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I mentioned this is another thread, but thought it deserved it's own....

In the 3 games Pritchard has been unavailable, we've secured 9 points. As talented as he undoubtedly is, do you think the team is more balanced without him?

Also, if you were Cooper, would he be in your starting 11 on Saturday?

I would've already sent him back.

First on the team sheet

I'd have him on the bench and leave the side relatively unchanged from Saturday.

I am a Little bit concerned about the players looking tired so an extra body fully rested would be handy!

Debated this in the pub, in a sense there's no point in playing him again this season as he won't be here next year, but that's a bit unfair on the lad, as we have signed him for the season.  So the obvious solution is a place on the bench...will be a good lesson for him on the importance of getting discipline sorted.

I'd stick him on the bench. He doesn't deserve to walk straight back in. The team is doing well without him and we'll probably be without him next season.
The team looks a hell of a lot more balanced recently but I think 2 up top helps a lot. The temptation would be to play Smith up front on his own and Pritchard in the hole, which for me is a big no.

Just play the best team available, sod next season whilst we still have a slight sniff of the playoffs.

I think he probably should get back in starting XI but would expect him to be bench warming on Saturday as a punishment for being a twat against City.

Our best player by a mile - if I was travelling to Carlisle I would want to see him in the side.

I assume you mean outfield player?

I still reckon if we get to the last game of the season and it's a dead rubber let Wes play upfront for 15 minutes. He's supposedly fast and is a good finisher.

Actually fuck it, let's just play rush goalie for the rest of the season.

Yeah I was thinking about the 9 points without him, I'd def start him on the bench Saturday.

Keep the winning team and stick him on the bench. No brainer.

we didnt keep the winning team on sat did we?

Perhaps its a coincidence but there seems to be a better run of form,since the absence of Ward.
 :sherlock:

details :)

I'd have him on the bench.

I'd have him on the bench.

Stephens has made a real impact, having 2 up front has helped as well.
We now have an out ball that doesnt always come straight back.

As for Pritchard I would stick him on the bench for when we tire

Talking to a ST holder who suggested that we sometime fall into the trap of giving the ball to Pritchard all the time to make something happen and have no plan B (Not on about the singer/actor).

Without him, the ST holder commented that we are having to work harder as a team to create opportunities, which, in the long run, might make us a more potent force.

In the short term, while we have been doing well, and like others have said, I would suggest he comes back on the bench. Then, if required, we have the option of injecting a 'different' kind of threat if we need to.

Agree with most of that. Pritchard is no doubt a talent at our level, however, he does suffer from impatient youth syndrome. I think you have highlighted a possible situation with the players giving him the ball to "make" something happen but I also think a number of other factors encapsulate that position. Namely he tries to do to much, hangs onto the ball longer than he should, forgets the kiss rule of law (keep it simple stupid) and sometimes is a greedy cunt. Other than that I like him and would welcome him back next season. He needs to bulk up a big to make up for his lack of height, therefore I suggest he is unlikely to go higher than the championship, IMHO.

Walking to the Merlin about 1230 on Saturday, heard this awful garage music from the early 00's banging out from a sporty vauxhall corsa. Sat there bobbing his head out the window and having a little groove was Pritchard. I had to laugh.

Did he really like it? Was it, was it wicked?

Funny you should say that, that was the song being played

Based on this new information, I now like Pritchard.

I presume he was loving it.

Loving it like that?

Are we sure this was actually Pritchard and not some other 15 year old with a shit haicut?

Yep definately Pritchard, STFC tracksuit on etc.

I think it might have been Barthram driving

Luongo often pulls in to the car park at my block of flats playing his shitty music on full whack! He has some nice wheels though not a corsa

IIRC he has a range rover with a personalised plate



Lots of ppl wearing those - male and female
I usually see a couple on a daily basis - more if around Elgin where Futsal goes on

Yeah thats right. I spotted said car in the car park and it twigged when i saw the number plate. Seen him a couple of times since. He lives in the same block of flats as me

It was Pritchard, Ralphy was there too

God, another fucking one.

Here was me thinking Luongo was sensible.

Is that in a substitute sense or in a scary gay stalking way?

