Bristol Rovers (A) - 14/02

[HeCanDoMagic]

Another tricky looking away fixture.

Bristol Rovers 3/1
Draw 11/4
United 19/20

Key decisions for CW will be if both Coutts and EEL are back fit, which he said looked likely on Saturday.

Do they come straight back into the team? I would guess that Coutts will, in place of Carruthers, however I reckon EEL will find himself on the bench.

Do we make any further changes to freshen things up and given the game coming up on Saturday? O'Shea perhaps the one knocking loudest on the door for a place in the team.

 

[billyblademan]

I reckon Riley will start instead of Lafferty on the left, just to freshen that up and ensure Laffers is 100% for Saturday. I'm with you that I'd play Coutts, but not EEL, if they're both available.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Last game a win and a clean sheet.
If everyone is fit same team.
We have a big squad and you have to keep everyone interested.
Basham & Carruthers did well so for me its their shirt to lose.

 

[Blade56]

The fans have idolised ELL in the same way we did the beard. His place became guaranteed regardless of his performances dropping off. EEL will have to earn his place under CW, no pre-Madonnas.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Last game a win and a clean sheet.
If everyone is fit same team.
We have a big squad and you have to keep everyone interested.
Basham & Carruthers did well so for me its their shirt to lose.

I think CW will be more cautious with Carruthers given his injury, plus he picked up a knock on Saturday. Coutts has pretty much been the mainstay of our midfield and I reckon CW will put him back in.

Still amazes me though - The Curious Case of Paul Coutts - the transformation from last season, and I know its talked about a lot, but it really cant be understated.

 

[Stretch]

Basham starts, like EEL he looks very solid with Wright alongside him but has more pace and I reckon this will be crucial against the Gas who like to play a bit. I would also stick with him vs Scunny. EEL should get the nod against Bolton though, if for no other reason than to stick one on that odios c**t Madine.

Coutts might stay rested for tomorrow as Carruthers looked more than comfortable on Saturday and needs the game time. Coutts will defo be back in for the big home matches though.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Basham starts, like EEL he looks very solid with Wright alongside him but has more pace and I reckon this will be crucial against the Gas who like to play a bit. I would also stick with him vs Scunny. EEL should get the nod against Bolton though, if for no other reason than to stick one on that odios c**t Madine.

Coutts might stay rested for tomorrow as Carruthers looked more than comfortable on Saturday and needs the game time. Coutts will defo be back in for the big home matches though.

This may be over analysing things, but the pitch at Bristol Rovers looked really heavy and cut up on Saturday, might not be the ideal surface for someone like Coutts, returning from injury, to be making a comeback on.

 

[1973Blade]

Possibly a start for O' Shea after he helped make the winning goal on Saturday?

 

[Ricky]

Whoever's in the best condition between Coutts and Carruthers should play. I'd possibly expect that to be Coutts after the injury lay off Carruthers had, playing 2 in 4 days might be not be ideal for him at this point, he also took a knock on his knee.

Basham has to stay in, and no one can be dropped for EEL to come back in.

O'Shea could start but that would be a little premature and harsh on Duffy.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Don't like the term "freshen up" if we are struggling for form make changes, if a player is off form change him, we are top, let's try and stay there, start with our best team and change it as and when it's needed, if Coutts is fit play him for me because he has been brilliant, eel? Like others have said put him on the bench instead of Wilson, basham has had two very good games so he must start

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Basham has to stay in, and no one can be dropped for EEL to come back in.

I know this is the Bristol Rovers thread - however, would you be inclined to include EEL v Bolton for his strength and aerial threat?

 

[finlaytheblade]

I think CW will be more cautious with Carruthers given his injury, plus he picked up a knock on Saturday. Coutts has pretty much been the mainstay of our midfield and I reckon CW will put him back in.

Still amazes me though - The Curious Case of Paul Coutts - the transformation from last season, and I know its talked about a lot, but it really cant be understated.

Don't think Coutts ability was in question ,hes a quality player.The difference is fitness clough new how good a player he is but after two seriouse injuries
it took him a long time to get up to speed.He missed part of preseason under Adkins and never really got going like the team overall.
Wilder has got him really fit and we are seeing the real Coutts now.If fit he will be back tomorrow,Carruthers not full fit yet ( Wilder's words ) so he will probably be back on bench where he puts the entire midfield under pressure and that's a good position for Wilder to be in.

 

[Ricky]

I know this is the Bristol Rovers thread - however, would you be inclined to include EEL v Bolton for his strength and aerial threat?

It's something to consider, yes. But Hanson's arrival and inclusion has made it less important to have height in the back 3. Most of the situations an opponent's height can hurt you are set pieces, and he'll always be in the box for them at both ends. I suppose it depends on exactly what Bolton's team is likely to be - Liam Trotter's just come back in and he's 6"2, so if he plays they'd have 4 big players in which case I'd want us to have more than 2. One thing I'd do for sure is start Hanson.

We shouldn't focus on them too much though, and it would be difficult to drop Wright or Basham. So maybe we'll stay with the current back 3, but there's plenty of football between now and then.

 

[I should coco]

no pre-Madonnas.

Cher?
Cyndi Lauper?
Donna Summer?