I was going to come on here and moan

[Sammy Chung was King]

About players being rested, i'm talking about Coppinger mainly but also the others. Then i looked at the fixtures coming up. This month is busy and December even worse as always so in hindsight a bit of forward thinking has been done.
Coppinger you have to look after him at certain points in the year. Houghton is a young guy who has played a run of games every week so a day off won't hurt. With Calder and Mason being ill no choice to be made with those two.
For me today it was a pretty even game. One plus was only allowing them four shots on target the problem is they scored two of them. Ourselves having five on target and it takes a penalty to get us on the scoreboard!.

Beestin and Mandeville looked good apart from the final bit of quality that you need around the opposition area. Middleton looked steady and Richardson needed the game. I'm happy that Butler isn't as bad as first thought.
It was really a low quality game with neither side really standing out. We lacked real threat going today which isn't like us, but when you are missing Coppinger, Rowe and Williams up front then you aren't going to look as good.
I think today shows that we do need somebody to come in as cover for the strikers. The young lads will be good players but a bit of experience in there gives them time to build up their games.

Baudry had an in and out performance he looked to be getting used to a role that i think will suit him. Garratt was steady nothing special.
Marquis lacked any real regular support up there, the quality of ball to him was lacking. I can't pretend i'm not disappointed we've just lost to a side that's won one game at home in the league albeit in the league above!.
Every year i don't want that feeling to happen again where the team who beats you get's a cracking draw. I know each team has different numbers but you always feel that was your fate in the next round whoever they get.

It's good thinking by the manager in a way because now he can play more fringe players in the next game. I would rest Coppinger again i see no point to him playing in that game.
 I'd like to see Etheridge start the next game as we need two confident goalkeepers hopefully he would have a good game. I would consider putting Longbottom in against Port Vale as well as the others from today.
Butler also there isn't a point in risking him whether fit or not, save him for Saturday.The plus from today is we have had another look at the younger players and they did okay. Beestin stood out from the three he just needs to improve his decision making, that will come with experience.
 Mandeville on the scoresheet is encouraging and showed bottle to take the penalty after we have missed so many. Overall disappointed with the performance of the team and going out. Just move onto the next one.
In the long term it's less pressure on the squad being out, i just can't be happy losing any game!.

[ss1953]

Thanks for a reasoned and objective assessment.

It's really important that those of us that cannot get to games have a balanced commentary.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I have that disappointment too,however being out of the cup this year is no bad thing. Small squad and a huge league campaign come first.

[GazLaz]

Not resting Marquis was the most stupid gamble I've ever known.

[Mac the hooped man]

Great write up  , but one of the most over used football clichés is that games come thick n fast at Xmas.   I remember harry refknapp once saying that you practically play every 2 days lol..   when the  reality is that we only have 4 games in all of december.   Over the new year theres a monday satdi Monday triple header..  but that's it... not much worse than a satdi Tuesday satdi really..  but where would footy be without clichés eh..   rtid.

[bobjimwilly]

Not resting Marquis was the most stupid gamble I've ever known.

not THE most stupid gamble, but definitely up there

[IDM]

Great write up  , but one of the most over used football clichés is that games come thick n fast at Xmas.   I remember harry refknapp once saying that you practically play every 2 days lol..   when the  reality is that we only have 4 games in all of december.   Over the new year theres a monday satdi Monday triple header..  but that's it... not much worse than a satdi Tuesday satdi really..  but where would footy be without clichés eh..   rtid.

I agree, in recent years we seem to have dropped the extra game over the holidays, or it just feels like that!

[The Red Baron]

In 1946 we played on 21st, 25th, 26th and 28th December.

[The Red Baron]

Tuesday's team will be interesting. Wright is banned. Suspect Baudry will drop into defence and Keegan will start.

Depends a lot on whether Mason and Calder have recovered from their illness. If it's a tummy bug they might be ok. If a virus probably not.

[Surrey Rover]

In 1946 we played on 21st, 25th, 26th and 28th December.

...and picked up 7 points out of 8, 18000 inside Belle Vue for the Christmas Day fixture, I wonder what sort of crowds would turn up if matches were played on Christmas Day in this day and age.

[RedJ]

Great write up  , but one of the most over used football clichés is that games come thick n fast at Xmas.   I remember harry refknapp once saying that you practically play every 2 days lol..   when the  reality is that we only have 4 games in all of december.   Over the new year theres a monday satdi Monday triple header..  but that's it... not much worse than a satdi Tuesday satdi really..  but where would footy be without clichés eh..   rtid.

I agree, in recent years we seem to have dropped the extra game over the holidays, or it just feels like that!

I imagine it depends on when the weekends and bank holidays around the holidays fall.

[Mac the hooped man]

Little test, count how many times times talksport presenters say thick n fast in the run up to xmas.  It will be double figures in no time lol

[Sammy Chung was King]

When i look at the fixtures it's busier this month than in December. This month we face five games in eighteen days. In December only four in twenty one days. A fixture has definitely disappeared in the December schedule to what we normally face.
This month we have away trips to Exeter and Stevenage. In December Plymouth and Mansfield and only one Christmas period home game against Grimsby.
The board must be disappointed with that. I wouldn't be against teams playing local sides home and away at Christmas like in the past. It's the one time of the year for some where they can relax and have a few extra drinks without worrying about a hangover and work the next day.

[ravenrover]

You've forgotten Notts County away in Dec