What - in the car with him? :hmmm:

Pritchard sat on our table tonight at the sponsors evening and I brought up forum reading and the corsa sighting. Was in belfords car.  Had a cracking evening tonight proper good and genuine squad of players. Belford sang his initiation rap on the microphone which was a good laugh.

Brilliant speaking to cooper at the end of the evening.

You can't say all that and then not tell us more.

Some content removed...

Cheers.

Massive shame but not a massive surprise.

Thanks for the write up.

I was there last night as well, i was sat next to the legend that is Fraser Digby & also had Tyrell Belford & Grant Hall on our table, all were brilliant, Cooper let all of the players have a drink as well as they had today off. Digby reckons both Wes & Tyrell will go far in the game, Cooper is one of he best managers he has worked with.

Was Nile there? Anything said about him?

No Nile, Mason or Luongo. Can't remember why Nile wasn't but other two were given leave for injury, I imagine Nile was the same. Pritchard rang Mason when I asked why he wasn't presenting my shirt and he was at old Trafford! Bedwell is playing for Worcester at the moment and enjoying playing, out of contract at the end of season and obviously hopes to stay. Living the dream as a swindon fan he said.

I agree, Troy I think will be a good player next year if his fitness holds up but his wages are pretty high apparently.

Keep remembering things...Mason back for last 3 games of the season.

The play offs? :-)

I have no reason to disbelieve anything you say, but why would Cooper be telling somebody on the TEF the retained list?  It would not be his decision anyway!

No of course, I forgot he has zero impact on transfers, that's all done by Spurs/Power/JFK  ::)

Digby said something along the same lines as what Iffy said in that if Troy could play every week he would be here next season, Ward may have played his last game for us, Nathan Thompson will be captain for the foreseeable future.

Surely Troy's condition will improve though? Will it not be a case of he wont be here unless he fully recovers.

I'd still rather have Troy for 30 matches if that's all he can manage.

Whoever his replacement may be is unlikely to be as good.

Not many players play every game anyway what with injury and suspension

Exactly. Lunacy to just say at this stage that he won't be here next season (not disbelieving anything that was said, just think it's far too early to be writing a player off who has shown so real sign of past injuries thus far since his comeback) A good pre-season could make all the difference with Troy next season.

I agree, I don't disbelieve what Cooper said but it does conflict with what Power said in a pre match interview a few weeks back when he said he was trying hard to get Troy signed up for at least next season.

I bet Cooper turn out to be right on this.

I dont think it's a case of his injury not flaring up, I think it's a case of he won't be able to play 46 games a season, and we're paying a lot for him.

I hope he stays. Even if he can only play 30 games I'd take it, but he'd have to take a massive reduction in wages. And there's always the risk he will get injured again as well.

Spot on, he must be the highest earner at the club.

I didn't think he was too keen on Swindon (if you believe Twitter). I'd imagine he'd tell us to fuck off, even without the 50% wage cut!

If he stays fit (and can pass a medical) he will be able to earn more and play at a higher level so he will bugger off at contract end.

If he cannot stay fit or pass a medical we won't want to keep paying wages for an injured player so he will be gone at end of contract.

Just don't see a scenario where he will be here next season.

On the Washbag podcast one of the guests, Andrew Steel Davis I think, was suggesting that it won't. Sounds like a bit of a Ledley King situation, can't play more than once a week and has to train separately in different way.

If only I could get away with working once/twice a week on inflated wages!

On a serious note, I appreciate the injury has to be managed, and from what I have seen so far he looks a good player, but you have to weigh the benefit of his talent agaisnt the cost and frequency of how often he can play.

Sounds like a luxury we cannot afford then. What a Shame.

In a 20 man squad he needs players that can play every match. As iv already put he said himself he was an outstanding player.

Surely he wont pass a physio if he tries to sign elsewhere?

I don't understand the injury myself because he looks fit enough when he does play but there is obviously something that stops him from multiple games like swelling or soreness.

Could probably get a nice hefty sum by retiring

With the possibility that his preexisting condition might scare other clubs off, if he wants to continue as a player, we might be his only real option.

Pay as you play deal perhaps?