Match Thread Home Versus Crawley Saturday 16th January- MATCH POSTPONED

Normally I'd agree with you on that point but l just wonder if they land another big PL team in the 4th and knowing who they're possibly going to face in the 5th round too...Suddenly we're not the big fish when you've the prospect of playingtthe likes of Liverpool.
A cup run can be a double edge sword. It either galvanises a team's league performances or it can be detrimental.
For us, in the league cup run, we saw a few 'hangover' games in the league. It wasn't until after the final that our form improved.

 

This is where missing games can hinder us. If we'd played Scunny we had a decent chance of winning. Now we missed that and given Crawleys position and form a draw wouldn't be a bad result but we'll have only picked up a couple of points in a couple of weeks which isn't great.
The lack of match time can be a positive and a negative so a performance similar to the December run will be what's needed now. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

 

My 'hindering' was loss of momentum and how a loss can feel worse if we only end up playing the harder games and miss the ones where we have more chance to win.

Good analysis tho!

 

Remember when Hopkin was here. We had a hot run, bashing a few teams, then we had the postponements and lost all momentum. There were some divisive characters at the club then though, Payne was awful once his loan had been extended, and there was plenty of trouble behind the scenes.

Hopefully under the current set up, this break will have been a positive in freshening up some of the older players and those who have been on the go non stop.

It has also given Stevens a chance to work this week, so it is possible he might start this one now, whereas a place on the bench seemed likely last weekend.

 

Thinking if Crawley can bring on Mark Wright could we have Dynamo and Kiki Dee on the bench for saturday.. ?

 

It’s a shame for Crawley that having knocked Leeds out of the cup ,all the publicity is about a poser reality tv contestant. Their own fault though for putting him on the pitch.

 

Bit of a decision for T & S to make ahead of Saturday now then. POC and AOC have been very good together lately but Canavan has parked up now and surely won't be here to sit on the sidelines. He apparently brings leadership qualities and may be the long-term partner for POC, who still has unfulfilled potential (along with Staunton).

Do you risk breaking up the current partnership or make NC wait.....

 

Or play AOC at right back.

 

Yes, fair point. Has he played there before?

 

Im pretty sure Crawley are still looking towards the Bournemouth game, lot of them wouldn't want to miss out so im expecting a side not 100% up for it

 

Surely the Canavan of Love has to play even if AOC is shifted to RB ?

 

Im starting the 'No to O Connor' at right back campaign now.
Not fast enough and not creative enough going forward.
We need to improve the team not maintain position.

 

Yes, pace is the problem, and Crawley have some pacy widemen. But is he a better bet than FCD?

 

Can't knock FCD personally.
Has looked strong and assured at RB
Started to get into good positions going forward recently.
Improving all the time
Why change??

 

Don’t think we should change the central defence at the moment use Cannavan from the bench

 

In the last five games we've kept three clean sheets and conceded only two goals - one an og and one a deflection - despite facing several of the division's best strikers.

It's great that Canavan is here, but surely you don't mess with a defence with that record? Paudie and AOC have both been excellent recently. I don't see why you would drop either of them and neither needs a rest after the enforced break we've had. And FCD has done nothing wrong either.
Games will soon be coming thick and fast so there are bound to be injuries and suspensions. Canavan will get his chance, but in my book you keep faith with those who've done so well recently.

 

New chant for next season:

Every woman, every man.. Niall Canavan we love!