We’ve got 15 fit senior outfield players. Thats including Kelly who hasn’t played for months and Tavares who’s started 1 league game for us. Unless you’re suggesting we hand out about 5 debuts then some players are going to have to play against PNE and MaidstoneThe Maidstone game is much less important and *much* easier than the West Brom game. Seems like a golden opportunity to have our cake and eat it given the quality of our FA Cup opposition, but if we’d rather just keep running out the same players until they’re toast then so be it.
Because this is not just a normal game for Maidstone. This is going to be by far the biggest game of most, if not all, of their players' careers. This isn't like playing them in a league match. They will be extremely committed and if we don't act professionally we will quite possibly lose, as we have done in the past to non league clubs, including when we have been a much stronger team than we are now.Torp is going to be injured isn’t he?
I’d honestly rather play two youngsters against Maidstone than make Eccles and Sakamoto play twice in four days. We have a huge game against WBA coming up and we need to be at full strength, why turn up the chance to rest players when you’ve been handed the easiest possible FA Cup draw?
A couple of the lads are going to have to unfortunately, especially if Torp is out. Yes it’s a favourable tie and I’d expect some rotation but we can’t just throw kids in and blow a chance to get to a FA cup quarter final.
Because this is not just a normal game for Maidstone. This is going to be by far the biggest game of most, if not all, of their players' careers. This isn't like playing them in a league match. They will be extremely committed and if we don't act professionally we will quite possibly lose, as we have done in the past to non league clubs, including when we have been a much stronger team than we are now.
This is not a match to start with youngsters, and indeed the more experience the better. The pressure would be immense on a young player and the potential shame of their debut being the defeat to Maidstone would create nerves from the start. If we were to go one down we couldn't expect a youth player to cope with that pressure and inspire a comeback. It could also impair their development as players in the longer term. I am sure the management wouldn't be foolish or cruel enough to do this.
If we are winning comfortably then by all means bring on youth players, although I am not sure quite what is to be gained out of it. Realistically the only way we are likely to lose is if we don't take it seriously and chuck in a few kids because it's only Maidstone innit.
Sure because to Maidstone this is like a normal league game. They won't be raising their levels at all.By this logic we should play debutants as it’ll also be the biggest games of their career.
We send u23s out to Maidstone’s level all the time FFS. Why do they keep loaning them if they’re so far off the level having one or two in a side is n instant defeat?
But Lusala has hardly ever been close to the first team. He is only on the bench because of injuries and fatigue. He has struggled to get in the u21s for most if the time.Why would it blow our chance to play two players from our bench? Lusala is 21. Are we blowing the league by playing Thomas and Simms?
Really don’t get this mindset.
Hardly comparable simms has played about 3 full seasons of professional men’s football, playing and scoring in the premier league and Thomas isn’t far behind. Lusala has played 0.Why would it blow our chance to play two players from our bench? Lusala is 21. Are we blowing the league by playing Thomas and Simms?
Really don’t get this mindset.
Lusala's first team experience consists of four appearances for Barwell, and I think I remember someone on here saw one of those and said he was substituted because he looked so poor. As you say hardly comparable with Thomas and Simms.Hardly comparable simms has played about 3 full seasons of professional men’s football, playing and scoring in the premier league and Thomas isn’t far behind. Lusala has played 0.
I’m not even saying don’t play a couple of the kids but we don’t have the squad depth to put out 2 completely different 11s.
Lusala's first team experience consists of four appearances for Barwell, and I think I remember someone on here saw one of those and said he was substituted because he looked so poor. As you say hardly comparable with Thomas and Simms.
Don't make me say it!So your issue is he isn’t good enough, not in fact his age then? Regardless he’s the second best right back at the club
It's not just age it's experience and ability of course. I haven't seen him but from his record it doesn't sound like we should be playing him and others from the u21s in this match.So your issue is he isn’t good enough, not in fact his age then? Regardless he’s the second best right back at the club
Don't make me say it!
It's not just age it's experience and ability of course. I haven't seen him but from his record it doesn't sound like we should be playing him and others from the u21s in this match.
In my view you only play youth players when they have proved in the u21s and first team training that they are up to it and even then I doubt a 5th round FA Cup match against a non league team is the time to start them.
He might be in accident and emergency, should be back soon.He’s at Lincoln!
I see no problem with playing players who you think will be around Maidstone's level next season with no first team experience above Barwell to their name. And a great game to start a 16/17 year old with less than a minute's experience.Andrews and Lusala are the best we have by way of the fact they’ve been in the first team squad consistently.
I would be a substantial amount that next season Lusala is playing at or around Maidstone’s level week in week out. No he isn’t Championship quality, but neither are Maidstone. And if it’s let him struggle for a half at worst or risk one of our star players I know which I’d choose. We’d love to have a few Champ quality players knocking about to come in but that ship has sailed.
But I honestly don’t get the logic that because it’s their biggest game Maidstone will perform like Pele reborn, but Lusala will obviously have a nervous breakdown.
I see no problem with playing players who you think will be around Maidstone's level next season with no first team experience above Barwell to their name. And a great game to start a 16/17 year old with less than a minute's experience.
I'm certainly not in the flat Lusala camp, but if he's that bad why's he been on our subs bench?
Lusala is basically a training cone. He went on loan last season to a club even lower down than Maidstone. Just there to make up the numbers.And if we haven’t got a single U22 player capable of a game against non-league opposition, what are we even doing at the academy?
Lusala is basically a training cone. He went on loan last season to a club even lower down than Maidstone. Just there to make up the numbers.
Bristol City say helloAnd yet he’s the best the academy has to offer. So why have an academy?
Well every so often it produces players like Eccles, Wilson, Maddison etc. And to do that you have to have a functional set up/squad which inevitably means keeping on players that really you know won't make it.And yet he’s the best the academy has to offer. So why have an academy?
Well every so often it produces players like Eccles, Wilson, Maddison etc. And to do that you have to have a functional set up/squad which inevitably means keeping on players that really you know won't make it.
I mean I'm just talking about for our purposes. If they're not championship standard they're not particularly useful to us.I think you’re massively doing down out youth TBH. Most go on to a football career, calling them “cones” is a bit ridiculous just because only one every five years is Championship or above quality.
I mean I'm just talking about for our purposes. If they're not championship standard they're not particularly useful to us.
Also I doubt Lusala would even get signed by an EFL club if he left us, would probably go to non league.
Why is he on the bench rather than one of the younger ones, then?Lusala is basically a training cone. He went on loan last season to a club even lower down than Maidstone. Just there to make up the numbers.
Probably because the other options are 16/17 and nowhere near ready.Why is he on the bench rather than one of the younger ones, then?
It is a non league team but it's also arguably our most important game of the season so far, in terms of what a win would do for us.But we’re playing a non-league team! This is my entire point. I’m not saying start him at West Brom. We’ve got a rare opportunity to use these players in a competitive game and give out first team a much needed break.
It is a non league team but it's also arguably our most important game of the season so far, in terms of what a win would do for us.
Lati can play RB for that game.
Let's say we play MVE - Thomas - Kitching - Dasilva on Friday, we can play Lati - Binks - Kitching - Bidwell on Monday. Only one player will have to double up. Kelly can play midfield.Then you’re playing Thomas, who has played more than anyone else, and Eccles who has played the second most. RB is specifically a tight area, like the wide forwards, where we just don’t have much in terms of cover without stealing from other bits of the pitch.
Let's say we play MVE - Thomas - Kitching - Dasilva on Friday, we can play Lati - Binks - Kitching - Bidwell on Monday. Only one player will have to double up. Kelly can play midfield.
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