Wycombe Wanderers (h) – 15:00 Boxing Day – What Can We Expect?

[Davefevs]

Wycombe Wanderers (h) – 15:00 Boxing Day – What Can We Expect?

Merry Christmas to all of you WCWE readers! Ho, ho, ho!!!

When I was a much younger Boxing Day football meant goals – Coventry 1978, a 5-0 win with a Joe Royle hattrick or Plymouth 1984, a 4-3 win with two each from Bobby “Hutch” and Stevie Neville, with Tommy Tynan bagging a hattrick for the Pilgrims and my first rude football song learned. Oh, how City could do with some goals after three scoreless defeats on the spin!

Their visitors on Boxing Day are Wycombe Wanderers.  Having been promoted last season via a playoff win against Oxford, the Chairboys are currently bottom of the Championship and on a ten-game winless run.  Where have we heard that before (cough, cough Millwall)?

 

With Holden under pressure, this really does feel like a must-win game, despite City only being 3 points off of 6^th place.  Ashton Gate will not have the 2,000 fans expected for the first time since March following the late move to Tier 3 announced on Wednesday. 

Who’s the boss?

At City we have Deano’s Chinos, at Wycombe they have the footballing equivalent of Jon Bon-Jovi. In charge at Adams Park is 47-year-old Gareth Ainsworth, long hair, leather jacket and denim jeans, but that kind of overshadows his abilities as a manager.  After a career as a winger that spanned over 500 games and 100 goals at clubs like Preston, Lincoln, Port Vale, Real Wimbledon and QPR, he found himself at Wycombe in 2010.  At several of those clubs he also acquired Cult Hero status, no mean feat.  By 2012 with the sacking of Gary Waddock, Ainsworth found himself in charge and he has gradually taken them on a journey beyond what Martin O’Neill started in the late 80s. 

That run started on the final day of 2013/14 season with the Blues 3 points adrift.  The day is now known as “Colin Daniel Day” in Bristol, as the Mansfield man scored the goal to send Rovers into the National League.  Wycombe did their bit beating Torquay 3-0.

 Pic 1 - Rock n Roll football for Wycombe fans

Ainsworth got his first promotion in 2017/18 as the Chairboys leapfrogged Exeter and Notts County on the final day to finish third and in the automatic positions.  Last season’s promotion meant Wycombe were in the Championship for the first time.

Recruitment:

With capacity at Adams Park standing just under ten thousand, it is fair to say Wycombe have the smallest budget in the division.  I’m sure that survival is the extent of their plans and the summer’s  ins and out reflect that. 

Inbound: 

Daryl Horgan – Hibernian (undisc.)

Jason McCarthy – Millwall (undisc.)

Uche Ikpeazu – Hearts (undisc.)

Garath McCleary – no club

Ryan Tafazolli – Hull (free)

David Stockdale – Birmingham (free)

Giles Phillips – QPR (free) / loaned out to Aldershot

Denis Adeniran – Everton (loan) 

Outbound: 

Sido Jombati – Oldham (free)

Jamie Mascoll – Bolton (free)

Craig Mackail-Smith – Bedford (free)

Jacob Gardiner-Smith – released

How do they play? 

Formation / System: 

Ainsworth sets up with a back four and varies the front 6 around a 442, 4411 and 4312 formations.  In the recent 1-1 draw at home to QPR he employed a 4411 to start the game.

Pic 2 - Ainsworth's 4411 v QPR [Wyscout]

With the Chairboys trailing 1-0 following an own goal by Jason McCarthy, Ainsworth kept the back four system but used his subs and tweaked player positions to forge an equaliser late on.  In effect the 4411 became a 442.

