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Lots of midweek changes normally 07:51 - Nov 3 with 2946 viewsChris_ITFC

But should Kieran stick with a 4-1 winning team? Would you? Will he?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:16 - Nov 3 with 723 viewsAYACCA

Have a feeling Greaves will play LB
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:24 - Nov 3 with 708 viewsSmoresy

I would Chris, especially the Taylor - Matusiwa - Nunez triangle.

Continuing with Cajuste's current fitness in the midfield pair didn't feel tenable to me if we're serious about a two two tilt. I'd be very curious to see the running data from players' tracking vests and the additional work Taylor's got through since coming back in; my guess is it's sizeable.

We can and have won well with Cajuste starting, don't wish to pretend otherwise, but he also leaves us so exposed on the counter as games move past twenty-or-so minutes. Think we should avoid that risk where possible.
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:26 - Nov 3 with 708 viewsSheffordBlue

There was an interesting article in The Athletic over the weekend looking at the impact of 5 subs on injuries. The basic conclusion was that having 5 subs increased the risk of injury to those who played the full 90 as they end up playing against nearly half an opposition team who are fresh in the later stages.

It's an interesting viewpoint and one that goes a bit against the narrative that fit players should be able to play 2 games in a week.

After our injury woes last season I think some of the rotation for midweek games is trying to mitigate this and balance the load out across the squad. It will be interesting to see whether our really good player availability so far this season lasts.

Poll: How many points do you think you'll need to get a ticket for Norwich?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:48 - Nov 3 with 664 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:16 - Nov 3 by AYACCA

Have a feeling Greaves will play LB


i think this is an option we may explore in tough games if davis was unavailable, but i doubt it at home to watford

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:54 - Nov 3 with 658 viewsRimsy

No way can Matusiwa can be dropped. Only time he misses a game is through injury or suspension.
Nunez has got to be given a run at 10, we looked so much more potent with him pulling the strings.
Only changes for me would be (because they both took knocks) Davis and Hirst replaced by Young and Akpom, who looked sharp when he came on Saturday and ought to be given a go at 9. Akpom with Nunez feeding him could be a super pairing.

BlueBlood

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:09 - Nov 3 with 627 viewsgrow_our_own

Lots of midweek changes normally on 11:32 - Nov 3 by positivity

that's a bit simplistic and downplays the importance of the subs.

20 different players have played in those 4 wins (21 with the 5-0 win over sheff u), practically the whole squad except for injured players and youngsters

17 different players have started the 5 wins; the squad is vitally important


No, ignoring injuries (enforced change) only 13 players started those four wins. Ie ignoring the injury to Palmer:
Palmer/Walton
Davis
Kipre
Furlong
O'Shea
Matusiwa
Egeli
Philogene
Cajuste
Taylor
Nunez
Szmodics
Hirst

Every time we've strayed from these starters, we've struggled badly. I don't think the narrow loss at Boro (autos-contender) was justification to abandon that team so drastically in the next game.

Of course a squad is vitally important, but you can't wish a good one into being. And if you don't have a good squad, then you shouldn't use it.
[Post edited 3 Nov 13:20]
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:12 - Nov 3 with 611 viewsStenvict

Lots of midweek changes normally on 08:48 - Nov 3 by Cheltenham_Blue

I think the changes will be.

Young for Davis
Azor (if fit) for Hirst
Cajuste for Matusiwa.

And that's it.


Poor Matusiwa. Gets his chance up front for Hirst, then immediately gets replaced for Cajuste...

Poll: What will be announced first?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:22 - Nov 3 with 587 viewsIllinoisblue

Did we make lots of changes game to game in the two promotion seasons. I recall for example Fridge would come in for a game or two, or Harness would get a start here or there. But don’t recall this weird almost panic state because we sometimes have three games in a week. I mean, that kind of schedule is not a new thing. And we rarely have cup runs to add to the workload.

