can hope for. But that means us scoring, which is about as likely as a virgin birth in Scunthorpe.

Next comes the pithy 'Game over' post. We don't need telling what that means. Now it's a question of how many.

After that, I spend a few hours on The Fishy ranting. Then I open the bottle of wine.

Perhaps today will be the day this ritual changes for the better?

But then, it is still two hours to kick off.......  

Precisely the way it goes for me Ron.

This week will be different though...., won’t it?  

It’s been so depressing hasn’t it........you’ve described it so well apart from for me il watching and I always end up closing my laptop at some point in the second half as I can’t take it any more.....

Quoted from lee65

This week will be different though...., won’t it?  

Used before plenty of times, but it is the hope that kills you.

Ron, I am very optimistic that there will be a really big change for you today.  

I can see you a few hours after the result, opening a bottle of beer instead a bottle of wine.😏😆😆

Well the teams out and I don't have the usual sinking feeling.

So maybe today is the day.......