Pic 3 - Subs and player role changes v QPR [Wyscout]

At half-time, David Wheeler (7) moved from CM to RW, Garath McCleary (19) from RW to LW and Daryl Horgan (17) from LW to CM.  Horgan is an energetic player so moving him into the middle of midfield would’ve helped counter the fluid QPR attacking three.  At the three-quarter point Fred Onyedinma (23) replaced McCleary and Scott Kashket (11) moved up alongside Adebayo Akinfenwa (20) as Wycombe pushed for an equalizer.  The final chances came with 14 minutes to go as Kashket gave way to Uche Ikpeazu (9) and Anis Mehmeti (33) came on for Nick Freeman (22) in midfield, whilst Wheeler swapped with Horgan.  It paid dividends in the 88^th minute as Mehmeti grabbed the equaliser. 

Style: 

I think it’s fair to say that Wycombe are a direct footballing team.  If anything, the opening games of the season I watched they looked to play a bit too much and moved away from the things that had brought them success.  Whether that was down to Akinfenwa’s injury absence I don’t know, but they’ve gone back to long ball since he returned.  If City didn’t look like they fancied it against Rotherham, then Ainsworth will be showing his team that video and also tapping into Gary Rowett’s post-match comments that City are a weak touch. 

Pic 4 - Ryan Allsop's distribution v QPR [Wyscout]

We can see that except for three shorter passes, one to each full-back and one to the centre-back, everything is “boomed” long.  Its pretty obvious who the target is!

Pic 5 - Adebayo Akinfenwa aerial battle map v QPR [Wyscout]

Yes, its Adebayo Akinfenwa.  Not too dissimilar to my preview of Michael Smith for Rotherham, although Smith is more mobile.  Akinfenwa has good touch and he is impossible to get around so City can ill-afford allowing him to be the platform to build territory and attacks off of (grey box).  Likewise, he is the target from crosses and angled balls into the box (red box). 

Pic 6 - a typical angled ball into Akinfenwa's domain

He wins almost 45% of his aerial battles and is so important to the way Wycombe play. 

The numbers: 

Wycombe sit firmly in 24^th place in the Championship, but also at the bottom of the passes made per 90 table, with just 212 (City falling to 15^th with 348 per 90).  They have had just 39.5% possession too. 

In terms of long passes, they are 5^th with 52.71 per 90, but when that’s 25% of all passes it backs up the fact that they are direct.  City hit 51.09 per 90 but that’s just 15% of their passes. 

Long Throws: 

Jack Grimmer, the Wycombe right-back possesses a decent long throw, so City will need to switch on to not giving away needless throw-ins away in their own third. 

Pic 7 - Grimmer launches his long throw v QPR

Wycombe don’t overload the penalty area like Rotherham, with just Akinfenwa and Kashket inside the area.  A couple of midfielders, Wheeler and Onyedinma are positioned to attack any weak clearances.

Pic 8 - Akinfenwa wins the flick-on

Although the throw-in isn’t great, Akinfenwa outmuscles his marker to win the header.  Kashket has gambled on him winning the flick, and volleys straight at the keeper when perhaps it was easier to score. 

Corners: 

With the physical presence of Akinfenwa there he is an obvious target for set-pieces.  On corners, Wycombe are happy to commit players into the box.

Pic 9 - left wing, right footed corner v Preston

Wycombe have six players in the box, plus one loitering outside.  Akinfenwa is the target but it is the Preston defender who gets the touch and almost scores an own goal.  City will need to watch for variety, as there is a huge space for a cross drilled the edge of the box. 

From the other side, Joe Jacobson’s left footed inswingers are a real weapon.  He’s already scored several goals direct from corners in his time at Wycombe, so City will need to ensure Dan Bentley has freedom to move inside his 6-yard-box.  It is an area Bentley has improved this season, but he will get a stern challenge from Jacobson on Boxing Day.

Free kicks: 

With Joe Jacobson (mentioned above) on the pitch, any free kick around the penalty area is going to be his.  He’s always had a good left foot and his goals record from left back is very, very good. 

Pic 10 - Jacobson hits a free kick v Preston

In the example above Jacobson is 30 yards from goal but manages to get the ball over and around the wall where Rudd and the post combine to keep the ball out.  However, Kashket has run off of Scott Sinclair to side-foot home the rebound. 

Having mentioned in my Rotherham preview how good City had been in not giving away silly free kicks around the box, it now seems like they’ve gotten into a bad habit.  We’ve been warned. 

