Weakened side this Saturday

[DoDTS]

It seems to me that we've been on a 13 match unbeaten run, then lost, if we put out a weakened side and lose against PV then this puts us in a bad frame of mind for the play offs. So I would keep with your best team although I would start Hooper lets see if he's up for the play offs.

With unbeaten runs you will eventually lose, what is important is the game after that, a good two or three goal win it proves it was only a blip, lose and your on a two match winless run.

 

[ElstreeBlue]

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?!

How about trying Harrold, Herd, Brush and Revell at the
back?

We need to see who could "do a job" at the back if necessary.

Only said partly tongue in cheek.

As much as I rate T&B, I questioned a few weeks ago - why all the fascination with the strikers when it was defensive cover we needed? We're totally done for unless we continue to stay lucky with our preferred back 4. Fortunately the injuries so far have been to the cover rather than first choice.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

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.

Same for me

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

I wouldnt want to see too many changes just a few, with Hooper, Scannell and Moussa coming in and rest Macca and Bailey.

 

[Beefy]

Flavs

Francis
Mulgrew
Barrett
Clarke

Black
Gower
Bailey
McCormack

Walker
Hooper

I think there's a possible shout for giving Liptak his debut as now Grant has gone he's first reserve for the entire back-four and I'd hate to see him being forced on in the Playoffs without a single first team start behind him.

 

[Tin Bath]

Its not in Tilly's nature to make wholesale changes I expect at least 3 though, Hooper def should get a run out as well as Moussa and give Scannell a start, see what he can do rather than just 10 mins, the guy scored a hat-trick in the reserves. I'd rest black, bailey and walker and whoever he has on the bench dont wait till 75 mins give them a run as early as possible. Port vale have started to blood some youth and we should be good enough at home to beat a relegated side

 

[OldBlueLady]

Just a couple of changes for me, I'd start Hooper alongside Revell up front and bring Moussa in for Bailey. Keep Walker handy on the bench, and let Scannell come on for a minimum of half an hour. By all means let Herd have a go from the bench as well. I wouldn't have Barney or Bailey anywhere near the field of play this weekend.

I wonder if Collis could play centre back if needed?!

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

Just a couple of changes for me, I'd start Hooper alongside Revell up front and bring Moussa in for Bailey. Keep Walker handy on the bench, and let Scannell come on for a minimum of half an hour. By all means let Herd have a go from the bench as well. I wouldn't have Barney or Bailey anywhere near the field of play this weekend.

I wonder if Collis could play centre back if needed?!

agreed, Bailey needs to be all suited and booted to pick up his player of the year award.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think this is an incredibly important game if we want to do well in the play-offs.

Our success under Tilson has been built upon confidence. A 13(?) game unbeaten run ended last week, and a convincing win is vital if we are to retain the momentum we built up before Tranmere.

The game after a defeat is always an important one, to see how the team reacts. Another defeat, or even a draw against already relegated Vale and doubt will creep into the players' minds.

I'd rather go into the play-offs on a high albeit without a key player, than go into the play-offs on the back of two defeats but with a fully fit squad.

We must play our strongest team and go out there and score some goals. We can then take Lee Barnard off to rest him, and Nicky Bailey to avoid him getting suspended. And I'd take them off after 20 minutes if we are 2-0 up.

 

[Blueshrimper]

I would give Walker a rest. Lets not forget he has played pretty much every game since he's month out. I think people forget how young he is.

 

[turkishm]

How about trying Harrold, Herd, Brush and Revell at the
back?

We need to see who could "do a job" at the back if necessary.

Only said partly tongue in cheek.

As much as I rate T&B, I questioned a few weeks ago - why all the fascination with the strikers when it was defensive cover we needed? We're totally done for unless we contine to stay lucky with our preferred back 4. Fortunately the injuries so far have been to the cover rather than first choice.

Correct,said this myself a while back,but was told i was Tilly bashing and i should keep quite.

 

[ElstreeBlue]

Which permutation of our midfielders do we need to keep apart?

(a) Foran and any of them? (OK, I know he's injured.)

(b) Mousse and Maher? (OK, I know Maher's been farmed out.)

(c) Macca and Bailey? (OK, I know Bailey's suspended. Oh no, he's not. That was lucky, wasn't it?)

Any other suggestions for who to keep apart?

When you look at it this way, if we actually want the midfielders to pass to each other, we're also quite limited with the options of midfielders we currently have on our books.

How likely is it that Macca and Bailey stay on the pitch for all of the next four games?

