O’Nien looked decent in CM Saturday but will be interesting to see how he does in there from the start. Hope Michut is just rested and not injured
Pritchard and O9 have enough games that I’m expecting they’ll be able to play more to Gelhardt’s strengths.
I’ve made my feelings clear on O’Nien in central midfield as part of a midfield two. But the lad never lets us down. And he may well come into his own being the “Evans replacement” rather than the one who is expected to be more creative.
Have to hope 09 can cut the mustard tonight. Squad had to be rotated though. Games have been heavy along with travel. Just seen it's Ba next to him too. Oh, going to need some serious discipline.
Never really thought about it but it's not surprising Neil's being rested, he's played a hell of a lot of minutes for his age and covers a lot of ground especially since he became the senior CM overnight.
It’s an energetic centre midfield with a point to prove. I expect we will be countering at pace and looking to move forward quickly. O’Niens job should be to mop up behind and then move the ball quickly. If he sticks to that rather than being expected to create, he can be really good in this position
We need to use the whole squad otherwise we will get burnt out and injured. Onein is great at CB, if he is just infront of the back four then it should hopefully be a similar kind of role
Yeah we have to use the whole squad there all well capable In my eyes no one gets dropped just sensible rotation
Smart decision IMO, we play Saturday and the following Tuesday. 5 games in 14 days we’ve got because of rearranged match from FA cup fixture. Saturday is home against an in-form Bristol City team in which we need our strongest Xl and the Tuesday is Rotherham away which is a must win for me but a game I think we can win with a few rotations to allow for another strongest Xl at Coventry on the 25th. Both Bristol and Coventry will have a few days extra rest so we can’t flog our lads during this period then go into March knackered.
I dont think it is a big gamble at all, just late, hence has to make too many changes in one go. He is not the only one to have not realised the hole he was digging , point made, but the squad is good enough to get bye no matter OaU.
I have a theory mate that he feels a bit more comfortable rotating now he has Pritchard back. He does so much great work off the ball, often helping out those deeper 2. He perhaps also saw ONien for the first time in that position at the weekend which has given him some confidence. Who knows, just an opinion.
It's only 3 changes though and probably the correct ones in my view, although slightly surprised at Mitchut, although think he may have a knock with not being on the bench!?
