Thinking about it....have a feeling we might see some U-23s tomorrow... I mean

Chelsea will probably put out a strong team or at least a strong bench - Chelsea are not going to win the league and Conte has never won a cup competition as player or manager - nobody expects us to win anyway, it's an away game so less poisonous with regard to the NCFC supporters if things start to "go wrong".

As for NCFC we are in a position where there is a remote chance of playoffs which would only be even slightly possible if we went on a solid run starting very soon. We need a little injection of something new.

When you have a first team squad of 28 of which at least 2 are long term crocked (Jarvis, Thompson), at least 2 and possibly as many as 4 are going to be sold over the next couple of weeks, only two strikers of which at least one will be sold, and you don't have much money to spend but you know that you need more depth, what better time to bring them in than in a low-pressure, high quality setting where they won't be as subject to criticism if they don't do well immediately?

Cantwell, maybe Abraham, Fonkeu or even Ashley-Seal ? Maybe even Middleton from the U-18s?

I'm aware that I am being a bit XXL right now but in this situation I think it might make sense. Not only in blooding some players who can add to the depth of the squad this season, but any chance of winning at Stamford Bridge would need something special and what is more special than the innocence of the youth player on his debut? In addition, it gets the debut out of the way, and allows us to assess their readiness for the first team squad so that we can enter the summer transfer market with a better idea of where our young prospects are development wise.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Jan 16, 14:53:38