Let's hope we stay lucky on availability at back and in midfield. Keep praying..!

 

[C C Csiders]

Correct,said this myself a while back,but was told i was Tilly bashing and i should keep quite.

This is getting serious. It appears that turkishm has been shot just as he was about to finish his sentence.

 

[Beefy]

I think this is an incredibly important game if we want to do well in the play-offs.

Our success under Tilson has been built upon confidence. A 13(?) game unbeaten run ended last week, and a convincing win is vital if we are to retain the momentum we built up before Tranmere.

The game after a defeat is always an important one, to see how the team reacts. Another defeat, or even a draw against already relegated Vale and doubt will creep into the players' minds.

I'd rather go into the play-offs on a high albeit without a key player, than go into the play-offs on the back of two defeats but with a fully fit squad.

We must play our strongest team and go out there and score some goals. We can then take Lee Barnard off to rest him, and Nicky Bailey to avoid him getting suspended. And I'd take them off after 20 minutes if we are 2-0 up.

FWIW, I think that will be Tilly's train of thought too. I just think that Barnard is too big a player for us to risk with his injury record, especially as most of Vale's players will be playing for their future and will probably be working as hard as they will have done all season to prove that they are worth another contract.

Hooper is the perfect replacement and should be buzzing after what has happened to him at Hereford.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

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

No. I've no idea what the sides' different arguments were at the recent arbitration hearing.

That said, I'm really not sure why Leeds got docked 15 points, when most other sides get docked 10 points for going into / being in administration (in Leeds' case, I think their failure was their inability to get their CVA agreed in enough time at the start of this season).

I've had a hunch all along that Leeds would get 5 points back - the arbitrations that tend to stick are those which produce a result that neither side is really happy with, but neither side is so unhappy that they are prepared to take the dispute further.

That, of course, would torpedo our plans for a nice wee match-up with Carlisle, and could potentially give us the nightmare scenario of having to play... Leeds in the playoffs.

In the scenario where Leeds get 5 points back, and then beat Gills at home, they'd finish on 81 points. If my other three predictions come true - Forest winning at home to the Glovers, Donny drawing away with Cheltenham and Carlisle drawing at home with Bournemouth, that would put Forest into 2nd on 82 points, Carlisle into 5th with 80 points, and then Leeds would finish 3rd ahead of Donny with their considerably superior goal difference (currently +33, to Donny's +25), with both having 81 points. Regardless of our result against Vale, the most points we can get this season is 78 points - leaving us 6th, come what may.

Leeds v. Southend over two legs wouldn't be my ideal choice of play-off semi-final, but it's a distinct possibility if Leeds get 5 points back.

I guess we'll need to see what happens at the end of this week...

Matt

 

[C C Csiders]

I've had a hunch all along that Leeds would get 5 points back - the arbitrations that tend to stick are those which produce a result that neither side is really happy with, but neither side is so unhappy that they are prepared to take the dispute further.

As I said on another thread this is exactly what will happen. The League hoping to engineer (if all results go to plan) Forest and Leeds being kept apart in the play-off semi's, so that they can get "everyone's dream play-off final" (TM - Big League Weekend).

Sure as eggs is eggs we will end up with Forest (unless Donny balls-up) and Leeds v. Carlisle will be the other semi. Get the best refs who will bend over backwards at Elland Rd and the City Ground for the home side and Hey Presto! 80,000 at Wembley.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I would have thought that the league would want both of these 'big clubs' back in the championship, so they would give dirty Leeds all the points back thereby guaranteeing them promotion and then hope Forest win the play-offs.

 

[SUFCLiam]

Collis
Francis Clarke Barratt Mulgrew
Scannell Moussa Macca
Hooper McDonald Ademeno

 

[Forever A Shrimper]

I'd like to see Gary Hooper given a run out this saturday, but I don't want to risk anything with our key players and you never know, Gary might be our diamond in the rough.

 

[sufcintheprem]

As I said on another thread this is exactly what will happen. The League hoping to engineer (if all results go to plan) Forest and Leeds being kept apart in the play-off semi's, so that they can get "everyone's dream play-off final" (TM - Big League Weekend).

Sure as eggs is eggs we will end up with Forest (unless Donny balls-up) and Leeds v. Carlisle will be the other semi. Get the best refs who will bend over backwards at Elland Rd and the City Ground for the home side and Hey Presto! 80,000 at Wembley.

They didn't do such a good job of engineering Forest's path to the playoff final last year, though. If we end up playing Carlisle in the semis, does that mean that eggs aren't eggs or isn't eggs?