Big gaps in front of the back-four: 

As a consequence of having a small amount of possession, Wycombe are often pinned back towards their own area.  If the opposition is patient and happy to move the ball side to side to create the right opening, then gaps will appear either through clever movement inside the lines of the 18-yard box, or if Wycombe become too flat then in front of the area. 

Pic 11 - Space opens up for QPR

Having hemmed Wycombe into their right-back corner, two sharp passes inside leaves QPR’s Dominic Ball (6) with acres in front of him to get the ball out of his feet, advance and take aim.  On this occasion the Chairboys stopper is able to push the shot away for a corner.  We saw Massengo tee up O’Dowda versus Preston in similar circumstances, but the Irishman tried to play a one-two off of Martin when he’d got the ball onto his left foot and into great shooting position 25 yards out.  

The press: 

Wycombe will try to press the ball out from the opposition keeper.  If they can keep the pitch stretched, then the opposition will have to resort to longer balls and more duels where Wycombe come into their own. 

Pic 12 - Wycombe stop Preston playing out via keeper Rudd

We can see a simple tactic of Akinfenwa (top) and Kashket (bottom) picking up the Preston centre-backs, whilst Wheeler (left) cuts off any passing lanes into midfield.  Rudd is forced to go long. 

The players / possible line-up: 

GK: Ryan Allsop (28): West Brom academy graduate who moved to Millwall, Orient, Bournemouth with several loans in between.  In his third season at Adams Park and an ever-present so far this campaign, clocking up 118 appearances overall. 

RB: Jack Grimmer (26): former Aberdeen man who signed for Fulham for £225k back in 2012.  He had several loans at Shrewsbury before a permanent move to Coventry in 2017.  Signed for Wycombe on a free transfer in July 2019.  Another ever-present this season. 

CB: Josh Knight (23): on loan from Leicester, having been on loan at Peterborough last season.  Joined at the end of the summer window on a half season loan, so just a couple of games.  Has played every minute since arriving. 

CB: Jason McCarthy (25): ex-Southampton defender who can play RB or CB.  Signed from Millwall in the summer having spent to second half of last season on loan at Wycombe.   

Competition at centre-back is provided by Anthony Stewart (28): who came through the Wycombe ranks before leaving for Crewe in January 2015, but subsequently resigned in July that year.  Over 200 appearances for the Chairboys.  Ryan Tafazolli (29): arrived in the summer from Hull having previously been at Concord Rangers, Cambridge, Mansfield and Peterborough. 

LB: Joe Jacobsen (34): former Wales u21 international who has a wicked left foot and a key source of goals and assists for the Chairboys.  35 goals and 42 assists in 282 appearances is some record for a left-back.  Formerly of Rovers, Shrewsbury, Accrington and Cardiff. DANGERMAN

 

RW: Garath McCleary (33): experienced winger who has previously been at Forest and Reading.  Was released by Reading over the summer and scored against us a couple of times whilst there.  Jamaican international with 24 caps. 

CM: David Wheeler (30): initially at Brighton before a move along the coast to Exeter where good cup runs brought him to prominence.  Moved to QPR for £500k in 2017 before a south coast loan to Portsmouth and back inland at MK Dons, before signing last summer on a free transfer.

CM: Nick Freeman (25): signed from non-league Hemel in 2016 he now has over 100 appearances for the Blues. 

Competition in central midfield comes from Matt Bloomfield (36): veteran in his 17^th season at Adams Park with over 500 games under his belt and Anis Mehmeti (19): an Albanian u19 squad member who signed in September having been at Norwich.  Dennis Adeniran (21): is on a season-long loan from Everton and Dominic Gape (26): the former Southampton academy player with over 150 Chairboys appearances complete the options in the middle of the pitch.  Alex Pattinson (23): is suspended following his sending off versus Bournemouth. 

LW: Daryl Horgan (28): busy wideman who signed from Hibs in the summer.  Was previously at Preston as part of an Irish recruitment drive a few years back.  11 caps for Ireland he has previously played Sligo, Cork and Dundalk. 

