[Albion] Wood out!

[Steve in Japan]

An absence of Wood not good

I'll get me coat

 

[Coldeanseagull]

 

[Hotchilidog]

They’ve had three relatively easy cup ties whilst their focus has been on the Premier League - they could afford to use him off the bench as needed.

They’ve not been to a Cup semi-final for 34 years - I can’t see them resting players on Saturday.

It’s a small bit of good fortune for us, but we still need to turn up and play.

I completely agree.

 

[Napper]

damn shame but still a very tough game that I'd rate 50/50

 

[Berty23]

This......

Seriously though, I'll take anything in our favour. Their injury luck this season has been the direct opposite to ours.
I guess this means Akiwhatshisname starts, he's not exactly shit, but what it does mean is that he can't come off the bench, he's not played much, has he got 90/120 mins in his locker yet? Who is their '3rd choice' striker?

As has been the case in a lot of our recent games that have been close (most of them) it is our strength off the bench that has seen us win the game, if we're still level after 75 mins on Saturday then I would start to really fancy our chances. I don't think that there is a club outside the big 6 that have got the sub options that we have.

When people are fit I am not sure there is anyone apart from city and Liverpool with bench strength like ours. Granted their first choice are higher level but our bench is ridiculous.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

When people are fit I am not sure there is anyone apart from city and Liverpool with bench strength like ours. Granted their first choice are higher level but our bench is ridiculous.

And that's with 6 or 7 injured

 

[Mellotron]

No Wood?

For once, good.

 

[oneillco]

just need another 10 to get injured in training tomorrow....

 

[drew]

Good news he's not available as he would have been selected if fit. That said, we have some issues as Mitoma and Pedro will have had long flights home, as did Estupian and Gomez who also played in the early hours of Wed morning!

 

[Milano]

In the 7- 0 it was long balls into the space our FBs vacated for their wide players to exploit, this threat will remain if we do not prepare for it.

Agreed, I really don't want to dig this match up again but.........

We were chasing the game due to an utter nightmare of an OG by our captain. We'd actually started the game pretty well.
We started the match with one CM, who arguably isn't a CM, and they absolutley exploited it.
Pedro was in the middle of his shite spell, he was a waste of a shirt v Everton & Forest.
Dunk looked every bit his age.
They had 9 shots on target and scored 7, that's not normal.
It could easily have been 3-3 at HT.

There's a reason FH set fire to his playbook post match, but even though it's ashes I can't see us approaching this match in the same way. If nothing else I expect Baleba + Gomez/Ayari/Wieffer to start, I expect Jack H to start at RB.

 

[Oh_aye]

I think this is going to be the battle of the two knackered squads.

 

[Lever]

Unfortunately that makes little difference and we should not make anything of it; Nottingham Forest still have a very strong team......

 

[Beanstalk]

Not sure we should get too carried away with this news. Wood has not really been a part of Forest's cup plans so far this season. Forest continue to be a formidable threat on Saturday, even if they are without one of their talismen.

Boooooooo!

 

[jackalbion]

Viagra can sort this problem out.

 

[HeaviestTed]

Their Wood: out

My wood: rising

You dirty birchy

 

[oldboyroy]

They are still a very good side and 3rd in table on merit. It'll be very tough on Saturday regardless Wood not playing. Having said that, we ain't bad either, we're at home, and certainly good enough to turn them over.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Looking at smarkets it doesn't seem to have affected the odds.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

This. Unless someone's kidnapped or maimed Gibbs-White and Elanga we're not that much better off really.

Now there’s an idea……..

 

[Milano]

They are still a very good side and 3rd in table on merit. It'll be very tough on Saturday regardless Wood not playing. Having said that, we ain't bad either, we're at home, and certainly good enough to turn them over.

Wood is pivotal to them though, a bit like Isak at Newcastle, they don't look quite the same without him. Plus add the fact he is one of those annoying players who always seems to hurt us. I agree it is going to be a really tough game (for them too) but it's a big boost for us if he's out.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

If it's a dead leg, he could well be fit enough to come on as a substitute? I'm not celebrating just yet.