Managing the next two games

[MrTechno]

A fantastic late win yesterday. Some selection decisions to be made in relation to the next two games with THB and Brownhill a booking away from missing the Sheff United game, the possible need to keep Jay fresh and Benson banging on the door for a start.

Personally I’d bring in Taylor for Harwood-Bellis and move Beyer to right sided centre back and risk Brownhill with Bastian in the middle and either Cork or Cullen (if fit) to come off the bench if required. I think we’ll need both Cork and Cullen at full pelt for the Sheff United game.

Dervişoğlu has looked lively in his cameos so it might be a game to try him for a start against Rotherham (hopefully one of the weaker teams) with the option of Jay off the bench.

If you were Benson you’d be asking for a start but he’s been so destructive of the bench, he maybe has to stay there with the look at starting him in either the Sheff United or Rovers game.

[clarethomer]

Can you serve the "5 yellow card" ban in a league cup game?

If so - that is how you try and manage it.

[welsbyswife]

Wrong mentality for me is that. You can't go through this league thinking some games will be easier than others. Pick your strongest possible side for every game. Use subs wisely but giving people a rest because "It's only Rotherham" is the wrong way to go about it.

[dougcollins]

Wrong mentality for me is that. You can't go through this league thinking some games will be easier than others. Pick your strongest possible side for every game. Use subs wisely but giving people a rest because "It's only Rotherham" is the wrong way to go about it.

Correct. Every game in the Championship is a trial.

[jedi_master]

Not to underestimate Rotherham at all, but I was thinking the same. Taylor could easily deputise for THB for this game. If Cullen is fit, then with Cork back the same can be said for Brownhill.

It’s not about picking and choosing games per se, but Blades away is our biggest game of the season so far. I’d say THB and Brownhill are vital for it. I also don’t want them two lads being unsure whether to make a 50/50 in the next game knowing it could put them out of that trip.

[MrTechno]

Wrong mentality for me is that. You can't go through this league thinking some games will be easier than others. Pick your strongest possible side for every game. Use subs wisely but giving people a rest because "It's only Rotherham" is the wrong way to go about it.

Yeah that’s definitely one way of looking at it, it’ll be interesting to see what Kompany does. I definitely don’t think ‘it’s only Rotherham’ that’s why I wouldn’t switch it up too much but I do think we have to be careful of managing suspensions and fatigue.

[NewClaret]

Wrong mentality for me is that. You can't go through this league thinking some games will be easier than others. Pick your strongest possible side for every game. Use subs wisely but giving people a rest because "It's only Rotherham" is the wrong way to go about it.

I agree with this, and certainly don’t want to see us taking tactical yellows because they can come back to haunt you, but also we have a very good squad now and the “strongest possible side” is no longer a foregone conclusion. We have rested players who are knocking on the door and sometimes a freshness and something to prove will be a better option on the night. Good to keep the opposition guessing too.

Rotherham will be no slouches - they’ve picked up points in 12 of their 17 games so far - but given we have home advantage, I’d keep Bastien in the team, get Cullen fully ready for Saturday and maybe bring Halil in for Jay from the start.

[bobinho]

Yep, Halil for Jay, as he looked absolutely shot yesterday. I’d start bastien too.

Fantastic that we have real credible options now. Very clever work in pre season by the manager.

[RVclaret]

Agree with the above poster, Dervisoglu in for Jay, who needs a rest, Cork in for either Brownhill (yellow card reasons) or JBG (maybe one game too far for him) with Bastien staying in. I think Bastien would be decent alongside Cork in that role.

[Goody1975]

Can you serve the "5 yellow card" ban in a league cup game?

If so - that is how you try and manage it.

No, accumulative yellow card suspensions are served in the same competition and with the amnesty being after the Rotherham game, it would be impossible for the cup game to come into play anyway.

[Goalposts]

Wrong mentality for me is that. You can't go through this league thinking some games will be easier than others. Pick your strongest possible side for every game. Use subs wisely but giving people a rest because "It's only Rotherham" is the wrong way to go about it.

