v Walsall (h) - 8/8/23 - Carabao Cup R1

[Oldgregg86]

So it’s that time of year again folks where we get the chance to dare to dream and pray for a good cup run.

I’ve started this thread early and I’m not one for starting threads so I apologise if I’ve done it wrong.

I love the cups and hope we go all out and try and have a good run like we did last season. The cups were a real highlight of the season with some terrific performances. 
 

For the first time in what felt an eternity JDT took the cup seriously and it paid off with some memorable games and good experience for our , now more important than ever, developing youth players . 
 

The big question is , in the current climate, will JDT go strong and take the cups as serious this time around with such a thin and inexperienced squad . 
 

Is he able to with the demands of the championship ?

On to the game. I’m hoping we have enough either way to get past Walsall and into the draw for round two .

Walsall, nicknamed the Saddlers were founded in 1888, under the name walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town and Walsall swifts. They where league 4 champions in  1959-60 and have three more runners up places during there 135 year history. 

Last season the Saddlers finished 16th in league 2

Rovers head to head record with Walsall is played 17 , Rovers wins 10, draws 5 with only 2 defeats

The first time the two clubs met was an fa cup game back In January 1931 at ewood park with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw. 
The last time the clubs met Rovers ran out winners at the Bescott stadium. A 2-1 win in our promotion season from league one with the reverse fixture at Ewood ending in a 3-1 victory. We also signed youth prospect Mitch Candlin that season. 

 

We played Walsall in the earlier rounds of the cup back in 2002. A goal from corrado grabbi opening the scoring from the spot before being pegged back by a Walsall penalty converted by zigor aranalde. 
The game went into extra time and Rovers found themselves 2-1 down on the 98th minute before an Ian roper own goal made things all square. 
In a game which referee Neale Barry had already awarded two penalties the game was decided by them . Rovers winning 7-6 after the final penalty was taken and scored by Marc richards. 
 

Let’s all hope for a repeat result and even better a cup run as good as the one from the same calendar year

My team for the game would be

                         Pears

Brittain         Barnes      Wharton   Batty

                   Travis      Garrett 

Markanday         Buckley         Dolan

                       Leonard

 

 COYB

[Upside Down]

Four nil.

Harry Leonard hat trick.

[philipl]

Great opportunity for the second string to continue their strong pre-season showing.

[tomphil]

Follow the pattern set last season get a young side out and just go for it.

[philipl]

Interesting balance for JDT between building match fitness, capitalising on Markanday and Leonard great starts and full rotation.

Brittain, Hedges, Scott Wharton, Buckley, Garrett and Batty will start.

Might as well get a tombola for who starts and who subs in the other positions.

 

[roverandout]

Adam Wharton needs to start to get his fitness up

[Mattyblue]

Think he will.

With time on the ball he was spraying it around like usual, but was getting caught in possession, which is fair enough as he hasn’t had many minutes in pre season.

[roversfan99]

Hopefully we can get that new keeper in today and start him on Tuesday although I would like to think that he will be number 1 from next Saturday anyway, so maybe best to get him a full week of training with Pears as the cup keeper.

Pears

Brittain Barnes Wharton Batty

Garrett Wharton

Markanday Buckley Hedges

Ennis

[KentExile]

58 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Hopefully we can get that new keeper in today and start him on Tuesday although I would like to think that he will be number 1 from next Saturday anyway, so maybe best to get him a full week of training with Pears as the cup keeper.

Pears

Brittain Barnes Wharton Batty

Garrett Wharton

Markanday Buckley Hedges

Ennis

Maybe Gilsenan instead of Markanday and switch him and Hedges, but very close I think

[roversfan99]

7 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Maybe Gilsenan instead of Markanday and switch him and Hedges, but very close I think

I thought that aside from an excellent finish, Markanday was poor yesterday, and Hedges to me would be a likelier bet next weekend, but has missed the end of pre season. Could essentially be a chance for both to show who should start on the right at Rotherham.

[Ianrally]

Never realised Scott Dann started his pro career at Walsall. Are there any others who have played for both clubs?

[ossyian]

26 minutes ago, Ianrally said:

Never realised Scott Dann started his pro career at Walsall. Are there any others who have played for both clubs?

Paul Downing

[RoversClitheroe]

3 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

I thought that aside from an excellent finish, Markanday was poor yesterday, and Hedges to me would be a likelier bet next weekend, but has missed the end of pre season. Could essentially be a chance for both to show who should start on the right at Rotherham.

I really don't think Hedges is all that good? 

[roversfan99]

5 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

I really don't think Hedges is all that good? 

Hes nothing special but he offers more than Markanday. Just a middling Championship player.

[roverinmontreal]

Does anyone know if this is on tv anywhere for overseas fans? I’m pretty sure ifollow/ roverstv don’t show carabao cup games 

[ossyian]

3 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

I really don't think Hedges is all that good? 

Hedges started last season really well - hell he was close to a World Cup call up with Wales. Since he was overlooked he has looked more like a squad filler to me. He can steady things in last 20 mins or so which is not a bad thing but I don’t think he should be a starter in a fully fit squad

[Tricky]

7 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

maybe best to get him a full week of training with Pears as the cup keeper

Other way round for me, not too comfortable with the prospect of an unknown starting our league games as number 1

[BlackburnEnd75]

                Pears

Brittain.  Barnes. Wharton.  Batty

              Garrett.   Buckley

 Markanday.    Hedges.     Gilsenan 

                  Ennis

[roversfan99]

15 minutes ago, Tricky said:

Other way round for me, not too comfortable with the prospect of an unknown starting our league games as number 1

If we are paying a decent fee for him Id like to think it is to be number 1, especially as I know that Pears is bang average.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Ianrally said:

Never realised Scott Dann started his pro career at Walsall. Are there any others who have played for both clubs?

There was that Mitch Candlin lad but I don't think he technically played for us. I'm not sure.

[had.e.nuff]

I think it may be a change of keeper if the new guy has joined us if not you have to play hilton to get him some game time in case we loose Pears to injury

[JPTSwindon]

I enjoy a good cup run, did wonders last season: morale, cash and an opportunity for game time for the wider squad.

Doesn’t look it’s on TV, so Rovers TV for the radio coverage for me.

[Andy]

1 hour ago, ossyian said:

Hedges started last season really well - hell he was close to a World Cup call up with Wales. Since he was overlooked he has looked more like a squad filler to me. He can steady things in last 20 mins or so which is not a bad thing but I don’t think he should be a starter in a fully fit squad

Agreed - when he was pushing for a World Cup place, he was on fire.

Sadly, all fizzled away after that.

[jim mk2]

Hope this is the start of a good cup run. Unlike his predecessor Tomasson appeared to take both cups seriously last season - the match at Leicester last season was one of my best Rovers away nights in years. Cup runs excite the fans and give the club a real feelgood factor and more of the same would be welcome. We most certainly don't want to go out to the likes of Walsall

Rovers 3 Walsall 1

[chaddyrovers]

                      Pears

Brittain   Barnes   Wharton   Batty

     Buckley Wharton Garrett 

Hedges         Ennis           Dolan