Just over a week to the start of the EFL cup, or whatever sponsor’s name is on it these days. Do we expect to see wholesale changes to the starting lineup against Portsmouth or, like some of our managers in the past, will Morison use this game to help blend the first team together more? Also can any of the more knowledgable on here advise why Cambridge and Millwall start their cup run a week earlier than the rest.
Interesting dilemma for SM. Does he make the wholesale changes to experiment and protect, or give his first choices an opportunity to further blend together. It would be a no brainer were it not for all the new faces. I reckon he'll make significant changes. But we haven't been to Wembley for 8 years
Preference from me would be to only tinker with the team, especially the back 4 now we'll have an enforced change in the likely shape of Nelson. Try Harris as a starter instead of Watters and maybe Ralls in for Wintle. At a stretch maybe Tanner in for Ojo or O'Dowda.
I can't see many changes outside Saturday's 18. Too early for the injured 3. Surely Ng is out for only 1 game with a red after 2 yellows? That will be next Saturday so available for Pompey. Of course if we have a number 9 by then, he will be in the squad.
Id go for changes, though maybe stick with the same back 4. Definitely give Alnwick a run out. Maybe change the bench so Bagan and Campbell get some minutes In midfield maybe a chance to see King, Philogene and Tanner can do, maybe off the bench. Need a few experienced players in there as well so we keep structure and have some leadership.
I fancy Etete will start tomorrow night which will give us a good look at him. Hopefully he will find the back of the net.
I think I've mentioned before how pleased I am to be playing Pompey again. A few connections between us and them including "Clockgate", 2008 Cup Final, Jimmy Scouler who played for them and most recently Marlin Pack joining them. From what I'm reading after Reading, SM is planning to mix it up a bit for this one. Have to confess that I wouldn't mind a bit of a cup run this season.
The day after he didn't check his predictive text. Also didn't realise Brizzle wa doing a match day threads so my whole post is a bit redundant now Sorry Brizzle.
To be fair, I didn't think he'd do one either. Probably had a spare couple of hours to kill at work......... EDIT - good to see him get his priorities right this time.
it's a fair cop!! Irish, no need for apologies, two threads are better than one as they say and you started yours well before I did mine, so if anything I should be the one to apologise as I forgot about you doing it!!
