Transfers, teenagers and history made at St Andrews

It raised a few eyebrows when Lee Bowyer placed his most experienced defender and club captain Harley Dean, on the Transfer list. I questioned the timing when we then took a gubbing at Blackburn. Inevitably we lost Roberts and Graham through injury and then surprisingly Dion Sanderson got recalled to Wolves. After a Covid break saved us from further punishment over Christmas we found ourselves taking on a useful QPR side with two 17-year-olds starting and a 16 and 18-year-old on the bench.

Unfortunately spirited and encouraging performances don’t get you any points. Aneke was held back too long and the ‘R’s frankly strolled to a comfortable win.

Our current situation is beginning to become worrying. Injuries and illness and recalls have almost destroyed the side. Teden Mengi from Manchester United and Taylor Richards from Brighton hopefully will plug a couple of gaps.

Neither are vastly experienced at Championship level but have the physicality which the teenagers in our club don’t have.

Tomorrow we have been chosen for international broadcast and our kick off in the FA cup put back to 5.30. Extra-Time and penalties could see the game go on till nearly 9.00. My last train to get me home leaves at 7:43. So I don’t get to see this game live or on TV.

Who knows who will be in the team? We are already in the position where we need to concentrate on our League position and Plymouth Argyle are in the play-off positions. They are used to winning and we seem to have forgotten how.

It’s annoying that we cannot have a proper go at the FA Cup. Its possible that an away tie with one of the big boys could be worth £1-£2 million pounds. Are we in a position to give that up?

As you can hear “Watto is not happy”. Let’s hope we can for once get the rub of the green and sneak into round four.

Rebecca Welsh will become the first female referee to officiate in an FA Cup tie at St Andrews when she takes charge of tomorrow’s tie. The women officials I have seen in Men’s professional games have usually impressed me. To get on women have to be better than the men. They don’t have any preconceived ideas about the teams or the occasion. I would like to wish her the best of good fortune. Surely, she will outshine the clowns we have endued this season.

Happy new Year Bluenoses and tune in to TILTON TALK SHOW Monday at 7.30 when Tony Want will be the Guest.