Portsmouth (A)

[imp566]

Feb 13, 2024 10:59:29 GMT cambsno said:

I do feel some of the team feel undropable and we need changes from Sat. Also we have a HUGE game on Sat, win that and it should be safe, lose and we are bang in trouble.

Stevens
Gibbons Rossi Morro Andrew
Thomas Digby/Cousins
KaiKai Lankaster Brophy
Bonne

Drop Taylor as he is so important to Sat and probably needs a rest, give Bonne a run out to get Sat out of his system.
Drop one of Digby/Cousins (maybe allowing Cousins a chance to redeem is worth it) with Rossi deserving a run out, and Lennett a rest

I'm not sure how you can class Saturday's game as 'win we are safe, lose we are bang in trouble'? There is a long way to go before the final ball is kicked and there will be twists and turns all along the way, that's why it's a League competition over 9 months!

[onlyluke92]

I don't see the point or agree with making wholesale changes for an away game against top of the league. Putting lots of players together who haven't necessarily played with each other before is really increasing the risk of exposing them, so what are we going to learn about them in that environment?

The current way of playing isn't fundamentally broken, we have lost 1 in 5

[Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage]

Feb 13, 2024 11:20:02 GMT onlyluke92 said:

I don't see the point or agree with making wholesale changes for an away game against top of the league. Putting lots of players together who haven't necessarily played with each other before is really increasing the risk of exposing them, so what are we going to learn about them in that environment?

The current way of playing isn't fundamentally broken, we have lost 1 in 5

From those 5 though I'd say we've been more bad or middling than good (missed the Shrews game so classing that as good) and we lost the 3 before that so think we should be looking to improve despite a decent enough run. Don't think wholesale changes are needed but there's certainly questions about the CB pairing, the CM pairing and those picked to support Taylor in the attacking third.

[cambsno]

Feb 13, 2024 11:09:42 GMT imp566 said:

Feb 13, 2024 10:59:29 GMT cambsno said:

I do feel some of the team feel undropable and we need changes from Sat. Also we have a HUGE game on Sat, win that and it should be safe, lose and we are bang in trouble.

Stevens
Gibbons Rossi Morro Andrew
Thomas Digby/Cousins
KaiKai Lankaster Brophy
Bonne

Drop Taylor as he is so important to Sat and probably needs a rest, give Bonne a run out to get Sat out of his system.
Drop one of Digby/Cousins (maybe allowing Cousins a chance to redeem is worth it) with Rossi deserving a run out, and Lennett a rest

I'm not sure how you can class Saturday's game as 'win we are safe, lose we are bang in trouble'? There is a long way to go before the final ball is kicked and there will be twists and turns all along the way, that's why it's a League competition over 9 months!

Probably more from a pshycological viewpoint - lose v bottom, results go against us and its a big hit. Picking up a win every 3 games, especially against lower teams is a big lift

[mike_CUFC]

We do seem to play better when teams are on the front foot against us, we have the pace to be a very good counter attacking team. Tonight won't be an easy game by any stretch but it's also the kind of game we can take a point from by setting up well and hopefully right the wrongs of the poor performance from Saturday.

[artvandelay]

And picking up a point or three tonight would also be a big lift. They are not invincible, they've lost to Cheltenham and Orient and only got a draw in the game here. Our last disastrous performance under Harris was met with a response so I'm hoping for similar.

With four games in the next fortnight, not to mention some very poor individual displays on Saturday, I would still expect some changes.

[hoolaohanrahanrahan]

Imagine losing to Cheltenham at home, what a bunch of losers.

But yeah, it's one of those matches, if we're still in the match by the hour mark then things might get a bit twitchy among the home support.

Shithousery of the Burtonian order is called for.

[danielcufc]

Can't see wholesale changes, but if you are a player on the bench or out of the squad you have to ask what you have to do to get in after Saturday. I have felt for ages that midfield is the problem and in the press conference NH mentions about not passing the ball backwards and sideways all the time. Thomas has to come in for one of the other 2 and possibly May as well. Gibbons may get a game instead of Lennett. We have some skillful attacking players but weve got to be positive and look to create chances for them. Taylor showed he can do that against Shrewsbury with good service.

[danboyb]

I don’t think we’re in a position to prioritise games etc. obviously Saturday is crucial and on paper easier.. but we’ve got to pick a team tonight that gives us the best chance of getting something. We will need to be clinical. Taylor has to start and Thomas has also shown in the past that he can finish. The goal conceded Sat and the fact Cousins made the same mistake minutes later says it all about his current form.

I think it was Andrew who suggested trying KaiKai through the middle, I would go with that too, but expect it’ll be kachunga. Would also start Rossi for Bennett. Many had a poor game on Sat but Bennett has a habit of repeating the same mistakes. As Daniel said, if certain players don’t get in now then they’ll start to wonder if they ever will. Not hopeful of getting anything, but I am expecting a much better performance than Saturday. Good chance for some on the fringe to show Harris what they can do.

[imp566]

I would definitely play Adam May; he must be chomping at the bit to get back in the team, and what an opportunity tonight provides to motivate him, playing against his former club.

[westchestertonbear]

Feb 13, 2024 15:19:27 GMT imp566 said:

I would definitely play Adam May; he must be chomping at the bit to get back in the team, and what an opportunity tonight provides to motivate him, playing against his former club.

He’s been garbage in every game he’s played this season - so I wouldn’t .

[Emperor Delbert Gradius]

Feb 13, 2024 17:10:41 GMT westchestertonbear said:

Feb 13, 2024 15:19:27 GMT imp566 said:

I would definitely play Adam May; he must be chomping at the bit to get back in the team, and what an opportunity tonight provides to motivate him, playing against his former club.

He’s been garbage in every game he’s played this season - so I wouldn’t .

Adam May, the specter of the Abbey, doomed to haunt us for enternity (or at least the end of his contract) for our transgressions against St. Bonner...

[Andrewlang]

Not sure I would say garbage but first half against Oxford aside he's hardly put in a performance that DEMANDS he starts the next game.

I don't think (m)anyone on the bench has really done that tbh. Changing the team tomorrow isn't about who's playing well enough to start for me because that would only leave us with five players*, it's about getting the balance right.

For example, I liked Okedina, despite the rickets, because it seemed like him stepping out and being a bit more mobile dragged out double pivot further forward into the mid-press that looked good in other games.

I also think a box to box player and a holder gives us better balance than the double pivot so I'd like to see us progress to that in games like Cheltenham, not sure Bolton is the place for that, mind.

* The five are Stevens, Morro, Andrew, Lennett and Taylor.

Andrew

[danielcufc]

[andycufc]

Feb 13, 2024 18:51:58 GMT danielcufc said:

👀 Three at the back?