From looking like a relatively winnable match against a side that looked relegation certainties a few weeks ago this has now become a must win game. Wycombe will now be fancying their chances of getting out of trouble. They have become a solid ,organised hard to beat outfit and this game will be anything but easy. Lose this and i fear for our prospects. We can't rely on Wednesday and Coventry continuing to fail.
A much tougher game we need to change shape and go back to playing Crooks in behind Smith, let's hope Robertson is fit and we can then bring him in for Wood. We need Harding to play as lwb and Olusundae as rwb, providing the latter is also fit. I would bring Lindsay back in midfield. On paper with those available that looks to be our strongest side
if we are to stay up every home game is a must win game, that is how we have to think and play, and we haven't been that good at home lately, difficult times
We only won V Wycombe in the last breath so this was never going to be anything but like every other championshio game, there simply isn't any easier than the next.
I'd stick with freddie, though I understand and have sympathy for the view we seem to create more in the box with crooks and smudge as our foil.
I'm inclined to drop Giles, but I'll step on that inclination as I'm too uncertain about his replacement and what that does to the balance of the team , besides, he was fairly decent on Saturday.
Got to agree about Giles,Ian. He offers nothing and certainly can't go past fullbacks. Did you spot MacDonald having a go at him,presumably about his lack of effort ? Got to stick wlth Wiles as left wing back.
Giles bottled out of a challenge with a Millwall player on the edge of our area and MacD chased after him giving him a right old b.llocking. Good to see!
I reckon Giles is best used as a sub when he is more of a threat to the opposition defenders who are tiring.
One of the best features of the Millwall game was how much we improved when Lindsay came on. He doesn't seem to have lost any appetite for getting stuck in amongst the midfield. If he's fit enough, he has to start.
I think I'd play 3 at the back against Wycombe - Ihiekwe, MacD and Harding, with Olosunde and Wiles as backs. Wing, Lindsay, Barlaser in the middle and Crooks playing off Smith up front.
Lapado, Sadlier and Giles as primary subs, depending how we are doing. But please, no Hirst, not on Monday or for the rest of the season.
I would be very disappointed if we didn't beat Wycombe tomorrow. This is a club who have played 39 games, won only 7 and have scored only 26 goals and conceded 61,gaining just 30 pts.. I just cannot see your tongue in cheek prediction of a 5-4 win being anywhere near correct Ian. Wycombe would need five or six games to score four times imo.
I do think they will come with a game plan of being physical, play hoof ball and hope to nick the game. They are on one of their best runs of the season and in their last six games have won 2 and drawn one. However, they have only scored 3 times in those 6 games.
I agree with some of our posters that we should get back to playing Crookes just behind Smith. With Wood out the obvious replacement is Robertson. I think he could start him all depending on his fitness of course. He was on the bench at Millwall i believe so he cannot be far off full fitness. I also agree that Giles is somebody who should come on late in the game to try and make use of his pace against tired legs.
My Team would be
Viking.
Mcdonald Ihiekwe Robertson
If those players are all available I would pick exactly the side Whiston suggests. That's tough on Ladapo who hasnt done anything wrong, but it looks like our best chance of getting the result we need. Wycombe are dangerous because they are at the stage where it really is muck or nettles for them, but they are bottom for a reason. We cant assume it will be easy, but we really have to win the game and should be capable of doing just that.
Regardless of what PW says tomorrow really is a must win, not strictly because of League position, for confidence going forward. It won't be pretty that's almost certain. This is the type of game to start Chieo & Sadlier on the flanks with Crooks supporting Smudge up top, Lindsay must start (for Wing IMO) & go 3-5-1-1
These days there are so many named as subs you can put someone on the bench who is never going to play, so I'm not taking Cheos name on the list on Friday as any sort of reliable indication. Whether Cheo is actually ready to play yet I dont know, but regardless he will need game time to build up match fitness. The dream scenario is that we are four up today with twenty minutes to go, and can throw him on just for a gentle workout. Now that really is wishful thinking. I will happily take a repeat of the last minute winner in a scrappy game that we had down there on the opening day of the season.
Well, he's kept with the Freddie/Smudge combo... Our main issue has been lack of number of chances created - as we don't have the quality to score one out of two chances - we need 6 or 7 chances per goal... which is why I prefer Crooksie behind front one/two..
Lady luck has never been much of a Miller's fan, she's gone completely awol in last few home games and we need her back on our side.
Fingers crossed, Rabbits feet rubbed, don't walk under your ladder etc etc...
losing to wycombe at home means it is all over, watching the first 15 mins they are up for it and we look poor we will have to really lift ourselves up, we have had chances but we arent getting any luck either
