Presumably Plymouth will have an equally ambivalent approach to the Cup as us. We might see two managers having picked weakened sides which might just tip things in our favour.
I’m really hoping Portsmouth beat Ipswich and we lose on Saturday.
I know it’s not ideal to lose in a cup game and takes opportunities away from those who need minutes and the chance to impress. But we have to look at the bigger picture.
Saturday 28th November is far, far nicer than Tuesday 22nd December.
Otherwise we will have 9 games in 32 days in December through to the beginning of January. We could do with a week’s rest before Christmas Day and then the Boxing Day fixture.
And I think Maddison might be ruled out to avoid further unnecessary injury.
Smyth and Bogle will probably be rested.
Otherwise spot on.
The same Smyth who has only played 20-mins in the last week and if he doesnt play Saturday or Tuesday wont play for nearly three weeks? - Same for Forster-Caskey, imagine the fact a lot will go a good while before Gillingham without any game time so Bowyer will no doubt use this as a friendly
And I think Maddison might be ruled out to avoid further unnecessary injury.
Smyth and Bogle will probably be rested.
Otherwise spot on.
The same Smyth who has only played 20-mins in the last week and if he doesnt play Saturday or Tuesday wont play for nearly three weeks? - Same for Forster-Caskey, imagine the fact a lot will go a good while before Gillingham without any game time so Bowyer will no doubt use this as a friendly
And I think Maddison might be ruled out to avoid further unnecessary injury.
Smyth and Bogle will probably be rested.
Otherwise spot on.
The same Smyth who has only played 20-mins in the last week and if he doesnt play Saturday or Tuesday wont play for nearly three weeks? - Same for Forster-Caskey, imagine the fact a lot will go a good while before Gillingham without any game time so Bowyer will no doubt use this as a friendly
OK I'll give you that one....
Leyton Orient on Tuesday is the one where I reckon we'll see Henry | Vennings | Barker | Mingi starting etc.
I distinctly remember a few years back in the third tier when Bows fielded a weakened team! There was outrage aplenty with many questioning our leaders team selection! I personally have no qualms about seeing a weakened team this weekend. Maybe Iniss, the Cat, the Doc might be retained but wholesale changes will be made to rest our weary troops.
I distinctly remember a few years back in the third tier when Bows fielded a weakened team! There was outrage aplenty with many questioning our leaders team selection! I personally have no qualms about seeing a weakened team this weekend. Maybe Iniss, the Cat, the Doc might be retained but wholesale changes will be made to rest our weary troops.
We're definitely going to see wholesale changes ...... Bowyer's mentioned certain players running on empty. And maybe one or two have been playing with niggles (remember Famewo aggravating a niggle at Pompey?) and he'll be keen to rest those who've had no pre-season, Gunter and Bogle perhaps?
We've only 1 senior keeper, so Amos won't be risked and AMB will benefit from a 1st team game.
There's 3 out of 4 CBs injured, so to play Inniss is a risk, should he get injured. Mingi seems likely to be involved ... but Bowyer likes his CB pairing to be balanced, so there could yet be a surprise. And it may not be Barker.
Prats and Shinnie surely will be rested, especially if Maddison is fit. No reason why Williams can't start. We'll see Levitt (if Man U give permission), or Morgan and Watson to skipper the side and act as enforcer. Vennings will be involved at some point.
Washington we'll be rested, I reckon. Aneke needs minutes, even if it's only a half, depending on what the meds team say. Smyth will probably play 90, because he can.
The bench will look strong, with some rested players to come on if things go awry. And a couple of youngsters if the game supports it.
Bowyer always likes to win, but he'll shrug his shoulders and move on if we don't. This is game for several players to get minutes and prove to the manager that they should have the shirt.
I've got a great idea to stop Maddison and Aneke getting injured. Never play them! Both need games. Saturday is a perfect game to give both important minutes. This is football FFS!
Just play the under 23 side and leave it to them. Bows could do with a rest as well and a few training sessions would be good.
U23s will play on Tuesday.
Saturday is a chance for the players who haven't been getting many minutes recently like Levitt, JFC and Smyth. Matthews needs some minutes too as he's hardly played for months, as does Maddison. Otherwise it's 2 more weeks without a game for them which won't help.
I'd say Williams as well but he's not so much of an issue as he'll play for Wales next week.
Comments
Same applies to QPR and Smyth.
I know it’s not ideal to lose in a cup game and takes opportunities away from those who need minutes and the chance to impress. But we have to look at the bigger picture.
Saturday 28th November is far, far nicer than Tuesday 22nd December.
Otherwise we will have 9 games in 32 days in December through to the beginning of January. We could do with a week’s rest before Christmas Day and then the Boxing Day fixture.
Matthews.
Oh, and Inniss.
And possibly Pratley and Purrington
Maybe not Morgan and Forster-Caskey
And I think Maddison might be ruled out to avoid further unnecessary injury.
Smyth and Bogle will probably be rested.
Otherwise spot on.
TS: "I want that cup".
Matthews, Barker, Mingi, Purrington
Levitt
Morgan, Vennings, Maddison
Smyth, Bogle
0-1, all about minute result irrelevant.
He's just back from injury and not played a competitive game for a very long time, excepting a few minutes.
Or have I got that wrong.
Let's just take it as it comes :-)
We've only 1 senior keeper, so Amos won't be risked and AMB will benefit from a 1st team game.
There's 3 out of 4 CBs injured, so to play Inniss is a risk, should he get injured. Mingi seems likely to be involved ... but Bowyer likes his CB pairing to be balanced, so there could yet be a surprise. And it may not be Barker.
Prats and Shinnie surely will be rested, especially if Maddison is fit. No reason why Williams can't start.
We'll see Levitt (if Man U give permission), or Morgan and Watson to skipper the side and act as enforcer. Vennings will be involved at some point.
Washington we'll be rested, I reckon. Aneke needs minutes, even if it's only a half, depending on what the meds team say.
Smyth will probably play 90, because he can.
The bench will look strong, with some rested players to come on if things go awry.
And a couple of youngsters if the game supports it.
Bowyer always likes to win, but he'll shrug his shoulders and move on if we don't. This is game for several players to get minutes and prove to the manager that they should have the shirt.
We're shit in the cu-u-up
Charlton Athletic
We're shit in the cup
0-2 to the carrot crunchers!
Saturday is a chance for the players who haven't been getting many minutes recently like Levitt, JFC and Smyth. Matthews needs some minutes too as he's hardly played for months, as does Maddison. Otherwise it's 2 more weeks without a game for them which won't help.
I'd say Williams as well but he's not so much of an issue as he'll play for Wales next week.