Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Wed Aug 09, 2023 6:01 pm  

faxcar wrote:

For the maybe / possibly department.

The Keyes could be couldn’t he, maybe just all part of a cunning plan to keep Batley guessing and having to double up on their prep.

Nowt up with that....except you've just given the game away!

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Wed Aug 09, 2023 6:05 pm  

I would play the same team as Sunday but swap fairbank for larroyer and McComb for crooks . I would start with Moore and bring obrien and lannon on when when Batleys pack start to slow . Keyes , sutcliffe will play the following weeks in equally important games against London and Widnes , Toulouse ,etc .

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Wed Aug 09, 2023 6:06 pm  

terry silver wrote:

I do like your ruthless side and you are right there is no place for being nice when it comes to team selection. I would be interested to know how we would use Sutcliffe if we was to drop a middle to have him in the team.

Straight swap for Larroyer off the bench. He'd shore the defence up late on and wouldn't give daft penalties away.

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Wed Aug 09, 2023 6:22 pm  

Ilkley Fax wrote:

I have to disagree about Sutcliffe - if a player who's played for Fax for years and has helped us to get to the final gets replaced by a player with one game on loan then don't think that would do a lot for team moral. A few players surprised me on Sunday in what was our best performance of the season, and did enough to support making only minimal changes to rhe team on Saturday - even if the "talismanic" Keyes was fit - which he won't be. Even though I think Inman will be great for us in future, I'd play Brandon but start with O'brien as Moore was much more effective coming of the bench. Fairbank for Larroyer and McComb for Crooks would be my only changes.

That would be the way to go for me, Sutcliffe is a decent player but it’s not like he’s Sonny Bill Williams in his prime.

On the other hand since were speculating, if I were being ruthless and behind the scenes we’ve signed him up for next year and who ever he displaced wasn’t going to be retained then maybe.

On who starts between Moore and O’Brien Grix started with Moore on Sunday because he’s fairly solid and brought O’Brien and Lannon on to rip into what he judged would be Fev’s bigger tiring pack.

He knew that’s what we would be up against in any case and thought that was the best option and they both had stand out performances in A&D.

Interesting to see if he goes down the same route this week.

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Thu Aug 10, 2023 6:27 am  

Unfortunately I was away on holiday this year when Town got there. Had we not have got there 6 or so years earlier then Id have cancelled the holiday.

There is an element of the result not really mattering. Just getting there is a huge prize in itself; to see YOUR club play under the arch. But obviously coming away with the cup adds a massive bonus on top. To all those going to Wembely, enjoy it. It will be a special day.

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Thu Aug 10, 2023 8:13 am  

Bubba wrote:

Unfortunately I was away on holiday this year when Town got there. Had we not have got there 6 or so years earlier then Id have cancelled the holiday.

There is an element of the result not really mattering. Just getting there is a huge prize in itself; to see YOUR club play under the arch. But obviously coming away with the cup adds a massive bonus on top. To all those going to Wembely, enjoy it. It will be a special day.

Yes, I can go down on Saturday and if we don't win i won't be sickened like
after most losses. It's not like it's the CC Final after all. Don't get me wrong, i really want to see Fax win but getting to Wembley, albeit by this route, is the big thing for our club at this time. There are bigger finals ahead to aim for. Because of this i am sure i'll be able to relax and take in the game. All this said i do think we will take the spoils by a couple of scores and can't wait for the weekend. Enjoy. Up The Fax!

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Thu Aug 10, 2023 8:39 am  

Hudd-Shay wrote:

Nowt up with that....except you've just given the game away!

Craig Lingard was asked about the possibility of Keyes playing which he acknowledged and linked his absence to the problems Fax had been having in that area, but what does he know.

Many of us apparently overrate Keyes anyway in spite of the fact he was both players player and supporters player of the year in 2022 with the top tackler of the year being Brandon Moore despite his apparent lack of size:!:

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:38 am  

faxcar wrote:

Craig Lingard was asked about the possibility of Keyes playing which he acknowledged and linked his absence to the problems Fax had been having in that area, but what does he know. :lol:

Many of us apparently overrate Keyes anyway in spite of the fact he was both players player and supporters player of the year in 2022 with the top tackler of the year being Brandon Moore despite his apparent lack of size:!:

Keyes has been/is a great player and one that Fax can rebuild the team around over the next few years. Moore has been fantastic for fax, but with Tom Inman here i don't know where that leaves Brandon. If he does stay the first thing I would do is take the captain's armband away from him. He's not been the same player since he became the leader and might just have a new lease of life without that responsibility.

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:55 am  

Hudd-Shay wrote:

i don't know where that leaves Brandon. If he does stay the first thing I would do is take the captain's armband away from him. He's not been the same player since he became the leader and might just have a new lease of life without that responsibility.

Does being a captain really carry so much responsibility? Their "official" duty seems to be able to question a referee's decision, but as far as trying to motivate his teammates, any player can do a bit of clapping and shouting. It's not like being a cricket captain, for example, which actually involves making on-field tactical decisions.

Re: Batley @ Wembley. : Thu Aug 10, 2023 10:29 am  

Confirmed by the club.
The 2023 AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final between Batley Bulldogs and Halifax Panthers will be shown live, exclusive and completely free on the Our League web and app. (As has been rumoured, the game WILL NOT be shown on BBC Iplayer.