Just wondered what team people would like to see us put out for the county game. I've put squad as I think the bench is even more important in a game with ET and pens.
Firstly I think scannell is a huge loss for us, as well as being no doubt devastating for the player. With sosa being in such poor form, Wright being so injury prone and JMD struggling to last games it puts us in a quandary for that spot. If JMD starts no way is he still on the pitch if it goes to 120mins+ and therefore u lose him for pens when he is one of the players I would trust the most. Sousa is his most likely competition but no way would I want him on the pitch for pens. Bt could you give up a spot for Wright and risk him breaking down when coming on and needing to be replaced himself?

At the back either Pearson or Waterfall need a speedier partner, so smith picks himself. Waterfall has been great throughout the season but has made multiple absolute clangers in his last 2 games. Is he returning to the player of last season who would largely seem to play well before kicking it into his own net or dropping his concentration  at a crucial time. Personally, although I think he is the riskier defender in the sense he is more likely to make a bad error or get sent off I would go with luke as we lack goals and he does carry a very strong goal threat especially with croppers throws.

Full backs and keeper are obvious.

Think with our winger injury clifton also an obvious pick, especially with his athleticism away at a top side. In the middle I think fox has been fantastic but Hurst was pretty scathing about him picking sponsors man of the match wasn't he, perhaps it was more about previous mom awards than that one I can't recall. But perhaps he was less impressed with fox than some others. Who are the other options Burgess and Jones can surely be discounted as they've been awful and Coke has scarcely played. So that leaves hoolohan and raikhy and clifton (if played in CM instead of wide obviously). Raikhy is surely too big a risk especially to start when ET may beckon. Also a risk taking passer like him would be dangerous to play when no doubt he is rusty after his lay off. Clifton has rarely been played CM so it would probably be a surprise if he was picked there. So fox hoolohan does seem the most likely and probably difficult to argue with.

Taylor and mcatee up front you'd expect. Mcatee goes without saying and taylor has linked up with him really well. Both mani and Abrahams have done well at times coming on without really doing enough to dislodge taylor. Either or both likely to come on at some point tho, especially if it is getting towards pens. Mani perhaps using hardest as he could replace Taylor for hold up play,albeit with much less link quality, but offer more goal threat than Taylor. Although I do think penalties would doom us as only those 2 have looked comfortable taking them so far this season.

As for the goalkeeper on the bench question I think for a game like this it would probably be worth it but I don't think Hurst will.  Think he is happy to have Pearson in the 16 to cover it.

Crocombe
Cropper
Smith
Waterfall
Amos

JMD
Fox
Hoolohan
Clifton

Mcatee
Taylor

Subs
Pearson
Wright
Sousa
Mani
Abrahams

I am going without CM cover as clifton can move inside if required and we use one of Wright (if behind or drawng) or sousa (if ahead). Burgess Jones and Coke not good enough, raikhy definitely is but I just think it's too early for him but it was a close decision. It helps that I don't trust Wright to finish the game or sousa to help if we are behind or go to pens, so it's easier to pick them both. If we go through to Wrexham and raikhy has had longer the decision would be even harder though.

Think I agree with all that, apart from Raikhy on the bench instead of Sousa.

Agree with Abdul. But I'd definitely go with that 11.

I personally think he’ll play Sousa.

Notts play with Wing backs, JMD does not offer any defensive cover whereas Sousa does. His pace will scare them

I’d play Raikhy I think. If not from the start then definitely on the bench, to be used.

The team (unless there’s an injury we don’t know about or Efete makes a miracle recovery) will be…

                Crocombe
Cropper     Smith     Waterfall     Amos
             Fox       Holohan
Sousa            McAtee          Clifton
                 Taylor

Subs: Pearson, Raikhy, Maguire-Drew, Abrahams & Dieseruvwe

I’d play JMD instead of Sousa because of his end product and set piece ability.

The OPs starting line up is correct and I’m pretty sure how we’ll line up. Only difference is one of Wright or Sousa will not be on the bench but Raihky will be

Quoted from GollyGTFC

The team (unless there’s an injury we don’t know about or Efete makes a miracle recovery) will be…

                Crocombe
Cropper     Smith     Waterfall     Amos
             Fox       Holohan
Sousa            McAtee          Clifton
                 Taylor

Subs: Pearson, Raikhy, Maguire-Drew, Abrahams & Dieseruvwe

I think that's probably the team he will pick. Personally I'd have a keeper on the bench, just in case though

Looking at the previous county away game which was a superb 2nd half performance from town were NC barely left their own half for long periods. JMD was not in the squad I assume injured. Sousa played the whole game, Wright came on with 15 to go during which we scored twice.

Maybe sousa gets the nod over JMD to start then...

Still think a game of this magnitude is too much for raihky when he has had only 45 minutes in the last 2 months or however long.

I’d go with Sousa over a JMD, personally. Hurst suggested in his interview with Matt Dean yesterday that Raikhy isn’t fit enough to start. I think we’ll see him come off the bench, but only if we’re chasing the game.

Its gotta be waterfall, he was second favourite to be player of the year, cant be giving up on players after a couple of bad games.

