This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

STEVE OGIER is still waiting on the fitness of Dave Rihoy before  announcing his Muratti team.

Widely regarded as the best player on the island and the first name on the Guernsey team list, Bels winger Rihoy is said to be 50:50 for Monday’s big match at Springfield after he stretched ankle ligaments during Bels’ Upton victory over St Paul’s last month.

Island boss Ogier (pictured) had gone on the record earlier this week to say that they would know by Wednesday if Rihoy would be fit to play. However, he still uncertain whether his star man will be fit and now will not name his team until tomorrow night.

‘We’ll give him [Rihoy] as much time as possible before we name the side,’ said Ogier. ‘If he’s fit he’ll play.’

Rihoy was the only player that Ogier would confirm will play, if he is able to.

The other slight injury worries in the squad are St Martin’s captain Kevin Graham and North duo Glyn Dyer and Darren Martin.

But Ogier expects them all to be fit for selection.

Central defender Graham has had a number of problems with his ankles and knees and the 29-year-old who has played non-league football in the UK announced that if he was selected for the Muratti then it would be his last season before retiring.

Ogier is not shocked by his decision.

‘Having worked with him for the last two weeks and seen how he’s struggled after games, I’m not really surprised that he’s decided to call it a day,’ he said.

‘He’s played many years at a higher level than what it is over here and it’s taken its toll on his body.’

Ogier is known to be a fan of the diamond formation that sees the team line up 4-4-2 with an attacking central midfielder in front of a defensive central player.

But Ogier again was keeping his cards close to his chest when asked if his side would be in this formation.

‘It’s a bit dependent on Dave Rihoy,’ he said.

‘The guys know 4-4-2 and they know a variation of 4-4-2 [the diamond formation] and they also know how to play a split striker system with one striker off the other. Whatever we decide to do, the guys will be prepared.’

While Ogier is naturally deeply concerned about his own team, he is less interested in Jersey.

Word coming out of the reds’ camp is that they are struggling injuries.

It has been confirmed that their first choice goalkeeper, Andy Bird of St Paul’s, is out with a chipped bone in his foot.

Meanwhile, man-of-the-match last year, Russell Le Feuvre, along with Mark Brown, Paul Aitken, Craig Leitch and Chris Andrews, have all been carrying knocks.

‘I’m not really concerned,’ said Ogier.

‘Dave Kennedy [the Jersey coach] will have them organised and prepared for the game regardless if any players are missing.’

Last year’s Muratti at Foote’s Lane was the first in the 102-year history of the fixture to be decided on the day by extra time and penalties with no replay.

And it was Jersey who held their nerve to win 7-6 from the spot.

Ogier said that his team have not done any special training for if it goes to penalties again.

‘We had a little bit of fun in England but it couldn’t be that serious as it’s about how you react on the day,’ he said.

‘You can’t replicate what’s it going to be like in Springfield.’

And Ogier declined to say what he thought the final score was going to be.

‘I don’t make predictions – I always get them wrong,’ he said.

‘My hope is that it throws up an entertaining game and that we’re on the winning side. We’re going to try to get the result in 90 minutes of football but we’ll be trying to play some entertaining football.’