[azul]

I see Matlock are advertising a friendly against our U23 team. I didn’t realise we had one I assume it will a selection of older academy players as the article thanks Cluxton for arranging it.

Does this suggest that the team we put out against Southport will contain more senior players than perhaps some expect?

[rodney]

 azul, on 07 December 2023 - 10:11 AM, said:

I see Matlock are advertising a friendly against our U23 team. I didn’t realise we had one I assume it will a selection of older academy players as the article thanks Cluxton for arranging it.

Does this suggest that the team we put out against Southport will contain more senior players than perhaps some expect?

That was my thought.

[Benno Spire]

 azul, on 07 December 2023 - 10:11 AM, said:

I see Matlock are advertising a friendly against our U23 team. I didn't realise we had one I assume it will a selection of older academy players as the article thanks Cluxton for arranging it.

Does this suggest that the team we put out against Southport will contain more senior players than perhaps some expect?

Does Cook have a grudge against Southport from his time there and wants to stuff them?

[NEBlue]

We can still field a very solid 'second string' side without touching the academy, the team I could see us putting out is:

Chadwick
King Williams (if fit) Grimes Freckleton
DJ Jones
Berry Jacobs Curtis
Quigley

[CFC1409]

 NEBlue, on 07 December 2023 - 11:09 AM, said:

We can still field a very solid 'second string' side without touching the academy, the team I could see us putting out is:

Chadwick
King Williams (if fit) Grimes Freckleton
DJ Jones
Berry Jacobs Curtis
Quigley

No need to be risking Jones in this game, give him another week off

[hilly81]

 CFC1409, on 07 December 2023 - 11:44 AM, said:

No need to be risking Jones in this game, give him another week off

He's got a week off next week anyway. Give him a game. Keep him ticking over.

[JonB]

 CFC1409, on 07 December 2023 - 11:44 AM, said:

No need to be risking Jones in this game, give him another week off

He cant play a league game until Boxing Day due to his 2 game suspension so if he doesnt play against Southport he's getting about 2 and a half weeks off!

[Zigsuk]

I would give Grimes a break. Also Jones had he not been suspended , but as it is he may as well play. Hope King is used.

[azul]

 Zigsuk, on 07 December 2023 - 01:25 PM, said:

I would give Grimes a break. Also Jones had he not been suspended , but as it is he may as well play. Hope King is used.

He’d be one of four players that definitely wouldn’t feature on Saturday in my team

This post has been edited by azul: 07 December 2023 - 05:11 PM

[Zigsuk]

 azul, on 07 December 2023 - 05:11 PM, said:

He’d be one of four players that definitely wouldn’t feature on Saturday in my team

Who are the others?
Personally I wouldn't risk Mandy, Colclough, Naylor, Grigg, Dobra, Grimes. Also wouldn't be keen on Banks, Jacobs or Horton playing if at all possible but they may have to

[JonB]

 Zigsuk, on 07 December 2023 - 05:19 PM, said:

Who are the others?
Personally I wouldn't risk Mandy, Colclough, Naylor, Grigg, Dobra, Grimes. Also wouldn't be keen on Banks, Jacobs or Horton playing if at all possible but they may have to

Not sure we have enough players to rest all them plus you’re resting 5 of the players that can play in the attacking three behind the striker. Think you’ve only got Berry left!!

[Valley Blues]

 JonB, on 07 December 2023 - 12:05 PM, said:

He cant play a league game until Boxing Day due to his 2 game suspension so if he doesnt play against Southport he's getting about 2 and a half weeks off!

Isn’t Jones available for Aldershot on the 23rd?

I thought he missed Eastleigh and Hartlepool will be his second game ban.

[JonB]

 Valley Blues, on 07 December 2023 - 05:32 PM, said:

Isn’t Jones available for Aldershot on the 23rd?

I thought he missed Eastleigh and Hartlepool will be his second game ban.

Possibly….i missed the Eastleigh game as I was away. I briefly read a page earlier that had two games next to him with no date so assumed he still had two to serve.

[Westbars Spireite]

It's going to be a very sparse crowd but recent standards. It'll be like a Carson-era midweek game.

This post has been edited by Westbars Spireite: 07 December 2023 - 06:07 PM

[Zigsuk]

Just read that Colclough’s ‘knock’ is a hamstring problem & he will be out for 3 weeks, so he wouldn’t be available anyway. Let’s hope it isn’t too serious. Hope this isn’t the start of injury problems which we have been mercifully free from after the previous horrendous years of long term injuries to key players.

[moondog]

 azul, on 07 December 2023 - 10:11 AM, said:

I see Matlock are advertising a friendly against our U23 team. I didn’t realise we had one I assume it will a selection of older academy players as the article thanks Cluxton for arranging it.

Does this suggest that the team we put out against Southport will contain more senior players than perhaps some expect?

Maybe with such a big lead in the table and we would have a blank Saturday in any event on the next round date Cook has decided there is no harm in fielding a strong side.

[azul]

 moondog, on 07 December 2023 - 06:42 PM, said:

Maybe with such a big lead and would have a blank Saturday in any event if we got knocked out Cook has been no harm in fielding a strong side.

The problem will come after the next round when another win will start eating into non blank Saturdays, but of course that may happen if our opposition progress anyway.

[clarevoyant.]

 azul, on 07 December 2023 - 06:49 PM, said:

The problem will come after the next round when another win will start eating into non blank Saturdays, but of course that may happen if our opposition progress anyway.

By that time we may be close to having enough points anyway (chicken counting maybe), further progress in this competition may add a bit of interest to the later part of the season. If necessary we can always pull a sicky at a later date if required.

[moondog]

 clarevoyant., on 07 December 2023 - 07:11 PM, said:

By that time we may be close to having enough points anyway (chicken counting maybe), further progress in this competition may add a bit of interest to the later part of the season. If necessary we can always pull a sicky at a later date if required.

My thoughts too

[Benno Spire]

 clarevoyant., on 07 December 2023 - 07:11 PM, said:

By that time we may be close to having enough points anyway (chicken counting maybe), further progress in this competition may add a bit of interest to the later part of the season. If necessary we can always pull a sicky at a later date if required.

I’m with you, this could be our only chance of winning a double. The squad is more than capable of doing this.