Shroppie

Just back from Barbados in time for this and bl00dy freezing. Need a result to warm me up. Coyr!

Pretty sure one of Barnard / Lambert will start.

Will be very surprise if we get anyone in now. Maybe in January, replacement for Guly but in all honesty there's pretty good competition for all places now. Morgan serves his supension vs Cheltenham and we should cope. Don't know how long Chaplow will be out, though.

Would imagine Seaborne will be straight back in when fit, then, but not so sure about Harding. Dickson seems to have put down a strong marker, at least as an attacking option.

...... seem to have vanished. Not even on the bench. Injured, rested, not good enough or out of favour? someone must be ITK.. Are you there leftback? Just remembered Harding's a leftback.

Sorry to see Puncheon go and I don't expect him back. Can only think there's a clash between him and NA because otherwise he's too good to let go. Just hope that NA has soemone lined up for Jan to replace him. Now watch RL .....

Agreed. Just can't understand the grief he's had from certain fans this season. He's a quality player who always works for the team.

Think there are a few difficult decisions for this one. LB I didn't see Harding last week, except for his OG which I thought was unlucky. Who else was going to cut out the cross? And I admit to having been a keen fan of his, but there's no doubt Dickson's knocking at the door. CM Chaplow arriving was good, but with all three fit, there's a problem of continuity and keeping them all happy. FWIW, I would revert to Schneiderlin/Hammond. RM Oxo is a key player at present but doesn't last the full 90 very effectively, so the greatest impact he could make, when the opposition are tired, is lost. We need Puncheon back. ST How long can we persist with RL? Would give him a last chance with Barnard but be prepared to pull him off for Guly or Connolly at half time. Don't see CB as a problem - has to be Fonte Seaborne .

I'm gutted. Don't do midweek games very often - 400 miles drive - but was up for this one until I found I have to work and can't get out of it.

Assuming a bigger car would be out of the question, back to the train then. Seriously, I drive down alone sometimes so always room for a paasenger or two then.

139. 1969, Saints vs WBA. Jeff Astle chins John McGrath behind the ref's back. Two minutes later: Astle is out cold. No-one saw anything.

I'd like Surman in the team, but not to replace Lallana. They're different types of player. Surman is more like Hammond, only better. Lallana is a real attacking threat, Surnman more a holding player who will occasionally get forward into dangerous positions.

Excellent. I've lived in Shropshire for 35 years but am still a Saints fan. I work in MD. It's beginning to look as if we have car load to go down to home matches

I lived there for 10 years and never found much to do. Did watch the football when Terry Paine was paying for them. Had a good squash club but no more. Now got Wye Valley brewery and excellent brewery tap.

You learn something every day. How satisfying.

With Fonte off on his hols for the weekend and possible Davis too, keeping a winning team is not going to happen. In my OP I said tongue-in-cheek that we could make 10 changes, and that's not going to happen either. I expect something like ---------- Bart ----------------- Richardson Jaidi/Martin Seabourne Harding/Dickson Puncheon Hammond Chaplow Dickson/Holmes ---- Guly ------- Lambert/Barnard Subs: Lallana or Wotton if we want to give AL a rest, Schneiderlin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barnard/Lambert, Martin/Jaidi, GK (don't know who's available), Doble

And yet the Preston fans couldn't wait to get rid because they claim he lacked effort, bottled out of challenges and it was suggested he was not sufficiently manly. But then Ferguson had no time for him and critisised Chaplow openly, so I guess those fans didn't have the intelligence to looks for themselves. Anyway, I can't see him wanting to go back to the abuse he was getting. Welcome back, and let's hope he's staying.

Sounds good Whereabouts? Going to Phi Phi island myself in Dec, then on to Borneo. Oh, and to keep it on topic, I'll be at Twickenham watching a painful defeat for our Rugby lads against the Kiwis, so won't be there either.

Good.

I work with quite a number of Shrews fans ( my local club). Don't quite get it but they think a. we've dropped the prices to get a big crowd in to buy loads of beer & food which they won't get any profits from. b. they're used to variation of only a 1000 or so or gates at home so don't get it that not dropping prices might make (at my guess) 8K difference to the crowd. c. think think our statement was rude and patronising . Just as long we win.

I'm not arguing that Shrewsbury are a pushover or that we don't want to win. My point is that we really do now have a strong squad and most of the "reserve" players should be able to deliver against any League 1/2 opposition and need serious match practice. They'll also know it's a chance to impress and challenge for regular places and will maybe even encourage the others.

I'd certainly keep Oxo and Lallana on the bench. The Wotton bit was tongue in cheek - probably will be Morgan and Hammond since if Chaplow is here he may not get permission. But I think Dickson, Jaidi, Martin, Bart in particular are too good to be just playing reserve, sorry "development" games and they should be able to do a job. I dread thinking that we won't win easily. Shrewsbury is my local team and I work with far too many people waiting to gloat on Monday if we slip up.

May be a bit early but thought it might be interesting to guess whether we'll go with a full strength team or not. If you consider that we could make 10 changes from Tuesday and still put out -------------Bart---------------- Richardson Jaidi Martin Dickson Puncheon Schneiderlin Wotton Holmes ------ Guly --- Bignall ------------ Doesn't look too bad, does it? BTW, really looking forward to their fans' rendition of "When the Shrews go marching in"

And one Saga scored in the 6-0 away win at Wolves. Ahh, those were the days.................

Posted this on another thread, but seems more appropriate here: I'm impressed with NA's selections recently. He doesn't seem afraid to change a winning team and it seems to me he is much more adept than previous managers at getting the right team out for the opposition we're facing. At home, and against weaker teams, he's started Oxo (and Guly against Tranmere) - attacking intent from the start. Also put Chaplow in for Schneiderlin last night, I assume as a positive move. Away from home, or when we will need to defend more I still expect to see Punch start (for all his failings in front of goal I maintain he works hard for the team), along with Schneiderlin as a more solid defensive setup. I think Guly's going to become an "impact" player - can't see him getting many starts now. Also would be glad to see him push for Chaplow to be signed in Jan, and probably extend Guly's loan to end of season, assuming it isn't already. Not sure about Bignall - hasn't done much yet and there could be better options as backup for Rickie.