Yeah Sousa over JMD for me too. We beat County at theirs by pressing them. JMD only comes into his own when we're on the front foot, as has been suggested we'll need Clifton and Sousa both to track back at times. Lincoln fan at work reckons Cowley used to write "TRACK BACK" on JMD's hand when he played for Lincoln. Really hope we see JMD at the level of fitness Hurst deems appropriate next season as I think we'll have a great player on our hands if he can last 90 minutes consistently.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Yeah Sousa over JMD for me too. We beat County at theirs by pressing them. JMD only comes into his own when we're on the front foot, as has been suggested we'll need Clifton and Sousa both to track back at times. Lincoln fan at work reckons Cowley used to write "TRACK BACK" on JMD's hand when he played for Lincoln. Really hope we see JMD at the level of fitness Hurst deems appropriate next season as I think we'll have a great player on our hands if he can last 90 minutes consistently.

Anyone else see similarities with Scott Neilson?

I wonder about Efete. By the time the game comes round it will be over three weeks since the injury, which is a fair amount of recovery time. If we do get through to the semi it will be a full month.

Who knows. Hurst always plays his cards next to his chest and there might be a possibility that Efete could be available.

Quoted from RonMariner

I wonder about Efete. By the time the game comes round it will be over three weeks since the injury, which is a fair amount of recovery time. If we do get through to the semi it will be a full month.

Who knows. Hurst always plays his cards next to his chest and there might be a possibility that Efete could be available.

he was in a boot cast 10 days ago, dont see it myself although i'd like him to be fit

David Longe-King back and training with the squad.

Wonder if he'll get a place on the bench. At least he'll be match fit and it's not like he's coming back from an injury lay-off.

Quoted from Les Brechin

David Longe-King back and training with the squad.

Wonder if he'll get a place on the bench. At least he'll be match fit and it's not like he's coming back from an injury lay-off.

Who would you drop to have long king in? Waterfall, Pearson, Smith? Can't see it myself

Quoted from Les Brechin

David Longe-King back and training with the squad.

Wonder if he'll get a place on the bench. At least he'll be match fit and it's not like he's coming back from an injury lay-off.

Unless something happens to Smith, Pearson or Waterfall I can't see Longe-King getting in the squad. The versatility of Clifton means that Hurst can prioritise attacking options amongst his 5 substitutes. If Waterfall gets the nod over Pearson to start, Pearson has to be on the bench if we aren't having a keeper on there.

It would be harsh on Pearson, but I can see him being on the bench with Waterfall starting. If Pearson is your backup keeper, you don't really want him picking up an injury in the first 5 minutes of a game.

I expect we'll see the following line-up, providing everyone is fit:

Crocombe
Cropper Smith Waterfall Amos
JMD Fox Holohan Clifton
McAtee
Taylor

Bench: Pearson, Raikhy, Sousa, Dieseruvwe, Abrahams

Sousa was really pretty poor against Boreham Wood, but his fitness record probably gets him in ahead of Wright, IMO. If called on, you can expect Sousa to complete 90 minutes, but it's always a gamble with Wright.

Tricky, really because from my selected line-up, neither JMD or Holohan has been in great form for a while but they can both score a goal. Just a pity that Raikhy has only just got back to fitness following his injury. Might be too much of a risk to start with him.

Quoted from Maringer

It would be harsh on Pearson, but I can see him being on the bench with Waterfall starting. If Pearson is your backup keeper, you don't really want him picking up an injury in the first 5 minutes of a game.

I expect we'll see the following line-up, providing everyone is fit:

Crocombe
Cropper Smith Waterfall Amos
JMD Fox Holohan Clifton
McAtee
Taylor

Bench: Pearson, Raikhy, Sousa, Dieseruvwe, Abrahams

Sousa was really pretty poor against Boreham Wood, but his fitness record probably gets him in ahead of Wright, IMO. If called on, you can expect Sousa to complete 90 minutes, but it's always a gamble with Wright.

Tricky, really because from my selected line-up, neither JMD or Holohan has been in great form for a while but they can both score a goal. Just a pity that Raikhy has only just got back to fitness following his injury. Might be too much of a risk to start with him.

Spot on!

Quoted from Les Brechin

David Longe-King back and training with the squad.

Wonder if he'll get a place on the bench. At least he'll be match fit and it's not like he's coming back from an injury lay-off.

His loan at Woking has expired. He's getting paid. You'd expect him to turn up for work.

I wonder if there's still a place for Longe-King in the squad next season, presuming we don't get Smith back on loan? He's got a contract until next summer, hasn't he?

Soousa has had some lacklustre games recently but I still think he has something in his locker.   I'd play Mani.  We all love Taylor but I want goals not hold up play.

Quoted from Mayaman

Soousa has had some lacklustre games recently but I still think he has something in his locker.   I'd play Mani.  We all love Taylor but I want goals not hold up play.

No chance.

I'd be gob smacked if Mani gets the nod over Taylor.

His and McAtee's understanding is key for how we play.

It's a wierd one the Taylor and Mani situation. Bizarrely I think it relies on a different player to which of those two start.
If Mcatee is available then you go with Taylor as the link up is brilliant. If Mcatee wasn't available then I'd go Mani.