Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[One Foot in the Grave]

Right. Radical view coming up, and I expect to be slaughtered by some of you.

I know a lot of Alty fans were unhappy when we fielded a weakened team against Stockport last season - but this time we absolutely must do in my opinion. The FA Trophy is, to my mind, third in our pecking order after the FA Cup tie at Portsmouth and the increasing chance of another crack at the playoffs.

Portsmouth is the immediate priority - the financial possibilities for the club are endless. The prospect of an awayday at Mourinho's new employers, or something similar, is mouthwatering. But if we can get Pompey back to Moss Lane, it'll be a dead cert for live TV, and even if it were the end of our run it would generate tremendous financial benefits, as well as putting the club in the public consciousnesses and attracting potential sponsors and investors.

I firmly believe that we cannot afford to lose key players to injury or suspension (Andy White is only one booking away from a ban).

I'd rest Thompson, White, Hannigan, Johnston, and Hulme. Yes, I know Joel Torrance in goal is a massive shout but I believe he's a tremendous prospect, and Densmore, Jones, Mullarkey, and Hampson, bolstered by Moult, are perfectly capable of protecting him.

If we lose at Bootham  Crescent the world won't end. If we lose at Fratton Park because key players are missing THAT would be a disaster.

[JD]

I think that is a very sensible argument.

[Nom de plume]

+1

[Alty Bri]

I actually think it will be a very popular view to rest key players (or at least bench them) and I think Parky will do just that. The way we are playing, we have an excellent chance of the play offs - 66/1 to win the league outright by the way!

[CRT Butty]

York are only interested in promotion, and they plan to win the league. They'll make changes too.

[MadFrankie]

York are only interested in promotion, and they plan to win the league. They'll make changes too.

I thought that until they lost at Curzon - they might want to get back on track after back to back defeats?

[Alty Dave]

Whilst I am not against rotation, he should put out a strong team and keep the momentum going if possible. That's my opinion.

[HashtagAlty]

York are only interested in promotion, and they plan to win the league. They'll make changes too.

I thought that until they lost at Curzon - they might want to get back on track after back to back defeats?

Would this be three defeats in a row?

[MarpleAlty]

We have this debate at least once a season - and for good reason.

I'd do a bit of 'gentle rotation' and bring in Tuesday's subs at the very least (plus Peers).

Good chance for him to trial a 4-5-1 for Pompey, as suggested somewhere else, if that's what he's thinking?

[MadFrankie]

York are only interested in promotion, and they plan to win the league. They'll make changes too.

I thought that until they lost at Curzon - they might want to get back on track after back to back defeats?

Would this be three defeats in a row?

Draw and 2 defeats in their last 3.

[robininstockport]

As we haven't got enough players to field a complete different starting 11 we will have to play several regular starters.


Don't like not giving it our all in the Throphy but the potential rewards in the FA cup are too great

[Mrs Warbouys]

Bookings are competition specific now so Andy White will be ok

[Toff Apple]

I think our team is influenced by momentum so I wouldn't change a thing

[PaulClementsLaments]

I understand the logic behind this but we lost so much momentum last season by changing the team around for the Stockport trophy game and it took us a while to get that back. Changing the team so much for that game was the only major decision that PP has made in his time here that has really disappointed me. As the runs we've put together show, this is a team that thrives on continuity and momentum. I'd maybe give Hampson, Peers and Harrop match time but personally I wouldn't want to see wholesale changes.

Paul

[Silent but Ledley]

To one foot in the grave, ordinarily a full strength team in the trophy would be my first thoughts however these are not ordinary times and I totally agree with your post. IMO Phil will have an idea who will be in the squad and those players should not really be exposed to any more risk than they have to. The Pompey game is by far more important than the Trophy and worth much more. Imagine if we win (which I have got a feeling for) and drawing one of the big boys in round 3. The financial rewards could be endless and set the club up for years to come. So, again IMO we need to give the players every opportunity to prepare properly, maybe travel Thursday, light training and tactics Friday then give Saturday our best shot.SBL