Other possible starters on the flanks include the talented Fred Onyedinma (24): the former Millwall man previously joined Wycombe on loan before signing permanently in the summer of 2019 when he was linked with City. 

AM/SS: Scott Kashket (24): the former Orient man is Wycombe’s top scorer with 4 goals this season.  Likes to play off of the target man and make late runs into the box. 

CF: Adebayo Akinfenwa (38): probably the most known player in the Blues squad, the “Beast” has had a varied career and never cost a penny in transfer fees despite 200 career goals.  One of the goal scorers in Swansea’s 7-1 victory some 15 seasons ago.   

From the bench Wycombe can field Uche Ikpeazu (25): the former Reading and Watford man who arrived from Hearts in the summer, Alex Samuel (25): previously with Swansea and Stevenage and Josh Parker (30): the former QPR, Aberdeen, Red Star, Gillingham and Charlton man who can play across the forward line. 

Prediction: 

Things are not going either team’s way at the moment, and City’s injury list shows little sign of reducing over the Xmas period.  We will see whether Holden and his coaches have managed to use the early part of the week to rebuild confidence and work on the system.  I fully expect Adrian Mariappa to be tasked with marking Akinfenwa, and City must play tighter as a unit to avoid Wycombe playing to their strengths.  I’m hoping a bit of quality shines through and City get the three points. 

BRISTOL CITY 2 : 0 WYCOMBE WANDERERS.

[Son of Fred]

Quality??...

One of many things we're currently devoid of..

Another defeat likely.

[One Team In Keynsham]

Disappointment.

[Sturny]

No easy game in the champ they say, which I agree with. But some games/teams you just have to perform against and no matter how you paint it this is one of them. If we're serious about top 6 we need to go into all 46 games believing a win is possible and some more than others. 

That being said 0-3 Wycombe Wanderers 

[pongo88]

“ Akinfenwa has good touch and he is impossible to get around” sums up one of the problems City may face. He’s unlike other target men who are usually just tall. He’s more of a cube shape and impossible to push off the ball. He hasn’t got any speed but doesn’t need any. It will be interesting to see who is given the job of marking him. IMO it needs to be an experienced defender, and definitely not Taylor Moore (if he plays)

[sh1t_ref_again]

I'm hoping for an improved performance after the players having a few days to recover, not sure Holden has any excuses if we get another poor display, despite the injuries the 11 we have fit, should be good enough to give Wycombe a game.

[big dosser]

i feel and im hoping we may come out the blocks flying for this one,i always feel we will concede but im going to stick my neck on the line

 babbers 4 the wanderers 1

[RedLionLad]

 

I’ll still be reading that long after the game has finished 

[Med/MadHatter]

What can we expect? At least something better than we've been served up over the last few games, a defeat would be crushing and for me, the end of Holdenball and his tenure will be looking more than a bit shaky

[Midred]

Improved throw ins?

[Maesknoll Red]

Weather might play a part.....

 

 

[Oh Louie louie]

Dave, that plymouth game, was by far the best boxing day game i saw at the gate.

Non stop singing, goals, and entertainment.

A taxi driver told me in torquay, tommys a cabbie in plymouth, a few years ago.

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

Dave, that plymouth game, was by far the best boxing day game i saw at the gate.

Non stop singing, goals, and entertainment.

A taxi driver told me in torquay, tommys a cabbie in plymouth, a few years ago.

Yes, believe that’s correct.

Tommy Tynan, he is the meanest, he sucks......

[ScottishRed]

I think this is a huge game for DH - I don’t believe he can afford to lose this.

[WWred]

I will be staggered if there is more than 1 goal in this game

[Robin Wood]

A very scrappy poor quality game probably finish 1-0 could be either way most likely to be the worst game played in the championship that day hopefully we win fingers crossed 

[City oz]

9 hours ago, Davefevs said:

 

Wycombe Wanderers (h) – 15:00 Boxing Day – What Can We Expect?

Merry Christmas to all of you WCWE readers! Ho, ho, ho!!!

