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Russell's return

Yeovil blogger Ben Barrett ready to welcome old boss Slade

Posted: 08th October 2009 16:17

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Russell's return

Slade: back at Huish Park

As someone who spent six weeks working with Yeovil just a month before Russell Slade departed, I'll say this for the big man... he is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.

Yeovil FanZoner Ben Barrett
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This Saturday's game could be one the of the biggest games of the season for just about every Yeovil fan going. We all look forward to a trip to Elland Road or to play former Premier League teams, but this weekend sees us play Brighton.

Not what you would call a glamour tie, but for Yeovil fans this weekend symbolises quite a lot, for more than one reason.

Firstly, it will show just how much strength in depth we have got. Five players have been called away on international duty, two more than Leeds, who had their game called off, but apparently, as ours are loans they don't count.

I would like to echo the feelings of our manager who has said publicly he is disappointed that despite bringing young, English talent through and giving them the chance to play professional football instead of youth team or reserve football at their parent clubs, he still has to go into one of the biggest games of the season without Ryan Mason, Steven Caulker, Jon Obika, Alex McCarthy, Shaun MacDonald and Craig Davies who is ineligible to play against his parent club, Brighton.

So that is in total six players out, throw in long-term injuries to three other players, Dean Bowditch, Aidan Downes and Darren Way and we are starting to struggle to even fill the bench.

Youngsters

But every cloud has a silver lining, we will finally get chance to see Scott Murray properly, while Richard Martin will have another go in goal.

It is very possible that we could see Skiverton's own name on the bench this weekend, which would mean that the manager and goalkeeper coach/scout Ben Roberts as well as assistant Nathan Jones could all feature in the squad, surely a first in any football league squad?

It could also see a couple youngsters get a chance on the bench, Rob Clowes has already appeared once, expect to see his name again.

Huish Park will once again have chance to 'welcome back' a former manager, Russell Slade now in charge at the Withdean and this could lead to a spicy affair.

Slade is arguably one of the most successful managers we've had and certainly the closest we have come to recreating the Gary Johnson glory days, but he left under a cloud during the back end of last season.

Rumours surrounded him of wrong-doings and unrest between him and the board. But as someone who spent six weeks working with Yeovil just a month before Slade departed, I'll say this for the big man... he is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.

He stopped and chatted to fans at the training pitches, and was always happy to sign autographs etc. He even picked me up for work on a particularly chilly morning!

Sidelines

It was a shame he had to go; he took us to Wembley and I for one, will forever be grateful for that, along with the semi-final at Forest.

The return of Slade may not be welcomed by everyone so pleasantly though, he brought in a lot of dead wood in terms of players, Marc Bircham being possibly the most expensive free signing we have ever had. The injury-prone midfielder spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch.

Also, it was a Brighton led by Slade that handed out a 5-0 hammering to us at the end of last season, a game which Skiverton has said he will get revenge for. So a real test of squad depth, a return of a fallen hero and if nothing else the chance to keep a brilliant run of form going.

We haven't conceded a goal in over 270 minutes and maybe this could be a grfeat chance to make it four results in a row. With all the circumstances that surround this game, I would suggest a win is a must but a point wouldn't be a bad thing.

I would love to see the Huish Park faithful welcome Slade back and thank him for his time in Yeovil, but I would love nothing more than putting on a show and getting behind our current management team.

Will you welcome Slade back with open arms? And what about the strength of Terry Skiverton's squad - will it be a game too far? Fill in the feedback form below and we'll publish YOUR views.

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