With Lyle Foster potentially facing a season-ending injury from last night, this throws a significant spanner in the works regarding our last home game against Millwall - which could be a 'must win' match.

Given that Zian isn't eligible to play against them... how does Parker best navigate this, both in our rotation/off the bench options as well as the final game?!

Do we really need yet another thread about this?

Barnes played well at Saints, but hasn’t had much regular footy, so last night looked rusty. I’d bet he’d be what Parker goes with. Otherwise you could try Redmond & Brownhill in the type of false striker positions we’ve played with Brownhill & Flemming this season. Issue there is Redmond’s match fitness and doesn’t seem to be trusted.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:27 pm

Do we really need yet another thread about this?

Where's the other thread that directly specifies this issue?

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:33 pm

Where's the other thread that directly specifies this issue?

The impending Foster absence and the issue for the Millwall game are mentioned in several threads, and I've only been on here a few minutes.

Still, if you need a separate one then fill your boots.

That's why you have reserves/U21s. It might not be ideal in the circumstances, but that is what heroes are made from.
I hope he has at least one on the bench on Friday night, to give them a gentle introduction. Just in case.

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:33 pm

Where's the other thread that directly specifies this issue?

The Foster injury post

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:36 pm

The Foster injury post

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:35 pm

The impending Foster absence and the issue for the Millwall game are mentioned in several threads, and I've only been on here a few minutes.

Still, if you need a separate one then fill your boots.

Happy for this thread to be merged/deleted then!

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:36 pm

That's why you have reserves/U21s. It might not be ideal in the circumstances, but that is what heroes are made from.
I hope he has at least one on the bench on Friday night, to give them a gentle introduction. Just in case.

Posted on another thread but surely that spot opens up for Ramsey or Tresor?

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:29 pm

Barnes played well at Saints, but hasn’t had much regular footy, so last night looked rusty. I’d bet he’d be what Parker goes with. Otherwise you could try Redmond & Brownhill in the type of false striker positions we’ve played with Brownhill & Flemming this season. Issue there is Redmond’s match fitness and doesn’t seem to be trusted.

Yeah, it's a tricky one, my guess is that it'd be Barnes as well...

We need Millwall to lose a few games so they have nothing to play for on the last day. As it stands they are only 3 points outside the play offs.
Fixtures
Boro A
Bastards A
Norwich H
Swansea H
Burnley A

Really could do with them losing at Boro

Barnes wasn't good enough two seasons ago so nostalgia aside it's not ideal it's looking like we may need to rely on him. Although it's very difficult to bring in a striker in January, especially one who could in theory make the jump up to the Prem.

And yes, of course I'm hoping Barnes rolls back the years and does the business!

Ramsey and Tresor both to fill in and play 45 minutes each both scoring 3 each as well

I reckon we stick Worrall up top in a Peter Swan role.

It would be a brave manager to go into a must win game, assuming it is, without a recognised striker on the pitch but one on the bench.

Only on here could we go from asking which day the promotion parade will be, then going a further point clear of 3rd with a game less to play and there is a bit of panic around.

Pickles wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:44 pm

Barnes wasn't good enough two seasons ago so nostalgia aside it's not ideal it's looking like we may need to rely on him. Although it's very difficult to bring in a striker in January, especially one who could in theory make the jump up to the Prem.

And yes, of course I'm hoping Barnes rolls back the years and does the business!

He scored 10 goals in half a season and we won the league. he was good enough.

Whether he's good enough now is a different matter. I'd prefer him to a "false 9" type though.

claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:02 pm

Only on here could we go from asking which day the promotion parade will be, then going a further point clear of 3rd with a game less to play and there is a bit of panic around.

Such is life as a football fan...

I'd try not to attribute something like this message board with a collective opinion. It's made up of different posters with different opinions on things, many of which will inevitably contradict, so it's best to delineate things.

dsr wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:11 pm

He scored 10 goals in half a season and we won the league. he was good enough.

