49er Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 We need to beat both Stoke and Sunderland so that we can get to 36 points - a few more and we will be safe. If we can do this, we can put out a second string side against Everton before the first leg, and the same when we play Palace (a boring 0-0 draw will suit both sides!) before the second leg. This would mean the likes of Zieler, Amartey, Benalouane, Chilwell, Gray, King, Ulloa, Musa getting a run out. Thoughts?
Marvin Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 I'd say rest individual players if a specific need arises otherwise play your best team. Liverpool went wrong when they started fannying around with weakened teams in the FA cup. They've all got a decent break now anyway.
WiFoxes Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 The importance of this is twofold: 1) 36 points may very well be enough to ensure safety. At the very least it makes survival much more likely with 8 more matches to play. 2) Confidence, confidence, confidence. Right now the team is full of it. These are two very good chances to continue to roll, right on into Madrid.
Legend_in_blue Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 I don't think 36 will be enough to be safe. 3 wins from 10 still required. Having said that, I still think we'll finish top half. I'm fed up of the media still clinging onto the fact that we're part of some relegation scrap when the points tally staring everyone in the face says anyone up to Southampton in 10th is worthy of consideration. We need to give 'em the middle finger and continue our roles as these so-called snakes just to continue the hatred to the last game of the season and rub everyones faces in it.
Tuna Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 We must pick our best team at all times, no compromise.
FoxinNotts Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 It's a good point, but I'm in two minds on it. Theres only (currently) 12 games left. We are are about to have an international break. Our international players won't be massively going all out during it. They are generally friendlies, so they won't be blowing a gasket. It should just tick over, in terms of fitness. All that said, it would be great to get 6 points in the next 2 games. The relegation pressure really would be off, realistically. Be great for Shakey and the team to play with pressure off, so they can assess fatigue knowing what's ahead of them.
FoxinNotts Posted 19 March 2017 Posted 19 March 2017 Win the next two, and the aim should be top ten finish.
WigstonWanderer Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Agree with the OP. If we win against Stoke & Sunderland we're on 36 points with 8 to play. It is inconceivable that we wouldn't get another 4 in the remains 8, so safety is pretty much assured. CL should then be the priority and Shakes can rest key players as he sees fit. Perhaps not play a full reserve team for Everton & CP though. Obviously if the first leg goes really badly and there isn't much to play for in the second, it might be better to go all out against CP. I don't like them and would like to see them relegated.
urban.spaceman Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Shinji will be knackered after the internationals as per usual so it's likely Slimani will get drafted back in. I agree that if we pick up 6 points at home to Stoke and Sunderland (which is quite likely) then certain players will deserve a rest against Everton before going gung-ho against Atletico. starting to get quite excited about this whole Champions League thing.
ZeGuy Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 3 hours ago, Tuna said: We must pick our best team at all times, no compromise. No, you can't. The match against West ham was a fair warning and we were lucky (Kasper) to get away with the win. Player rotation is mandatory.
Mezeker Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 7 hours ago, Tuna said: We must pick our best team at all times, no compromise. we can't afford to against Everton.
Guest MattP Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 7 hours ago, Tuna said: We must pick our best team at all times, no compromise. We were shattered on Saturday in the last third of the game. We'll need to make changes for Everton, you can't play every weekend and midweek with our style and remain at 100%.
Nalis Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 I'd settle for 4pts from 6 in our next 2 games. After that, we need to rotate v Everton and Palace. Even if we lose our next 2 I'd still be tempted to rotate v Everton and Palace, the two games v Atletico are the priority no matter what.
foxy boxing Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 after our recent run, we'd expect to win these two games and the players need now to be up for every match. I'd settle for four points or remaining unbeaten and with performances on a par with what we have seen in the last four games. the last four games have given the squad and the fans so much encouragement and belief and we should now keep moving up the table
lgfualol Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Both games will be tough. I could imagine Sunderland and Stoke parking the bus so it will be interesting to see how Shakerooni handles it. Beating Sunderland would be nice though, hopefully it would help to get them relegated.
elvisfmcfly Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 7 hours ago, ZeGuy said: No, you can't. The match against West ham was a fair warning and we were lucky (Kasper) to get away with the win. Player rotation is mandatory. One might argue it was once we made the substitutions that we struggled!
Thracian Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 4 hours ago, MattP said: We were shattered on Saturday in the last third of the game. We'll need to make changes for Everton, you can't play every weekend and midweek with our style and remain at 100%. How is making changes guaranteed to give us 100% efficiency? Our "great escape", our title success and our recent resurgence seems to have one common denominator ... as few unavoidable changes as possible. It's an interesting point you make about "our style" though. Because it concerns me that we've no-one who can mirror the job that Shinji does when he runs out of gas and we don't really have a convincing plan B. I feel nervous as a trapped mouse when we start sitting back and just defending with no other purpose than to whack the ball clear and wait for it to come back again. And, sadly, none of the alternatives are completely convincing. King's accurate passing under pressure would have been welcome the last 20 minutes but nothing quite convinces me in other areas. Slimani up front with Vardy loses all the midfield protection Shinji offers and I'm still not convinced about Gray's decision-making despite his energy out wide. Or either Amartey or Chilwell's reliability as defensive supplements for all that both have improved and may yet make the breakthrough. So really our problems at the end weren't all about fatigue but about having effective like-for-like or Plan B alternatives.
ZeGuy Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 33 minutes ago, elvisfmcfly said: One might argue it was once we made the substitutions that we struggled! Nah, we were dead tired anyway. Mahrez was about to pass out. Same for Vardy, Shinji and Drinky.
Detroit Blues Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 We're about to play 7 games in 23 days. Player rotation is going to be mandatory. You cannot play our high tempo - pressing style every game with the same starting XI games when you have to play every 3 days. We all saw how we looked in the second half against West Ham. You don't want that to happen against Atletico Madrid because your starting XI are wiped out from playing 3 days previously at Everton.
AmarteyAndChill Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 6 minutes ago, Detroit Blues said: We're about to play 7 games in 23 days. Player rotation is going to be mandatory. You cannot play our high tempo - pressing style every game with the same starting XI games when you have to play every 3 days. We all saw how we looked in the second half against West Ham. You don't want that to happen against Atletico Madrid because your starting XI are wiped out from playing 3 days previously at Everton. Get 6 points in our next two games meaning there isn't the threat of being dragged back into the dog fight meaning we can rest players without any consequence.
Ricey Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Not a chance that we'll be able to play with our desired intensity, after the international break, when we have 2 games every week. Saturday proved that, we were dead on our feet after 60 minutes. I'd expect to see Gray, Slimani and Amartey feature more over the coming weeks.
Ted Maul Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Very important games. The West Ham result was brilliant as I think it means that we can afford to draw the Stoke game as long as we beat Sunderland. Thinking ahead, Palace away being a relegation 6 pointer would be a nightmare scenario- I want us practically safe by then. Could do with making a couple of changes for Everton as well.
blue army 1988 Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Lets get 40 points before we start mucking about with the team
Detroit Blues Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 With the Arsenal game announced (April 26th) that makes 9 games in 30 days. It's going to be a busy April.
Guest CityFan 06 Posted 20 March 2017 Posted 20 March 2017 Win these two and we're up to 36pts. That'd leave us 4 away from the desired 40pts.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.