Owing to being secure in our playoff position, I'm expecting Hursty to ring the changes on Sunday. Can't see the likes of Amos, Holohan, Fox, Taylor playing. Wonder if he'll give Macca a whirl. You'd have suspected Sousa and Cropper would've played as to give Efete and Scannell a rest but suddenly they've become fundamental to the playoffs.

Because we are still capable of finishing higher in the league I would expect Hurst to still pick his strongest team.

Only an outside chance of going higher .But while it is there we must go for it

Strongly disagree that Hurst will prioritise trying to get 5th over getting the squad in the best shape for the play offs.

I think the big question is whether or not Mcatee plays. Obviously we don't want him picking up an injury before the play-offs but without missing a few games, would he have scored a couple more on Tuesday?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Strongly disagree that Hurst will prioritise trying to get 5th over getting the squad in the best shape for the play offs.

The chances of 5th are so remote it’s not even going to enter his thinking. It needs a Town win, a Notts County defeat AND a 7 goal swing in our favour. Our chances of 5th ended with Waterfall’s mad minute against Maidenhead.

Quoted from denni266

Only an outside chance of going higher .But while it is there we must go for it

It'd take us to win, Notts County to lose plus a 7 goal swing for us to finish any higher. Below it would take us to lose, Chesterfield to win plus a 4 goal swing for us to finish any lower, so I reckon we're pretty much nailed on for a 6th place finish.

                       McKeown

  Cropper.  Smith.    Goundry.    Crookes

Braithwaite.    Coke.    Burgess.  Abrahams

            Essel.        Diesereuvwe


Id run something like this unless we have youth cover for Cropper and Smith.
Nice send off for Macca too

If that's the team I'll be having a fiver on Eastleigh!

We can finish higher, but for very little material gain. Would you swap McAtee/Taylor/Amos for playing at home to County rather than away?

If we were trying to reach or hold onto 3rd spot, then there might be a case for it, but the difference between 5/6/7 is negligible. Ideal chance to give a run out to squad players and hopefully Raikhy if he is fit.

Macca
Jones Pearson Goundry Crookes
Sousa Coke Burgess Wright
Abrahams Dieseruvwe

                    Crocombe
Cropper     Smith     Waterfall    Crookes
JMD          Coke      Burgess     Wright
               Abrahams Mani

He may want to give Waterfall a whirl, as he won't have played for 2.5 weeks by the time of the Notts County game otherwise and you know what you get with Pearson if needs be. No need to rest Smith I don't think. Sousa plays over JMD in the playoffs, given we're away to a side who finished above us in two games in an ideal way and JMD's limitations as an athlete are there for us all to see. Fox has an iffy injury record and Holohan has looked jaded of late to me anyway. It's worth giving Max a run out, even for an hour, otherwise he'd probably never play for us again. I could see a case for playing McAtee for the first half or an hour on Sunday, just to give him some more gametime before the playoffs, but we'd kick ourselves if he played and got a bang on his shoulder and that was it.

Quoted from Stew0_0

                       McKeown

  Cropper.  Smith.    Goundry.    Crookes

Braithwaite.    Coke.    Burgess.  Abrahams

            Essel.        Diesereuvwe


Id run something like this unless we have youth cover for Cropper and Smith.
Nice send off for Macca too

Can't risk Cropper or Smith; no like for like replacements in the squad

I don't get this "resting" players against Eastleigh.
We have hardly been playing Saturday/Tuesday over the last few weeks - our next game after Sunday is Monday 22nd.
Let's get the momentum going on Sunday for the play offs - the last time unforced changes were made - against Sporting Bromsgrove - the wheels subsequently really came off.
Keep a settled team & end the season on a real high - four games to play - four games to win.
UTM.

If it was the chance of finishing 3rd instead of 4th id get it. But I think this team has a better chance of winning away than it does if a key player gets injured

Finishing seventh is a slightly easier route for me than finishing 6.

2 nil defeat for us maybe two nil win for Chesterfield and we probably end up playing Halifax as opposed to Notts County And avoid Wrexham in the semi. Call me cynical but I would prefer this

Quoted from Zmariner

Finishing seventh is a slightly easier route for me than finishing 6.

2 nil defeat for us maybe two nil win for Chesterfield and we probably end up playing Halifax as opposed to Notts County And avoid Wrexham in the semi. Call me cynical but I would prefer this

We'd then have to get past Solihull Moors probably, who have been a bit of a bogey team this term. At least we've beaten both Notts and Wrexham in the league this season.

Be good to have a couple of young lads feature wether that's starting or off the bench.
Nice position to be in not needed anything so can rest a few to protect them for the play offs if needed.

PH has confirmed in his pre match that there will be some changes and some of the first year pro's may be involved, but he wants to put out a competitive side and win the game.

Quoted from Mariner_09

                    Crocombe
Cropper     Smith     Waterfall    Crookes
JMD          Coke      Burgess     Wright
               Abrahams Mani

He may want to give Waterfall a whirl, as he won't have played for 2.5 weeks by the time of the Notts County game otherwise and you know what you get with Pearson if needs be. No need to rest Smith I don't think. Sousa plays over JMD in the playoffs, given we're away to a side who finished above us in two games in an ideal way and JMD's limitations as an athlete are there for us all to see. Fox has an iffy injury record and Holohan has looked jaded of late to me anyway. It's worth giving Max a run out, even for an hour, otherwise he'd probably never play for us again. I could see a case for playing McAtee for the first half or an hour on Sunday, just to give him some more gametime before the playoffs, but we'd kick ourselves if he played and got a bang on his shoulder and that was it.

I think this line up is what you’ll see other than Shaun in and Andy Smith rested on the bench.

Quoted from Stew0_0

                       McKeown

  Cropper.  Smith.    Goundry.    Crookes

Braithwaite.    Coke.    Burgess.  Abrahams

            Essel.        Diesereuvwe


Id run something like this unless we have youth cover for Cropper and Smith.
Nice send off for Macca too

Think this man may have nailed it, with the exception of Waterfall for Smith

I’ll be amazed if Raikhy doesn’t feature

Eastleigh win currently 7/2 .I couldn’t possibly bet against us but an under strength team and our form was his year in the south May tempt others.

Quoted from buckstown

Think this man may have nailed it, with the exception of Waterfall for Smith

Thanks. Tbh I forgot Waterfall was back. I though as it was a straight red he had a three match ban. Yes I would bring Luke in to rest Smith and the latter has made all the difference in recent weeks to our overall defensive improvement.

I don't see any point in going all out for 3 points and making up a 6 goal definite on Notts County as not only would it be highly unlikely given county's last game but a trip to Halifax on paper may almost be preferred.

Either way boys and girls get your petrol tanks filled up as we got some travelling to do

We can’t afford for Cropper to get injured. I’d leave him out and stick a youth teamer in.

I wouldn’t risk anyone and I’d go with the below.

McKeown

Goundry
Pearson
Crookes

Wright (if fit)
Burgess
Jones
Clifton

Maguire-Drew
Dieseruvwe
Abrahams

Quoted from Stew0_0

                       McKeown

  Cropper.  Smith.    Goundry.    Crookes

Braithwaite.    Coke.    Burgess.  Abrahams

            Essel.        Diesereuvwe


Id run something like this unless we have youth cover for Cropper and Smith.
Nice send off for Macca too

Got to have 11 of Saturdays squad in the next match we play

Quoted from davmariner

I wouldn’t risk anyone and I’d go with the below.

McKeown

Goundry
Pearson
Crookes

Wright (if fit)
Burgess
Jones
Clifton

Maguire-Drew
Dieseruvwe
Abrahams

I can totally agree with the not risking of players but there are also those players who need some minutes either cos they are coming back or they haven't played and might be needed
For the  playoffs

                              Macca
Crookes (out of position) Waterfall Pearson khouri
Jmd            Jones       Burgess          sousa/wright
               Mani        Abrahams

Cropper
Coke
Wright/sousa
Mcatee
Hoolohan

There would be a finishing off of his career withmacca but also giving g him minutes if he needs to be called on. Smith in CD has been brilliant and Is guaranteed a spot but it's one or two for Waterfall and Pearson.
    
I wold pick Wright for the playoffs but maybe he needs toprove his fitness

Not for the playoffs! For eastleigh

I think we’ll see a mish mash of players needing game time, players getting a swansong type run out and a couple of regulars.

There are areas of the park where we are thin on the ground should someone get injured so I wouldn’t be surprised if Hurst doesn’t factor that in.

If Rhaiky is fit I’d give him a run out, I’d possibly leave out Cropper and then probably Mcatee and Taylor. Give Sousa another run out and maybe take Clifton and Holohan out to keep them fit…

Tried doing this last night, making plenty of changes but maintaining a decent spine and it was really difficult.

Hard to know what Hurst will do but I would just hope we rest Cropper and McAtee. Cropper being the only right back now and if McAtee aggravated his injury in a nothing game against Eastleigh it really would hurt us.

Less important but I would also rest Taylor and probably Fox. