Team for Swindon?

BFC76

Well-known member
You'd have to hope that Ballard would be up for playing - has there been any mention of Stewart? If not, now we know that Virtue is out, I wonder if I would start Robson? Couple of minor tweaks but with two games in 4 days definitely one eye on a bit of squad rotation?
 
......................................MAXWELL
GABRIEL
.....GRETARSSON.....BALLARD....GARBUTT
.............................DOUGALL....WARD
................MITCHELL.....EMBLETON.....KAIKAI
..........................................YATES


Are Gretarsson/Ballard both left footed? I know Critch isn't a fan of playing two centre halves who are same footed. I think Critch provided an update that Ekpiteta may be back? If so he's straight in

I don't think we have much room to manoeuvre with our current injury riddled squad to be honest 😅
 
......................................MAXWELL
GABRIEL
.....GRETARSSON.....BALLARD....GARBUTT
.............................DOUGALL....WARD
................MITCHELL.....EMBLETON.....KAIKAI
..........................................YATES


Are Gretarsson/Ballard both left footed? I know Critch isn't a fan of playing two centre halves who are same footed. I think Critch provided an update that Ekpiteta may be back? If so he's straight in

I don't think we have much room to manoeuvre with our current injury riddled squad to be honest 😅
Ballard right footed the Viking a leftie, huge having these two back
 
......................................MAXWELL
GABRIEL
.....GRETARSSON.....BALLARD....GARBUTT
.............................DOUGALL....WARD
................MITCHELL.....EMBLETON.....KAIKAI
..........................................YATES


Are Gretarsson/Ballard both left footed? I know Critch isn't a fan of playing two centre halves who are same footed. I think Critch provided an update that Ekpiteta may be back? If so he's straight in

I don't think we have much room to manoeuvre with our current injury riddled squad to be honest 😅
Think he'll play Turton but otherwise that'll be the line up.
 
Ballard returning injury free will be a big boost but it would be nice to get Husband and Madine back around the squad also. Just to get a few more bodies back would be a boost at this stage. That said, I'm sure plenty of other teams will be stretched between now and the end of the season. Yesterday was disappointing to drop points but we still didn't lose and maintained our position.
 
The defensive position seems to be improving if Ballard, Husband and Marvin are all back soon. It is midfield and upfront we may have problems in the run in, especially if we get more injuries due to our relentless workloads
 
I thought Stewart was also out for thd rest of the season?
Sounds like he may be back at some point, but not until after the Easter games at the earliest.

I can see Turton lining up alongside Gretarsson in the middle on Friday, depending on what shape Ballard is in on his return.
It would be harsh to drop Gabriel & Turton with how they've performed recently; only one of them can start if Ballard comes back in to the team.
 
......................................MAXWELL
TURTON.....BALLARD..GRETARSSON...... GARBUTT
.............................DOUGALL....ROBSON
................WARD.....EMBLETON.....KAIKAI
..........................................YATES
 
......................................MAXWELL
TURTON.....GRETARSSON.....BALLARD....GARBUTT
.............................DOUGALL....ROBSON
................WARD.....EMBLETON.....KAIKAI
..........................................YATES
With the two CB's switched, obviously.
Unless we're now playing with inverted centre halves 😂
 
Critch has said Ekpiteta was back on the grass this week, whether that means he may be available for Friday god knows.

We get told players are back on the grass then we don't see them in the squad for a month, so not sure how good of a sign we can take that as!
 
We can afford to be quite expansive against Swindon and as such I would rest Turton and play Gabriel assuming Grets and Ballard are fit to play.
I happen to think our Easter Monday game against Gillingham will be one, if not the most difficult game remaining. I've watched quite a bit of them this year ( don't ask) and they are a bastard to play against. Upfront they really bully defences. They close down really quickly but are a bit crap in defence.
Dougall, for example, will really have to be on his game against Dempsey etc and cannot afford to give the ball away as often as he does...virtually every game. Notwithstanding that I think he's a good player but Ward shows him up for his limitations imo.
As an aside. What the fuck is wrong with Madine?
 
I'm a little concerned about Maxwell.
That's at least the 3rd time he's had to have treatment on the pitch for his injured hand.
Has he got a long term injury? If so, is our reserve keeper okay to take over?
Maxwell was excellent, as usual, yesterday.
 
We can afford to be quite expansive against Swindon and as such I would rest Turton and play Gabriel assuming Grets and Ballard are fit to play.
I happen to think our Easter Monday game against Gillingham will be one, if not the most difficult game remaining. I've watched quite a bit of them this year ( don't ask) and they are a bastard to play against. Upfront they really bully defences. They close down really quickly but are a bit crap in defence.
Dougall, for example, will really have to be on his game against Dempsey etc and cannot afford to give the ball away as often as he does...virtually every game. Notwithstanding that I think he's a good player but Ward shows him up for his limitations imo.
As an aside. What the fuck is wrong with Madine?
Recurring groin injury, scan tother day showed improvement
 
Harsh i know and maybe a bit contraversial but if ballard comes back into defence then why not put turton back at right back and play the right footed gabriel in front of him in place of mitchell,,especially against the gills
 
Harsh i know and maybe a bit contraversial but if ballard comes back into defence then why not put turton back at right back and play the right footed gabriel in front of him in place of mitchell,,especially against the gills
Thought went through my mind, as Mitchel is a left wing back by trade?? He does a good job mind wherever he is put, good footballing brain
 
We can afford to be quite expansive against Swindon and as such I would rest Turton and play Gabriel assuming Grets and Ballard are fit to play.
I happen to think our Easter Monday game against Gillingham will be one, if not the most difficult game remaining. I've watched quite a bit of them this year ( don't ask) and they are a bastard to play against. Upfront they really bully defences. They close down really quickly but are a bit crap in defence.
Dougall, for example, will really have to be on his game against Dempsey etc and cannot afford to give the ball away as often as he does...virtually every game. Notwithstanding that I think he's a good player but Ward shows him up for his limitations imo.
As an aside. What the fuck is wrong with Madine

Exactly this with Turton and Gabriel. We need at least 4 points from the next two and Swindon is the more likely win.

