2020/21 Cup Competitions

[Kenneth E End]

These games are going to be coming thick and fast for those staying in the EFL Cup. Despite the carrot being dangled, I fear we may have to rotate some players against a team we have a risible recent record against. I'd suggest we'll probably play this side v Reading on Tuesday... still a strong side:

GK James Shea
RB James Bree
LB Rhys Norrington-Davies
CB Tom Lockyer
CB Sonny Bradley
DM Ryan Tunnicliffe
CM George Moncur
CM Andrew Shinnie
RF Jordan Clark
LF Kazenga LuaLua
CF Danny Hylton
Subs: Simon Sluga, Peter Kioso, Martin Crainie, Matty Pearson, Harry Cornick, James Collins, Elliot Lee

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

These games are going to be coming thick and fast for those staying in the EFL Cup. Despite the carrot being dangled, I fear we may have to rotate some players against a team we have a risible recent record against. I'd suggest we'll probably play this side v Reading on Tuesday... still a strong side:

GK James Shea
RB James Bree
LB Rhys Norrington-Davies
CB Tom Lockyer
CB Sonny Bradley
DM Ryan Tunnicliffe
CM George Moncur
CM Andrew Shinnie
RF Jordan Clark
LF Kazenga LuaLua
CF Danny Hylton
Subs: Simon Sluga, Peter Kioso, Martin Crainie, Matty Pearson, Harry Cornick, James Collins, Elliot Lee

Nailed it with that line up! Think Shinnie, Moncur might be a bit light in midfield, especially with Tunnicliffe who struggled as a Dm last season.

Looks like Reading are fielding a few reserves as well so a real opportunity for us.

 

[Super_horns]

I am sure we will either lose tonight or to one of Newport or Cambridge next week!

Good incentive for you guys with Man U at home - must be on Sky?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Nailed it with that line up! Think Shinnie, Moncur might be a bit light in midfield, especially with Tunnicliffe who struggled as a Dm last season.

Looks like Reading are fielding a few reserves as well so a real opportunity for us.

I didn’t realise I got all 18 correct!
Dare I say it, we look really confident on the ball. I’ve rarely said that at this level... dare I dream!
Oh and we’ve just gone 1-0 up!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I didn’t realise I got all 18 correct!
Dare I say it, we look really confident on the ball. I’ve rarely said that at this level... dare I dream!
Oh and we’ve just gone 1-0 up!

Don’t think I’ve seen anyone get a full 18 right before! Well played!

Played pretty well that half, goal was an excellent finish from Clark but did feel it had been coming. Looking better on the ball than Saturday but perhaps expected as although it’s definitely not a first choice line up, it arguably has better ball players in it.

Have to say from the 2 times I’ve seen him I really like the look of Clark. RNDalso continues to impress me.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Bring on Yernited...
Another clean sheet away from home. This really is an astonishing turnaround from last season.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Pretty comfortable 1-0 in the end, second game in a row where we have won pretty comfortably with little defensive fuss, a huge turnaround for us. Tempered by the fact that was far from a Reading first 11 but positive signs - Lockyer looked good, Clark continues to impress as does RND. Bree was excellent tonight as well, surely has to be in with a shout of starting on Saturday given that performance.

Disappointed we wont be there to see us play Manchester United, what a night it could have been.

 

[Super_horns]

Got lucky again...

Probably run out against you guys!

 

[SF_]

Deserved win even if it was a dubious last minute penalty, DJ has never missed one in his career.
Think Derby's goal was their only real attack, just failed to clear our lines.
Barkhuizen's goal was a fucking belter.
Looked so much better with Fisher back, good attacking outlet.
Huntington reliable as ever.

 

[Kenneth E End]

So, Manchester United in Round 3. I know what you're thinking... who are they?

We haven't played them since 1992, when in front of a crowd of 13,410, we drew 1-1 against them in the old First Division, the season before the start of the Premier League when Mick Harford and Lee Sharpe scored.

We have an appalling record against them historically (like most teams), with only 2 victories in 32 attempts since Jan 1938!

But, in my opinion, this is a real opportunity for us if we play either the same team as yesterday or the team v Reading. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was bemoaning the lack of match preparation, so he may end up using this game as an unofficial pre-season friendly... will be curious to see who will be involved, but doubt we'll see many (if any) who played v Crystal Palace.

I'd go for this side - perhaps a hybrid of the two sides:
GK Simon Sluga
RB James Bree
LB Rhys Norrington-Davies
CB Tom Lockyer
CB Sonny Bradley
DM Martin Crainie
CM Ryan Tunnicliffe
CM Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu
RF Jordan Clark
LF Kazenga LuaLua
CF Danny Hylton

Subs: James Shea, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea, Luke Berry, James Collins, Harry Cornick, Elliot Lee
Not Involved: Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, Peter Kioso
Unavailable: Dan Potts, Brendan Galloway, Eunan O'Kane

Would guess Man Utd play the following side:
Dean Henderson, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Teden Mengi, Eric Bailly, Brandon Williams, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Fred, Jesse Lingaard, Daniel James, Odion Ighalo

 

[Kenneth E End]

Luton is a difficult game, according to Ole - never thought I'd see the day!

 

[oakroader]

Cmon you hatters...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Bit disappointed to be 1-0 down here. Thought we looked well in the game and growing into confidence. Going in at 0-0 halftime think we’d fancy doing something second half but Moncur has just gave them a cheap penalty. If they beat you with a bit of quality then fair enough but the manner we gave them the goal is a bit of a let down. Should be a simple win for United from here you’d have thought.

