Weakened side this Saturday

[DTS]

Cant decide if we should play a weakend team or not for Port Vale.

On one hand I think its good the players play week in week out to keep there hand in. I also think its important as we dont really have a reserve squad as such.

One the flips side I cant see the point is risking key players (Bailey,Barnard,Macca,Gower) all of whom are either injury prone or fight prone) for the sake of a nothing game against a relegated side.

What would you do.

 

[Pubey]

i would probably stick with the team against tranmere but be prepared to give hooper, scannell and the moose 30mins. i wouldn't risk barney

 

[Kris]

I think Saturday is the ideal opportunity to give the likes of Herd, Scannell and Liptak first-team experience. In addition, it allows some of our first-team players to gain much-needed rest before the play-offs while Carlisle, Forest and Donny battle it out for the remaining automatic promotion place.

So, I'd definitely go for the weakened team option.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Do an @rsenal and put out the youth team.

With Nicky Bailey in the centre for a bit of a rumble when we're 4-0 down....

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

We are not really spoilt for choice allowing for current injuries ( wilson, hunt, liptak, kanu, barnard?)and the size of our squad. However, i would start with the moose and hooper.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I don't think it's a nothing game. As things stand, I reckon Carlisle are nailed on for fourth place - Forest are playing a Yeovil side who are safe (and who have been poor - a shadow of last year's play-off finalists), which means that Forest really ought to win. That will mean that Forest are likely to finish 2nd or 3rd, depending on how Donny get on at Cheltenham (a difficult game - if the Robins win, they know they will stay up).

Carlisle also play relegation-haunted Bournemouth - but the Cherries have resurrected themselves in recent weeks and, boosted by a win at the Liberty in recent weeks, will travel to Carlisle with optimism.

Mystic Matt predicts that Forest will win, and Donny & Carlisle will both draw, meaning that Forest grab the second auto-promotion spot, Donny will finish 3rd and Carlisle will finish 4th.

I'd rather play the Cumbrians than Donny, so we need to finish 5th. Besides, if we finish 5th, then we get over a week to recover prior to the play-off game, which won't be until Monday 12th May.

Leeds have got the Southend B-team at Elland Road - sadly, I think Leeds will thump the Gills and send them down.

That means we need to beat Port Vale to hold on to 5th. Leaving aside last week's wobble on the Wirral, this is a side with loads of momentum - and other than working out how to slot an in-form Walker, Barnard and Hooper into the two striking places up front (sadly, I think Hoops will once again be bench-warming) - I think we should stick with the same side - and then bring players off after 60 minutes provided that we've got a two-goal cushion by then - I'd bring off Gower, Bailey & Barney, to rest them for the playoffs; and bring on the Moose, Scannell and Hoops, all of whom may well feature in the playoffs.

Matt

 

[Homer]

cant see liptak playing because of his head injury in last nights game at stevenage 4 stiches in a head wound doubt if will see him now till next
season

maybe tilson will rest some key players but i think if think he will continue
with the team that played sat i think he will drop revell maybe for hooper
giving him a full run out and hoe he can continue in his fine form as he did
for the bulls

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I think we should rest some players, Barney is out already, and i think bailey should be rested, make sure he is a available for the play-offs, i'm not sure about leaving out Gower, a rest could do him good.

Leave the defence as it is.

Would like to see Scannell start either in place of Gower or Black, to give him a chance, he's had a couple of good games for the reserves by all accounts.

Moussa in for Bailey.

Upfront I'd like to see Hooper start alongside Revell or Walker.

We should still be able to beat Port Vale.

 

[SUFCEssex]

i think we should put out our best team and go for it. if we're 2,3 or 4 up at Half time then make changes.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

I don't think it's a nothing game. As things stand, I reckon Carlisle are nailed on for fourth place - Forest are playing a Yeovil side who are safe (and who have been poor - a shadow of last year's play-off finalists), which means that Forest really ought to win. That will mean that Forest are likely to finish 2nd or 3rd, depending on how Donny get on at Cheltenham (a difficult game - if the Robins win, they know they will stay up).