Whether he's good enough now is a different matter. I'd prefer him to a "false 9" type though.

Not quite. He scored 6 goals in 39 appearances the last time we were promoted.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:53 pm

I reckon we stick Worrall up top in a Peter Swan role.

Good chance he might win a header from a corner, and maybe even score from one.

alwaysaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:09 pm

Good chance he might win a header from a corner, and maybe even score from one.

I don't think he was being serious.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:11 pm

I don't think he was being serious.

Perhaps not, but not such a bad idea should we need a goal in the last 5 or 10 minutes v sheff utd for instance, something different and All that.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:38 pm

Posted on another thread but surely that spot opens up for Ramsey or Tresor?

Ramsey isn't a striker, and he isn't yet match fit.
I can't understand the ideology of trying to force a round peg into a square hole, just because of their experience. If we want someone to put the ball in the net, better to utilise someone whose job it is, imo.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:11 pm

I don't think he was being serious.

You'd be surprised.

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:10 pm

Ramsey isn't a striker, and he isn't yet match fit.
I can't understand the ideology of trying to force a round peg into a square hole, just because of their experience. If we want someone to put the ball in the net, better to utilise someone whose job it is, imo.

I think he means spot on the bench.

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:10 pm

I can't understand the ideology of trying to force a round peg into a square hole,

You'll get a round peg in a square hole quite comfortably but getting a square peg in a round hole presents problems.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:27 pm

Do we really need yet another thread about this?

Did we need a thread about Graham Dott?

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 7:34 pm

Did we need a thread about Graham Dott?

Plenty of snooker fans on here, so unless there's another one, why not?

equinox wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:52 pm

You'll get a round peg in a square hole quite comfortably but getting a square peg in a round hole presents problems.

That depends on the respective sizes of the peg and hole.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 8:50 pm

That depends on the respective sizes of the peg and hole.

...and the materials.

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:10 pm

Ramsey isn't a striker, and he isn't yet match fit.
I can't understand the ideology of trying to force a round peg into a square hole, just because of their experience. If we want someone to put the ball in the net, better to utilise someone whose job it is, imo.

If foster still isn't fit and Flemming not able to play we're kind of running out of options in terms of whose job it is, with Ramsey potentially not far from a return just maybe he would be an option off the bench given he's eye for goal as a no10 type.

Its not really a dilemma is it?
Between Barnes or possibly Ramsey / Tresor / U21??

Who is a striker? Barnes
Who is the most reliable? Barnes
Who is going to try their hardest? Barnes
Who is the fittest? Barnes
Who has been around the first team the most? Barnes

Any suggestion that Ramsey or Tresor might be the answer in a must-win final game to get promoted reads too much Roy of the Rovers

I know we are signing Flemming but can anybody confirm for me, just to cheer me up, that he is available for the play-offs? Hopefully we won’t need them.
Over the years many clubs have gone into the play-offs and lost the star loan player that got them there.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:11 am

I know we are signing Flemming but can anybody confirm for me, just to cheer me up, that he is available for the play-offs? Hopefully we won’t need them.
Over the years many clubs have gone into the play-offs and lost the star loan player that got them there.

Rhys Williams for us in 2009 if i remember correctly? Duff was re-instated at full back for the 3x games

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:11 am

I know we are signing Flemming but can anybody confirm for me, just to cheer me up, that he is available for the play-offs? Hopefully we won’t need them.
Over the years many clubs have gone into the play-offs and lost the star loan player that got them there.

Williams had a 3-month loan that ended when the 3 months ran out. The three months ran out before the play-offs.

3 month loans can't happen any more. Loans now run from one transfer window to the next, and the next transfer window is after the play-offs, so (unless there is an obscure rule that I don't know) Flemming will be available. (Unless, I dare say, we play Millwall.)

Shoot!

Lad from Luton thelo aasgaard could be a really good ‘cheap’ replacement for brownhill especially if they go down, big lad good feet