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Easter News Roundup
Easter has been weird this year, falling on the international break. It’s normally a time where there is a flurry of games in quick succession which can make or break a season – this year the only thing that I’ve seen broken has sadly been Jack Butland’s ankle in England’s excellent 3-2 win over Germany.
There’s been a few Blues players on international duty over Easter. David Cotterill (Wales), Paul Caddis (Scotland), Jacques Maghoma (DR Congo), Clayton Donaldson (Jamaica) and our new loan signing Kyle Lafferty (Northern Ireland) were all called up to their respective countries.
A late Simon Church penalty rescued a 1-1 draw for Wales against Northern Ireland on Thursday. Both Cotterill and Lafferty started for their respective teams with the Northern Irishman subbed on 81 minutes by Dundee United’s Billy Mckay.
Scotland won their match 1-0 away to the Czech Republic, with Caddis replacing goalscorer Ikechi Anya in the dying minutes of the game for his first full international cap.
Clayton Donaldson played 85 minutes of Jamaica’s 1-1 draw with Costa Rica but was unable to add to his single international goal for the Reggae Boyz. However, the local press were impressed with his work rate and his skills holding the ball up – much like what he does for Blues.
DR Congo won their game 2-1 against Angola; however with no team sheets currently available online it’s impossible to know if Jacques Maghoma featured in the Leopards’ win in Kinshasha.
In other news, Khaleem Bailey-Nicholls and Leighton Smith have both joined Leamington Town on work experience following the decision of the club to not offer them deals for next season. They join former u21 skipper James Fry at the New Windmill Ground.
Tags: Clayton Donaldson, David Cotterill, Jacques Maghoma, Khaleem Bailey-Nicholls, Kyle Lafferty, Leighton Smith, Paul Caddis
41 Responses to “Easter News Roundup”
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Maghoma was an unused sub.
not related but wish jack butland a speedy recovery.
Imo should be playing in front of Joe Hart who is overrated.
Bitter-sweet moment as a Scotland fan watching Caddis make his debut. First Blues player to appear for Scotland for a while but we really should be too good for him to make the squad. Alas we are not.
Ah well Big Al your still the 5th best team in GB & Ireland so look on the bright side :-) KRO
Pleased that Donaldson had a good game and earned yet again praise for his work rate and knock downs. This really does epitomise what we at Blues need-not a lafferty or similar but a striker alongside him who can put the blessed ball into the net.Nobody can better Don.for what is expected of him . We all wish for a Kevin Philips type which is a no brainier but even a Billy Sharp or a Bradshaw etc. It will be a difficult decision for GR to make for the Charlton game and in view of Donaldson international standing now it has the hallmarks of Lafferty benched at least for the first half.
I think you’ll probably find that Lafferty will start ahead of Don, I really don’t think he would have come to us to warm the bench, i’d imagine he would have sought certain assurances that he would play especially with the euros round the corner. The only other thing I could see is if we go 4-3-3 with Don, Lafferty & maybe Torel the 3 up front.
Would rather Vaughan partner lafferty than Clayton. I think Clayton needs a rest for a few games.
That’s fine Chris but you need Kieftenbeld , Davis and Gleeson behind them agreed ? .. No wide players . KRO
Who knows mate, it was just a suggestion of what GR might do to be able to play both Don & lafferty as we all know he won’t play 4-4-2. Mind you Dave I should know better than trying to second guess GR!!, personally I think,it will just be a straight swap with Lafferty in for Don.
Hope Donaldson and Lafferty play up front in a 4-3-1-2 line up. We badly need a goal threat so yes, both should start. Won’t be going up now so nothing to lose. Go for it.
I get the feeling Steve that GR wants to rest Don for a bit to take some pressure off him.
I think our manager fails to second guess himself most times Chris . KRO
Lol I know what you mean Dave, it’ll be interesting to see how he plans on using both Don & Lafferty though
Chris. I really feel if Lafferty starts then GR will let Donaldson go in the summer. Don.hasnt played much for a few months so resting him is no excuse. Therefore a change in format is what I think is GR planning. If however,Lafferty and Don.play together then I am totally wrong. Also our commitment to sign Vaughan for a year is another piece of the possible Don.exit. I know Dave and a few others cannot see GR playing them both and logic says they are right but dropping Don.for Lafferty is like swopping GR for Remi Garde.
I think that is highly unlikely Mitchell. Lafferty is only a loan signing so when he returns to Norwich we are back to as we were & we all known that means the Don is the first choice. The Brock needs experience so IMO needs to go out on loan to a Divison One club which only leaves Vaughan who we all know has struggled with injury throughout his career. Unless we find ourselves with new owners for the new season which is highly unlikely then I don’t see any players going anywhere. The whole reason why Gary Rowett has got them all tied to new contracts.
I know you are probably right but how do you think Don.will feel coming back from international good form to being dropped for Charlton game for a lesser player.
i am watching Northern Ireland v Slovenkia on BBC NI via sky. Lafferty not in the starting line up. He did start the game against Wales the other day. The commentators were saying how good it was that he had joined blues on loan. He wasn’t picked to start to-night because of a possibility of picking up an injury, and also it would be unwise for him to play a 2nd game within 4 days after the Wales game.
