For me Go strong as possible tonight and rotate on Weekend against WHam...I'm not too bothered that it's their cup final...we need to be ready for the Semi final. I'll take 4 points from the 2 games
I want CL glory to have the best chance. 3 games in a week for our squad is a big ask. We can be brave and go strong for both PL games but we will be dragging by the 2nd half of the Ajax game. Thin squad sets our limits I'm afraid 4 points isn't a disaster with United to play Chelsea yet
Heed well, my young Padawan. 1. The opportunity to have PL top 4 done and dusted by monday may arise. 2. With a CL final on the horizon, every squad player is now auditioning for a potential place on that team sheet. Start by getting 6 pts on #1. In Pochettino I trust to select two starting XIs to do #1 and hit the Ajax 1st leg with belief/confidence in their ability to decisively kill the tie there and then.
After the weekends results i would go with the strongest available team tonight, we need to win to matches to boost confidence for the semi and to finish top 4 (top 3 preferably), also Brighton are the only team we have to left to play who have anything to really play for. I know its the spammers cup final at the weekend, but thats a match where form goes out the window anyway - The gods have probably all ready decreed that Wheelchair will score the first winner for an opposing team at our new ground so we might as well put our best team on the field tonight. Fitness allowing - Lloris, Trippier, Rose, Toby, Jan, Dier, Alli, Moura, Eriksen, Son and Llorente COYS
Full strength in every match until top 4 is secured , then concentrate on CL if we are still in it. I don't care if we play the U18's v Everton providing top 4 is sorted.
It's hard to gauge what full strength really is at the moment. If we played the same XI tonight, Saturday and Tuesday based on the fact they're the best players in their positions, does that still mean that come Ajax we'll actually be fielding the best/ full strength side? I don't think so. Fatigue and overexertion play a huge part in this stage of the season, we've already ran the likes of Kane, Sissoko, Eriksen and others into the ground to the point where some have either picked up injuries or suffered a dip in form so I do think things need to be managed carefully. Last thing we wanna do is say play Son for 180 minutes in the next two games and then expect him to be at 100% for Ajax. That goes for just about every position and player too. Dave and Foyth should play at least one game instead of Toby and Jan, KWP & Tripps and Rose & Davies should be rotated at least once, Dier and Wanyama to rotate in CM, Llorente to start one game and hell, maybe Janssen another. I'm not saying field different XIs in every game, but around 3-4 changes in each (then trying to utilise different subs in games too) would be more beneficial in my opinion. Keeps the lads as fresh as possible and lowers risk of fatigue and injury.
I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing Skippy starting tonight, he’s no less creative than Dier or Wanyama on the ball and I think our issues are more likely to come in breaking Brighton down rather than containing them, a similar situation to the Burnley game he started earlier this season. Dier and Vic need managing too, as the former has had a torrid season with injury and the latter cannot be overplayed. So maybe: Hugo/Gazza Tripps Dave Jan Rose Skipp Dele Moura Eriksen Son Llorente With a view to getting three of Sonny, Nando, Eriksen and Dele off the pitch ASAP to keep them fresh for the weekend, which is going to be much more intense and open IMO.
Agree with your point, but not a good example as he is banned for the first leg anyway. Clever rotation is definitely needed. Dier and Wanyama, Rose and Davies, KWP and Trippier, Sanchez and Alderweireld. Rest Moura possibly for the weekend - let Son and Nando beat the Hammers. Skipp on as soon as we get 3 up in any game. Don't see a lot of other possibilities unless Winks, Aurier and/or Lamela recover. Janssen alongside Nando with Son behind?
But this idea of rotating is nothing we shouldn't be doing the whole season and the fact that we don't do it enough has brought us to a situation with too many injuries. On the one hand we need to play Moura and Llorente as that will be our spearhead against Ajax. On the other hand we can play Son for both games as he can't play the Ajax game. Our midfield is our biggest problem. Dier, Wanyama just back and still not up to speed. Winks, Sissoko injured.
Which Brighton turn up? Busparquet because they need every point or all out attack because they need points.
I've managed to 'rotate' the pubs today walking up the High Road only having one beer and walking past the rest. Could be a DD93 record. Couldn't avoid the fry up though.
Didn't realise it was such an outlandish idea to rest a few before our biggest game in Europe for over 50 years Yes in a beautiful Utopian world we play our strongest XI every game and whirlwind our way to glory but that's not how it works... especially with such a thin squad Personally I don't care about getting one over on non entities like West Ham if it jepordises our game against Ajax. I don't see the Ajax game as a 'bonus' I see it as the most important game of our season and another defining moment for our club We're already missing our best 3 players for that game.
'Clever rotation' Yeah that's the technical term I'm looking for over strong team every game idealism
Good thing is that we can play Son today and Saturday and then he gets a week off...of course we would rather have him available for the first Ajax game but this at least means we’ll have a key player fresh for the league games. Silver linings and all that... I think it’s a case of being careful with Dier and Vic for the rest of the season, making the most of chances to use Skippy like tonight. Also this is now the time to see if Dele and Eriksen can stand up and be counted when we need them to contribute in deeper positions when the chips are down, as Sissoko has done this season. I think Poch said Sissoko was going to be most likely not back before the second Ajax game, and Winks is being assessed day by day - IMO if we see either of them again this season it’ll be a bonus at this stage. Sissoko has stepped it up massively this season when we have needed him most, time to see if that mentality can be adopted by others to drag us over the line on two key fronts.
