Strike partnership on Saturday?

[Chiz]

Personally i would go with the two big men in BT and Porter with pace coming on later in the game in O'Halloran. I've read people wanting O'Halloran to put put on one of the wings to deliver some service, but surely this is a waste?

BT is due a goal but to be fair to the lad he hasnt had that much 1st team action other than 5 mins here or there, everyone knows it takes a while to get into a game especially the way that BT plays and wants to be part of everything.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

BT stated a game a while ago, but was dragged off at half time after an utterly abject display.

He may be our designated free kick taker now Evans has gone though.

 

[Torrix1889]

A lot depends on Cressy. If he's fit it will be him and Porter without a doubt. If not I would go with O'Halloran and Porter and Flynn on the left instead of Quinn, (can't really see that one happening though!) Stevenage are a big, physical team and pace would frighten the hell out of them.

 

[Chiz]

A lot depends on Cressy. If he's fit it will be him and Porter without a doubt. If not I would go with O'Halloran and Porter and Flynn on the left instead of Quinn, (can't really see that one happening though!) Stevenage are a big, physical team and pace would frighten the hell out of them.

I agree, but we do need some muscle/strength

 

[SwissBlade]

I think BT and Porter keep the pace options back for later in the game

 

[Kenilworth]

I am not convinced Cress is fit enough to play 90 mins.
Expect the pairing to be Porter and O'Halloran
BT and Cress on bench

 

[norfolkblade]

I am not convinced Cress is fit enough to play 90 mins.
Expect the pairing to be Porter and O'Halloran
BT and Cress on bench

If he isn't fit enough for 90 mins, then I'd start him personally and sub him when he's had enough, granted this might not be long but I don't see him as an impact player if he comes off the bench.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Fully expect Cressy / Porter with the other two coming on as and when.

 

[oldblade]

If he isn't fit enough for 90 mins, then I'd start him personally and sub him when he's had enough, granted this might not be long but I don't see him as an impact player if he comes off the bench.

He made a pretty instantaneous impact at home to Scunthorpe when he came on after half time, as did Quinn. I know Stevenage are better than Scunthorpe and we also altered the way we played in that match, but I don't think we should discount Cresswell's ability to make an impact from the bench.

 

[norfolkblade]

He made a pretty instantaneous impact at home to Scunthorpe when he came on after half time, as did Quinn. I know Stevenage are better than Scunthorpe and we also altered the way we played in that match, but I don't think we should discount Cresswell's ability to make an impact from the bench.

True I completely forgot about the Scunny game, although I think I could have come on and made a difference after that first half showing!

 

[SwissBlade]

I am not convinced Cress is fit enough to play 90 mins.
Expect the pairing to be Porter and O'Halloran
BT and Cress on bench

If its a shoulder injury then he should be fit enough to get through 90 mins of running, but I'd give him 60 on sat and hopefully we can rely on BT and porter to do more of the physical stuff.

I'd rather have a battered and bruised cressy for parts of two games instead of all of one.

 

[SE1Blade]

Personally i would go with the two big men in BT and Porter with pace coming on later in the game in O'Halloran. I've read people wanting O'Halloran to put put on one of the wings to deliver some service, but surely this is a waste?

BT is due a goal but to be fair to the lad he hasnt had that much 1st team action other than 5 mins here or there, everyone knows it takes a while to get into a game especially the way that BT plays and wants to be part of everything.

Completely agree. Stevenage are big and we'll need to match them in both boxes and both BT and Porter are good in the air. Our damage will be done down the flanks with Lowton / Williamson and in my opinion Taylor / Quinn. I think Taylor has a better cross and is technically better than Hill (though I can see the argument for not changing a settled back 4)

Not only that but if we get a pen or a free kick up to 10 yards outside the area, you'd want BT to step up.
O'Halloran can come on for last 30 and inject a bit of pace. Cressy can come on as a replacement target man if required.

 

[1973_Blade]

Cressy will start and be the main man - whoever he plays with it doesn't matter. I think if Cressy had been fit for MK Dons it would have been a different result. He has the experienceand has been one of the unsung players of the season.

