The one thing that Bowyer can't allow to happen is that we use Taylor as a reason for turning relegation into a self fulfilling prophecy.
When we drew against West Brom (one of if not the best side in the Championship) our starting X1 wasn't just missing Taylor - we had no Williams, Pearce, Page, Hemed, Bonne, JFC, Morgan, McGeady, Cullen, Field, Oztumer, Purringon and Aneke.
I can understand it to an extent, TBH with regards Solly he's not been near the bench for a while has he so he was unlikely to be in or around the squad on a match day with everyone fighting fit.
With 2 games a week for 5 weeks, no way will Matthews play every game
If that squad is as fit and ready as possible, BRING IT ON. One player does not make a team and in Bonne and Green we have goals. plus whatever Heker can chip in. I was more worried if Sarr and Matthews were 2 of the 3, as we will need to be as tight at the back as possible.
McGeady shouldn't be anywhere near the starting XI.
Sarr was on fire before his injury and starts alongside Lockyer for sure. Pearce too if we want to play a back 5 (which to my recollection was working better at times than the 4, at least in an attacking sense - provided that Doughty can get going. That said I like the idea of 4 at the back if it means Field, Cullen, Williams AND an attacking mid - maybe Aneke, maybe Oztumer, maybe Green, certainly not that aforementioned McGeady)
Oztumer had some good games but Bowyer seemed to very visibly give up on him right towards the end - he even scapegoated him for one poor showing I think. I don't believe we'll see much more of him this season. Could be wrong though.
The unanswerable question is trying to factor in the inevitable varying levels of fitness of individual club squad. I would imagine that some are going to be significantly different from others and might skew the results from the expected pre COVID period. We’ve got it all to play for and our previous disastrous form might not be much of a consideration. I’m guessing that many squads will be virtually at late pre season levels of fitness.
9 subs can be named, and maximum 5 can be used for remainder of the season.
Wow hadn't seen this... That'll make games feel completely different. You could almost play a completely attacking side one half then an all out defensive side second half.
Some may say an unfair advantage over the previous 37 games
Weird, talk about integrity of the game and rules not being changed.. yet then allow 5 subs. Surely that will cause issues if a team loses out on goal difference due to a team in a higher position hammering bottom teams.
9 subs can be named, and maximum 5 can be used for remainder of the season.
Wow hadn't seen this... That'll make games feel completely different. You could almost play a completely attacking side one half then an all out defensive side second half.
Some may say an unfair advantage over the previous 37 games
Not sure if it’ll be the same over here but in Germany they have added rules around substitutes too. Such as, you can only make subs 3 times in a game. So you cannot make 5 single subs meaning 5 stoppages in play. You’d have to make a couple of double substitutions.
Comments
GK
Phillips
Amos
RB
Solly
Matthews
CB
Lockyer
Oshilaja
Pearce
Sarr
LB
Purrington
Page
CDM
Field
Pratley
Davis
CM
Cullen
Pratley
Forster Caskey
Lapslie
Smith
Morgan
CAM
Williams
Doughty
Aneke
Oztumer
McGeady
FW
Taylor
Bonne
Hemed
Davison
Green
Pretty much means a first 11 of:
Matthews | Lockyer | Pearce | Purrington
Pratley
Cullen | Williams
McGeady
Hemed | Bonne
Subs: Amos, Sarr, Oshilaja, Doughty, Aneke, Green, Davison
When we drew against West Brom (one of if not the best side in the Championship) our starting X1 wasn't just missing Taylor - we had no Williams, Pearce, Page, Hemed, Bonne, JFC, Morgan, McGeady, Cullen, Field, Oztumer, Purringon and Aneke.
Matthews | Lockyer | Sarr | Purrington
Field
Cullen | Williams
Oztumer
Green | Bonne
Subs: Amos, Pearce, Oshilaja, Doughty, Aneke, Hemed, Davison, McGeady, Pratley
Sarr was on fire before his injury and starts alongside Lockyer for sure. Pearce too if we want to play a back 5 (which to my recollection was working better at times than the 4, at least in an attacking sense - provided that Doughty can get going. That said I like the idea of 4 at the back if it means Field, Cullen, Williams AND an attacking mid - maybe Aneke, maybe Oztumer, maybe Green, certainly not that aforementioned McGeady)
Oztumer had some good games but Bowyer seemed to very visibly give up on him right towards the end - he even scapegoated him for one poor showing I think. I don't believe we'll see much more of him this season. Could be wrong though.
Pratley, Lockyer, Sarr
Matthews, Cullen, Field, Doughty
Green, Williams
Bonne
Amos, Pearce, Oshilaja, Lapslie, Oztumer, Davidson, Hemed.
Plenty of battle and endeavour there but won’t be enough IMO.
The ability to have two extra changes will hopefully mean less chance of injury
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5ed406eef3960/efl-agrees-to-a-provisional-restart-date-of-the-weekend-of-june-20th-for-the-championship
Some may say an unfair advantage over the previous 37 games
Such as, you can only make subs 3 times in a game. So you cannot make 5 single subs meaning 5 stoppages in play. You’d have to make a couple of double substitutions.