With the recent dip in form, good time for some fringe players to show their worth IMO:
Rodak
Christie Tosin Mawson Bryan
Reed Onomah Francois
Quina Muniz Kebano
Gazzaniga, Hector, Odoi, Chalobah, Stansfield, BDR, Mitro
No, we need to keep Tosin and Reed fresh for Saturday ,replace them with Hector and Francois.
I doubt Reed will be fit. I would not risk him if he is. No need for Tosin to play. Give Hector a run out. Neither should Onomah play
Same discussion every year. We should play a team strong enough to beat them. Some tweaks like playing Rodak, but if we play players such as Christie no point in even showing up. I think we should take the cup seriously.
Saturday's game away to Bristol City is of greater importance. Promotion is the priority so I can't see the point in taking risks with team selection. We have a number of players, particularly those who have been on international duty, who would benefit from a rest. I expect that to happen. Likewise it would be crazy to risk Reed or anyone else recovering from knocks.
Both important to me
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
Rodak
Christie - Hector - Mawson - Sessegnon
Onomah - Francois
Knockaert - Quina - Kebano
Stansfield
After Saturday's debacle. Need to get the league team right. League Cup became a distraction.
Rodak
Fossey
Hector
Mawson
Bryan??/Sessegnon
Pajaziti
Quina
Francois
Kebano
Stansfield
Muniz??/Knockhaert
We need to progress in the cups, we entered the competitions to compete not throw in the towel because allegedly it will be detrimental to our League chances, never be frightened of your own shadows, show some resilience as it just may rub off on the players.
So what ever the team selected it must go full out to win, not just for giving fringe players game time, that is not competing Thats all the ingredients of a soft underbelly, and we know what happens to teams with a soft underbelly.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on September 19, 2021, 10:39:43 PM
We need to progress in the cups, we entered the competitions to compete not throw in the towel because allegedly it will be detrimental to our League chances, never be frightened of your own shadows, show some resilience as it just may rub off on the players.
So what ever the team selected it must go full out to win, not just for giving fringe players game time, that is not competing Thats all the ingredients of a soft underbelly, and we know what happens to teams with a soft underbelly.
After two losses in a week, we need our first team to be feeling pressure for their places in the starting XI, and a clean sheet against Leeds is exactly the kind of pressure Rodak, Christie, Hector, Mawson, and Bryan needs to place.
I hope whoever is selected does well, and expect them to give their all- maybe a chance for one or two non first team regulars to show what they can do.
A win v Leeds, who did a job on us at the Cottage last season, would be very good for morale, both team's and fans'.
Rodak
Christie - Hector - Mawson - Bryan
Onomah - Francois
Knockaert - Quina - Kebano/Cav
Muniz
Used Subs: Tosin, Seri, and Stansfield
Finishing in the top two is the priority, but we will need many of those players to do it.
Leeds are missing a lot of players and don't have a big squad to start with. 3 out of their 4 centre backs are out as well as Harrison, and both Raphina and Ayling went off with knocks on Friday. So it's likely that we'll face a very weakened Leeds side tomorrow.
Quote from: twang on September 20, 2021, 08:28:40 AM
Leeds are missing a lot of players and don't have a big squad to start with. 3 out of their 4 centre backs are out as well as Harrison, and both Raphina and Ayling went off with knocks on Friday. So it's likely that we'll face a very weakened Leeds side tomorrow.
Bamford has not travelled
I don't see any point in risking first teamers, especially those who are recovering from a knock. I would give Fossey and Sessegnon half a game each at right back to demonstrate whether they can challenge Odoi. I think Francois has been unlucky to miss out since the start of the season, so maybe a chance to put himself back into contention. I would try Quina further forward in a wide position - as he has been utterly ineffective in the centre when he has played so far:
Rodak
Fossey/Sessegnon
Hector
Mawson
Bryan
Francois
Onomah
Pajaziti
Quina
Stansfield
Kebano
Subs:
Fabri
Bowat
Robinson
Cavaleiro
Bowie
Give Stanfield some time, if not starting at least 30 minutes.
Quote from: Lordedmundo on September 20, 2021, 03:20:07 PM
I don't see any point in risking first teamers, especially those who are recovering from a knock. I would give Fossey and Sessegnon half a game each at right back to demonstrate whether they can challenge Odoi. I think Francois has been unlucky to miss out since the start of the season, so maybe a chance to put himself back into contention. I would try Quina further forward in a wide position - as he has been utterly ineffective in the centre when he has played so far:
Rodak
Fossey/Sessegnon
Hector
Mawson
Bryan
Francois
Onomah
Pajaziti
Quina
Stansfield
Kebano
Subs:
Fabri
Bowat
Robinson
Cavaleiro
Bowie
I really like this. We have to let Fossey or Sess try out at right back.
The issue will be who is fit or carrying a knock - Knockaert is out still, Kebano could probably do with game time, Quina for sure and the likes of Stansfield, Pajaziti and Francois merit the start after last round. Not sure Onomah will be risked unless they are confident Fabio is back for Bristol.
