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Post by sheikhmomo on Dec 16, 2020 19:46:27 GMT
I think the younger players in particular will be chomping at the bit for a go at Spurs. Could do more harm than good to leave them out.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Dec 16, 2020 19:58:36 GMT
Cup quarter final, most likely against a second-string Spurs side. We need to put out a full strength and go for it. These opportunities don’t come around very often.
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Post by 4doorsaloon on Dec 16, 2020 20:06:49 GMT
Cup quarter final, most likely against a second-string Spurs side. We need to put out a full strength and go for it. These opportunities don’t come around very often. Not sure spurs will field a second string. I would fully expect a strong side being a couple of games away from winning a trophy.
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Post by chuckrocky on Dec 16, 2020 20:09:52 GMT
It will be interesting to see the Spurs side. There’s not a chance they risk the likes of Kane and Son, the question is whether or not Mourinho will risk their second choice players or if he’ll play a few of the youngsters.
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Post by ColonelMustard on Dec 16, 2020 20:54:09 GMT
A lot of the second string have become the first string, if we rest a couple of key players it shouldn't weaken us too much.
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Post by spitthedog on Dec 16, 2020 21:02:47 GMT
Cup quarter final, most likely against a second-string Spurs side. We need to put out a full strength and go for it. These opportunities don’t come around very often. Not sure spurs will field a second string. I would fully expect a strong side being a couple of games away from winning a trophy. Jose loves Trophies...he will want to win 100%
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Post by lordb on Dec 16, 2020 21:22:09 GMT
It will be interesting to see the Spurs side. There’s not a chance they risk the likes of Kane and Son, the question is whether or not Mourinho will risk their second choice players or if he’ll play a few of the youngsters. Bale and Alli and other players like that.
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Post by hcstokie on Dec 16, 2020 21:37:24 GMT
Lonergan (unless anyone else is fit / eligible)
Collins Souttar Shawcross Batth Fox
Verlinden Cousins Mikel Powell
Fletcher
Keep it tight. Win a corner. Send the big lads up from the back. 1-0 job done!
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Post by J-Roar on Dec 16, 2020 23:59:55 GMT
I bet Campbell is cursing as it would have been an opportunity to put himself in the shop window - so perhaps a good thing for Stoke he's injured. Can you imagine Brown & Vokes up against Spurs, Then maybe Ince will take his chance by which time he should have a few more minutes of competitive football behind him. Chance too for Verlinden - maybe Tashley -Oakley - We are not going to win so I'd just say go out and prove yourself and enjoy the experience (before we ship you out in January) I'd rather have Campbell fit. That would be far better for Stoke. This season was there for the taking but we just haven't got the goals in us without him.
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Post by chadb91 on Dec 17, 2020 6:51:45 GMT
I'd imagine we'll try and make this game as ugly and scrappy a possible. Utilise the conditions to our advantage. Spurs will be desperate to the game turning into anything but that.
An early goal for spurs and it'll be a long night.
I do think the likes of Dier and Alderweireld will under estimate Stoke at times. I think a bully boy approach from Fletcher & Mclean might give them a surprise.
Any idea yet who the ref is and will it be VAR?