Carlisle also play relegation-haunted Bournemouth - but the Cherries have resurrected themselves in recent weeks and, boosted by a win at the Liberty in recent weeks, will travel to Carlisle with optimism.

Mystic Matt predicts that Forest will win, and Donny & Carlisle will both draw, meaning that Forest grab the second auto-promotion spot, Donny will finish 3rd and Carlisle will finish 4th.

I'd rather play the Cumbrians than Donny, so we need to finish 5th. Besides, if we finish 5th, then we get over a week to recover prior to the play-off game, which won't be until Monday 12th May.

Leeds have got the Southend B-team at Elland Road - sadly, I think Leeds will thump the Gills and send them down.

That means we need to beat Port Vale to hold on to 5th. Leaving aside last week's wobble on the Wirral, this is a side with loads of momentum - and other than working out how to slot an in-form Walker, Barnard and Hooper into the two striking places up front (sadly, I think Hoops will once again be bench-warming) - I think we should stick with the same side - and then bring players off after 60 minutes provided that we've got a two-goal cushion by then - I'd bring off Gower, Bailey & Barney, to rest them for the playoffs; and bring on the Moose, Scannell and Hoops, all of whom may well feature in the playoffs.

Matt

My thoughts exactly , we need to finish 5th in order for us to play either Carlise or Donny , the last game IMO we want to be playing is Forest in the semi's as that is a real toughie.

on paper all the top 6 sides should win but being Final day in Football anything goes so i'd rather get the 3 points and know that we didn't **** up and end up playing Forest .

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

Leave the defence as it is.

Unfortunately we've only got four defenders so that's all we can do!

If Liptak is injured the only defensive cover I can think of is Jonny Herd - a very small 17 year old left back!

What will we do if any of our defenders are injured or sent off against Port Vale or in the play offs?!

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Unfortunately we've only got four defenders so that's all we can do!

If Liptak is injured the only defensive cover I can think of is Jonny Herd - a very small 17 year old left back!

What will we do if any of our defenders are injured or sent off against Port Vale or in the play offs?!

Go to church and pray.

 

[steveo]

Mystic Matt predicts that Forest will win, and Donny & Carlisle will both draw, meaning that Forest grab the second auto-promotion spot, Donny will finish 3rd and Carlisle will finish 4th.

And can Mystic Matt predict the outcome of the Leeds points fiasco?

 

[fatshrimp]

Don't think this is a nothing game.

I do think Tilson should perhaps be a bit more willing to make substitutons to rest certain players a bit, rather than the standard changes 8mins from time.

 

[ShrimplyTheBest]

Any chance Kanu will be fit to have a runout???

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

And can Mystic Matt predict the outcome of the Leeds points fiasco?

Exactly. Results may well go the way Matt has suggested but if Leeds got 15 pts back [and i have an increasingly bad feeling they will] then we'd end up playing forest anyway.

But anything can happen on the last day results-wise, and the play-offs are always tight with teams often going against previous form. I'd rather not risk our best players getting injured/suspended.

 

[southend lad till i die]

I think we should rest the whole team & give the youngsters ago not being funny but port vale are ****!

 

[SARF]

If Vale are rubbish then its good chance for our regular strikers to get in the goals.. i say play a full strength team and have a real go in the first half.. Mix it up a bit with 30 to go .. with a big gaps between games , unless they are carrying a knock I say play em.. Barney if fit could probably do with a run out rather than spend 3 weeks with out a game

 

[turkishm]

Unfortunately we've only got four defenders so that's all we can do!

If Liptak is injured the only defensive cover I can think of is Jonny Herd - a very small 17 year old left back!

What will we do if any of our defenders are injured or sent off against Port Vale or in the play offs?!

Said this when Hunt got injured a while back. Best wrap Barrett,and Clarke in cotten wool .

 

[C C Csiders]

I'd keep the same side, with the hope that Barnard is fit. As MtS states this is far from a nothing game - unless Leeds get all their points back (and we can only finish 6th). The changes I would make would follow any yellow cards. once one is dished out, pull that player off (see The Pub Self Love thread).