62 - 78 - 81
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:54 - Nov 3 with 541 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:09 - Nov 3 by grow_our_own

No, ignoring injuries (enforced change) only 13 players started those four wins. Ie ignoring the injury to Palmer:
Palmer/Walton
Davis
Kipre
Furlong
O'Shea
Matusiwa
Egeli
Philogene
Cajuste
Taylor
Nunez
Szmodics
Hirst

Every time we've strayed from these starters, we've struggled badly. I don't think the narrow loss at Boro (autos-contender) was justification to abandon that team so drastically in the next game.

Of course a squad is vitally important, but you can't wish a good one into being. And if you don't have a good squad, then you shouldn't use it.
[Post edited 3 Nov 13:20]


"every time"? we beat a parachute team 5-0 with greaves, akpom and mcateer starting!

it also glosses over the vital impact azon, clarke & nunez had in the norwich game in particular.

the squad has had a good impact on the wins, whether winning it outright/shutting it down or finishing it off, and will only become more important as the games pile-up

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:56 - Nov 3 with 530 viewsSheffordBlue

Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:22 - Nov 3 by Illinoisblue

Did we make lots of changes game to game in the two promotion seasons. I recall for example Fridge would come in for a game or two, or Harness would get a start here or there. But don’t recall this weird almost panic state because we sometimes have three games in a week. I mean, that kind of schedule is not a new thing. And we rarely have cup runs to add to the workload.


I think in the first half of both promotion seasons there was quite a bit of rotation (although maybe not quite as much as now) with a regular starting 11 settling down by February for the run-in.

Poll: How many points do you think you'll need to get a ticket for Norwich?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 14:03 - Nov 3 with 516 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:56 - Nov 3 by SheffordBlue

I think in the first half of both promotion seasons there was quite a bit of rotation (although maybe not quite as much as now) with a regular starting 11 settling down by February for the run-in.


yes, when we were in scratchy periods of form we would often change 3 or 4 , but not many of the 6 or 7s we've seen lately.

of course, in the promotion seasons, the players had in the main had more time to work on the patterns and fitness required for the mckenna system (plus a great deal more confidence!), so i expect to see less as the season goes on

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 14:14 - Nov 3 with 486 viewsrickw

Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:07 - Nov 3 by billlm

Matusiwa would be the last one I'd change atm,


I agree completely - he is out most important player as we have nobody else who can do what he does for us!
Let's hope he's fit!

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 14:19 - Nov 3 with 477 viewsPinewoodblue

McKenna usually breaks the season up into segments, caused by international breaks.

After tomorrow’s game there is just one game to go in this segment. We really ought to be putting out our best possible team, injuries aside, in both matches.

We do have a long run of 2 games a week, after the international break, but this shouldn’t impact on the next two games.

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 15:50 - Nov 3 with 410 viewsgrow_our_own

Lots of midweek changes normally on 13:54 - Nov 3 by positivity

"every time"? we beat a parachute team 5-0 with greaves, akpom and mcateer starting!

it also glosses over the vital impact azon, clarke & nunez had in the norwich game in particular.

the squad has had a good impact on the wins, whether winning it outright/shutting it down or finishing it off, and will only become more important as the games pile-up


Sheff Utd were the worst team in the Championship at the time. They've changed manager and up-ticked since. I don't think they're the gauge.

I'm not questioning the need to use subs. I'm questioning the need to rotate the starting eleven when it's repeatedly proven to fail.
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 15:57 - Nov 3 with 394 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 15:50 - Nov 3 by grow_our_own

Sheff Utd were the worst team in the Championship at the time. They've changed manager and up-ticked since. I don't think they're the gauge.

