Another winable , but equally loseable game ( the tale of the season ).
I'm hoping Warne starts the same 11, injuries permitting, and believe he should, but , I can understand the temptation to tinker. A dangerous game to tinker and come up short in both.
Who'd be in PWs boots.
A win keeps us in the dog fight.
A loss could leave us all but hanging on to fairy tales.
A draw is worth a point and not to be sniffed at given our situation.
-- Edited by ian on Monday 12th of April 2021 10:31:50 PM
QPR are dangerous because they still have an outside chance of the playoffs if they have a storming end to the season. They have nothing to lose. The Coventry game on Thursday is a more important game to win, but then at this stage we have to give every game a go. Do we risk resting one or two? We are somewhere between the devil and the deep blue sea. A draw here provided we go on to beat Coventry would be fine. A win would leave us 3 pts behind Cov with 2 games still in hand and them rolling into town next. I think weve just got to go for it. Dont die wondering, as they say.
-- Edited by smiler on Tuesday 13th of April 2021 05:15:53 AM
Warne has to go for it make the two gamesat home count.
The only issue i have is wiles out of position
Same two up front. Sadlier needs to be used as well get the one with speed clarke giles and ogbene at them with 15 mins left
The table suggests Q.P.R. are a bang middle of the table team. In 11th position, won 15 drawn 11 lost 14. Scored 47 and let the same in. I don't think that tells the true story about them. The last six games have showed their inconsistency. Beating Coventry and Wednesday easily and overcoming Millwall by the odd goal. However, in that period they were beaten by Forest and Huddersfield. Warburton is building a side for next season and believes they will be a top six club. He claims they are now playing with pace and purpose and have started to build a defence that is more robust. In Chair and Willock they have two playmakers who like to play behind a lone striker. There best results have come recently when they play that way. The poorer performances have come when they played two up top and four across the middle. Imo Willock and Chair are up there with the most talented in this league and will cause us a lot of problems if on form
With all that in mind,i think a point would be a good result tonight. That would make Coventry a must win, but i believe it is whatever happens tonight. I will go for a hard earned 1-1 tonight. I think Warne will make a couple of changes from the eleven that started on Saturday with an eye to keeping a couple back for Coventry. Which players? Possibly Wood and Lindsay, but that is a pure guess.
I don't think we can afford to leave Smith or Crooks out, though I am sure that they will not play ninety minutes of every game. Hirst unfortunately isn't going to help us win games as a starter but if we can get a lead he can do a job as a substitute to make a nuisance of himself. Ladapo will start games along the way - he is unlucky not to be a first choice striker. He has done well.
Of the other players who didn't start on Saturday, Barlaser Ogbene and Giles will no doubt have a big part to play.
Robertson is also important. Defensively we might have to find time to give Wood a breather and Robertson is the obvious alternative.
I agree with Whiston that QPR have the kind of players who have potential to cause us all sorts of problems. Fingers crossed they have an off day or don't fancy it and that our will to win gets us there.
It's ok to rest players if those you bring in are up to scratch ,I don't believe we have that strength in depth to change to many players,we have to go into every game with our strongest team and go into every game to win, we can't try and control the next game before we've played this one.
Strongest team possible for each game s**t or bust.
CMON YOU REDS
It's ok to rest players if those you bring in are up to scratch ,I don't believe we have that strength in depth to change to many players,we have to go into every game with our strongest team and go into every game to win, we can't try and control the next game before we've played this one. Strongest team possible for each game s**t or bust. CMON YOU REDS
I agree with you Len. I think we have to start with our strongest-on-paper eleven tonight. We can't pass on the chance to win three points. There are a couple of positions in which we can change personnel without weakening the side (Barlaser for example could come into midfield without us being weaker). For Thursday though the question might be whether your strongest team includes for example a knackered Smith who we will need again on Sunday, or a 100% fit raring to go Ladapo. They are difficult decisions. I just don't think we can play the same eleven for the majority of four games in eight days, so a bit of clever shuffling of the pack will be needed. I think we have got fifteen players who are all good enough to start, and the others might be needed to put some hard minutes in as subs. But definitely we have to try and win every game at this stage.
I'd be tempted to rest crooks because he does blow easily. Perhaps sadlier in for him. In defence , traditionally we keep it as undisturbed as possible. Robertson can come on for Woody later in this game.
I don't know who the injured player is...
So, after the 50th consideration I'd start freddie and sadlier for crooks and wiles.
Problem is that once changes are made somewhere it tends to start dictating changes elsewhere...perhaps I'll just start the 11 from the weekend
psychologically it is important not to lose, we have been awful at home most of the season and getting a decent result at home will set the players up mentally for the two biggest games of the season on Thursday and Sunday. Also a win tonight for the millers will hit teams just above us hard, remember all the teams we can catch are not mentally strong, they are not used to winning games, if they see us take 3 points and close the gap that puts them under huge pressure for their weekend games. We can only stay up if we win football matches, draws on their own will not keep us in this league, so start tonight go for it and get 3 points, then let Thursday be something to consider on Wednesday morning. It will be a lot easier to get the players up for Thursdays game if they win tonight than if they lose. Unless you are a world class manager with a great squad planning for the next game rarely works, even then it can backfire, play the team in front of you, win the match you are playing in, then move onto the next.
We are now at the thick end of the season and it's all going to be about these next three games, my opinion for what it's worth we need six points from them to put pressure on those above if we slip up I think we can forget championship next season,as for players being tired gi me a break they should be chomping at bit and be ready to sweat blood for club and supporters and I reakon Warney Barker and co have got to put some fire in their bellies no more arm's round shoulders or cuddles, into em from kick off.
My missis thinks I'm nuts, I'm turning into a nervous wreck having to watch these games at home, anyone else feel like this.
Yes I could have made that number 3 Hillborough, but I just assume we get a rubbish Ref every game - I reckon VAR would have given us 7 or 9 points more so far...
...and Len - I'm a bag of nerves too and have stopped watching live because of it... (I'll still go to games when we are back in the ground though - whatever league...)
Johansson: Olosunde, Harding, A MacDonald, Robertson, Giles: Barlaser, S MacDonald, Wiles: Crooks, Ladapo. I dont mind the side at all. Icky injured apparently. Smith, Lindsay and Wing left out but presumably available off the bench so may still play a part. Makes sense. COYR!
