Hughes has been unlucky not to have featured when you look at the results when he has played but he surely won't come in on Monday.
Hayes is also unlikely to feature which is a shame for him. I wonder if he would have done us more favours if we had let Wycombe continue to play him, but in SCP we trust.
Given the sucession of increasingly incompetent clowns we've had recently - one wonders who will be the ref.
They should give that linesman at Chelsea v Wigan today a go out there. I mean short of giving David Blunkett a notepad and whistle I couldn't think of a better candidate to make Mr Kettle look up to scratch.
If Russell and Hollands aren't available then it's difficult to think what our best bet would be. I can see a midfield of Stephens and Pritchard going missing a bit, and given Stephens' propensity to drop back and disappear from games we might not create enough if we go with him and Hughes. Plus we're not sure about the extent of Hughes' injury and how fit he'd be. I remember Powell saying at the start of the season how he saw Jackson as a more natural central midfielder but I feel at this stage in the season it's not the best time to be asking a player to start performing a new job in a settled team, especially considering there's no time before the match to focus on it. Powell's going to have to have a long think about the best pairing to go with.
But on the plus side, if Hughes isn't fit then we might be looking at a cheeky bit of Alonso on the bench, and I'm pretty sure he has a 0% chance of not coming off the bench and scoring some kind of title-clinching worldy. It just has to happen
Without Hollands and Russell, it's the defensive midfield role that we need to cover. The natural choice should be Hughes, but there is no way he will be match fit. Jackson, returning from injury and hasn't played that role for a long time. I never think of Jacko as being a great ball winner. I think the only viable option is Pritchard. Problem is he lacks experience and hasn't played alongside Stephens in the defensive role before. Perhaps the wide players are going to have to tuck in a bit more than usual.
Got to bring in Hughes. If we aren't going well then what about Alonso on the bench? I hope not...
As much as I think Hughes would do a job can't see either of these happening. Saw them both at Dartford in the KSC the other night Alonso just not match fit and there's more than meets the eye with the SCP / Hughes relationship but hope I'm wrong. We still have enough without either of them on Monday imo.
Euell can play midfield aswell so may come in handy on Monday.
Midfielders in order of my preference for Mondays game; Stephens, Cook, Green, Pritchard, JJ (don't want to risk him), Green, N'Guessan, Hughes, Euell, Alonso.
Pritch deserves a go. Him and Stephens against Walsall should be good enough at home it might help reduce the chance of us getting sucked into a long ball game as they both prefer it on the floor.
SCP does not normally appear to play players outside their natural position, something I appreciate so we always look balanced. I would replace DNG with BWP, Cook with JJ, Waggy with Green and Hollands with Pritchard. Don't underestimate Pritchard his performance at the Massives away was especially gritty and he has an incredible engine.
I can see Powell putting Cook in the centre. He did it for a considerable time yesterday. It just means Stephens has to play a slightly different role - he'll need to get about the pitch and win us some ball.
Our problem on Monday will come if Walsall pitch up with 5 in midfield. Given their league position and the need for points they might not. If they do, I'd try and get 60mins out of Hughes.
To be honest the debate over central midfield is a bit pointless. Powell rates Pritchard so he'll play him, he coped at Hillsborough so I'd hope that he will have enough to deal with Walsall.
In a bizarre sort of way the dismissals may work in our favour as chnges have to be made. The team will be knackered after that performance which is my biggest concern for tomorrow so 3/4 changes will help IMO. In SCP we trust, he will know who is ready or not so lets all wait and see.
Without Hollands I am a little concerned that we lack anybody in the squad apart from Hughes who can break up the oppositions play. Given that Hughes is very unlikely to come straight in I hope that whoever we start they can give a platform for Stephens, Green and Jacko to play. Not sure Pritchard is that man to be honest but if it's him picked I know he'll give everything.
Without Hollands I am a little concerned that we lack anybody in the squad apart from Hughes who can break up the oppositions play. Given that Hughes is very unlikely to come straight in I hope that whoever we start they can give a platform for Stephens, Green and Jacko to play. Not sure Pritchard is that man to be honest but if it's him picked I know he'll give everything.
Although not natural to him Stephens adapted well to this role yesterday SHG and although you may lose some of his creativity Green will be back to offer more on this front. Permutate any two CMs from Stephens, Pritchard, JJ, Cook (again did ok there yesterday) and Hughes (outside bet).
didn't know Poyet and Harriott were injured and I picked Harriott to add some pace to the side and Poyet because we are short of central midfield options! thought adding some pace to the side might give walsall a few problem's!
Pritchard can walk straight in to the midfield. Has had some immense games when called upon. I don't think JJ and Cook would work in the same side. I would go with Hamer Solly, Morro, Cort, Wiggy Green ( if fit ), Stephens, Pritchard, Cook Killer Kermorgant and BWP Subs - Sullivan, Taylor, JJ, N'Guessan, Hughes.
Comments
Hayes is also unlikely to feature which is a shame for him. I wonder if he would have done us more favours if we had let Wycombe continue to play him, but in SCP we trust.
Hamer
Taylor
Morrison
Cort
Solly
Green
Stephens
Jackson/Cook
Wiggins
Kermogant
BWP
...But I'm not SCP
Attack,Attack, Attack
But on the plus side, if Hughes isn't fit then we might be looking at a cheeky bit of Alonso on the bench, and I'm pretty sure he has a 0% chance of not coming off the bench and scoring some kind of title-clinching worldy. It just has to happen
Hollands could do with a rest anyway.
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,Hamer
Solly Morrison Cort Wiggins
Green Stephens Jackson Cook
.............BWP Kermorgant
BWP kermorgant
Harriott Stephens Jackson/Pritchard Green
Wiggins Morrison Taylor/Cort Solly
Hamer
Subs: Sullivan,Euell,Taylor/Cort,N'Guessan,Poyet
Midfielders in order of my preference for Mondays game; Stephens, Cook, Green, Pritchard, JJ (don't want to risk him), Green, N'Guessan, Hughes, Euell, Alonso.
Providing that Hollands doesn't appeal
Sullivan, Taylor, Cook, N'Guessan, Hayes
Our problem on Monday will come if Walsall pitch up with 5 in midfield. Given their league position and the need for points they might not. If they do, I'd try and get 60mins out of Hughes.
To be honest the debate over central midfield is a bit pointless. Powell rates Pritchard so he'll play him, he coped at Hillsborough so I'd hope that he will have enough to deal with Walsall.
Hamer
Solly, Morro, Cort, Wiggy
Green ( if fit ), Stephens, Pritchard, Cook
Killer Kermorgant and BWP
Subs - Sullivan, Taylor, JJ, N'Guessan, Hughes.