Fantastic result at Altrincham on Tuesday, given how they'd beaten Dagenham at the weekend and had games in hand to go top if they won them.

I listened to Hurst's post-match interview - he knew their style of play and from listening to the commentary we were in their faces from the off. Clearly, given the way the game was going up until the red card, the tactic paid off... but I'm just wondering, at what cost?

Playing like we did, getting in their faces, doubling up, pressing, winning the ball back and keeping it up for as long as we did (and then being stretched and having to work even harder when down to 10 men) is certainly going to take a lot out of us - particularly as this is the second consecutive week we've played midweek.

I appreciate our energy levels are good and this isn't a criticism of that, but despite the result and performance I'd expect Hurst to shuffle his pack against Woking. They're in some great form themselves and, as the home team, I expect them to be on the front foot.

This isn't a criticism in any way - I hope we go their with the same mentality that helped us win at Alty, but you could tell we put a lot into that Alty game and I wonder if we can sustain that level of performance. I guess this is the perfect test - get a result at Woking and I think we'll sustain our promotion bid.

I think Hurst has shuffled his pack quite well so far, some deliberate and some enforced.  

Most, if not all, have had a rest at some point.  Only McKeown and Crookes have played every minute so far, Clifton, Waterfall and McAtee just behind.  But all have had some sort of rest.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/grimsby-town/leistungsdaten/verein/1034

Waterfall is, arguably, in that position where you wouldn't want to make changes based on turnover of games nor is it as demanding as say the role that McAtee does.  Clifton has energy to burn but has played 90 minutes for 7 consecutive games now, with two consecutive weeks of Sat-Tues games and the midweek games both seeing Town go down to 10 men I wonder if he might be due a rest.

Towler, Hunt and Bapaga are all young lads who've come, largely, from development squads so may at some point need a break.  Hunt has had one but I think he's one we need to keep tip-top, Bapaga was in and out early on and has now got an enforced break.  I suppose for Towler you could also read Waterfall too.  Sousa is the one who's stepped up a level but his knocks have seen him get a bit of a break.

The one that still slightly concerns me is McAtee just because of how high intensity he is.  I'm not sure if we'll see wholesale changes for this weekend but I fully expect it'll be fringe players coming in for the cup tie with Bromsgrove, including the likes of Scannell getting game time.

Don't believe the Woking game is the right time to shuffle the pack & possibly loose momentum.
Next week is free & we have the Bomsgrove game coming up to perhaps rest some players.

Good comments all.

Be interesting to see how Hurst calls it on Saturday.

Didn't we take on a conditioning coach in the summer?

If Hurst planned for us to play a high intensity pressing game that required extra fitness it's now obvious why we needed a conditioning coach.

I'm beginning to think Hurst Mk2 might be a man teetering on genius.

I'd like to see Crocombe given a run out in the cup not because Macca should be dropped or anything but the lad has been patient and needs a game in case Macca gets injured at some stage and as Hurst never puts a keeper on the bench he's totally out of things match preparation wise

Maybe I'm looking at it totally differently and from an amateur coach/managers point of view (10+ years coaching) but the managers will obviously drop the work load of training to make sure players are rested enough. So at a total guess, this week it'll be / have been..
Monday - light training
Tuesday - travel + game
Wednesday off
Thursday normal training + tactics
Friday - travel and light training
Saturday - game

If they’re fit enough and the schedule is as professional as every other part of the club is (can’t believe I’ve just typed that) then we won’t have a problem doing it.

I’m sure players won’t be running through walls on Saturdays without there being some logic behind it and sufficient rest in between.

Brian Clough used to say that if you were playing 2 games a week you didn't really need to train.

And that was with the 'refuelling' approaches of characters like Larry Lloyd, Kenny Burns and John Robertson.

I just trust Hursty's judgment, I don't expect wholesale changes against Woking, although against Bromsgrove Sporting, I expect we'll see players like Revan, Pearson and Lenny given a run out. I certainly can't see McAtee, Taylor and Clifton play that game. We should have enough even with a half reserves side to get passed them. So, in other words, he'll go all guns blazing, run themselves into the ground and then given lots of players the best part of a fortnight off.

I guess Bapaga is out for one game anyway - unless we are appealing that very iffy second yellow?

You can't appeal second yellows, only straight reds.

Quoted from lukeo

Maybe I'm looking at it totally differently and from an amateur coach/managers point of view (10+ years coaching) but the managers will obviously drop the work load of training to make sure players are rested enough. So at a total guess, this week it'll be / have been..
Monday - light training
Tuesday - travel + game
Wednesday off
Thursday normal training + tactics
Friday - travel and light training
Saturday - game

You are nearly right, they trained yesterday but have today off. It was decided that having a day off before a long travel day is a better option.

Quoted from Mariner_09

You can't appeal second yellows, only straight reds.

Ah ha well that's sorted then - thanks.

Hopefully we keep playing our strongest team. 2 weeks off in the league after Saturday don’t forget. Cup game won’t be easy but if we are going to rotate it needs to be then.

Only players I would be confident rotating would be Coke and Fox but let’s just keep going and keep the momentum unless we have to.

At this stage of the season a player should go Saturday - Saturday without any problems whatsoever.

2 leagues separate us and Bromsgrove. Cleethorpes beat Alfreton and lost to Curzon in the FA Cup. Both of those teams are 2 levels above them so we shouldn't treat this game like we've already won.

Im guessing players don't want to sit games out either the momentum is there and no one will want to give there shirt up as they might not get it back..

Quoted from quebec38

Hopefully we keep playing our strongest team. 2 weeks off in the league after Saturday don’t forget. Cup game won’t be easy but if we are going to rotate it needs to be then.

Only players I would be confident rotating would be Coke and Fox but let’s just keep going and keep the momentum unless we have to.

Not in the role Fox played on Tuesday. Coke can sit in front of a back four but hasn't the engine to press higher up like Fox. Coke hasn't looked at his sharpest so far.
I would be concerned if our plan was to park the bus and hit on the break. Fox, McAtee and Hunt were brilliant at breaking up play on the half way and setting runners free. Protecting Sousa by giving him close support might  help prevent Woking roughing him up. We really do need a firm ref on Saturday.

Think I’ll leave the football decisions to Hurst. He seems to know what he’s doing.

Quoted from quebec38

Hopefully we keep playing our strongest team. 2 weeks off in the league after Saturday don’t forget. Cup game won’t be easy but if we are going to rotate it needs to be then.

Only players I would be confident rotating would be Coke and Fox but let’s just keep going and keep the momentum unless we have to.

I have to say having seen both players a few times this season, Fox is a much better option than Coke.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I have to say having seen both players a few times this season, Fox is a much better option than Coke.

I think Coke is very good at playing that defensive midfield role l, just sitting I'm front of the back 4 breaking up play and ticking over play for us. Perhaps more useful as a sub to see out games or maybe for matches were we play with 3 in the middle instead of the current 2.

Obviously he will have chances again in a long season though.

They definitely didn't train today, I was down Cheapside at lunchtime and no cars parked up. ;)

Quoted from Ipswin

I'd like to see Crocombe given a run out in the cup not because Macca should be dropped or anything but the lad has been patient and needs a game in case Macca gets injured at some stage and as Hurst never puts a keeper on the bench he's totally out of things match preparation wise

I’d agree with this, I expect the only change we’ll see on Saturday is the enforced replacement of Bapaga with Soussa. In the cup the weekend after I’d expect a good few more.