I'm not questioning the need to use subs. I'm questioning the need to rotate the starting eleven when it's repeatedly proven to fail.


so it's okay to include the budgies and pompey, but completely discount sheff u? odd!

we've kept the same team twice, and lost both of them (preston 0-1, boro 1-2)

we've rotated 10 times and won 5 of them, that's not remotely "proven to fail"

make changes where the player's out of form or their fitness is in the red zone, trust the process

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 16:24 - Nov 3 with 369 viewsgrow_our_own

Lots of midweek changes normally on 15:57 - Nov 3 by positivity

so it's okay to include the budgies and pompey, but completely discount sheff u? odd!

we've kept the same team twice, and lost both of them (preston 0-1, boro 1-2)

we've rotated 10 times and won 5 of them, that's not remotely "proven to fail"

make changes where the player's out of form or their fitness is in the red zone, trust the process


"we've kept the same team twice, and lost both of them (preston 0-1..." - preston was a different team, not the starting 13 that have won almost all our games this season.

"we've rotated 10 times and won 5 of them" - I don't know where you're getting that from. We haven't rotated the 13 that have won almost all our games this season.

"make changes where the player's out of form or their fitness is in the red zone" - agreed. I said injuries aside. Those 13 players have not been out of form this season.
[Post edited 3 Nov 16:26]
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 16:34 - Nov 3 with 358 viewsMrPotatoHead

Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:48 - Nov 3 by positivity

i think this is an option we may explore in tough games if davis was unavailable, but i doubt it at home to watford


I think Watford is a tough game. They haven't travelled brilliantly but they've won as many games as us and must have something about them to beat Boro 3-0.
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:11 - Nov 3 with 313 viewsFrimleyBlue

Changes will be required, but shouldn't imo be 6/7 again

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:17 - Nov 3 with 306 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 16:24 - Nov 3 by grow_our_own

"we've kept the same team twice, and lost both of them (preston 0-1..." - preston was a different team, not the starting 13 that have won almost all our games this season.

"we've rotated 10 times and won 5 of them" - I don't know where you're getting that from. We haven't rotated the 13 that have won almost all our games this season.

"make changes where the player's out of form or their fitness is in the red zone" - agreed. I said injuries aside. Those 13 players have not been out of form this season.
[Post edited 3 Nov 16:26]


preston was the same 11 as the week before and had 9 of your chosen ones (plus clarke and greaves). i agree that if we have a "starting 13", we'd more than likely win!

we've made at least one change to the team 10 teams, and won 5. we've not rotated twice and lost both

it's not as simple as leaving someone out who is injured, sometimes they're not at full fitness and at risk of injury, the itfc coaching team have the data on that, not us.

similarly, some of your chosen 13 have, arguably, been out of form at times. look at twtd's ratings, almost all have had a rating lower than 5/10. jack taylor averages 20th, hirst 23rd overall

trust mckenna and the fitness team over some people on the internet who can't see the full picture

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:38 - Nov 3 with 283 viewsgrow_our_own

Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:17 - Nov 3 by positivity

preston was the same 11 as the week before and had 9 of your chosen ones (plus clarke and greaves). i agree that if we have a "starting 13", we'd more than likely win!

we've made at least one change to the team 10 teams, and won 5. we've not rotated twice and lost both

it's not as simple as leaving someone out who is injured, sometimes they're not at full fitness and at risk of injury, the itfc coaching team have the data on that, not us.

similarly, some of your chosen 13 have, arguably, been out of form at times. look at twtd's ratings, almost all have had a rating lower than 5/10. jack taylor averages 20th, hirst 23rd overall

trust mckenna and the fitness team over some people on the internet who can't see the full picture


"preston was the same 11 as the week before" - not the 13 that's won almost all our games. Team from this 13 has been on form. Consistently winning. All but one (boro away).

"i agree that if we have a "starting 13", we'd more than likely win!" - oh football teams have eleven, not thirteen players! I stand down, you win this debate pos.

