Lincoln vs Saints - Saturday 1230

[SouthWalesSaints]

1 hour ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

It’s a risk but this is the best chance to (a) give Larin a rest and (b) provide a good opportunity to Mabuma and Dobbin to put in a successful performance. Larin and Azaz can be utilised from the bench if we need to go large from 50-60 minutes onwards. Would also start Downes alongside JWP to run midfield. Also consider giving our new lad CB a start alongside Keven, but this is perhaps too risky and consistency at CB pairing is important.

I’m thinking a tough 1-2.

There is ZERO chance that Azaz will be rested. If he is, Tonda has lost the plot.  Play all the big attacking guns in every game until the international break.  We need to close the gap, not increase it. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

18 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

There is ZERO chance that Azaz will be rested. If he is, Tonda has lost the plot.  Play all the big attacking guns in every game until the international break.  We need to close the gap, not increase it. 

You’re likely right about Azaz, however Tonda has indicated that he likes a small squad and will trust the players at his disposal. Both Mubama and Dobbin need minutes to find their place in the team - what better way to do this against one of the weaker teams in the league (with all respect to Lincoln)? In a long season in a tough league we need to pace certain players - careful squad management is part of the reason why we were so successful last season. Dobbin could replace Scienza, however he’s not a natural winger - his strengths are playing off the main striker.

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

8 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

You’re likely right about Azaz, however Tonda has indicated that he likes a small squad and will trust the players at his disposal. Both Mubama and Dobbin need minutes to find their place in the team - what better way to do this against one of the weaker teams in the league (with all respect to Lincoln)? In a long season in a tough league we need to pace certain players - careful squad management is part of the reason why we were so successful last season. Dobbin could replace Scienza, however he’s not a natural winger - his strengths are playing off the main striker.

 

It's this level of arrogance that routinely sees us fall flat on our collective faces. Lincoln may well be a weaker side on paper but we should show them the same level of respect we would show Wolves or West Ham. They've brought a fair few players in and they will be at home against one of the big boys on the division. Their fans will expect a blood and thunder performance, the kind of game we have a tendency to struggle in. We absolutely have to start with the strongest starting 11 as possible. We absolutely cannot afford this to turn into another game like Oxford last season. 

[LiberalCommunist]

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

Who replaces Leo?

[Bobsmith]

55 minutes ago, saintant said:

Who replaces Leo?

I'm guessing Edozie will be back this week or next. He's our only natural replacement on the wing and better in that position than Dobbin

[saintant]

11 minutes ago, Bobsmith said:

I'm guessing Edozie will be back this week or next. He's our only natural replacement on the wing and better in that position than Dobbin

Would be a huge mistake imo. Leo was well marshalled by the Brum full back but he tends to get the better of most opponents and also provided the assist for our goal. 

[BARCELONASAINT]

1 hour ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

Absolute madness to bench Leo, he is the one player apart from Azaz that offers us true creativity and is very direct, which defenders hate. Yes he had one of his quieter games Tuesday night but so did a lot of players.

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

It's this level of arrogance that routinely sees us fall flat on our collective faces. Lincoln may well be a weaker side on paper but we should show them the same level of respect we would show Wolves or West Ham. They've brought a fair few players in and they will be at home against one of the big boys on the division. Their fans will expect a blood and thunder performance, the kind of game we have a tendency to struggle in. We absolutely have to start with the strongest starting 11 as possible. We absolutely cannot afford this to turn into another game like Oxford last season. 

Pot calling the kettle black right here. Suggest you calm down fella…it’s a forum discussing opinions.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Pot calling the kettle black right here. Suggest you calm down fella…it’s a forum discussing opinions.

Am pretty calm thanks. As you mentioned, just expressing an opinion. 

[sad saints fan]

Don't usually bother about guessing team selection but I think that Larin could do with a break and so could Leo. So how about a change of formation that will give Mubama and Dobbin a chance to get some minutes .

                                           Peretz

Bree                     Wood                Schlott        Manning 

                 JWP                 Downes             Matsuki

                                          Azaz

                            Mubama        Dobbin

Subs: Stephens/Wellington/Bragg/Larin/Szienza/Fellows /Princewill

 

If all goes well then Princewill could be given a run out for 20minutes if it is not so good we have a strong bench to turn to

[Bobsmith]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Would be a huge mistake imo. Leo was well marshalled by the Brum full back but he tends to get the better of most opponents and also provided the assist for our goal. 

I meant on the bench 😅 but would still prefer him as an option off the left than Dobbin

[SNSUN]

31 minutes ago, sad saints fan said:

Don't usually bother about guessing team selection but I think that Larin could do with a break and so could Leo. So how about a change of formation that will give Mubama and Dobbin a chance to get some minutes .

                                           Peretz

Bree                     Wood                Schlott        Manning 

                 JWP                 Downes             Matsuki

                                          Azaz

                            Mubama        Dobbin

Subs: Stephens/Wellington/Bragg/Larin/Szienza/Fellows /Princewill

 

If all goes well then Princewill could be given a run out for 20minutes if it is not so good we have a strong bench to turn to

I don't understand where this "players need a rest" thing has come from... we've only played 4 League games and 2 Cup games, one of which Larin didn't even start in.

Rotation against a weaker opponent or saving a player for a tougher fixture, maybe, but not because they need a rest a few games into a 46 game season (+ Cup games + potentially play-offs). If they're knackered now then we are fucked later on in the season. Thankfully we don't even have the Carabao to worry about now, which IMO isn't a bad thing. 

Get the points on the board now, then rest a few later in the calendar year (like December) when the fixtures really pile up.

Same team for me vs Lincoln, with perhaps only JWP over Bragg and Matsuki over Fellows.

[benjii]

Larin looked knackered for some reason on Tuesday and at times we take a lazy ball up to him as he is so good at holding it up but it can play into the hands of physical teams.

I can see logic to giving Mubama a start in this one.