If we can’t beat these without Mcgeady then we don’t deserve to go up. Agreed he should be rested for Pompey.
We should play who Johnson thinks Any player who gets a start should play like there’s no tomorrow Otherwise we will not move on All games at this infact any stage are important Remember these players are third rate players and can’t afford to be off threre metal
I'd also rest McGeady, he's been great but he's not in the kind of shape where he can play all the time. Any of our better players who are a bit knackered I'd give a break, there aren't any guaranteed wins but if you have to pick a game to do it it's this one. I wouldn't mind Almond and/or Younger making an appearance if they're going to have to feature in the final.
great thread again RTB a few of the guys want to rest McGeady i would suggest bring him on last 30 mins only if we need a goal, he would be able to waltz through tired defenders. and that way playing the last 30 or so will keep him fresh for 2 a week , either that or put bromide in his tea and ban him from sex
HA'WWWWWWAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Agreed, rest Mcgeady but bring him on if needed. Always worried about teams who've gone on such a long losing run, but they don't look like turning yet, whilst we are brimming with confidence. Hopefully a clean sheet and a few goals in this one.
I don't think we should give any encouragement to Rochdale by resting players, we're not Man City. I'd much rather play our best team from the start and win the game, players can be subbed once that's done. We have three full days between the games and plenty of fit young lads to do the running. When all said and done this is just Portsmouth, they're really nothing special. They've just lost 1-0, at home to Blackpool, and managed one shot on target. They've won one of their last five including a battering at Bristol Rovers. Let's not build them up to be more than they are. If Johnson was to change the team and rest players, because we're due to play them, I think it sends out the wrong message to our players and theirs. Bollocks to Portsmouth should be Johnson's message, let's take it as another match. We have other top six teams to play and should concentrate on ourselves, not them.
Not sure we can rest anybody atm... We need wins, body on the line time.. simple as, stand up and be counted, injuries another matter. We can play the Under 23s for tinpot Cup, so the 1st team can have a rest then.
In reality the main issue seems to be McGeady. Lets not forget he had a massive 'rest' at the start of the season ... ... anything less than a win, against Rochdale, could demoralise us. We can't take any chances imo.
Doubt we will though, I'm sure that will be our strongest team. Nobody wants to have to rest players but some of them will most likely need it with the number of games this month. We've got five games in sixteen days coming up, if we don't rest them at some point they're going to be dead on their feet. Edit: five in fourteen actually, damn that's brutal.
That's true but, iirc, we have 15 league games in the next 10 weeks. With the squad we have, and injuries coming back, that's manageable ... ... I'm sure Johnson will rotate and keep enough energy in the team. Players always want to play when you're winning and find that bit extra. It's different for teams like Portsmouth who've lost momentum and have self doubt creeping in.
There us no harm imho in players playing part of a game... it can be part of their 'resting' training
I'm a bit stuck with McGeady, I can't deny he has that bit of magic that can turn a game in an instant but when we aren't playing great as a team he just seems a bit invisible. I also think when we play the better teams they will attack down our left, as we are really poor whoever is at LB or LWB and McGeady never tracked back when he was 25 so we've got no chance now he's 35. I agree when someone said he's no good at being an impact sub, he's better starting the coming off when he's tired. I think Johnson needs to select him for games where he's going to make a huge impact and rest him for the games he think he might not. No doubting he has that magic but he's got 10 assists since he came back in but 6 came in 2 games
Completely agree about playing the under 23’s against Tranmere. Won’t happen though, he will be more likely to rest players against Pompey for the final imo.
Exactly, said that on a post ages ago , Parkinson used to worry that much about the opposition he had the players paranoid and on occasions froze , we have a much better squad with talented players who are capable of beating any team - show them who is boss from the first minute.
All fair mate, but what about the oppo sending 2 men to him when he drifts, like the first goal v Fleetwood? He’s marked as every team knows he’s above the league ability wise, I agree on the tracking back, or lack of, and we all know his lack of pace, but he has ridiculous ability and he gets double manned at times creating space even if he isn’t the man doing the damage. For a bit of perspective, de Bruyne has 11 assists. They came from 7 individual games, Geads as you say has 10 from 6, those stats for either player don’t count ‘assist to assist’ which for me is the most criminally overlooked stat in football. Say de Bruyne does his thing, carries ball beats a man and a perfect weighted through ball, Sterling rolls it along 6 yard line and Jesus taps in, de Bruyne made that goal. Its often Geads jinking about that creates the space for a pass.
This for me, play Geads until we score that vital first goal, then bring on Jones and Diamond later when they have to come out looking for an equaliser, at least that would be my plan . Also think Gooch and Maguire have a big say here, hoping that the right Gooch and Maguire turn up. What I dont want to see is three wingers on at the start and only one on the pitch at the end, that was close to lunacy. Oh nearly forgot, great thread, and getting better every week, thanks once again RTB.
