Had a reaction to his appearance at Coventry - not uncommon when a player has been out that long. Sounds like they will ease him back in, but mins this season will be limited.
Only worry for me is throwing a player who’s barely match fit into such an important game. He needs more minutes before expecting 3 solid 90 minute performances without risk of injury. I’ve seen a few comments about momentum apparently being a load of ****e, but if that’s the case why are people even mentioning teams going on good runs end of season and slipping into the play offs as a threat? Momentum/Form is massive in football for clubs and players. I’d like us to go in good form I think it’s ridiculous to suggest resting players for 4/5 games beforehand then expect them to have the game of their lives. Resting them for fixture congestion is fair enough but resting them every game going into the most important part of the season is wild and unheard of for a reason. You wouldn’t rest the likes of Rice, Bellingham and Kane for every group game of a major tournament then start them in the knock outs.
Just to add to that I think if we play the same young midfield with Rigg and Jones in again they’ll get hammered. Knight has been incredible this season for Bristol C, gone really under the radar. Far better than Neil has been for us imo, carried a fairly average midfield big style.
I’m all for resting our big players. I certainly don’t want us to play the full strength side against BC that they may meet in the playoffs. Why let them have an opportunity to work out how best to play agains us. Give some a short run out (Le Fee for example) but otherwise stick loads of reserves, young ‘uns and the likes of Harrison and Bainbridge. I don’t want us humiliated but I’m not too bothered if we win lose or draw. I’d like to win but I’d prefer using this game as preparation for the playoffs, keeping our big players injury free and getting game time for fringe players. Momentum sounds great but we are Sunderland and we never know how they are going to perform from one game to the next. It’s just like us to lose the next 4 games and win the playoffs and it’s just as likely we win the next 4 games and lose the first 2 games.
My dear departed Dad backed Sunderland at 50-1 to win the FA Cup in 1973, a pure hunch as you'd won it in 1937 and he transposed the 37 and 73. He was sure his money was safe when you met the mighty Leeds Utd in the final. His reason......Leeds rested the core of their side prior to the final. I'll never forget him saying 'you can't turn football or a footballer on and off'.
Already had this discussion with you pal, not my style. Especially when folk are already threatening to leave the forum because of disagreements and to/fros so I won’t be calling people out individually but there was more than a few so it’s not a comment aimed at anyone specifically but more the notion of momentum being a load of ****e
This was the Leeds team that played Southampton a week before the Cup Final ... Harvey Cherry Hampton Bremner Charlton Hunter Bates Clarke Jordan Gray This was the team against Sunderland ... ... almost all internationals, top players and nothing to do with switching on or off. Nice story though. Harvey Reaney Cherry Bremner Madeley Hunter Lorimer Clarke Jones Giles Gray
Well they need the points more than we do, we should just treat it as a pre season game. Above all else no injuries.
No, your style is to quote people who don't exist and post things no one said. That's gives you a basis for a pretty weak argument. If you disagree with something someone's posted there's no harm in quoting them, people can handle it ... ... it's not 'calling someone out', it's just a discussion forum where people can disagree without falling out. What you're doing is arguing with yourself because no one said what you're claiming ... yet again. You could've quite easily posted your opinion without attacking other people's ... ... absolutely no need for that comment, that's the kind of thing that puts people off posting.
Whilst it's fine for your to post your opinion on momentum, form etc what happens if we go full strength and get a red card in the next 4 games? Or an injury that rules out a key player? Is that then the clubs fault? It's a no win situation for the coaching and support staff. It all boils down to trust and some of us are happy to trust the professionals that they know what they are doing, where as others don't and believe they know better.