When I was a much younger Boxing Day football meant goals – Coventry 1978, a 5-0 win with a Joe Royle hattrick or Plymouth 1984, a 4-3 win with two each from Bobby “Hutch” and Stevie Neville, with Tommy Tynan bagging a hattrick for the Pilgrims and my first rude football song learned. Oh, how City could do with some goals after three scoreless defeats on the spin!

Their visitors on Boxing Day are Wycombe Wanderers.  Having been promoted last season via a playoff win against Oxford, the Chairboys are currently bottom of the Championship and on a ten-game winless run.  Where have we heard that before (cough, cough Millwall)?

 

With Holden under pressure, this really does feel like a must-win game, despite City only being 3 points off of 6^th place.  Ashton Gate will not have the 2,000 fans expected for the first time since March following the late move to Tier 3 announced on Wednesday. 

Who’s the boss?

At City we have Deano’s Chinos, at Wycombe they have the footballing equivalent of Jon Bon-Jovi. In charge at Adams Park is 47-year-old Gareth Ainsworth, long hair, leather jacket and denim jeans, but that kind of overshadows his abilities as a manager.  After a career as a winger that spanned over 500 games and 100 goals at clubs like Preston, Lincoln, Port Vale, Real Wimbledon and QPR, he found himself at Wycombe in 2010.  At several of those clubs he also acquired Cult Hero status, no mean feat.  By 2012 with the sacking of Gary Waddock, Ainsworth found himself in charge and he has gradually taken them on a journey beyond what Martin O’Neill started in the late 80s. 

That run started on the final day of 2013/14 season with the Blues 3 points adrift.  The day is now known as “Colin Daniel Day” in Bristol, as the Mansfield man scored the goal to send Rovers into the National League.  Wycombe did their bit beating Torquay 3-0.

 Pic 1 - Rock n Roll football for Wycombe fans

Ainsworth got his first promotion in 2017/18 as the Chairboys leapfrogged Exeter and Notts County on the final day to finish third and in the automatic positions.  Last season’s promotion meant Wycombe were in the Championship for the first time.

Recruitment:

With capacity at Adams Park standing just under ten thousand, it is fair to say Wycombe have the smallest budget in the division.  I’m sure that survival is the extent of their plans and the summer’s  ins and out reflect that. 

Inbound: 

Daryl Horgan – Hibernian (undisc.)

Jason McCarthy – Millwall (undisc.)

Uche Ikpeazu – Hearts (undisc.)

Garath McCleary – no club

Ryan Tafazolli – Hull (free)

David Stockdale – Birmingham (free)

Giles Phillips – QPR (free) / loaned out to Aldershot

Denis Adeniran – Everton (loan) 

Outbound: 

Sido Jombati – Oldham (free)

Jamie Mascoll – Bolton (free)

Craig Mackail-Smith – Bedford (free)

Jacob Gardiner-Smith – released

How do they play? 

Formation / System: 

Ainsworth sets up with a back four and varies the front 6 around a 442, 4411 and 4312 formations.  In the recent 1-1 draw at home to QPR he employed a 4411 to start the game.

Pic 2 - Ainsworth's 4411 v QPR [Wyscout]

With the Chairboys trailing 1-0 following an own goal by Jason McCarthy, Ainsworth kept the back four system but used his subs and tweaked player positions to forge an equaliser late on.  In effect the 4411 became a 442.

Pic 3 - Subs and player role changes v QPR [Wyscout]

At half-time, David Wheeler (7) moved from CM to RW, Garath McCleary (19) from RW to LW and Daryl Horgan (17) from LW to CM.  Horgan is an energetic player so moving him into the middle of midfield would’ve helped counter the fluid QPR attacking three.  At the three-quarter point Fred Onyedinma (23) replaced McCleary and Scott Kashket (11) moved up alongside Adebayo Akinfenwa (20) as Wycombe pushed for an equalizer.  The final chances came with 14 minutes to go as Kashket gave way to Uche Ikpeazu (9) and Anis Mehmeti (33) came on for Nick Freeman (22) in midfield, whilst Wheeler swapped with Horgan.  It paid dividends in the 88^th minute as Mehmeti grabbed the equaliser. 