Absolutely spot on

[claretandy]

Muric
Vitiniho Beyer Taylor Maatsen
Bastien Cork
JBG Tella Zoroury
Halil

Benson and Jay for Halil and JBG after 60 mins.

[jen1066]

Fortunately, I don't think VK will go berserk and start swapping everybody out of the team.

I fully expect to see both THB and Brownhill start. If THB gets another yellow, only then do we need to bring Taylor in. If Brownhill gets a yellow, then there are several other options.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Same lineup that started yesterday - 5 subs is the key to managing games. Another 3 points from the midweek game is more important than protecting players.

If we keep things the same we will have a very, very strong bench for the Rotherham game - especially if both Cork and Cullen are back. So if things aren’t going to plan by half-time we can bring the likes of Benson, Vitinho, Cork and Cullen on to change the game.

The time for wholesale changes will be the cup game, when I expect to see a completely different team - especially allowing the likes of Egan-Riley, McNally and Dervisoglu to show us what they can do.

So, flat-out for the next 3 league games, recharge our batteries for a month and go again, with a bigger, stronger squad (adding Twine, Churlinov and Westwood to the mix) and with the prospect of recruiting again in January.

Exciting times.

[Rileybobs]

Same lineup that started yesterday - 5 subs is the key to managing games. Another 3 points from the midweek game is more important than protecting players.

If we keep things the same we will have a very, very strong bench for the Rotherham game - especially if both Cork and Cullen are back. So if things aren’t going to plan by half-time we can bring the likes of Benson, Vitinho, Cork and Cullen on to change the game.

The time for wholesale changes will be the cup game, when I expect to see a completely different team - especially allowing the likes of Egan-Riley, McNally and Dervisoglu to show us what they can do.

So, flat-out for the next 3 league games, recharge our batteries for a month and go again, with a bigger, stronger squad (adding Twine, Churlinov and Westwood to the mix) and with the prospect of recruiting again in January.

Exciting times.

There’s no way that Cork doesn’t walk straight back into Wednesday’s line up.

[jen1066]

Same lineup that started yesterday - 5 subs is the key to managing games. Another 3 points from the midweek game is more important than protecting players.

If we keep things the same we will have a very, very strong bench for the Rotherham game - especially if both Cork and Cullen are back. So if things aren’t going to plan by half-time we can bring the likes of Benson, Vitinho, Cork and Cullen on to change the game.

The time for wholesale changes will be the cup game, when I expect to see a completely different team - especially allowing the likes of Egan-Riley, McNally and Dervisoglu to show us what they can do.

So, flat-out for the next 3 league games, recharge our batteries for a month and go again, with a bigger, stronger squad (adding Twine, Churlinov and Westwood to the mix) and with the prospect of recruiting again in January.

Exciting times.

Cork and Cullen back in, surely.

[Colburn_Claret]

I wouldn't dream of changing players because of yellow cards, nothing in life is predictable, and 3 pts against Rotherham are just as useful as 3 against Sheff U.
I would bring back Cork and Cullen, if he's fit, and I would play Dervisoglu instead of Jay, he looked a yard off the pace yesterday, and could probably do with a break, and Halil looks lively in his cameos, it would be good to see what he can offer from the start.

[clarethomer]

No, accumulative yellow card suspensions are served in the same competition and with the amnesty being after the Rotherham game, it would be impossible for the cup game to come into play anyway.

That's good to know. Thanks for confirming.

I guess going back to the original question then.

I would probably still look at player management still. I get the same 3pts for each game argument and it's factually correct. Play your strongest team for each game. However the team has depth so it's not like previous years where pretty much the same 11 picked itself each game.

For me - I think we could afford to protect THB, Brownhill and Rest Jay and to do so is not about those replacing them weakening our team but just using the squad effectively so we choose when we have players available rather than when they are enforced on us.

[Quickenthetempo]

THB has played virtually all the games so I wouldn't mind him being rested for the 2 big games. VK might want to change his right CH with Reading's goal and Norwich golden chance being identical in his area? It shouldn't happen twice in 2 games.

Rotherham will be hard to break down but shouldn't cause our defenders that many problems.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Cork and Cullen back in, surely.

