Same Old As Dearden Threatens Changes

Last updated : 22 December 2003 By Rob Davies
I quote from my Editor's column piece from yesterday: "He will publicily slate them in the NEP (it seems to become an annual Monday thing)" and sure enough this Monday was no different, as Dearden said there will be changes for Friday.

Dearden also explained his thinking behind naming an unchanged team on Saturday at Plymouth, saying he was giving the players the chance to show what they could do after the horror show against Wycombe.

Whether the "changes" that Dearden could be talking about may be something bizarre such as playing someone under the age of 46, or maybe even giving Adam Murray a start (we all know sitting on the bench is the ultimate tool to persuade a player to sign), or the "changes" could well just be big Clive Platt being restored to the s tarting line-up on his return from suspension.

"There will be changes," Dearden told the Evening Post. "We will not stick with the same team for a third match.

"I did debate long and hard whether to make changes or not on Saturday.

"In the end I didn't but I had a go at them prior to the match, telling them to prove that they were better than they had been against Wycombe and deserved to be in the side."

NCM Opinion

We'll believe these changes to the team, but can't help but think that the only changes he's thinking of is restoring Platt, and maybe Barras, to the starting line-up.