lake district canary 4,531 Posted October 13, 2016 Ok, you''re the manager and you''ve been working with the same group of players for two weeks while some of your best players have been working away. You''ve been able to do some good work with the players that were left and have confidence that they are going to do really well in the upcoming match. The internationals have had tough matches and might benefit a rest, especially as we have three games in a week.So when those players return, do you put them back in or do you rest them? Without them, our team could be - RuddyPinto Bennett Bassong Whittaker Howson DorransJa Murphy Pritchard Jo Murphy JeromeNot suggesting for one minute this will be the line up, but Brady and Klose had knocks, Hoolahan played nearly two full matches, Ollson puts in huge efforts whenever he plays. Martin might benefit a break. The only difficulty is left back if Brady and Olsson are rested, but Whittaker can play there and we have three tough games in a week.So which players would you rest and which would you leave in, assuming they are all fit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CANARYKING 637 Posted October 13, 2016 Never want to see Whitaker again ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoola Han Solo 448 Posted October 13, 2016 Agree with that team but I''d put all the international boys in, ie Wes, Brady and Olsson unless injured. Important we put out our strongest eleven to get back to it with a win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bradwell canary 109 Posted October 13, 2016 [quote user="CANARYKING"]Never want to see Whitaker again ![/quote]Agree, take Bassong with him!How did Whitaker ever get a year added to his contract, only he and AN knows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yellow Wal 314 Posted October 13, 2016 This just shows the strength of our squad. There are multi-million pound players who have not been included in the team above.As the squad is this strong I feel we must play our best team whenever we can and then rely upon the strength in reserve in case of injury/suspension.If it aint broke don''t mend it.To change a team because of what we have coming up in the future could backfire and the future could not be the same as we imagined. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter-plastic 0 Posted October 13, 2016 LDC - Hoolahan played nearly ONE full match. He was an unused sub v Georgia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,531 Posted October 13, 2016 [Y] Thanks. Thought he had played both. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rufus 56 Posted October 13, 2016 If everyone fit, go with the same team! Respect Rotherham, they will be hard to beat so put first choice team out.brest a few if and when we are 3 up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Norfolk Mustard 94 Posted October 13, 2016 Securing 3 precious points is the main objective; should anyone get injured we have cover ready & waiting. I would keep full strength until we have a 3 goal advantage with 30 to go - or a 2 goal advantage with 15 to go - then rest key players. This is the type of game we need to nail... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Number 9 0 Posted October 13, 2016 Whittaker, Martin, Bassong & don''t forget Turner.* strength in depth Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tetteys Jig 830 Posted October 13, 2016 that left side of defence is suicide ldc. Martin and Bennett if klose is injured and olsson straight back in. he is one of the most naturally fit players we have so will have no problems. further forward without tettey I only feel confident enough to have 1 murphy as they aren''t the most defensive. id be prepared to go with howson/Dorrans as the 2 in the middle tho. I''m tempted by pritchard on the other flank to Jacob tho. Wes back in the middle behind jerome. Rotherham is exactly the sort of game we need his vision for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tetteys Jig 830 Posted October 13, 2016 it''s "only rotherham" but if we don''t get 3 points here after resting players we will kick ourselves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted October 13, 2016 Indeed rufus, you don''t change a winning side.If Alex tinkered and we lost, he''d be crucified on here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldRobert 38 Posted October 13, 2016 Any news on Klose? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The gut 0 Posted October 13, 2016 I don''t think for one minute that my preference would be deployed, but I like it, and think Rotherham would be an ideal game to use it:- Ruddy Martin Klose BassongJacob M Howson Dorrans Brady Hoolahan Olivera Jerome I think Alex has shown he changes winning teams, horses for courses and all that, I certainly don''t think he would worry about the Pinkun messageboard crucifiction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hogesar 9,657 Posted October 13, 2016 No need to change anything, if players like Brady are feeling it a bit, give them 60 minutes then sub them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bethnal Yellow and Green 1,557 Posted October 13, 2016 I''d drop Brady for Pritchard, mainly because he hasn''t been playing very well.If his goal against Wolves had gone over the bar, he would be the main scapegoat on here at the moment.AN himself said he hasn''t been performing well - a he wasn''t much better against Wolves across the 90mins.The ''never change a winning team'' mantra is outdated and backwards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted October 13, 2016 How often has Alex made changes to a winning team other than because of an injury? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bethnal Yellow and Green 1,557 Posted October 13, 2016 Burton/NewcastleBeat Burton then dropped Wes for the Newcastle game.AN has regularly changed winning teams depending on the opposition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted October 13, 2016 Two very different situations.In my opinion it will be pretty much the same team as last time out, barring injuries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bethnal Yellow and Green 1,557 Posted October 13, 2016 That''s what I am saying Morty.Blithely saying ''never change a winning team'' without considering the situation of the two games is a bit backwards.I''d say Wolves away compared to Rotherham at home are also very different situations. The opposition teams certainly play in very different ways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted October 13, 2016 My opinion is still that it will be pretty much the same team.And my opinion is that dropping players who are in form and winning games isn''t a great idea, especially when we are at home and should be concentrating on our own game, rather than worrying about the opposition. Sorry if that''s outdated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clint 221 Posted October 13, 2016 It''s rediculous that Naismith doesn''t even make our side even if you take half the team away, what an absolute waste of money! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The gut 0 Posted October 13, 2016 It''s ridiculous that someone can make a low level Sunday league statement and give attitude to the poster who called him out on it while obviously missing out that our Alex had done that very same thing only two games ago. Then backtracking saying that was different, schoolboy argument. To cover any further embarrassment we then get predictions like "pretty much" the same team. Mmmm not gonna go far wrong with a prediction like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
curious yellow 184 Posted October 13, 2016 If we can beat Everton away with our we should not have any worries about making changes in games such as this.I wouldn''t blame the manager if he was careful with players who weren''t 100% as they would be at risk of making things worse.Ron Saunders used to say that you should change a winning team and re-select a losing team.I wonder if Alex might pick Josh over Jacob. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The gut 0 Posted October 13, 2016 He could curious, and without anyone knowing. Perhaps they could make the switch without Alex knowing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tumbleweed 106 Posted October 13, 2016 I am very much in favour of keeping settled line ups. I think that dropping players should only really happen if they are (i) injured (including tiredness after this sort of international "break" [sic.]), (ii) playing poorly over an extended period (and not just the odd off game), and (iii) if we buy someone tangibly better.It''s a dull answer but I think AN will just look at each one and decide what condition they are in and then decide rather than making a blanket decision. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yellow 63 23 Posted October 13, 2016 Last time in the Championship two 1-1 draws with Rotherham,i feel another awkward 90 minutes Saturday Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BroadstairsR 2,162 Posted October 13, 2016 "I am very much in favour of keeping settled line ups. I think that dropping players should only really happen if they are (i) injured (including tiredness after this sort of international "break" [sic.]), (ii) playing poorly over an extended period (and not just the odd off game), and (iii) if we buy someone tangibly better."I''m with you there. The popular tactic of adjusting the line-up according to the opposition, and further to this general tinkering in any case, doesn''t appeal to me.Therefore our strongest line up, which by definition is the last one(s) because of our recent success, is the only way to go.Thinking too much is dangerous. Rotherham must not be taken for granted and they cannot even be classed as a potential banana skin as it''s a routine home game.AN has mixed up a good aggregate recently for us doubters. The next few games will see how it settles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites