Blackpool

[bencher]

At left back, I would expect Odoi will play there if Bryan is still unfit, and at right back will be Sessegnon or one of the youngsters. I have a feeling Reed could be asked to play RB but I would prefer to see a specialist given a chance.

[Twig]

If Mitro and Wilson were out with Covid surely there is a chance that more players could soon test positive.

and thats the worry.
i wonder how often the players are tested?
i would test 3 or 4 times  a day every day to minimize the risk of it spreading. far far over the top in most instances but when you are talking losing key players which could even over a week define our season

Shoving something up your nose 3 or 4 times a day will make you ILL.

Perhaps they just have a covid party. Stay away from vulnerable, carry on training to keep match fitness. As most won't even realise they have it.  Then a week later wheb they're testing negative, back in the action. (Obviously a postponement needed if a game sits within that week)

Is this for real?

[Tabby]

Better to just let them talk to themselves than try to argue.

[Cookie6262]

We talk about our talented youth players and why they are leaving and that we need to find a better pathway into the first team... well if Bryan and Robinson are both out we have a young left back in the reserves who is having a great season has won 3 premier league u23 player of the month. What better game than a home match against a team we are favourites to beat and should dominate possession... If Bryan and Jedi are out let's play Larkeche.

[Deeping_white]

We talk about our talented youth players and why they are leaving and that we need to find a better pathway into the first team... well if Bryan and Robinson are both out we have a young left back in the reserves who is having a great season has won 3 premier league u23 player of the month. What better game than a home match against a team we are favourites to beat and should dominate possession... If Bryan and Jedi are out let's play Larkeche.

Only issue is that Blackpool have two lightning fast wingers and that's probably how they'll target us like they did in the away game, and it means we'll have Odoi on one side who's very slow and a guy potentially making his debut on the other, with Ream inside him who we all know is susceptible to pace. Granted we should still win the game but we don't know about Mitro or Wilson yet and we've just lost our starting full backs and winning goalscorer from the last game

[Lordedmundo]

If Mitro and Wilson aren't around to play then we should take advantage of the rule and postpone.

If they are fit, we might as well play the game even if we need to play Ream/Sess/U23 at LB.

Yes - I agree.  Provided we have an otherwise full strength team I would be happy to have Odoi or Sess at right back. If Bryan is still injured then I would like to see Larkeche at left back

[Whitestone]

This isn't the time to gamble three points away. We are permitted to postpone with Reid, Seri and Robinson away. On top of that we have other issues. This isn't the time to take a chance, particularly if there is any other uncertainty around key players and positions.

[Count Flapula]

Kongolo has also previously played at LB - if Tete, Bryan and Robinson are all out then maybe he'll finally get some game time (if he's not been shipped out on loan).

Personally I'm also of the view that we have a deep and talented enough squad to manage the next game without cancelling it. I like seeing players outside of our first XI get a game - Muniz and BDR proved at Stoke away that we can cope.

Also, what message does it send to the rest of the league if we dont cancel with several players out and go on to win? Even if we don't win we are presently 8 points ahead so will remain at least 5 ahead worst case, so weighing it all up I think we should go ahead and play (providing we don't lose any more players - if we lose more I reserve the right to change my mind!).

[rusty shackleford]

If we can find a way to postpone do it. Why would we risk throwing away 3 points?

[S.F.Sorrow]

We all saw what happened against Bristol City in the League Cup when we took advantage of our amazing squad depth...

We have the squad depth to cover for injuries/suspensions/rotation in 2-3 positions. We do NOT have the squad depth to replace half the starting eleven and expect 3 points. It's not just a matter of individual skills and quality. It's also about unsettling the "flow" of a settled starting eleven on a winning run.

Going ahead with the game will be a huge gamble with Mitro, Wilson, Seri, BDR, Robinson, Tete and Bryan out. We can still win of course but personally I hope we postpone the game unless at least Mitro and Wilson is back and fully recovered. Other clubs take advantage of the rules, why should we give ourselves the disadvantage of playing a severely weakened side?

[WindyCity]

This isn't the time to gamble three points away. We are permitted to postpone with Reid, Seri and Robinson away. On top of that we have other issues. This isn't the time to take a chance, particularly if there is any other uncertainty around key players and positions.

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^

[Beamer]

We no longer have a backlog so our fixture list is no more crowded than anyone else at present. We have the requisite number of players on international duty to get the game called off. If Mitro and Wilson are not 100% fit why on earth would we even think of playing. There is strength in depth and half a team out - big difference. For me a chance not worth taking against any side let alone a fit, physical side that have already mugged us once this season and would surely fancy their chances again.

[TC's Sporran]

i wonder what psychological damage it will do to us to have our request denied for the game to be postponed ?

could happen....

[Cookie6262]

No Larkeche in tonight's u23 game feel he maybe with the first team squad Saturday ... what would team look like if we missed Mitro, Wilson, BDR, Bryan and Robinson.... Maybe

Rodak

Odoi
Tosin
Ream
???

Reed
Cairney
Carvalho

Kebano
Muniz
Cavaleiro/Knockeart

[northamptonsteve]

Steven Sess at  right back Odoi left back and Stansfield or Knock up top, more than enough to beat Blackpool! Pity Christie has gone but keeping a good lead at the top is great for confidence, buying Bowler before the weekend couldn't hurt either! 049:gif

[LC]

This isn't the time to gamble three points away. We are permitted to postpone with Reid, Seri and Robinson away. On top of that we have other issues. This isn't the time to take a chance, particularly if there is any other uncertainty around key players and positions.

The sensible thing would be to postpone, if we're being honest we just about got through the last game with key players missing, and the Tete injury during the game. It was certainly tougher than many of us expected.

On the other hand I'm not a fan of postponing games, especially with the players have have available. Part of me just wants to play, if we win the league I would prefer it to be the right way, we're going up regardless, so I say let's play.

Yes, this is a Jekyll and Hyde post.

[Tabby]

No Larkeche in tonight's u23 game feel he maybe with the first team squad Saturday ... what would team look like if we missed Mitro, Wilson, BDR, Bryan and Robinson.... Maybe

No Sylvester Jasper either.

[SP]

If we've given them extra tickets today then that would surely suggest we intend fulfilling the fixture? (Covid willing)

[The Rational Fan]

The biggest problem is the left back position.. with all the injuries and covid related issues I think our line up would be something like this:

           Rodak
Odoi Tosin Hector Ream
        Reed Cairney
Knockaert Fabio Kebano
            Muniz

Yes, I've gone Ream at left back, he has played there before. If not him then who?

Alternatively we can switch formation and go for: 3-4-3

            Rodak
   Hector Tosin Ream
Odoi Reed Cairney Kebano
    Knockaert Fabio
             Muniz

I'm presuming Hector hasn't gone with the Jamaican squad, if he has then, Hector obviously won't be available so Mawson will move into the back 4 or 3 depending on the formation.

Not sure what the bench will look like but presuming that 11 is available I would play the game, I think it's still good enough to win

As Tosin can play right back, maybe

           Rodak
Tosin Hector Ream Odoi
        Reed Cairney
Knockaert Fabio Kebano
            Muniz

[copthornemike]

Switch formation to a back three if we have to debut a fullback?