[jjamez]

A couple of games into the season and it is now the return of everyone's least favourite cup, unless you are in the lower leagues where I guess there are a few others to dislike, but I'm hoping we don't have to find that out again.
Town enter the game with a 2 defeats in a row, and even though they were by the one goal, the standard of performance was the most disappointing aspects of the defeats, with the side at times looking completely at sea in regards to what they were supposed to be doing. It feels a far cry from what we had most the time last season, coupled with the loss of key players, a head coach and lack of investment to follow, the atmosphere amongst some fans is already starting to become edgy to say the least.
Now the real questions are, what team does he put out, a second string to give game time? a full strength side to try and get some confidence amongst the players? and do we bloody bother going and watching? I've got my ticket as I haven't been to a game yet and wont be getting to one again until September, part of me thinks it could be a waste of 10 quid.

Now how have Preston started? well, we have one more goal than them this season, so there's something, as they have started with two goalless draws. The first being a feisty derby away at newly promoted Wigan. In a game which saw numerous attempts, both sides backlines did everything to keep the ball out and succeeded, Preston finished the game with 10 men as Ched Evans saw red with 10 minutes to go. Their second game of the season saw them host wannabe Simon Cowell's Hull City, again it was goalless but Preston dominated the match and should have won it late on but loanee Troy Parrott wanted to take a touch too many and saw his effort thwarted by Matt Ingram.

So what has happened at Deepdale? Well they are still managed by former Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe who is now having his first summer in charge of the club and is overseeing a big clear-out of players and bringing in his own recruits to replace them. There has been a max exodus of players, including some that would have been good signings for Town, such as the likes of Tom Barkhuizen who joined league one Derby. Also departing Deepdale was former Town loanee Izzy Brown, a bit cruel considering he's got a serious injury, but that does sum his career up so far really. Experienced players Paul Huntington and Scott Sinclair left at the end of their contracts whilst fringe players Matt Hudson and Jamie Thomas also left, all have yet to find a new home. Players to have left and find a new home already include, Josh Earl, the left back has joined Scott Brown's Fleetwood, former Coventry midfielder Tom Bayliss has moved to Shrewsbury, Joe Rafferty has moved to Pompey whilst keeper Connor Ripley has joined Morecambe.


Scott and his more famous wife...whatever she was in

In terms of incomings, Troy Parrott has joined on loan from Tottingham Hotspurs after impressing last season out on loan at MK Dons, whilst the Lilywhites have loaned left back Alvaro Fernandez from Manchester United. A pair of goalkeepers checked in, Freddie Woodman from Newcastle and David Cornell from recently relegated Peterborough. Both were needed since the early retirement of Declan Rudd, with Woodman taking the gloves so far this season, although tomorrow may see Cornell get his chance. The two other incomings were former Liverpool wonderkid Ben Woodburn who has struggled with the pressure of expectation during his career so far and will be hoping that this move offers a new lease of life to his career. The other and a bit of a coup is former Burnley man Robbie Brady who joined on a free transfer after being released by Bournemouth at the end of last season, a player that would have been ideal as a replacement for Toffolo.



In terms of team news, Town only have Matty Pearson and David Kasumu missing through injury, Rolando Aarons appears to have dropped off the face of the earth. B team players Brahima Diarra and Pat Jones are also rumoured to be injured at the present moment. Tuesdays cup game sees 5 subs still allowed, but this time 9 players are allowed to be included so the likes of Danny Grant and Connor Mahoney should find themselves able to take a seat on the touchline at the bare minimum. No out and out selection decisions have been announced by the club, but it would seem like there is going to be a couple of changes with Will Boyle and Yuta Nakayama two likely beneficiaries of the changes.

As for Preston, Bambo Diaby has got a knee issue and is unlikely to be risked whilst Ryan Lowe has already announced that 4 youngsters are likely to be making an appearance on the bench after impressing him during training throughout pre season, Lewis Leigh, Dana Amaral, Mikey O’Neill and Jacob Slater are all due to be with the squad. Matthew Olosunde is potentially out with a groin injury and I'm not sure whether Evans will be suspended after his red card in the first game of the season.

