Bristol Rovers game

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Whenthepoolcomemarchingin

Well-known member
If we get a point win on Tuesday, do we rotate or rest players?
Do we play play the players returning from injury to give them a bit of match fitness if needed going into the play off ?
I would personally start strong and make changes if the game is going well.
 
Rotate some certainly.

As important as momentum is, some of these players have had to play high intensity football 2 times a week for months without a break due to injuries. The likes of Yates getting a game off prior to the play-offs would do him the world of good I think.

Injured players like Anderson that are returning need minutes before the play-offs as well.
 
If we make it Tuesday then yes use this game to get players like Stewart Keshi and anyone else up to speed
 
Obviously see what happens tomorrow night and then if all is well then yes, why not rest some of them for the playoffs?
It doesn’t matter if a team finishes 3rd or 6th because you still have to beat whoever is in front of you and wether you are at home or away in the first leg makes no difference IMO.
Remember Bradford?
 
Play full strength in both games, make changes after 75mins if both games are in the bag, finish as high as we can, keep the momentum going and let the other teams in the play offs worry about us. The Play Offs are the 18th and 19th of May, that's nine days rest after the Bristol game on Sunday minium, plus no long treks to away games this week. We should be well prepared for the Semi's assuming we don't fuck it up before then. I'm 100% sure we won't.
 
TangerinePeel said:
Rotate some certainly.

As important as momentum is, some of these players have had to play high intensity football 2 times a week for months without a break due to injuries. The likes of Yates getting a game off prior to the play-offs would do him the world of good I think.

Injured players like Anderson that are returning need minutes before the play-offs as well.
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Jerry needs a rest , he looks a bit tired and I notice he isn't chasing after everything he was 10 games ago. Tells its own story.
 
Just to add to the 'reality check' moments, do others recall - as I do - Bristol City turning up at Bloomfield Rd for the penultimate game of the season, expecting their place in the play-offs to be rubber-stamped by a straightforward victory over struggling 'Pool? Result, 5-1 to Blackpool and, I think, 4-0 after about 25 minutes. I recall this resulting in an exodus of Biblical proportions on the part of City fans, with most of them gone by half time.
 
I think we need to rotate a bit. We've got players who need the game time in Marvin, Keshi and arguably Holmes. Then you've got easy swaps like Gabriel/Turton.

It's not just about ensuring the 'first X1' are rested but the bench players (as it currently stands) are ready to play.

I don't generally like rotation but we're looking at potentially 3 games that will need to be played at 100% and I think Robson's injury shows what happens when players who've been without much football try to step up and play at that intensity. Keshi probably the big one as it's easier for centre halves as they're not turning as much as midfielders.
 
If we are sorted by Tuesday then it makes perfect sense to rest a few, even if it's wholesale changes at half time. That said, I'd love to give Bristol Rovers a proper caning. If I remember rightly didn't they come to Bloomers for the last game of the season, we may have already been relegated and they were being promoted, they hammered us and the ground was full of ** smug pirates. It was a horrible game to be at, for that reason I want them hammered.
 
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Whenthepoolcomemarchingin said:
If we get a point win on Tuesday, do we rotate or rest players?
Do we play play the players returning from injury to give them a bit of match fitness if needed going into the play off ?
I would personally start strong and make changes if the game is going well.
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Go balls deep every game. Everyone fighting for their place. Never believed in this resting or sacrificing games. I think back to Villa away in our Premiership season.
 
We should certainly rest players carrying slight injuries and protect key players we will need if the play offs are secured. I remember that Keith Southern told Charlie to avoid getting injured in the lead up to the play offs
 
These lads have given their all and are dead on their feet and liable to injuries, Ward, Kai Kai and Robson in the last couple of games. Maxwell,Yates and Ballard need at least a match off to recuperate, they are playing on the edge and liable to muscle tears and strains. I'd like to see Stewart, Anderson and Holmes get valuable game time and lets throw Madine in for the last 30 mins to see if he could be a useful asset in the play offs. He needs to test any injury he's got and he has the whole of the close season to get himself fit either for us or someone else if things cant be sorted.
 
Yarmouth Seasider said:
If we are sorted by Tuesday then it makes perfect sense to rest a few, even if it's wholesale changes at half time. That said, I'd love to give Bristol Rovers a proper caning. If I remember rightly didn't they come to Bloomers for the last game of the season, we may have already been relegated and they were being promoted, they hammered us and the ground was full of ** smug pirates. It was a horrible game to be at, for that reason I want them hammered.
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Interesting how views differ from that game, my viewpoint was seeing thousands of Rovers fans who didn't come to cause any trouble,but celebrate a fantastic season, party and clinch the title. Personally we were very much the minority that day, but it left me quite likeing the Rovers fans, certainly less aggressive than the City followers I have witnessed.
 
Looked at betting odds and they were giving a modest 9/2 for a BRovers win..
Pompey and Oxford Individual defeats were around 6/1.

I now realise that the bookies assume this will be a dead rubber game with lots of changes.
They aren’t daft!
 
Alfie Conn said:
Interesting how views differ from that game, my viewpoint was seeing thousands of Rovers fans who didn't come to cause any trouble,but celebrate a fantastic season, party and clinch the title. Personally we were very much the minority that day, but it left me quite likeing the Rovers fans, certainly less aggressive than the City followers I have witnessed.
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Yes probably one of the last times the kop was full of away fans.
 
Depends on tonight's results but if Charlton beat Lincoln, then I'd say play our best side, put Brizzle to the sword and let's get that 3rd spot and avoid Lincoln and Sunderland.
 
I would take issue with the notion that it doesn’t matter who we play in the play offs. I would be quite happy to see Sunderland and Lincoln tangle over a couple of games. To get to that point, Pool will have to win their last two games, and hope that Charlton take something off Lincoln tonight. Winning is a very good habit to take into a mini tournament, and it’s value should not be underestimated.
 
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