Style: 

I think it’s fair to say that Wycombe are a direct footballing team.  If anything, the opening games of the season I watched they looked to play a bit too much and moved away from the things that had brought them success.  Whether that was down to Akinfenwa’s injury absence I don’t know, but they’ve gone back to long ball since he returned.  If City didn’t look like they fancied it against Rotherham, then Ainsworth will be showing his team that video and also tapping into Gary Rowett’s post-match comments that City are a weak touch. 

Pic 4 - Ryan Allsop's distribution v QPR [Wyscout]

We can see that except for three shorter passes, one to each full-back and one to the centre-back, everything is “boomed” long.  Its pretty obvious who the target is!

Pic 5 - Adebayo Akinfenwa aerial battle map v QPR [Wyscout]

Yes, its Adebayo Akinfenwa.  Not too dissimilar to my preview of Michael Smith for Rotherham, although Smith is more mobile.  Akinfenwa has good touch and he is impossible to get around so City can ill-afford allowing him to be the platform to build territory and attacks off of (grey box).  Likewise, he is the target from crosses and angled balls into the box (red box). 

Pic 6 - a typical angled ball into Akinfenwa's domain

He wins almost 45% of his aerial battles and is so important to the way Wycombe play. 

The numbers: 

Wycombe sit firmly in 24^th place in the Championship, but also at the bottom of the passes made per 90 table, with just 212 (City falling to 15^th with 348 per 90).  They have had just 39.5% possession too. 

In terms of long passes, they are 5^th with 52.71 per 90, but when that’s 25% of all passes it backs up the fact that they are direct.  City hit 51.09 per 90 but that’s just 15% of their passes. 

Long Throws: 

Jack Grimmer, the Wycombe right-back possesses a decent long throw, so City will need to switch on to not giving away needless throw-ins away in their own third. 

Pic 7 - Grimmer launches his long throw v QPR

Wycombe don’t overload the penalty area like Rotherham, with just Akinfenwa and Kashket inside the area.  A couple of midfielders, Wheeler and Onyedinma are positioned to attack any weak clearances.

Pic 8 - Akinfenwa wins the flick-on

Although the throw-in isn’t great, Akinfenwa outmuscles his marker to win the header.  Kashket has gambled on him winning the flick, and volleys straight at the keeper when perhaps it was easier to score. 

Corners: 

With the physical presence of Akinfenwa there he is an obvious target for set-pieces.  On corners, Wycombe are happy to commit players into the box.

Pic 9 - left wing, right footed corner v Preston

Wycombe have six players in the box, plus one loitering outside.  Akinfenwa is the target but it is the Preston defender who gets the touch and almost scores an own goal.  City will need to watch for variety, as there is a huge space for a cross drilled the edge of the box. 

From the other side, Joe Jacobson’s left footed inswingers are a real weapon.  He’s already scored several goals direct from corners in his time at Wycombe, so City will need to ensure Dan Bentley has freedom to move inside his 6-yard-box.  It is an area Bentley has improved this season, but he will get a stern challenge from Jacobson on Boxing Day.

Free kicks: 

With Joe Jacobson (mentioned above) on the pitch, any free kick around the penalty area is going to be his.  He’s always had a good left foot and his goals record from left back is very, very good. 

Pic 10 - Jacobson hits a free kick v Preston

In the example above Jacobson is 30 yards from goal but manages to get the ball over and around the wall where Rudd and the post combine to keep the ball out.  However, Kashket has run off of Scott Sinclair to side-foot home the rebound. 

Having mentioned in my Rotherham preview how good City had been in not giving away silly free kicks around the box, it now seems like they’ve gotten into a bad habit.  We’ve been warned. 

Big gaps in front of the back-four: 

As a consequence of having a small amount of possession, Wycombe are often pinned back towards their own area.  If the opposition is patient and happy to move the ball side to side to create the right opening, then gaps will appear either through clever movement inside the lines of the 18-yard box, or if Wycombe become too flat then in front of the area. 

