Stoke City up next following our demolition of the Owls. Confidence should be high, Angus MacD is back, no major injury worries post SWFC but Miller, Lapado and Wood have niggles. Assuming Miller is fit, will Warney have the desire to stick with two wingers - hope so. He might try and shore up midfield by bringing in S. MacD but with Lindsey performing as he did, Wiles would probably have to drop to the bench.
Stoke have had a reasonable start to the season - only lost one of their last 5 - last time out away to Swansea.
Hopefully MacD and Ikky can keep Vokes quiet and that McClean doesn't get under anyone's skin - aka Broadfoot!
Would be happy with a point but there's no reason why we can't build on Wednesday night and go for 3! Don't think we would have been saying that two years ago!
Wood Flo Wiles Ladapo wouldn't start. About time Sadlier was played in the no. 10 role there's goals in him. Blackman: Harding Ihiekwe A Macdonald Mattock: Lindsay S Mcdonald Barlaser Miller: Sadlier: Hirst
-- Edited by gwru on Friday 30th of October 2020 06:08:00 PM
I could be wrong but I suspect we will make a couple of changes. We were fortunate in that we were able to coast through the second half on Wednesday, but still the games are coming thick and fast. Apparently Woody played through an injury, as he does, so Angus MacDonald back in looks a fair bet. The fact that we can bring in players like Shaun MacDonald, Sadlier, Crooks, Hirst and Smith rested and ready to go is a good thing. I think we should get used to the idea of players being rested for the sake of the long term greater good rather than dropped as such. A point would be great if we could get one, but we must be growing in confidence so all three can't be out of the question.
Unchanged for me why should Wood make way other than for injury? A Mc will be a very lucky boy to walk straight back in I understand the need for squad rotation but we won the last game 3 0 if it’s not broken etc
I personally don’t take any notice of Gwru he has an obsession with Wood not being in the side he’s desperate for Hirst to do well as he is one he’s advocated us signing the last 12 months and now he’s here he’s got to come up with the goods hope he does but hasn’t yet
On paper Stoke appear to have one of the best squads in the division. Football is not played on paper though. In midfield they have an embarrassment of riches.Ryan Shawcross, Obi Mikel, Sam Clucas,Joe Allen,Jordan Cousins,Jordan Thompson,James McClean, Nick Powell, Tom Ince, and jacob Brown are all on the books of Stoke. Add to this forwards like Lee Gregory, Sam Vokes and Stephen Fletcher and really Stoke should and might be up at the top come the end of the season.
However, this season they have been a bit patchy, winning three, drawing three and losing two. They lost their last game against Swansea and only had three shots at goal with none on target. I think the problem might be an older squad and picking up injuries with the intensity of this season.
If we can play the high press game then i think we have a good chance of getting something today. They have injury problems, with the likes of Clucas, Allen, Shawcross and Collins all doubtful. If we could beat them today it would put us above them on goal difference. Really looking forward to today's game and i sniff a shock win for us. I really hope we play on the front foot and don't go there fearing the talent they have. A lot have of their players have been round the block and back. I fancy a 2-1 win for us.
Campbell for them could give Mattock a five yard start and beat him over twenty. That is their only real threat. It's a terrible goal to give away. A straight goal kick and nobody dealt with it. Otherwise it's a fairly even contest. We are still well in it at half time. Miller and Josefzoon both look dangerous.
Need to watch the Rugby but have to say, ifollow was dreadful today! Almost missed their goal and much of the other play through the incessant playing of replays whilst play is in progress. Disappointing day.
well that was awful we didnt have a shot on target we never looked like creating a chance never mind scoring and yet again we put on Smith who is so bad it makes me cringe to watch him. They need to tie his hands down in training and make him realise you cannot put your hands on a player it will always be a foul, you have to start to wonder what they see in him, because he has looked garbage in every game I have seen him this season. It was an awful game they are not that good either and the goal was very poor from both CB's and the goalie. Not scored a goal in open play in the last 4 away games the one at wycombe was a set piece, we have a real problem again away from home in that we do not create chances, thank god we got our two wins against the worst two teams in the league. Very poor performance a lot of work to do.
get ready for the gruesome twosome but we'll probably agree with them tonight, that frankly was awful. Fight tick, commitment tick, attacking threat, ZERO. Far far too defensive, made it **** easy for Stoke's defence, a very very difficult watch. Two vital home games coming up.
Thought we might have some self belief after Wednesday but very poor today. Cannot remember their goalkeeper having a meaningful shot to stop. Very disappointing as Glenn said but what really miffs me is Stoke were not much better than us.
I didnt think we were defensive. We had plenty of forward players on the pitch. We just didnt have the craft/guile/quality to create clear cut opportunities. It was frustrating. What Stoke have got that we havent is Championship (in some cases Premiership) experience all over the field, and I thought it showed.
Their goal looked like S McDonald got a push before ball got through. Miller played well 1st half. This keeping players happy is a weakness to me. Ladapo what did he do, same with Crooks. Flo looks weak to me. Why did he take Lindsay off? he did only good thing 2nd half winning the ball & putting Ladapo through. A forgettable performance. Coverage I got on I follow was better than red button on sky at least you get replays on I follow.
Why do you think he is keeping players happy? It's a fiction. Can't you accept he just does what he thinks is right, whether you agree or not? Do you think Jones is happy? Or Vassell? Or Thompson? Or Sadlier? Or Wiles today? Dont make things up, gwru. Ladapo has been doing alright. Not sure Smith is better, and I havent seen anything from Hirst yet to persuade me that he should be starting.
-- Edited by smiler on Saturday 31st of October 2020 05:47:53 PM
That match was one big yawn didn't know Crooks was on the pitch. Good job we are playing the best football in years we could have been in for a right pasting.