My reasoning for playing the same starting team is to limit the risk of injury to key players during the high intensity of the first half against Rotherham side who will probably looking to “rough us up”. There is every reason to think that Rotherham will adopt the same tactics as the (better) Reading side and our starting team coped well, dominated possession and ‘ran the legs off’ Reading.

So if the game goes the same way and we are able to convert a couple of chances, we will have the know-how (off the bench) to dominate the second half or change the game if things are going wrong.

This way we will limit the risk of injuries, give a run-out to returning players and have fresh legs for the SheffU game.

[jojomk1]

Muric
Roberts Beyer Egan Riley Taylor
Vitinho Cork Bastien Maatsen
Brownhill
Zaroury

[Devils_Advocate]

I wouldnt be resting any players so they dont get a yellow card but I reckon we could see 3 changes and possibly 4 if VK brings in Vitinho for either Roberts or Maatsen.

I think Benson will get a stat, Cork will come back in and Jay will get rested. Also think Cullen wont be rushed back for Rotherham game so reckon the team will be

GK Muric
RB Vitinho/Roberts
CB THB
CB Beyer
LB Vitinho/Maatsen
CM Cork
CM Brownhill
RW Benson
AMC Tella
LW Zaroury
CF Dervişoğlu

[CrosspoolClarets]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

We’ve been caught out last season by resting players ahead of a bigger game and we lose both. We could lose at Blades whoever plays so we need 3 points vs Rotherham first, that is the top priority. If we get a goal or two up, we then make subs to keep freshness for Saturday, then an 8 day break before Rovers (mainly reserves for Crawley).

[jen1066]

THB has played virtually all the games so I wouldn't mind him being rested for the 2 big games. VK might want to change his right CH with Reading's goal and Norwich golden chance being identical in his area? It shouldn't happen twice in 2 games.

Rotherham will be hard to break down but shouldn't cause our defenders that many problems.

World Cup break after the next 3 league games. 'm sure he can manage 3 more games and be rested for the Crawley match.

[claretspice]

We can overthink this in terms of suspensions. Just play the games.

The quick turnaround to Saturday is more of a factor and its entirely possible that Rodriguez in particular might be rested on Wednesday and Kompany might also look to manage the minutes of someone like Tella who isn't used to playing the number of games he's currently playing in such a short time.

But the priority is always to try and win the next game and so I don't expect too much rotation.

[Tricky Trevor]

Rotherham score the majority of their goals from deadball situations so plan A) is don’t give them cheap FKs or corners. To cover for that we need our biggest side out:
Muric
Lowton..Beyer..Taylor..Maatsen
Cork………Cullen
JBG…..Brownhill
Tella….JRod

Forget yellow cards they happen or don’t. Win the next game.

[jen1066]

Why change our side for a few extra inches when we are playing an inferior team? Let them worry about us.

[claretspice]

Rotherham score the majority of their goals from deadball situations so plan A) is don’t give them cheap FKs or corners. To cover for that we need our biggest side out:
Muric
Lowton..Beyer..Taylor..Maatsen
Cork………Cullen
JBG…..Brownhill
Tella….JRod

Forget yellow cards they happen or don’t. Win the next game.

If that's the case then big argument for Taylor at left back instead of Mastsen. Maatsen was generally good yesterday but in this new mire circumspect role I didn't see him do anything Taylor can't and Taylor is better in the air. He also wouldn't have made that rash tackle in the latter stages.

Don't expect VK to throw the baby out with the bath water mind and it'd be a massive surprise if Zaroury didn't start just to add height. I can't see Lowton starting either. And THB will play, I'm pretty certain of that- and rightly so. Beyer THB and Muric need to play as many minutes together as possible.

[taio]

There's no way THB should be rested against Rotherham

[Tricky Trevor]

If that's the case then big argument for Taylor at left back instead of Mastsen. Maatsen was generally good yesterday but in this new mire circumspect role I didn't see him do anything Taylor can't and Taylor is better in the air. He also wouldn't have made that rash tackle in the latter stages.

Don't expect VK to throw thr baby out with the bath water mind and it'd be a massive surprise if Zaroury didn't start just to add height. I can't see Lowton starting either.

