a thread about the the match itself

[pride_of_wilts]

What's the news on Sheehan? I've heard nothing about how bad his injury is/was (apart from a few lines about a hip injury) and have no idea when he's back. Will he play?

Millwall are an organised side and are tough to break down. We can absolutely out-football them and, state of the pitch excused, we should be more than capable of doing that regardless of the starting line-up.

He said on the radio on Monday that he would be out for 10 days so it's pushing it, He may not be fully fit.

[Batch]

Oh yeah, plus we have had a days extra rest

[STFC Bart]

To be honest it is anyones game.

Do not see how everyone raves about Millwall- away from the den their away record is not great- won 7, drawn 8, lost 8- our away record by contrast is better.

Them being away from the den and the wembley pitch i think will be a good leveller. Also think we have the better players overall.

[Batch]

He said on the radio on Monday that he would be out for 10 days so it's pushing it, He may not be fully fit.

Arse, if this is fact then it could be the difference. Though we could start Derby and Manks which isn't a disaster, no Greer too is stretching it.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Them being away from the den and the wembley pitch i think will be a good leveller. Also think we have the better players overall.

Yep. Agree with that Bartholomew

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Though we could start Derby and Manks which isn't a disaster

That would actually be OK.

[Bert1981]

I would like to see us go with Austin & Ward upfront. Look at the semi-finals, we caused Charlton loads of problems with them 2 up top but were completely ineffective with Paynter on the pitch. Ok I know he wasn't fully fit, but the same was true at Millwall on the last day, their centre backs had Austin & Paynter in their pockets from what I understand.

Ward would give them something completely different to think about. If we use Paynter as a target man we will play into their hands completely. The way to beat them is to get the ball on the floor and move it quickly.

[Batch]

But you don't think Wilson will drop our top scorer do you (if fit)?

Nor should he IMHO.

[Doore]

Alternatively, perhaps we should start with our top scorer who is close to 30 goals for the season.  I'm radical, me.

[pride_of_wilts]

I would like to see us go with Austin & Ward upfront. Look at the semi-finals, we caused Charlton loads of problems with them 2 up top but were completely ineffective with Paynter on the pitch. Ok I know he wasn't fully fit, but the same was true at Millwall on the last day, their centre backs had Austin & Paynter in their pockets from what I understand.

Ward would give them something completely different to think about. If we use Paynter as a target man we will play into their hands completely. The way to beat them is to get the ball on the floor and move it quickly.

Can see your point but i thought O'Brien was awful at Charlton and every final ball of his was terrible and ended up going to their players or going out of play.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

But you don't think Wilson will drop our top scorer do you (if fit)?

Nor should he IMHO.

If you believe City fans then yes. They're still moaning about how he left Leroy Lita out of their squad in the 2004 final.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

It seemed to me that prior to the first leg, Charlton's defenders had been preparing to play Billy and when it was announced just before kick off that he wasn't playing they were like, "Oh fuck, what do we do now" and Charlie and Danny caused them all sorts of problems.

For the second leg of course, Billy came back in and their defenders were saying, "thank fuck, now we know what to do"...so maybe Danny will spring a surprise.

Billy on the bench?

It's a funny, fickle old game

[Bert1981]

It seemed to me that prior to the first leg, Charlton's defenders had been preparing to play Billy and when it was announced just before kick off that he wasn't playing they were like, "Oh fuck, what do we do now" and Charlie and Danny caused them all sorts of problems.

For the second leg of course, Billy came back in and their defenders were saying, "thank fuck, now we know what to do"...so maybe Danny will spring a surprise.

Billy on the bench?

It's a funny, fickle old game

I think that's what I was trying to get at! Maybe leaving Paynter out is a bit radical, but I do think we should play Ward in a more advanced central role, so arriba's suggestion of putting him behind the front 2 would be a good compromise!

[Barry Scott]

It seemed to me that prior to the first leg, Charlton's defenders had been preparing to play Billy and when it was announced just before kick off that he wasn't playing they were like, "Oh fuck, what do we do now" and Charlie and Danny caused them all sorts of problems.

Danny eluded to this in his post-match comments. He said that he'd known Billy was injured for a long before the game, but the whole squad were sworn to secrecy as he wanted that element of surprise. I wouldn't be surprised at all. Perhaps even the unthinkable might happen: Charlie on the bench...

[pride_of_wilts]

Paynter looked unfit at Charlton but that would be understandable, Hopefully he will be fully fit for the Final.