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Rodak
Fossey, Hector, Mawson, Bryan
Francois, Pajaziti
Quina, Onomah, Kebano
Muniz
Gazzaniga, Sessegnon, Tosin, Chalobah, Seri, BDR, Stansfield
Gotta start Stansfield give him his opportunity to shine as he earnt it in the first game, Rodak too hope has a blinder
Quote from: St Eve on September 19, 2021, 08:10:58 PM
Same discussion every year. We should play a team strong enough to beat them. Some tweaks like playing Rodak, but if we play players such as Christie no point in even showing up. I think we should take the cup seriously.
The team we are suggesting should be capable of a serious performance, remember Leeds will not be fielding their first choice team.
Rodak
CC-Hector-Kongolo-JB
Pajaziti-Francois
Knock-Quina-Kebano
JS
Subs:
Gaz
Mawson
AR
Fossey
SS
Onomah
Cav
BDR
Mitro
Important to keep the young players who performed well at Birmingham involved. Tempted to place Fossey or SS at RB, but honestly the club need CC fit. If Odoi suffers an injury just don't think they can run the two youngsters out there every match yet. If Kongolo is not fit, then Mawson gets the start with Ream on the bench.
Quote from: Twig on September 20, 2021, 03:55:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Given that 65% of the time, the team that wins the playoff goes straight down.
I'd prefer to "finish 2nd" than have two excellent cup runs (e.g. quarter-finals), finish 3rd, and win the playoff.
Given that we need "EPL TV Money" to keep the players currently in the squad.
I'd prefer to "finish 2nd" than have two brilliant cup runs (e.g. finals), finish 3rd, and lose the playoff final.
As two points could cost £150m, doing well in the cups is possibly a luxury we cannot afford. The cup needs to be used to enhance the Championship squad, by giving game time to those outside the starting XI (e.g. Rodak and Knockaert) and some youngsters (e.g Francois and Muniz).
Quote from: Twig on September 20, 2021, 03:55:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Quite right it's just an opinion... but it's an opinion I share
Rodak
Christie Hector Mawson Bryan
Pajaziti Onomah Francois
Kebano Stansfield Quina
Quote from: Statto on September 21, 2021, 12:29:54 AM
Quote from: Twig on September 20, 2021, 03:55:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Quite right it's just an opinion... but it's an opinion I share
Win the EFL Cup : £100,000
Win the FA Cup : £1,800,000
Win Playoff & GoDown: £150,000,000
Top Two & Stay Up : £270,000,000
The FA Cup is almost an amateur competition.
Can't see Muniz starting tonight or even on the bench, took a whack on Saturday and was hobbling off at the end.
In agreement with a few on here, a good cup run with a strong team is what we need.
Having watched the JS interview on the FFC website sounds like it is 100% he will start. Also from other comments I think it unlikely Muniz will play, shame have not seen him yet. Also all other players with knocks will be left out, so expect to see a lot of bench players start.
Rest Muniz, play Mitro all the goals he has scored so far my Gran could have scored any of those,missed so many chances. Start Muniz the weekend,
Muniz has posted something about game day today, suggests to me that he is involved
Would like to see young Stansfield and Francois getting a run out. Leeds' current form is not great at the moment - 3 pts from five games. Three draws and two losses - we might just get a win
Quote from: The Rational Fan on September 21, 2021, 06:28:51 AM
Quote from: Statto on September 21, 2021, 12:29:54 AM
Quote from: Twig on September 20, 2021, 03:55:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Quite right it's just an opinion... but it's an opinion I share
Win the EFL Cup : £100,000
Win the FA Cup : £1,800,000
Win Playoff & GoDown: £150,000,000
Top Two & Stay Up : £270,000,000
The FA Cup is almost an amateur competition.
The FA Cup was a amateur competition once upon a time.
For me, the FA Cup is one of the most prestigious cups you can win. It's lost some of its prestige in recent years, but I suspect that will eventually change. Give 'The English Game' a watch on Netflix.
Quote from: Statto on September 21, 2021, 12:29:54 AM
Quote from: Twig on September 20, 2021, 03:55:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Quite right it's just an opinion... but it's an opinion I share
And that's fine. I just hate it when people offer opinions as absolutes, as if they were irrefutable facts which they are not.
Quote from: The Rational Fan on September 21, 2021, 06:28:51 AM
Quote from: Statto on September 21, 2021, 12:29:54 AM
Quote from: Twig on September 20, 2021, 03:55:39 PM
Quote from: blingo on September 19, 2021, 09:15:40 PM
Finishing in the top two is the only thing we should be prioritising this season.
In your opinion.
Quite right it's just an opinion... but it's an opinion I share
Win the EFL Cup : £100,000
Win the FA Cup : £1,800,000
Win Playoff & GoDown: £150,000,000
Top Two & Stay Up : £270,000,000
The FA Cup is almost an amateur competition.
You omit to include qualification for Europe and the potential revenues that could be earned. I think you are also only talking about the prize money for the cup competitions and have excluded the gate receipts etc.