In terms of ones to watch for Preston, it is a touch harder when its not guaranteed who will and wont be playing, but, should he play, Emil Riis Jakobsen will be a key player for the Lillywhites and will be this season if he can kick on from his fine goalscoring campaign last time out. He has a yard of pace and is strong, not to mention that he stands at 6 foot 3 which makes him a complete handful for any defender.

Brad Potts is another handful of a player, also a big lad, but this time plays in midfield and often looks to arrive late into the opposing box to create a little bit of havoc. The former Barnsley man can play down the middle or out on the right and has a history of causing Town problems over the past few seasons.

Robbie Brady has a wand of a left foot and has found himself moving further back down the pitch as his career has gone on. Originally a left winger, he came through the Manchester United system before moving on to Hull where he made his name making over 120 appearances for the Tigers before moving on to Norwich for a spell. It was his time at Burnley under Sean Dyche where he would start to drop deeper, with his frequent injuries causing him to lose a bit of pace, but if given room, his left foot can spell danger for the best of defences... Which we have not.



In terms of head to head, Town have come out on top 37 times with Preston winning 36 times, there has been 24 draws between the two sides. The first meeting between the two came all the way back in 1912 when the two sides drew 1-1 on Leeds Road. One of the more famous games between the two sides, in Towns opinion of course would be the 1922 FA Cup final where Herbert Chapmans Town won 1-0, the game being famous for Preston North End goalkeeper James Mitchell being the first (and only) player ever to wear spectacles in an FA Cup Final. In Preston's opinion, the 1938 FA Cup final will be one of the most famous games as they won 1-0, Their side included a future Town manager in the form of Bill Shankly, but it is also famous as being the first FA Cup final to be broadcast on TV, it also saw after 29 minutes of extra time at 0–0 the BBC commentator Thomas Woodrooffe said "if there's a goal scored now, I'll eat my hat". Seconds later, Preston were awarded a penalty, from which George Mutch scored the winning goal; Woodrooffe kept his promise.
Most recently the two sides played out a boring 0-0 at Deepdale last season, with Town winning the home fixture early in the season, one of Towns first league wins of 2021 and boy was it a boring game, an own goal from Van Den Berg giving Town the three points. It marked Towns first win against the Lilywhites since the 2017 season when Colin Quaner bundled in a 90th minute winner after Aaron Mooy missed a penalty. Town won 3-2 thanks to other goals from Elias Kachunga and little Jack Payne with Jordan Hugill and Aiden Mcgeady scoring for Preston.




Danny Speaks

In terms of the team for tomorrow, I personally feel like we need to revert to a back 3 just to have that sense of solidity, we did it last season and it worked so it is worth trying again. For me I'd like;

                                  Nicholls
          Edmonds-Green    Lees    Yuta

Thomas            Camara      Russell        Jackson
                           
                            Anjorin

                    Ward            Rhodes

bench of Bilokapic, Boyle, Mahoney, Holmes, Hogg, Koroma, Rudoni, Rowe and Ruffels/Turton

in fact that is almost the team I'd go with full stop except Hogg and Pearson when fit come in to the side
         

A few anagrams for you, all Preston related

1) Not the porn nerds

2) No Fiery Mints

3) Moron Sayings

4) Alpha Gull Rage

5) Shark Mime

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Ryan Lowe's words

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one jjamez.

Number one looks like Preston North End.

[Lord Snooty]

Number 2 looks like Tom Finney but there's too many letters.

So it must be Tom Finney, sir. No hold on......

Sir Tom Finney.

[Lord Snooty]

4. Paul Gallagher

[Lord Snooty]

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Moron Sayings - Simon Grayson

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Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

[theo_luddite]

This seems to be working out well again doesn't it?

[Lord Snooty]

3-0 down at half time. Not really going to plan.

Glad we didn't go.

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At least we're not 5-0 down at home to Exeter.

[theo_luddite]

We're doing our best to get there Snoots

[Lord Snooty]

Record League Cup defeat is 5-0 at home to Arsenal.

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JORDAAAAAAAAAAAAAN.

COME ON TOWN

[theo_luddite]

5 corners in 3 late minutes for Town, what were PNE thinking, they could have let us back in there.

We've gone back to playing like we did (or rather didn't) in our Prima Donna League second season days.