Fev
i am quietly confident about this game
line up
owens, ince, wire chap, brand, butt
lyons, gilmore
murray Johnstone😛/fozzard kirk
lannon wilde
roberts
johnstone/ fozzard,Wilde 2, green
thoughts
Noticed Bardsley Rowe isn’t in our squad so assuming Fleming back in?
I think our weakness will be the centres this week. Both Fleming and Ince coming back injury.
Ince played last few games and scored many tries, other centre will be brand I would assume
Fleming possibly if not roberts
I would pop Lloyd in the other centre, will be solid defensively with him there.
Noticed Bardsley Rowe isn’t in our squad so assuming Fleming back in?
Been recalled by Wire and in their side for London
Fleming's been in the 21 for the last few weeks and hasn't played , not sure but perhaps he's still injured , I'd play max in the centre with Brand leaving a Wilde Lloyd Lannon rotation in the second row , we have enough middles so max doesn't have to play there but what do I know haha
Fev point of view: this is probably the first time that Widnes will start favourites against Fev for about 5 years (or if you don't you probably should on recent form). We're very much in a transition season and having our worst year for a long time, and since we played you at POR earlier this year we've lost at home to Swinton, York and Doncaster, none of whom are top 6 teams, which tells you where we are.
We haven't been helped by a regular smattering of injuries, half backs Thomas Lacans and Paul Turner (who tore you apart in the first half at Fev) are both gone for the season and Turner has gone back to Aus, Nathan Massey has been forced to retire due to injury, and Gaz Gale (by far our best back in yardage) and Dec Patton are both suspended. There's rumours of another injury to another key player this week but not had that confirmed.
We have welcomed a couple of middles back lately which helps and we ground out a spirited win against Batley last week, but we're extremely clunky in attack, not helped by repeated changes at the half back position where we have played either a hooker (Bowes) a full back (Aikens) or a middle (Addy) almost every week. This is a very different Fev team to the last few years, not altogether a bad thing (we fielded 8 players with strong connections to the town last week which was a bit of a throwback).
That said, we still have some handy players in our squad and we haven't given up hope of top 6 yet, but from a Fev POV it will be a pleasant surprise if we get anything out of this game given our form over the last couple of months.
@thegrimareaper I agree Lloyd in the centre & Lannon & Wilde in second row. Roberts to start at 13 until Johnstone comes on as I'd start with Fozard.
@lord-lucan Its 50/50 for me as despite your recent struggles you still have some quality in your ranks. Hopefully a good game and a decent atmosphere.
JJ starting with foz coming on after 20-25 minutes has worked well so I would stick to that
It is nice to be favourites to beat Fev, been a long time coming. Bet365 giving them a 2.5 point start.
Quietly confident and hope the good weather doesn't put too many people off coming to the game.