I thought Ward looked like he needed a rest yesterday. Too deep and too safe with his distribution so I might try starting Robson.

Against Gillingham we need solidity and go for the scrappiest 1-0 we can get.
 
We can afford to be quite expansive against Swindon and as such I would rest Turton and play Gabriel assuming Grets and Ballard are fit to play.
I happen to think our Easter Monday game against Gillingham will be one, if not the most difficult game remaining. I've watched quite a bit of them this year ( don't ask) and they are a bastard to play against. Upfront they really bully defences. They close down really quickly but are a bit crap in defence.
Dougall, for example, will really have to be on his game against Dempsey etc and cannot afford to give the ball away as often as he does...virtually every game. Notwithstanding that I think he's a good player but Ward shows him up for his limitations imo.
As an aside. What the fuck is wrong with Maine?
Exactly this with Turton and Gabriel. We need at least 4 points from the next two and Swindon is the more likely win.

I thought Ward looked like he needed a rest yesterday. Too deep and too safe with his distribution so I might try starting Robson.

Against Gillingham we need solidity and go for the scrappiest 1-0 we can get.
I'd like Madine back for Gillingham to give their defence some difficulty.
I thought Ward played well yesterday but like the rest of the team...looked knackered.
 
He won't drop Turton, even though Gabriel is the far more attacking option and all round better option.

I wouldn't be shocked to see him at centre back still. Even though I don't think it's the best of ideas.
 
It's good to think we might The Viking and Ballard back. We really missed Ballard yesterday. Some good news at last, injury wise!
 
There is no way I would play the Viking on the right and Ballard on the left. The other way round yes!
If you read the text in my post directly below the squad I ask what footed the two centre halves are. I thought they were both lefties as I must of gotten mixed up with Gretarsson/Thorniley as there was debate about pairing them together for the Peterborough game, but the issue was they were both lefties!

That is why I've stuck them in wrong sided as I just put their names in without it really mattering thinking they were both left footed - obviously they'd be the other way around with Ballard being a righty, and Gretarsson being a lefty.
 
......................................MAXWELL
TURTON.....BALLARD..GRETARSSON...... GARBUTT
.............................DOUGALL....ROBSON
................WARD.....EMBLETON.....KAIKAI
..........................................YATES
Despite the injuries, you have to say that is still a really strong side. The key for me is Dougall and Kaikai having good games.
 
NC on the club website...

“Marvin has been back on the grass for a week so fingers crossed we can step him up. He’s been desperate to come back and there’s been no setbacks or complications so far,” Critchley revealed.

“We’re also hopeful that Hubby will train this week as well and if Danny Ballard can come through international duty (with Northern Ireland), then that would give us a few more ready for next weekend.”

Strength in numbers would certainly be welcome given that CJ Hamilton and Matty Virtue have joined Keshi Anderson in being out of action for the season. Fortunately, there is better news on Gary Madine.

“Gary has had another scan and the problem he’s got is settling down. We can start to build him back up again and hopefully we don’t have any more complications,” Critchley said. “If that’s the case, then him coming back would be a big bonus for us.

“Kev Stewart is probably a bit further away, but if we can get through this next period of games and get some bodies back, that would make us a lot healthier for the run-in.”
 
What was Keshi's injury and is that confirmed as a season ender? Shame if so, I thought he showed some good stuff and had the odd goal in him, perhaps in a better side (as I think we now are) he'd be even more effective playing behind Yates.
 
Before we all get too excited about bringing recovering players back into the squad just remember, Hamilton and Virtue were long term injuries who came back. Now they're out for the rest of the season.
 
Virtue, Hamilton, Anderson and an unknown about Stewart's return is magnified by Embleton not being available for Swindon.
 
Might be reading too much in Madine situation, but he is out of contract soon and I do not think he wants to risk aggravating an injury on what might be his last potential move. He had apparently been playing through the injury with the help of injections, so what else changed
 
Might be reading too much in Madine situation, but he is out of contract soon and I do not think he wants to risk aggravating an injury on what might be his last potential move. He had apparently been playing through the injury with the help of injections, so what else changed
It got worse?
 
Switch of formation for the Swindon game to 4-4-2, Embleton for Simms and maybe Thorniley for Gretarrson.
Hope not as we would end up with 2 centre forwards who never receive the ball, 2 wingers that run down blind alleys and don't cross it, and 2 centre midfield players virtually stood on the toes of the centre backs. Just like nearly every other time that we played 4 4 2 in the last 2 months.
 
My team would be,

Maxwell
Gabriel. Ballard. Gretterson Garbbut

Dougall.
Ward. Robson
Mitchell. Yates. Kaikai
If Madine is fit swap with Kaikai and put Jerry on the left.
 
My team would be,

Maxwell
Gabriel. Ballard. Gretterson Garbbut

Dougall.
Ward. Robson
Mitchell. Yates. Kaikai
If Madine is fit swap with Kaikai and put Jerry on the left.
We look far more effective with Jerry in the centre, or given free rein but being supported by attacking midfielders in my opinion.
 
Swindon have just come off the back of 4 defeats with 2 wins on the bounce and so should be in better spirits than they were but arguably because they didn't play last weekend, that might have (hopefully) disrupted their momentum.
 
Back
Top