Pic 11 - Space opens up for QPR

Having hemmed Wycombe into their right-back corner, two sharp passes inside leaves QPR’s Dominic Ball (6) with acres in front of him to get the ball out of his feet, advance and take aim.  On this occasion the Chairboys stopper is able to push the shot away for a corner.  We saw Massengo tee up O’Dowda versus Preston in similar circumstances, but the Irishman tried to play a one-two off of Martin when he’d got the ball onto his left foot and into great shooting position 25 yards out.  

The press: 

Wycombe will try to press the ball out from the opposition keeper.  If they can keep the pitch stretched, then the opposition will have to resort to longer balls and more duels where Wycombe come into their own. 

Pic 12 - Wycombe stop Preston playing out via keeper Rudd

We can see a simple tactic of Akinfenwa (top) and Kashket (bottom) picking up the Preston centre-backs, whilst Wheeler (left) cuts off any passing lanes into midfield.  Rudd is forced to go long. 

The players / possible line-up: 

GK: Ryan Allsop (28): West Brom academy graduate who moved to Millwall, Orient, Bournemouth with several loans in between.  In his third season at Adams Park and an ever-present so far this campaign, clocking up 118 appearances overall. 

RB: Jack Grimmer (26): former Aberdeen man who signed for Fulham for £225k back in 2012.  He had several loans at Shrewsbury before a permanent move to Coventry in 2017.  Signed for Wycombe on a free transfer in July 2019.  Another ever-present this season. 

CB: Josh Knight (23): on loan from Leicester, having been on loan at Peterborough last season.  Joined at the end of the summer window on a half season loan, so just a couple of games.  Has played every minute since arriving. 

CB: Jason McCarthy (25): ex-Southampton defender who can play RB or CB.  Signed from Millwall in the summer having spent to second half of last season on loan at Wycombe.   

Competition at centre-back is provided by Anthony Stewart (28): who came through the Wycombe ranks before leaving for Crewe in January 2015, but subsequently resigned in July that year.  Over 200 appearances for the Chairboys.  Ryan Tafazolli (29): arrived in the summer from Hull having previously been at Concord Rangers, Cambridge, Mansfield and Peterborough. 

LB: Joe Jacobsen (34): former Wales u21 international who has a wicked left foot and a key source of goals and assists for the Chairboys.  35 goals and 42 assists in 282 appearances is some record for a left-back.  Formerly of Rovers, Shrewsbury, Accrington and Cardiff. DANGERMAN

 

RW: Garath McCleary (33): experienced winger who has previously been at Forest and Reading.  Was released by Reading over the summer and scored against us a couple of times whilst there.  Jamaican international with 24 caps. 

CM: David Wheeler (30): initially at Brighton before a move along the coast to Exeter where good cup runs brought him to prominence.  Moved to QPR for £500k in 2017 before a south coast loan to Portsmouth and back inland at MK Dons, before signing last summer on a free transfer.

CM: Nick Freeman (25): signed from non-league Hemel in 2016 he now has over 100 appearances for the Blues. 

Competition in central midfield comes from Matt Bloomfield (36): veteran in his 17^th season at Adams Park with over 500 games under his belt and Anis Mehmeti (19): an Albanian u19 squad member who signed in September having been at Norwich.  Dennis Adeniran (21): is on a season-long loan from Everton and Dominic Gape (26): the former Southampton academy player with over 150 Chairboys appearances complete the options in the middle of the pitch.  Alex Pattinson (23): is suspended following his sending off versus Bournemouth. 

LW: Daryl Horgan (28): busy wideman who signed from Hibs in the summer.  Was previously at Preston as part of an Irish recruitment drive a few years back.  11 caps for Ireland he has previously played Sligo, Cork and Dundalk. 

Other possible starters on the flanks include the talented Fred Onyedinma (24): the former Millwall man previously joined Wycombe on loan before signing permanently in the summer of 2019 when he was linked with City. 

AM/SS: Scott Kashket (24): the former Orient man is Wycombe’s top scorer with 4 goals this season.  Likes to play off of the target man and make late runs into the box. 