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Post by apb1 on Dec 17, 2020 9:07:36 GMT
Already written this off. With a crowd, Campbell and Clucas we might have had a chance, can't see us troubling them much without when we couldn't make much headway against Derby or QPR. I'll watch it, and I suppose by kick off I'll have talked myself into some vestige of hope, but just can't see anything other than a comfortable win for them, with the enthusiastic assistance of the match officials. What a pity it isn't Arsenal! Chance for Verlinden and Shawcross to get a longer run out though, and I did wonder if Allen might be on the bench. He played half a practice game and there seem to be lack of U23 fixtures, so it would have been good, but annoyingly the only game in the next month is the Monday before this one. TLDR: football is a funny game but never seems to be in our favour
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2020 9:39:00 GMT
A chance to get to a League Cup semi final and fans want the manager to completely change the team🤔 Yes. The league is way more important. Is it though? I like the work MON is doing and I like the squad he’s moulding, but they’re a few excellent transfer windows from being ready for a true assault on promotion in my eyes. I think this season is more about enjoying the ride and developing the youngsters than seriously considering promotion. However, we’re a green roulette spin away from making it to a cup final , and a cup is for eternity. Play a weakened team and it becomes more akin to a lottery win than picking the correct number on a roulette wheel.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Dec 17, 2020 9:40:30 GMT
Yes. The league is way more important. Is it though? I like the work MON is doing and I like the squad he’s moulding, but they’re a few excellent transfer windows from being ready for a true assault on promotion in my eyes. I think this season is more about enjoying the ride and developing the youngsters than seriously considering promotion. However, we’re a green roulette spin away from making it to a cup final , and a cup is for eternity. Play a weakened team and it becomes more akin to a lottery win than picking the correct number on a roulette wheel. Yes. There’s every chance this side could be broken up this summer. The best way to ensure that doesn’t happen is promotion this season.
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Post by spitthedog on Dec 17, 2020 10:17:25 GMT
The League is important and the Cup is important. There is a world view which exists that says they can both be important.
We don't need to be making it into this big Either/Or Drama for 1 game.
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Post by thfc67 on Dec 17, 2020 11:15:32 GMT
I'd imagine we'll try and make this game as ugly and scrappy a possible. Utilise the conditions to our advantage. Spurs will be desperate to the game turning into anything but that. An early goal for spurs and it'll be a long night. I do think the likes of Dier and Alderweireld will under estimate Stoke at times. I think a bully boy approach from Fletcher & Mclean might give them a surprise. Any idea yet who the ref is and will it be VAR? The ref is Darren England. No, VAR won't be used. It is only used at grounds where it is already installed. That said, it will be used in both semi-finals; so if Stoke or Brentford get through, and get drawn at home (semi-finals one leg this season), VAR will be installed at their grounds for the matches.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2020 13:04:10 GMT
Every other team bar Brentford in the league will have a week off so how would you approach the Spurs game? I’d go with 11 changes (if we can) myself. Is it too soon for Clucas and Allen to come back? The other two keepers are still injured so Lonergan is going to have to play: Unless Blondy, who has been a non-playing sub more than any other player this season, gets his big chance. But it wouldn't be O'Neill style to throw a young kid to the dogs. He'd be afraid of giving him a nasty experience which could follow him adversely for a long time, perhaps his whole career. So Lonniegan it is.
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Post by Los Alfareros on Dec 17, 2020 13:11:15 GMT
MON... listen, play 3 at the back, sit in and let them have the ball, they anner gorra clue how to break a side down, they can only play on the break. Take em to pens, dick em from the spot. One trick pony Jose won't have an answer to that
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2020 13:43:53 GMT
We're not going to be fielding our strongest team, because a number of those that O'Neill has declared fit to play aren't really fully fit; they were just able to get by. They need all the rest they can get before the Xmas program.
While the romantic part of me wishes we'd go full in to go all the way to win the cup, the realistic part tells me we must do what's best not to drop out of the promotion pack (we were a point behind automatic spots a short while ago, but now we're 7 behind). Question then is if we should play a rotated team or a weakened team.
A rotated team might still include the likes of Collins, Tymon, Ince, and others that aren't fully estabished first teamers but have played recently when others weren't fit. You'd include Shawcross, Allen, and Verlinden to give them a chance to make their real comeback with players that have some experience. Forrester and Porter who have been on and off non playing subs since the end of last season might get chances from the bench, unless tactics decide otherwise. If Spurs play a severely weakened team then Stoke "half B" might actually win. .
A weakened team might still include players that have been on first team sheets this season, but haven't featured regularly or contributed at a satisfactory level. Needless to say, Vokes would captain this team! But otherwise you'd play the best of the academy, which means Coates, Macari, Forrester, Sparrow, Porter, and perhaps even Varian would get their first start in Stoke shirts. Ince who really needs to get action would also feature. Chances of winning? Less than zero.