 

[Pinchy]

Fitness permitting, I''m quite sure DW will start with Cresswell and Porter. I have my own opinion (fancy that) but on Saturday the names don't matter. Shout, sing and clap, non-stop, for the Red and White stripes!

The Blades are Going UP!!!!!!

 

[MunXy]

i think im in a minority here, but if cressy is fit id go with him and BT up front, reason being we could do with a bit of experience, a steady, calming front two that are smart enough to pull the defence around, maybe win a few free kicks and generally piss the defenders off, little after half time throw on first o'h for whichevers most tired, then last 15 throw porter on to mix it up again, size and strength vs nouse and experience a very intriuging battle i think.

The Blades Are Going Up!!!!!!

MunXy

 

[Kenilworth]

Still think it will be Porter and O'Halloran.

One of the reasons we didn't do that well at MKD was that Hoskins was not 100% so we could not close down the MKD defence (like Cress and Evans have been doing really well when paired together) and the ball did not "stick" up top - our classic problem last year during the relegation season.

Having Porter and BT (or Cress instead of BT, if fit) does provide a couple of big lads against the Stevenage back four but forces us to lump it to heads because they are not as mobile. The partnership between Cress and Evans worked well because of the understanding between the two and their mobility as a pair. They could quickly close down the opposition and then find space when our midfield had the ball. O'Halloran could be able to do this if paired with Porter or Cresswell. He has the pace an mobility if he can summon the nouse to make the correct runs (and work his bollocks off for the time he is on the pitch). If he runs out of steam I can see Flynn coming into that role later in the game to run directly at a tiring Stevenage defence.

One of the reasons we did not play as well at MKD is that the opposition closed our midfield down quickly and cut off the runs between Willo and Lowts. I fully expect Stevenage to utilise the same tactics - so we must defend from the front to deny them time to dictate the play and keep the ball by a combination of strength (Porter or Cress) and pace (O'Halloran). Stevenage are a pretty big side so the injection of pace could prove vital.

Also vital is the first goal. If we are chasing (again) I am not sure the atmosphere and subsequent nervousness in the crowd will help. If we go a goal up then the full house will be a real boost to the players. Of course the atmosphere will be affected by what happens at Brentford earlier in the afternoon.

@Swiss - have you ever tried to run when you have a shoulder injury? It jars every time you step. Your arms and shoulders are also essential to gain leverage when jumping for a header (not on an opponent but when you are looking to gain height even if unchallenged).

I also think, why risk Cress for the first part of the game? Porter is perfectly capable of facing up to the physical challenge from Stevenage and depending on the result at Bees, DW may be able to give Cress another weeks rest so he can lead the line at Exeter.

I've still had that gut wrenching feeling at the pit of my stomach all week. Only a few steps above the feeling it had around 15:30ish last Friday, but feck me, the methane I am producing? - Something Tarquers would be proud of!

 

[B.Lade]

Just listened to Wilson's pre-match interview on the BBC website and no mention of Creswell when discussing striking options. He did allude to the option that a non-striker could play up front, guess you'd maybe be looking at Williamson playing just off Porter in that case with Flynn wide possibly? Unlikely I think. More likely if Creswell is injured it'll be Porter and O'Hallaron with the remainder of the team being as against MK Dons.
If Creswell is fit then put him in for Porter.

Philliskirk's name was mentioned too. Didn't realise he was back with us, I thought he was out on loan somewhere.

Wilson will obviously know at this stage whether Creswell is in contention, and the training will have been geared accordingly, whereas last week with the Ched trial it was all up in the air. Hopefully that will make the strike force more cohesive whoever plays

Re Stevenage, based on their manager's interview they'll just be coming to defend. So unless we're fortunate enough to get the early goal it could be tight.

Either way, whoever's playing and whatever Weds result let's just get behind them. Forget Ched. Let's give them the push they need to get us over the line.

Come on you blades!!!!!!!!!

 

[Small Mendonca]

I hope it is Cresswell/O'Halloran but I wouldn't mind Porter/O'Halloran. People who think Beattie should start should cast their minds back to Scunthorpe at home when Beattie started, he hardly had any touches; didn't get into the game and looked the slow,'past it' Beattie that we have seen occasionally as a sub.