Why is Lafferty a lesser player? He has played at Premier League level whilst Donaldson has played at Championship level at best. That’s not taking anything away from him, he’s done a great job but I think he needs a break. I don’t think he will feel agrieved if he is dropped to be honest. I don’t think he is that kind of player. He might be disappointed so close to the end of the season. Every player wants to be a part of what could be grand stand finish or do their bit to try & make it a grand stand finish. I don’t think we have seen the last of him this season at all but if they both don’t play then I think Lafferty will get the nod.
Nothing wrong with the DON that a strike partner wouldn’t cure , and a role more inside the box ……
I agree William. Always said he needs a strike partner in a 2 up top. He’s not your out & out striker but he’s great for laying off to a partner.
Worst Easter I can ever remember with no domestic football,totally ruined the best bank holiday of the year!!
Can’t argue there mate
Never watched so much TV Catchup, lol! At least I got caught up with what I’ve recorded but missed the football for sure. Hope they don’t pull this stunt at Easter again any time soon.
I would be very surprised if Lafferty doesn’t start against Charlton. He wont have signed without that assurance, I expect.
Team for Charlton: K; C,M,S,G, K,G; F,T; L,D
All team selections should be based on goals as 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw dictates that , blues are short of goals so GR must cut his cloth accordingly to get them goals , if the wide men are not scoring enough goals then more strikers must be used , and tighten up at the back , if you fear change then nothing will get better just worse ….
Blues have conceded only 35 goals in 37 games only 3 teams have conceded fewer in the Championship.
Blues have scored 41 goals. 15 teams have scored more in the Championship.
Conclusion….Gary has yet to get the attack/defence tactics right.
Spot on rich…..
Kieftenbeld not doing it for me lately. Not passing well enough.
This would be the team i would start with at Charlton, 3 points needed a point is no good, its make or break time now for me…
……………………….Kuszcsak
Caddis………….Morro…….Spector……….Grounds
Cotterill……….Davis……..Kieftendbeld……….Maghoma
……………….Donaldson……..Lafferty………………
Subs: Toral, Shotton, Buckley, Fabb, Vaughan, Gleeson, Otabor
Should be able to get 3 points imo with that side and plenty of options off the bench
No sub goalie? Gleeson don’t get dropped. Sorry he’s a Gary favourite. It will be fab or toral for Clayton
I included Toral instead of Donaldson but would not argue with that team or formation Andy . KRO
Agree with that team as I simply cannot imagine GR dropping Donaldson. It is not just about loyalty with GR and Don.but more the case that Gary has bought into him from the very first game away at Wolves and apart from injury he is the first name on the sheet (imo).
The reason why he has stuck with the Don from the moment he arrived, Mitchell is he has never had suitable competition. Everyone he has brought in hasn’t been better than the Don in Gary Rowett’s eyes. With our system, it’s not all about scoring it’s about the all round comtribution that the Don provides for us. He needs someone up front with him, we need 2 up top.
If that’s the case Mitchell then it’s 4-4-2 all the way because I can’t see Lafferty coming to Blues for 9 games and warming the bench .. He can do that at Norwich ! KRO
Good point I would say this too. Expect a few changes perhaps even. But not too many.
It’s this thing I have with GR and Don. If Lafferty starts ahead of him then I would be pleasantly surprised. However if he plays both then we have a very intriguing situation which would take us all by surprise. I have to admit the team put out by Andy earlier on does excite and hopefully get us off our seats! As you say Dave we can never logically fathom out GR and his thinking and perhaps its best that way. Prediction 0-1 Blues and Villa 0-4 Chelsea.
Lafferty WILL start ahead of the Don or they will be in the same team. There is no way that Lafferty would turn down moves to other clubs to come here & sit on the bench. Absolutely guaranteed, that is!! He has been given a guarantee that he will play the remaining matches I would think. Someone posted earlier in the thread that he didn’t play his country’s second friendly as they rested him as he hasn’t played that much football. They will be looking for Blues to get him fit enough for the Euros where he can play 2 matches in a few days. The only way that will happen is if he is playing first team football. He would be elsewhere now if Blues hadn’t guaranteed him a place!
Atko. This is a really interesting debate over a recent ‘dull easter’. You feel Lafferty WILL start and I say Donaldson WILL not be dropped from the starting line up. At 2pm team announcement on Saturday we will know and I will be the first to concede to your better judgement if you’re right. Charlton from reports do play decent on the floor but get taken apart from more robust teams. Perhaps our two biggies upfront will please both of us.
Two upfront would delight me for sure. I feel Clayton will be rested for a game or two at least. He’s been in all season except for when he was injured. We’ve had one or two players who were taken out for a rest for a game or two & come back stronger. Robbo, Grounds, Maghoma, Gleeson, Toral & Davis all have played better after a break. I’d like to think it will Clayton a well earned rest & he will start firing again on all cylinders.