Ian Holloway hoping for 'selection headache' at Swindon Town
Swindon will play their final Bristol Street Motors Trophy group match on Tuesday, knowing that a draw regardless of the outcome of the penalty shoot-out or a win will see them into the knock-out rounds for the first time in three years.
Spurs Under-21s are in their way, having won a bonus point in a draw against Bristol Rovers and lost to Exeter in their previous matches, meaning they must beat Swindon to progress.
Having just taken over the reins at The Nigel Eady County Ground, Holloway believes this is a useful experience for his players to make a case to be in his starting 11.
He said: “This is the perfect opportunity for me to look at it and see these players’ take on what I have said in the last week.
“It gives them the chance to have a run out there and show our fans what they can do, which is brilliant.
“Hopefully I get the biggest headache I have ever had and am not sure who to pick on Saturday – that is what I want.
“This is a great opportunity and then we have another friendly next week against Bristol Rovers where I can play everyone else who hasn’t played, so they all get the chance to prove to me they should be playing and that is absolutely vital.
“This is a whole new start for everybody and I am really excited to see their take on what I have said so far.”
Holloway said that although he will be fielding a new-look side for the game, he believes that his squad will be able to deliver a performance that will excite the supporters.
He said: “This is why I have come back in, I can’t wait to pit what I have learned against what they [Spurs] are doing tomorrow, watch my team, and help them at half time.
“My team that I have picked to play hasn’t even played together before but I believe that the footballers that we have got in that will be able to do what we want them to do.
“But they have got to solve the problem that is in front of them, when the ball moves, we move and we move in this way.
“I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow but we have just videoed our training, so I can show them what we were doing – I have never had this before but I think I can speed up what I am teaching because of the wonderful set-up we have got at this football club.
“I am excited about what is going to happen and I want to win and hopefully I will see some exciting football and be smiling at the end of the game.
“Hopefully the people who come, who have to buy another ticket feel it is worth it and they enjoy it as well.”
