For the trip to Southend

Teams like City change players on a weekly basis in the premier league. Because they can. Doesn't mean they don't take the league seriously. Also, most fans would relish the opportunity to see their team play against the likes of Silva, Aguero and even some of the so-called squad players such as B Silva and Gundogan. To class it as a game we will likely lose anyway is also just baffling. The only reason we's be likely to lose is if we fielded a second string team.

 

Or Cavare.

We struggled against Southend at home, and all our 4 defeats, plus blackpool have been away. It's prime time to tinker with the team to find a better option than what we have away from home.

As for hoping to win to watch overhyped overpaid mollycoddled cheats... I'll pass.

 

Our best performances have also come away from home. See no reason why we would be likely to lose this game. It won't be easy, but to suggest we are likely to lose is a tad silly in my opinion. We'll see come Saturday whether the coaching staff share your perspective.

 

The club and management will choose what they want to do accordingly, and I'm sure that whatever team they put out, they'll be trying to win it. We have, the weaker teams with soft underbellies, Bradford, Rochdale and Peterborough, we convincingly beat. But Charlton, Shrewsbury, Blackpool and Coventry, we were atrocious in all of them, weren't we?

 

I'm not disputing that, i'm simply stating that because we were poor in 4 games (one in which we fielded a weakened team) doesn't mean we are likely to lose against Southend. We are playing a team who have lost four of their last five games and sit mid table in the league. It won't be easy, but if we are likely to lose games against such opposition then I fear for our chances of finishing anywhere near the top 6. P.s I would also add Accrington to the list of great away performances.

 

I think efficient is more accurate than great.

And yes, I fear for our top 6 chances too, the pack has closed up on us and Charlton and Luton are definite contenders, Doncaster are decent, Blackpool aren't bad, Peterborough are a threat, and the top 2 who have a decent gap on us now. I thought we had enough, but now opposition teams have found us out, we're going to be tested like we haven't been. The sad thing, it's not even hard to play now we've been found out. A hoof, a bit of pace, niggling fouls, strong challenges and timewasting and we aren't the team we've shown a handful of times.

Against some average sides we're struggling, Sunderland (though technically we appeared to be better, yet still conceded 4) was a wake up call for me. We cant disrespect this league and expect to go up my playing 3 defenders and a casual floater who isn't generating attacking and just can't be bothered going backwards. And that's another reason I'd be giving game time to fringe players, especially our full backs.

But I think we have to make some tough calls in January if we want to have a shot at automatic.

Personally I think i'd release Cavare (though understand the impact that may have on Thiam.. though whether I'd keep him, I'm not sure either), i'd sell Lindsay and buy another centre half... and heresy I know... I might even look at offers for Potts if the long term plan is 4-4-2 and look to find a more attacking right wing/midfield option who can cross a ball and make better end decisions. Great ball carrier and engine and I like the kid, I'm not sure our fullbacks and wide players are the answer for promotion and beyond.

 

I'd consider offers for everyone apart from Woodrow, Dougall and Moore. I'd move the last two on if we get promoted.

I'd be actively looking to get rid of Cavare, Fryers, Thiam, Isgrove and possibly McGeehan asap. Problem is we might struggle to bring superior players in in January. Might have to try and get a couple of loans in.

 

I agree that we should rest Cavare for this fixture and have previously stated in this thread. I also understand some of your concerns regarding promotion and think we will struggle to make top two. However, we're going off topic here. I stand by the fact that we should play a strong team on Saturday and that this competition still means something to players and fans. I have no objection in resting a few players but to suggest it's a game we are likely to lose and should therefore rest our all our best players and play "the kids" to avoid potential injuries still sounds a bit bonkers to me. Not saying we won't do that mind.

 

I suspect we'll play a fairly "strong" side. tricky as we have the nonsense cup midweek and coming off the back of a tough morale sapping defeat at the mackems. I stand by personally the fa cup is a total waste of time and i'd prioritise the league over every cup competition.

I'd actually play cavare, his "dip" in form in my view is nothing to do with ability, its all about character. Charlton was a prime example. Stendel put him in a free role at the top of the pitch. Maybe because he can't control him, but certainly because he wasn't getting close to making his own half, let alone putting a tackle in. That's attitude. Nothing more or less.

Anyway, we'll agree to differ. My preference is we give promising kids a run out plus cavare and ideally get knocked out to alleviate any log jam of fixtures from now til seasons end.

 

What are you judging Dougall on there? Kieffer Moore I understand as we saw him in the second half of last season and, as much as I thought he was a handful, he missed a fair few chances. However, I think we would be mad to let him go if we go up. But Dougall I’m confused as to what you’re judging his championship performance level on.

 

Yep, have to agree to disagree on this matter. Who knows we could play the kids and run riot. Interesting one with Cavare, I think maybe playing him in a cup game might be a good opportunity for him to get some confidence back and demonstrate that he can put in the effort when required. However, J Williams looked decent in the checkatrade so would be tempted to give him more game time to see if he can develop into a viable alternative at right back.

 

If it were lack of confidence, he'd be more likely to be hanging back and not committing forward. Instead, he's getting caught up the pitch and just sauntering back without effort or care. I'd play him in this game with the instruction, give it everything, or after this game you're done. Your choice. At least he's out of contract in the summer so we don't have a huge cost in getting shut.

 

I dunno, agree he doesn't lack confidence getting forward. However, his two mistakes against Doncaster came from him not knowing what to do with the ball once he won it back. Guess that could be a sign of over-confidence in that he thought he could hold onto the ball and play out form the back or lack of confidence with regards to being stuck in two minds on what to actually do. Hard to tell.

 

I'd hazard a guess (and its a completely subjective guess, I appreciate that) is that he's just not well attuned to applied thought. He just does things as he feels when he feels and doesn't really care. I think he wants to win of course, but I don't think he attached his actions to the betterment of how he plays or the needs of the team. Hence why I think he goes forward because he prefers that, whether there are positive end results or not.

 

I'm not judging Dougall. It's too soon. That's why I wouldn't accept offers for him. Unless it was an offer too good to turn down.

 

You said you’d move the last two on if we got promoted didn’t you? The last 2 being Dougall and Moore?

 

By then we will have seen enough to know. On early impressions I am not sure he is Championship quality.

 

Play full strength. After one point in six they need minutes on the pitch not stewing ten days waiting to put it right. We are one win away from a potentially big tie and those who travel all that way deserve a strong line up.

 

Then we would have to keep him, there's only one way of finding out if he's up to it & that's by giving him the opportunity