For reasons already explained in my previous post I don't think O'Neill will risk putting out a young team that might get severely beaten. Therefore it could be a somewhat rotated team:
Lonniegan, Collins, Bath, Shawcross, Fox, Cousins, Allen, Tymon, Verlinden, Vokes, Ince.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2020 13:50:06 GMT
The League is important and the Cup is important. There is a world view which exists that says they can both be important. We don't need to be making it into this big Either/Or Drama for 1 game. Except there's just two days rest before the next game, so it is very much an either or. We can't really afford to lose more players from an already depleted team. Had we just been strolling along with our big full squad available then we'd be able to play strong teams in both matches.
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Post by reddipotter on Dec 17, 2020 14:26:05 GMT
Not sure spurs will field a second string. I would fully expect a strong side being a couple of games away from winning a trophy. Jose loves Trophies...he will want to win 100% It depends how realistic he thinks winning the league is.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2020 14:37:55 GMT
I could make a case for Bauer and Wimmer playing. Realistically this is a game we are going to lose anyway. Playing these 2 in a game of maximum exposure means there is no hiding place for them. If they having any hope of resurrecting their careers and want to move on then surely we can expect some effort. I could also make a case for saying they have already had enough chances, why risk disrupting what is the best dressing room we have had in years. Who would be a manager eh? It's easy for O'Neill. For him Bauer and Wimmer don't exist. They don't want to play for SCFC, so why should they play for him?
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Post by hardcastle on Dec 17, 2020 14:43:27 GMT
Jose loves Trophies...he will want to win 100% It depends how realistic he thinks winning the league is. Third favourites at 7/1. I'd say that constitutes a reasonable prospect.
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Post by StaffordPotter on Dec 17, 2020 18:47:06 GMT
I want us to go for it. Full strength squad and get stuck into the fuckers.
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Post by lordb on Dec 17, 2020 19:59:23 GMT
I could make a case for Bauer and Wimmer playing. Realistically this is a game we are going to lose anyway. Playing these 2 in a game of maximum exposure means there is no hiding place for them. If they having any hope of resurrecting their careers and want to move on then surely we can expect some effort. I could also make a case for saying they have already had enough chances, why risk disrupting what is the best dressing room we have had in years. Who would be a manager eh? It's easy for O'Neill. For him Bauer and Wimmer don't exist. They don't want to play for SCFC, so why should they play for him? Amazes me how many are prepared to give them another go. Absolutely essential players who don't care don't play
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Post by wakefieldstokie on Dec 17, 2020 20:13:32 GMT
Vokes hat trick- nailed on.
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Post by lordb on Dec 17, 2020 20:54:09 GMT
Vokes hat trick- nailed on. All penalties?
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Post by BuzzB on Dec 17, 2020 22:04:15 GMT
Its bleedin silly o clock kick off again I see. 5.30pm for those like me who never noticed!
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Post by somersetstokie on Dec 17, 2020 23:44:26 GMT
Vokes hat trick- nailed on. All penalties? I think that the first mention of Penalties and you'll find Vokes hiding back in the Changing Rooms.
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Post by datguy on Dec 18, 2020 0:32:05 GMT
The cynic in me hopes that if the youngsters do play, and *if* we lose, it's a complete and utter humiliation. Put off all the potential suitors for Collins & co. They aren't ready yet!
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Post by tronaldump on Dec 18, 2020 7:34:58 GMT
It's easy for O'Neill. For him Bauer and Wimmer don't exist. They don't want to play for SCFC, so why should they play for him? Amazes me how many are prepared to give them another go. Absolutely essential players who don't care don't play I fully understand where anyone is coming from with regards to why not to play either of these two. But from a business perspective we need to offload ASAP (that I suspect most would agree on). This game is a one-off opportunity to effectively remind potential buyers that they still exist. Otherwise I can easily see them simply running their contracts down and never kicking a ball in anger for us, or anyone else whilst under contract again. And it is for that reason only I could see why MON (but really the club) might consider playing. It's all about the money sadly.
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