Maybe Collins is hoping Russel will be thinking "it's only Carlisle and I'm an International Superstar" and put on a masterclass!!
Don’t mind Cole being on bench. I’m a big fan but he’s looked knackered lately. McAtee and Cosgrove up front could be fun. Harsh on Grant who I think has shown enough to be given Kane’s shirt for the next 2 games. But overall I’m not as alarmed about that team as some on here clearly are. Which is there prerogative of course. Hope Roberts is back soon but again, he’s shipped 7 goals in his last game and a half and he could have done better with a couple of them, which adds credence to the belief he has been carrying something. So better to get him right and keep his time out to a minimum.
I hope today is one of the 2 or 3 games a season that Russell tries because looking at that lineup it looks absolutely criminal that he's got the nod ahead of grant.
Looks like we're going more direct tonight, McAtee to play off Cosgrove. To be fair Carlisle ripped us a new one in the 1st half of the reverse fixture at Oakwell and we couldn't play out from their excellent press. They should have been 0-3 to the good that night but couldn't finish! I wonder if in addition to Saturday's awful showing that Collins is trying a "plan B" to counter their press and get us playing further up the pitch.
The one saving grace with Russell is that his best performances; and yes there have been good ones; have been away from home. Maybe Oakwell is a toxic place to play for some players.
So that's why Roberts wasn't on the coach....Tonight is a chance for fringe players to stake a claim to be more involved in the run in. I hope they take it.
But why aren't we told the truth about injuries(Roberts) or more red tape **** ups (pines), we are a bloody laughing stock
Just got in. Crapped myself when I saw the team but it's still only Carlisle (no offence) and if we apply ourselves properly we should win comfortably. Lose this and I'll turn the lights off on the way out.