I agree. Lowton will never start for VK and Zaroury won’t be dropped. Just a thought as they don’t seem to score many from open play.

[claretspice]

Best way to deal with that though is to keep them away from winning corners, and to keep our first choice centre half pairing in tact. Has to be said we defended corners well yesterday.

[ksrclaret]

I too would like to see Taylor come into the team at left back now. Maatsen is no longer playing as a left wing back with the ball , he’s actually playing more like a third CB at the moment so I think Taylor should be picked for that role. It’d add defensive stability, height, and experience. For the next three games that will be worth having.

[NewClaret]

Fantastic that we have real credible options now. Very clever work in pre season by the manager.

Just an unbelievable performance by the manager and recruitment team.

Cannot believe we got Vitinho and Bastien for <£1m each.

[Dassey]

I think all yellow cards are scrapped after 19 games which will be after Rotherham game.

[BradTee93]

Can you serve the "5 yellow card" ban in a league cup game?

If so - that is how you try and manage it.

The 5 game = a suspension threshold stops after Wednesdays game and goes upto 10 bookings. So Brownhill & THB only need to get through the Rotherham game without a card to avoid missing the Sheff Utd game via suspension

[dsr]

Best way to deal with that though is to keep them away from winning corners, and to keep our first choice centre half pairing in tact. Has to be said we defended corners well yesterday.

Not sure about the first one, about 4 minutes into the game. It looked to me that two Reading players marked each other so that neither had a free header. Fortunately!

I wouldn't rest THB. He's young, he doesn't need rest, and he's about to have a month off anyway.

[tiger76]

We'd be wise not to take Rotherham lightly given their decent return to the Championship, the last thing we need ahead of a tough trip to Bramall Lane is to suffer a shock home reverse.

Assuming everyone is fit I'd hope we pick our strongest possible XI, if we get into a commanding lead we can always make plenty of changes with the 5 subs now.

[Elizabeth]

I agree Jay needs a rest. Bastien played well enough to keep his place and it would be nice to see one of Cork or Cullen start.
I'd start with Benson and give him the chance to get rid of this super sub image that he seems to be labelled with.
VK has changed the back 4 on many occasions this season so whatever he decides to go with will most likely have very little to do with the opposition.
Wednesday is a great opportunity to put 3 points on the board before 2 of the most difficult games of the season so far , where 2 draws would satisfy me.

[Bullabill]

I think Benson will get a stat, ............

I think he'll get more than one.

[Woodleyclaret]

Rotherham are dark horse team and it won't be a walk over.We need our strongest team out and attack from the off

[tiger76]

Tonight's results make playing our strongest possible side against Rotherham even more important now in my view.

Win tomorrow will give us some vital breathing space ahead of 2 huge matches prior to the WC break.

[Vegas Claret]

I'd rest them both, it's a home game ffs. Sheff Utd away will be our toughest away game of the season and for that we need our first choice players.

[Vegas Claret]

and I'll add if Bastien can cut it against Reading he should be able to play against Rotherham. We need Brownhill for Sheff United away because they will fly at us from the first whistle. I'd rest THB for Taylor too

[Taffy on the wing]

FWIW.......I watched a bit of the Shef utd match today & they looked sh...!

[beeholeclaret]

I was looking at the league table after last night’s results. My first thoughts looking ahead I would at this stage be happy to beat Rotherham and draw the following two league games with Sheff United and Rovers? That could potentially keep us ahead of the pack even if we only won 1 out of the 3. All short term thinking and speculation of course.

[IWOODLOVETT]

One game at a time - underestimate the opposition at your peril. Rotherham are in this league on merit and are above the likes of Blackpool, Stoke, Hull and Cardiff - who have all taken points off us.

Forget about the following two for now - 3 points first and foremost from tonight’s game.

[jen1066]

Tonight's results make playing our strongest possible side against Rotherham even more important now in my view.

Win tomorrow will give us some vital breathing space ahead of 2 huge matches prior to the WC break.

Had Rovers won it still would have been important to pick our strongest side, to go back top.

3 points will be big, regardless.