 

[Super_horns]

What sort of team are you playing?

Our "reserves" lost at Newport.

Typically the one player who might have got a game on Saturday earned a red card so that probably means Murray will play.

Think my dad at 65 is quicker than him.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

What sort of team are you playing?

Our "reserves" lost at Newport.

Typically the one player who might have got a game on Saturday earned a red card so that probably means Murray will play.

Think my dad at 65 is quicker than him.

Very much a back up team with 9 changes from Saturday. Most are our sort of first reserve type players. Of the team I’d expect Bradley, Norrington-Davies and maybe Clark to be heavily involved on Saturday.

Interesting battle between Bradley and Murray for Saturday then!

 

[Super_horns]

Interesting battle between Bradley and Murray for Saturday then!

On current form will be one winner!

We just look very toothless up front and the midfield has been sloppy.

Defence not too bad but then James Collins is probably better than Josh Windass or Ashley Fletcher.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Decent display. Lockyer and Bradley held well up well until the end - bit rough when they throw 250Million quid at you after 80mins ........- and we went all gung ho and got caught out down the flanks. RND is excellent, up and down continually and held his own all match, just got done right at the end having sprinted back n forth. Tunnicliffe best game ever for us. Kioso? Ill give him time but woeful tonight with and without the ball. Hylton gets sent off in a League game too. There poor LB got clobbered all night. Same old Danny.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Match Sponsors made Kioso MOTM.......either its his Mums company, or Ive lost the plot. Quite likely the latter and he didnt have much support or options in front if him either directly or inside. Hes young, first game etc so i dont wanna be overly harsh and I am used to years of quality in that position. Good luck man

 

[Kenneth E End]

Match Sponsors made Kioso MOTM.......either its his Mums company, or Ive lost the plot. Quite likely the latter and he didnt have much support or options in front if him either directly or inside. Hes young, first game etc so i dont wanna be overly harsh and I am used to years of quality in that position. Good luck man

I thought he did very well - you’re very much in a minority of thinking he did badly.

 

[oakroader]

He’s prm’s cousin...
Not a lot of people know that!!!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Thought we did well last night by and large. Thought 3-0 flattered them a little bit but they had the quality to finish off there chances so fair play. We did cause some problems and looked solid defensively in the main. Lockyer/Bradley as a partnership looks promising.

Think you are being a bit harsh on Kioso Belize, thought he looked pretty good actually. Wouldn’t have given him man of the match personally but a solid first showing in my view. Bit concerned about RND, Bradley going into Saturday, thought both but in particular the former looked absolutely knackered by the end and he’s been forced to play a lot of football in a short space of time. Hope he recovers well as he’s become a very important player to us already.

Hylton unfortunately looks like he doesn’t have the legs for it anymore. Give him the benefit of the doubt as he’s been great for us and a huge character, but on that showing if Collins goes down for any length of time then we would be in some bother.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I'm really gutted about last night - I'm going to be really harsh to say, we should've got something out of it. That said, when you can bring on £200m of talent in the last ten mintues against already knackered legs, you're going to come out on top.

Hylton really needs a goal - he looks bereft of confidence. I maintain that he and Lee were lucky to get contracts in the summer and we should've used the funds for strengthening that area.

Clinton Morrison said last night that play like this for the rest of the season and we'll finish in the top 6. Why not!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah I thought Martin Tyler was getting a bit carried away about us last night - “aiming for the premier league” and all that.

I’d absolutely bite your arm off for a boring mid table season for once please!

 

[SF_]

Brighton at home.
Expecting loads of changes.

Rudd
Fisher, Huntington, Storey, Hughes
Bayliss, Gallagher
Potts, Browne, Harrop
Stockley​

 

[BelizeHatter]

Yeah seems im in a minority of one on Kioso, as seen lots of positive comments since. Effort def not lacking. Like i said will give it time and he has my full backing. He looked a bit lost and a headless chicken to me. But what do i know. Loved his effort and enthusiasm and look forward to him showing me up.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Yeah I thought Martin Tyler was getting a bit carried away about us last night - “aiming for the premier league” and all that.

I’d absolutely bite your arm off for a boring mid table season for once please!

Agree. Thankfully i had a diff commentary. Championship is where i wanna be. Stick the Prem where it dont shine.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah seems im in a minority of one on Kioso, as seen lots of positive comments since. Effort def not lacking. Like i said will give it time and he has my full backing. He looked a bit lost and a headless chicken to me. But what do i know. Loved his effort and enthusiasm and look forward to him showing me up.

I get you on the headless chicken to an extent. Think toward the end of the game he tired a little and started diving into challenges a bit too much.

 

[BelizeHatter]

The lad gave 100% and he was sooo happy and proud. All smiles. Maybe he was just a little overexcited. Id rather see that than a no effort im too big, or too small, for this.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Ive always loved a good swashbuckling right back. Back to the days when Basher Stephens earned his nichname for smacking Mo Johnstone. Well thats how i think he earned it. I read amore PC different story too once ;-)

 

[SF_]

Our second string isn't very good, even first half but easy for Brighton in the second.

Midfield disappeared, particularly 36yr old Paul Gallagher who was lucky to get kept on.

Brighton have good depth, the Iranian guy and Bernardo are decent and the Argentinian, Mac Allister (wtf) looks handy.

Think their centre back Haydon Roberts is one to watch, only 18, very composed.