CF: Adebayo Akinfenwa (38): probably the most known player in the Blues squad, the “Beast” has had a varied career and never cost a penny in transfer fees despite 200 career goals.  One of the goal scorers in Swansea’s 7-1 victory some 15 seasons ago.   

From the bench Wycombe can field Uche Ikpeazu (25): the former Reading and Watford man who arrived from Hearts in the summer, Alex Samuel (25): previously with Swansea and Stevenage and Josh Parker (30): the former QPR, Aberdeen, Red Star, Gillingham and Charlton man who can play across the forward line. 

Prediction: 

Things are not going either team’s way at the moment, and City’s injury list shows little sign of reducing over the Xmas period.  We will see whether Holden and his coaches have managed to use the early part of the week to rebuild confidence and work on the system.  I fully expect Adrian Mariappa to be tasked with marking Akinfenwa, and City must play tighter as a unit to avoid Wycombe playing to their strengths.  I’m hoping a bit of quality shines through and City get the three points. 

BRISTOL CITY 2 : 0 WYCOMBE WANDERERS.

Great report Dave. You would think that we would bounce back against Wycombe. Another loss would be so disappointing for all the city fans and DH will get hammered.

CITY 2 : WYCOMBE 1 for me.

[AppyDAZE]

6 hours ago, Maesknoll Red said:

Weather might play a part.....

 

 

I swear after a few, I was seriously thinking it was a covid map   :laugh:

[Maesknoll Red]

2 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

I swear after a few, I was seriously thinking it was a covid map  

Hmm, maybe time to put the cork back in the bottle.....

[AppyDAZE]

2 minutes ago, Maesknoll Red said:

Hmm, maybe time to put the cork back in the bottle.....

Uh no , it's f-ing Xmas eve btw Covid or no covid

 

[reddoh]

5 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

Uh no , it's f-ing Xmas eve btw Covid or no covid

 

Nearly did a Rod Hull putting hand sanitiser on the Chimney for Santa. 

[AppyDAZE]

13 minutes ago, reddoh said:

Nearly did a Rod Hull putting hand sanitiser on the Chimney for Santa. 

Is a Rod Hull a euphemism for something else?  When watching Brentford on Sky and the commentators talk about Thomas Frank, I must admit I have a little giggle. Hey, who doesn't like a Thomas Frank, from time to time?

 

 

[reddoh]

1 hour ago, AppyDAZE said:

Is a Rod Hull a euphemism for something else?  When watching Brentford on Sky and the commentators talk about Thomas Frank, I must admit I have a little giggle. Hey, who doesn't like a Thomas Frank, from time to time?

 

 

No Rod died playing with his Arial and his Head being softer than ground he found himself on top of before being six feet underneath it. as for Thomas Frank who doesn't have a giggle.

[bpexile]

What can we expect ?

A lowly team desperate for a result which can often be our downfall. Hopefully Deano & Co can get the boys up for a win. Hopd your right with your prediction Fevs.

[cidercity1987]

Their team doesn't look too bad to be fair, a few youngsters and Champ rejects but I can see why they aren't total no hopers. They are definitely going to win and we are unlikely to score. This place is going to be interesting tomorrow afternoon.

[Roadrunner]

Who knows? Nothing would surprise me with our team at the moment. But with this tier 4 this week i need some cheering up. COYR.

[Jasper Testimitanu]

Is it on Santa’s sky’s red button? 

[Davefevs]

16 minutes ago, Jasper Testimitanu said:

Is it on Santa’s sky’s red button? 

Not sure....it’s a Saturday 3pm game....no suspect not.

[pillred]

21 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Yes, believe that’s correct.

Tommy Tynan, he is the meanest, he sucks......

Do go on it was just getting good :laugh:.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, pillred said:

Do go on it was just getting good :laugh:.

....a horses Pulis,

Tommy Tynan is a horses ass,

he looks like a horses ass,

he smells like a horses ass

he is a horses ass!

(repeat until he stopped scoring)