My in-laws live near Oxford. I’ve been waiting years for a chance to see Watford and the Kassam. Bloody virus. Ivic should definitely play the kids though. Couldn’t care less about losing in the cup. The first criteria for selection should be ‘are they better off saved for Saturday?’ with the second being ‘is it going to be useful to them in learning the system?’
My team for this match would be:- ...........,.......,....Bachmann Navarro, Dawson, Spencer-Adams, Estupinan ................Capoue, Dele-Bashiru Pussetto...........................................Pereyra .....................Welbeck, Suarez
As I said we should play some of the want away players, I would not play Welbeck as it would cost us an extra £50k, but I wouldn't be adverse to using him in the league while he's still with us and fit to play.
Just give the want away players the keys to a transit and a bag of kit and tell them **** off to oxford and sort it themselves. Ivic and team should spend Tuesday with the players who want to play for the shirt and prepare for the weekend.
My team: Bachmann Navarro Wilmot Spencer-Adams Kiko Phillips TDB Peñaranda Success Sinclair Murray Parkes, Sierralta, Barrett, Cleverley, Pussetto, Deeney, Perica.
The problem with that is the U23s play on Monday. Even if we stick the U18s in for the U23 game, that will mean they'd have played twice in three days as they played QPR today. I think playing against an older age set on tired legs will only increase the likelihood of injuries, especially so early in the season, unless the club put out an academy side/U16s today. A mixture of yesterdays starting XI and subs to start and whoever is fit enough from those Ivic wants to work with who weren't involved against Middlesbrough on the bench.
Parkes Janmaat (he can hobble), Dawson, Spencer-Adams, Estupinan/Stevenson Capoue Pereyra Suarez, Deeney, Welbeck, Deulofeu
Oxford is the one place where Sinclair has been decent (well, OK). He's almost guaranteed to play and look half decent (1/4 decent).
Only kidding. I thought The Breakfast Club.....The pitiful amount of money on offer means Vlad should remain focused on coaching the first team. Sad to see him undermined so early in his reign.
I normally find the League Cup 2nd round intriguing, as it gives fringe players a chance. That all changed when I saw the subs on Friday!
Can sort of cobble together some bits of a team here: Bachmann Sierralata Bailey-Adams A.N. Other Navarro A.N. Other Phillips Dele-Bashiru Pussetto Sinclair Perica If Dawson was just a bit sick then he can go into the back three to get a bit of match fitness. Absolutely no idea who we could play at left wing back, given the current situation we can't risk playing anyone good.
4 of the U16 age group were playing for the U18s on Saturday, which means one of two things. 1: U18s will be promoted to the U23s on Monday to allow several U23s to be available against Oxford on Tuesday. or, 2: There have been so few new additions at U18 & U23 level the club are having to promote upwards to get match day squads together at age level football.
It sounds like it may be the latter. I don't know what the score was for our U16s yesterday (v. Chelsea), it's been described as "a heavy defeat", but 11 of their players were England internationals. Watford had 13 players including 1 trialist.
I think we all wish he had. Stealing a living. Probably costs the club as much as it would take to double Suarez's wages. The inefficiency at the club beggars belief.
If they're both fit, Dawson and Penaranda (instead of Pussetto) and that would be a sensible team, with Stephenson on the left hand side (I guess he can play LWB?). Would that be as strong a team as the one that went to Tranmere last season? Dunno, on paper it looks slightly weaker, but not much in it (either way Oxford are a better team than Tranmere were, so I wouldn't be expecting too much from this!) I doubt we'll be playing any of the lads who are expected to move on for fear they get injured. Imagine if Suarez plays, does his cruciate and is out for the season, we miss out on £15m for him and end up selling Sarr and Hughes just to make ends meet?