"trust mckenna and the fitness team over some people on the internet" - you could use that fan vs manager expertise line to shut down anything. It's like the old "will someone please think of the children?" in any political debate. By that rationale, managers could never be legitimately criticised. It would be a guaranteed job for life if fans were deemed too ignorant to have a valid opinion. I do trust KM, but not to the extent that I don't think he can make mistakes. Charlton and Bristol City were blips in a stewardship that's unsurpassed except by Sir Alf, Sir Bobby, and George Burley. But he needs to at least make the playoffs this season for the money he's spent.
[Post edited 3 Nov 17:44]
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:51 - Nov 3 with 259 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:38 - Nov 3 by grow_our_own

"preston was the same 11 as the week before" - not the 13 that's won almost all our games. Team from this 13 has been on form. Consistently winning. All but one (boro away).

"i agree that if we have a "starting 13", we'd more than likely win!" - oh football teams have eleven, not thirteen players! I stand down, you win this debate pos.

"trust mckenna and the fitness team over some people on the internet" - you could use that fan vs manager expertise line to shut down anything. It's like the old "will someone please think of the children?" in any political debate. By that rationale, managers could never be legitimately criticised. It would be a guaranteed job for life if fans were deemed too ignorant to have a valid opinion. I do trust KM, but not to the extent that I don't think he can make mistakes. Charlton and Bristol City were blips in a stewardship that's unsurpassed except by Sir Alf, Sir Bobby, and George Burley. But he needs to at least make the playoffs this season for the money he's spent.
[Post edited 3 Nov 17:44]


how was bristol city a blip? we got an away draw against a top 6 side, probably a better result than home wins the chosen 13 made against the bottom feeders pompey and norwich

we will make the playoffs at the very least, but it will be by mckenna using the resources he has sensibly.

not by caning the same 13 players every game, because they have some short-term form. it's not the '80s anymore!

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:59 - Nov 3 with 243 viewsgrow_our_own

Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:51 - Nov 3 by positivity

how was bristol city a blip? we got an away draw against a top 6 side, probably a better result than home wins the chosen 13 made against the bottom feeders pompey and norwich

we will make the playoffs at the very least, but it will be by mckenna using the resources he has sensibly.

not by caning the same 13 players every game, because they have some short-term form. it's not the '80s anymore!


You have more trust in our squad than me. I hope you're right and we do have more depth than this season has shown so far. I think it's very clear KM has wasted much of the £150m he's spent. I'm worried that hubris will prevent him recognising this, and he'll try to get blood from the deadweight stones he's bought. He needs to kiss this money goodbye. He bought a good team, but pretty sure he hasn't bought a good squad.
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 18:11 - Nov 3 with 215 viewspositivity

Lots of midweek changes normally on 17:59 - Nov 3 by grow_our_own

You have more trust in our squad than me. I hope you're right and we do have more depth than this season has shown so far. I think it's very clear KM has wasted much of the £150m he's spent. I'm worried that hubris will prevent him recognising this, and he'll try to get blood from the deadweight stones he's bought. He needs to kiss this money goodbye. He bought a good team, but pretty sure he hasn't bought a good squad.


i don't think you can write off the likes of greaves, clarke, mcateer, young, johnson, akpom humphreys, burns, azon et al on the basis of some short-term patchy form.

most of them have proven time and time again that they are quality players at this level and higher, and the vast majority of them will have their use from the start at points in this season.

look to the long term, not a self-selecting small sample size, imagine if burley had written off taricco and counago as "deadweight stones" after a dozen games!
[Post edited 3 Nov 18:18]

Poll: do you do judo and/or do you do voodoo?

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Lots of midweek changes normally on 18:26 - Nov 3 with 190 viewsCafe_Newman

I trust KMcK to do what's best, whether if it's for the match in question or the long term.

He knows exactly what we need.
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Lots of midweek changes normally on 12:37 - Nov 4 with 61 viewssouthnorfolkblue

Lots of midweek changes normally on 08:48 - Nov 3 by Cheltenham_Blue

I think the changes will be.

Young for Davis
Azor (if fit) for Hirst
Cajuste for Matusiwa.

And that's it.


Matusiwa won't be rested

Poll: Our final position

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