Team for Saturday!

Sterling in, as we need some height to win more headers in defence & at set pieces.
NC - can you please select someone who can take a decent corner & free kick? Last night the free kicks on the edge of their box were more in danger of hitting planes on the Heathrow flight path than going in their net 🤣. Fortunately, in the end, nothing was lost.
Dour negative shite from what a Nobber workmate says.
 
I think Dale may have to wait. But he made such a difference last night. We were dominating play without looking like scoring til his pretty remarkable introduction. Which provides a pretty persuasive case for getting him involved sooner rather than later.
If he's fit enough for 90, get him in. My prediction is Keshi starting though.
 
Yeah Husband did well, but I saw him starting last night as him giving Garbutt a rest before Saturday. Anderson is best cutting in and being creative, with Garbutt overlapping that suits him playing that 'inverted winger' role. Husband is better defensively but he doesn't overlap the same, Anderson then has to stay wide and doesn't have the same impact on the game. For me it's Garbutt and Anderson or Husband and an actual winger with pace who's going to run at full backs, a mix of the two isn't the answer, all in my opinion of course.
Anderson had 2 clear chances to influence the game in a big way last night and made a harry halls of both of them. Plus the tremendous free kick he took, which would have been over the bar in a rugby match, it’s time he was given a rest.
 
NC probably made the five changes on Wednesday with an eye on keeping some fresh for tomorrow.
It would be harsh to leave Carey out of the starting eleven though after that performance and I wouldn't want to see him sacrificed for Madine.
Gabriel also epitomised the high press culture with his immense energy marauding forward into the Reading box.
I'd also love to see Bowler and Dale start together but happy to leave that call to Critch.
 
According to Scrafton, Critch says there's slight chance that Dujon and Stewart might be available tomorrow, and that Dale would be ready to start the game if selected:



“Dujon trained Monday and Tuesday of this week and he’ll train again with us today. On Thursday he did a bit of conditioning.
“He was still feeling a little bit of the effects of his illness on Monday and Tuesday of this week, but we’re hopeful he’s over that now so he could come back into contention.

“It’s looking a little better with Kev too. We haven’t ruled him out for tomorrow anyway.
“I’ll see a bit more shortly as the players aren’t due in until another hour or two, so I’ll speak to the physio and the doctor and find out where he’s at. “But there’s an outside chance he could still be involved tomorrow.”

Critchley also hasn’t ruled out throwing Owen Dale in from the start after the winger’s dream debut off the bench on Wednesday. “Obviously a lot of things go into consideration when we’re picking a team for any game and that will be the same for the Preston game. But Owen would be ready to start.

“He made a fantastic contribution when he came on as sub, a really good impact by scoring and assisting within a few minutes. “He’s got off to a positive start and that’s important for new players, so he’ll be feeling good about himself. “I wouldn’t have any hesitation playing him from the start tomorrow.”

Daniel Gretarsson could be back available having suffered mild concussion with Iceland during the recent international break.
 
Good that we have competition for places at every position.
Full back is the one either Garbutt or Husband and Sterling or Gabriel can do the job. Midfield and attacking mids certainly Dale and Carey have put themselves in contention.
Happy to go with whatever Critchley picks.
 
Grimshaw
Sterling Ekipeteta Keogh Husband
Dougall Wintle
Bowler Carey Anderson
Yates

That would leave us Dale, Gabriel, Mitchell and Madine to come on against tiring legs. The game will be no doubt played at a million MPH.

Edited to include Dale, our squad is mental when you consider who is currently out injured.
This is the team I'd go with...I like Garbutt but just think we look better with Husband at LB
 
Whatever team NC selects I hope they go into the game knowing that this is a great opportunity to put yourself down as a legend of the club. Cmon lads.
 
Grimshaw
Gabriel - Keogh - Ekpi - Garbutt
Dougall - Wintle
Mitchell - Carey - Dale
Yates
Happy enough with that as long as Keshi plays some part. My only issue is Wintle, been fantastic, but who we may lose in a couple of months so maybe play Connolly
 
Happy enough with that as long as Keshi plays some part. My only issue is Wintle, been fantastic, but who we may lose in a couple of months so maybe play Connolly
How about Matty Virtue as his replacement after Christmas?
Critch clearly rates him.
 
How about Matty Virtue as his replacement after Christmas?
Critch clearly rates him.
Maybe but think Matty will be early spring for our promotion push, would not rush him back. Connolly has a pretty good pedigree and is nearly always in the squad so must be close to getting the nod. Would buy Wintle but suspect Cardiff would want silly money.
 
Happy enough with that as long as Keshi plays some part. My only issue is Wintle, been fantastic, but who we may lose in a couple of months so maybe play Connolly
I really don't get your obsession , yours alone, to get Connolly into midfield particularly at the expense of Wintle who has been outstanding.
Yes he might go back to Cardiff in January but it makes no sense to me to leave him out because he might not be available in over 2 months
time.
 
I really don't get your obsession , yours alone, to get Connolly into midfield particularly at the expense of Wintle who has been outstanding.
Yes he might go back to Cardiff in January but it makes no sense to me to leave him out because he might not be available in over 2 months
time.
I have a viewpoint not an obsession, basically it involves giving our own players game time if I believe they can do a similar job to a loanee without weakening the team.
Example Carey over TJJ and before you say it I know they are different types of player, and I was pushing for Carey's inclusion before his masterclass.
Anyone would think that Connolly was a donkey with your writing him off, when the fact is he has played more championship midfield games than Wintle.
 
Happy enough with that as long as Keshi plays some part. My only issue is Wintle, been fantastic, but who we may lose in a couple of months so maybe play Connolly
We've seen Connolly in midfield and fish/bike sprang to mind tbh. We've seen Wintle in midfield and seen how good he is there, leaving him out for Connolly would be ridiculous imo. Connolly is a very strong defender, I like him.

My 2p.
 
I have a viewpoint not an obsession, basically it involves giving our own players game time if I believe they can do a similar job to a loanee without weakening the team.
Example Carey over TJJ and before you say it I know they are different types of player, and I was pushing for Carey's inclusion before his masterclass.
Anyone would think that Connolly was a donkey with your writing him off, when the fact is he has played more championship midfield games than Wintle.
Where do I write Connolly off? He is a decent back up Centre back who could , in an emergency, stand in as a right back and maybe if Critch
deems him able in midfield. I think we all wanted to see Carey play but it was up to the Manager to decide when he thought he was ready for
Championship football and he certainly had a promising debut , as did Dale.
 
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