Going to be an interesting game. I believe LC will setup 4-2-2 to start with at least purely based on the second half on Saturday. I hope he plays ward on the left though.

Am not sure LC will play the same team as Saturday. I think he may take the opportunity to keep some of the 'fringe' players happy.

Therefor any or all of the following I would expect to see in the team.

Colgan
Cooper
Johnson
Gobern
Lee
Woods
Kay
Cadamarteri
Ridehalgh

I expect Cardiff to chuck in a few of their fringe squad too, and maybe have Earnshaw for example on the subs bench in case needed later on.

As such it is probably only worth a tenner to watch to game, which i won't be doing anyway.

The League is number one priority and to to risk Rhodes and Novak for example might be considered folly with another 'vital' home game coming up at the week end.

We may find some players descibed as having 'knocks' or 'niggles' which seems to be the stock phrase for simply resting them.

comment by Derby Terrier (U9434)
posted 30 minutes ago

Going to be an interesting game. I believe LC will setup 4-2-2 to start with at least purely based on the second half on Saturday. I hope he plays ward on the left though.

============

I'll be absolutely amazed if Lee Clark decides to start the match with only 9 men. I think that really would be takingThePiss

you never know!

I don't think he can take any stick for what formation we play tomorrow night, as 4-4-2 would show good continuity from the second half on Saturday, whereas 4-5-1 would probably be the sensible option given it's effectiveness away from home over the last 6 months. I don't think too many people will be rested, but perhaps some of the key players might be dropped to the bench in favour of the likes of Woods, Johnson and Lee - who I would personally start anyway tomorrow.

I am torn about this game , do we play a first 11 and let them go for it and build some continuity.

or do we let some of the fringe players have a crack and keep some of the first 11 lads fresh for Wycombe , which is a far more important game

id go for continuity.

great match thread cas for a 'quickie'

Play same team as saterday for me we need a winning run and it's a nice cup to win , not like that silly tin pot cup were i would play the under 12 team

Loui, are you suggesting we could we could win the League Cup this season!?

nowt to lose..

go and play...they will be the same, they are not going to win the league cup either...and will look at the next league game as being far more important..

chance for everyone to play with some freedom and just try and win the game..


im hoping it will be a good one..whatever the result..id much rather win this one than the northampton game which i care very little about...

We have to play to win, that much is obvious, we can't go there with the usual "avoid defeat and see what happens" mantre, it has to be a positive performance playing to win the match.

Good match thread Cas, not really interested in this or tin pot cup so getting them out of the way by exiting both would be fine. Win 29 more league games 3-2 or 4-3 and lose or draw 13 would be better. I'd take that straight away

Nice article Cas.

Regardless of the formation, we just need to keep the play positive!

I think Lee will go 4-5-1 but i wouild like to play 4-4-2 as if nothing else, it gives continuity and confidence when we use it on saturday against Wycombe!

It will be a tough match tomorrow and i for one dont expect it to really give us too much joy! Im happy to be proven wrong though! If Earnshaw and Miller start then we are doomed! If not, then we may have a slim chance but we are going to defend for our lives and take our chances when the come around!

"We will be under pressure for spells in the game because they have got quality players but we are going to go there and play our brand of football and take them on. I believe we have a very good chance; I believe in my players and they believe in each other. We respect Cardiff City; however, we won't go there with fear; we will go there and take them on."

What's our brand of football?

Yes I can't see why we couldn't win this cup if we play our best team .

I think we definitely have a chance to beat them, look how we played at Arsenal! It sounds like LC may actually go out there to give them a good game so I'm expecting him to put his best team forward and play attacking 4-4-2......although we all know how much his pre-match comments actually reflect the upcoming game.

We should play 442 all the time now and just try and out score all other teams ... But didn't we try that the other season and we lost out in playoffs semi .

Loui I agree, we have apparently improved the squad since then so surely now it should work?

When Clark joined us he played that type of attacking 442 football of you score 3 and we will score 4 type of newcatle way , I liked that we can't defend so what the point in trying just score one more than them will do me not everyone liked it then and won't now but as long as we win who cares really .

itll be great if we beat them. making me want to go now!

Tez, yeah if we beat em, fine. If not, who cares. We HAVE to get out of this league. We don't need extra games in cup comps. Last season we ended up playing more games than anyone in the country. (I think)

Don't be silly we want to go as far as we can in this cup , it's the paint pot we dont want and don't need in out season .

yeah think we did jonny. i wont lose sleep if we are knocked out, be a good test and technical session for the players. but however if we do win i cant deny that ill be a bit excited about the 3rd round draw.

i want man utd at the galpharm. whens it gonna happen?

I can listen to the game knowing I'm not that bothered if we get knocked out, same with the JPT. We did indeed play 61 games last season, and by the time we got to Old Trafford, it showed.

Number 1, 2 and 3 priority is to get out of this league, cup runs are ok if you need the money, and we don't. The FA Cup is the only one that I'd be wanting to progress in, to the 3rd round anyway.