Good reading and we are, on balance, a better side.

comment by The Very Rev Wilko (U21072)
posted 1 minute ago
Good reading and we are, on balance, a better side.
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Yep, I think so too Rev. Like everyone else, I was gutted when we lost our star players from last season but I think we’re a much better balanced side now👍

Reading today that Farke says he rested Tanaka because he’s used to a winter break and he will be back in the team Sunday.

Who makes way? Amps or Rothwell?

comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 10 hours, 17 minutes ago
Reading today that Farke says he rested Tanaka because he’s used to a winter break and he will be back in the team Sunday.

Who makes way? Amps or Rothwell?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep, difficult choice to make but in another way, a nice problem to have? If Tanaka needed a break, fair enough, and I can’t moan about Amps being given his place back when you look at the results since he returned … however, I think DF has got to find a formula to keep all 3 happy and other than rotation, I’m not sure what the solution is?

comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 3 hours, 21 minutes ago
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 10 hours, 17 minutes ago
Reading today that Farke says he rested Tanaka because he’s used to a winter break and he will be back in the team Sunday.

Who makes way? Amps or Rothwell?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep, difficult choice to make but in another way, a nice problem to have? If Tanaka needed a break, fair enough, and I can’t moan about Amps being given his place back when you look at the results since he returned … however, I think DF has got to find a formula to keep all 3 happy and other than rotation, I’m not sure what the solution is?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd be inclined to give Rothwell a rest as he has been putting in a shift in every game.

I know it would be tough on Byram, but I'd be tempted to drop Byram in order to accommodate Amps in some type of central back 3 but drifting to the lb position with Bogle remaining at rb and then Tanaka and Rothwell can do what they do best and as for Gruev when he is fit I
can't see a starting place for him now.

We'll see what Farke decides on Sunday but his public
praise for Amps sounds like he is going to be a regular starter for us again so if Byram isn't the one to make way in order to accommodate Tanaka and Amps that leaves Rothwell which I think we'd all agree has been consistently solid and a major component of our midfield being so dominant alongside Tanaka so I'd be surprised if DF tinkers with that successful partnership anymore than he needs to.

So apart from Byram making way that only realisically then leaves Struiyk our captain to step aside for Amps so it's not an easy dilemma for Farke to juggle and keep everyone happy unless the rumours about Struiyk attracting serious interest from Spurs in January are true then matters could be taken out of DF's hands and the dilemma is solved.

We're top of the league.
Our underlying stats have us comfortably best in the league.
We aint changing the system.
Ampadu is our best player. He will play.
Rothwell and Tanaka will just get less minutes than they were.
Not a chance Struijk makes way if he's fit.

Expect Wober might return at left back with Sam Byrams fitness having to be managed carefully and with another game on Wednesday I wouldn't be surprised if there are 3-4 changes tomorrow

I read yesterday, Earl, that Weber's had an injury setback. Not sure he'll be available. Farke could give
BA a rest and try Rothwell in the 10. Possibly. And
pair Amps & Tanaka behind him. Great to have
round pegs round holes options this season.

*Wober (bloody phone)

We're top of the league.
Our underlying stats have us comfortably best in the league.
We aint changing the system.
Ampadu is our best player. He will play.
Rothwell and Tanaka will just get less minutes than they were.
Not a chance Struijk makes way if he's fit.

^^^

Agree with all of that.

Ampadu apparently picked up a slight knock against Stoke so wouldn't be surprised if hes not playing. Otherwise itll probably be probably be Tanaka for Rothwell

Is Struiyk really our captain?..

I thought he was vice captain and then Meslier, the captaincy might be the reason why Amps gets the call!..

Or maybe Struijk!.

the captaincy might be the reason why Amps gets the call!..

Ampadu is our best player.

^^^

Germany, as you and Faith said, when you're the best
player and the Captain, it's pretty hard to leave him on
the subs bench. Shows though how our summer
recruitment, plus the signing of Guilavogui on a free
has created a really balanced squad. Better than last
season's IMO.

On the pitch results wise, Sheff U have been the best.
It looks like it will be a race between Leeds, Sheff U and Burnley. Sunderland I think will fall a bit behind.

As this is the season for tempting fate, here’s another factor in our favour, courtesy of Salonica:

‘Of the games left to play against the 12 teams just below us, 8 are at home.

And 8 of our away matches are against teams 14th and below.

And from 1 March run-in of 12 matches, 7 are against teams in the bottom 10. The other 5 matches are against teams currently 7, 8,10,11 & 13th ....of which 4 of those are at home.

In summary, the first half fixtures we've played seem harder than what we have left in terms of home/away.

This season really is in our own hands ‘

Given our home form, I think we can win nine from twelve. That’s 27 points.
If we can get six wins on the road, out of thirteen matches, that’s 18 points.
So, if we can muster 45 points in the second half of the season, that’s 93 points all up. No team has ever failed to get an auto spot with 93 points…
But if any team can….?..

🤣 that is oh-so-true Heart and why I’m not making any end of season predictions just yet😁

Honestly dont see any event how we gont get 100 points

Hope you’re right👍 and Oi’ll drink to that😁🍷

I’ve looked at the home games and apart from Sunderland and West Brom I think we will win them all. Based on our performances at those two grounds I think we could win those two as well.

Of course injuries, suspensions and the transfer window could play a huge part.

Each game as it comes and today is not going to be easy. Derby have had a couple of decent results since they lost to us and their fans on ja606 seem quite optimistic.

Plus there is the history over the last few seasons.

For me, it will come down to facing the ‘right team at the right time’, as in when they are not in a good run of form.

When a team is on form, they can appear unplayable, like they could take points off any team. Teams change managers and can have a ‘bounce’ in confidence.

Last year, who could have even imagined a 4-0 defeat to QPR was possible with the same players which had won so many and accumulated multiple clean sheets.

Farke is right, one game at a time is the best approach; plan and aim to win each one on its own merits.


Overall, this article shows we have a lot in our favour on paper; personally I think we will go up with 96 points.