Tranmere v Forest Green (play off-final)

[Ian]

So this is it.
Our season comes down to 90 minutes of football at Wembley.

Let the discussion begin..

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

This is our biggest day since the 2000 League Cup final. Sadly since then very little has gone right for the club on the pitch. I read in Planet Prentonia that we are one of only two clubs in the top five leagues not to have achieved any successes since then. No wonder this game means so much.

If Wallace had been fit, I'd have expected the same players and formation, but we are really struggling to find midfielders so I'm not sure what Micky will do. He might bring in Dunn and choose 4-4-2, possibly with a diamond. It's difficult as he's running out of options. Because of this weak area, I am hopeful rather than confident about our prospects and just hope we can finish it in 90 or 120 minutes without the need for penalties.

I'm sure we'll give a good account of ourselves. There's a lot of spirit in the team. A few including Micky have been in play-off finals before with other clubs. FGR know Wembley well and may feel it's their turn to win. I don't buy that logic - ask Jimmy White!

 

[drwhoman]

Big support from the SWA will help. Annoyingly, I will be in London on the day but I had already agreed with my UK living son to go to see Liverpool play West Ham. If they had not changed that game from Saturday to Sunday I could have gone to both! I will be following on my phone with great hope! Like BBTC I would have been far more confident with Wallace in the side to give the team a bit more class on a big stage but hopefully they can overcome this issue. The number of players we have lost through injury, particularly Tollitt who I am sure would have enjoyed the Wembley pitch. Dunn is the likely replacement although Mekki might be in the mix somewhere after his efforts at Maidstone.

 

[Ian]

I think Mekki is crocked. Dunn seems the likely replacement. Whats' happening with Steve Jennings? Is he fit again? Are we scrapping the barrel for midfielders?

 

[Sparky]

A season which started what seems an awful long time ago, comes down to a one off match.

Wallace was having a scan apparently in the last day or two. Would be interested to know what the prognosis is (medium/long term), but he'll definitely be missing on Sunday. As BBTC says, it would have been the same line up if James had been available.

Mekki is injured, Dawson out of favour, Duggan suspended. It would be too big a match for Steve Jennings who wont be fit and I think the same goes for Dunn who can't be match fit. As Ian suggests we are desperate for midfield options. I think Mangan will start in place of Wallace. Andy looked lively on Saturday when he came on, has a goal in him, is an ex FGR player (along with Nors), so may have extra motivation, is experienced, and, lets face it, is a favourite of Mickys.

Whether he'll give enough support to Buxton throughout the 90 minutes however is another thing. Yes looked good on Saturday but that was a short cameo in a totally different match. Like Dunn, Dawson etc, Mangan hasn't played much football of late but he may well have to do.

There has been talk elsewhere of playing Nors wide but IMO MM should stick with the trio of Cole, Nors & Connor J if he can. Maynard and Hughes in the middle so we need one more. Only real option I can think of is Mangan fitting in somewhere.

Amazing to think we now missing Wallace, Sutton, Vaughan, Tollit, Kirby & Harris (I've probably missed someone else) - the majority of which would have had a chance of starting.

Prediction: too close to call but I would have preferred Daggers.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Sparky, you can add Steve Jennings, who would surely have started had he been fit. When you see the bench on Sunday, you will see how stretched we are. It will be full of strikers. There's no-one else left.

 

[Ian]

Mangans a good call and has good energy levels.

 

[Cowshed Kid]

Mangs's energy and running when he came on really helped take the heat off us.
He can do a good job for us even if only on a job share basis with someone else.
And he's got a goal in him.
Unbelievable "luck" this season with injuries.
One more game....big effort from all eleven who wear the shirt!

 

[Mal]

Personally, I think 12th man will be the motivation, akin to when a lower league plays a premier team. 110% effort. I just hope that doesn't result in a Clint Hill moment

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I agree with Sparky that Mangan will start. Dunn has done very little since he arrived and does not look fit and I can't really think of another viable option. It is incredible that we only have two specialist midfielders fit and available and I am praying that we don't pick up any more knocks during the game.

I think we will set up in a diamond formation, or some variation on it:

Davies
Buxton Big Mac Ihiekwe Ridehalgh
Maynard
Mangan Hughes
Jennings
Stockton Norwood

Due to the lack of options we might be lightweight in midfield, and we just have to hope that Mangan and Jennings can muck in in the middle of the pitch and we will make do. Going forward, our starting eleven still looks formidable.

I have had an early premonition that Mangan will score the winner. You heard it here first........

 

[frenchrover]

What RLC no place for Norwood? Can't believe it.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Slip of the brain !!!!!

Now corrected.

 

[Ian]

Looks like the general consensus is Mangan to start which is by no means a bad thing. RLC, shall I put some money on Mangan grabbing the winner?!

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Only 15/2 with the bookies. Could be worth it......

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Looks like the general consensus is Mangan to start which is by no means a bad thing. RLC, shall I put some money on Mangan grabbing the winner?!

Wouldn't Gary Brabin love that!

 

[Sparky]

If you weren't nervous enough already....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p051cqp3

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Our biggest match in 17 years and it's all gone quiet 48 hours before the game! I've looked at the odds and all bookies have us as slight favourites. We are 6/4 on on most sites and you can get 11/10 against FGR. That's what I'd expect. However, I'd make FGR slight favourites because of their Wembley experience and our weakened midfield and penalty-taking record. I hope I'm wrong and the bookies are right, but personally I am more confident of winning the league outright in 2018 than getting through on Sunday.

Re the team, there seems general consensus, but we will have real problems if any of the midfielders are injured. And the natural replacements for the two full backs are Maynard and Hughes! As he can play across the back four, Gumbs seems to me to be an obvious sub, but Micky doesn't seem to rate him. I'd also have Turner (or Pilling), Dunn, Collins and Cook on the bench.

 

[Cowshed Kid]

Has anyone seen anything official about Wallace? Not suggesting for one minute that he's not properly crocked but we'd normally hear something.
Perhaps I've missed it.
The boys have set off now and it'll all become much realer for them. Can't think of many better than MM to keep them focused.
I dread reliving the despair of Notts C defeat but if we come back empty handed it won't be for the lack of effort of whole club on and off the field.
There will still be so many reasons to be cheerful.
We're going to do it by the way!

 

[Sparky]

Re Wallace - I posted something similar on a FB TRFC fans group and no one responded. I haven't heard anything. He's obviously missing on Sunday but would be good to know if he'll be back for pre season (whatever league we are in), or is it something more serious. I am assuming it is fairly serious and perhaps the club who have had enough on their plate this week, have chosen not to announce it until after Sunday.

Only 2 more sleeps to go......

Really hope it doesn't go to penalties.

 

[Cowshed Kid]

Two more stay awakes you mean Sparky!
If we're going to get beat much prefer in normal time. Missing 5 pens would just rub it in!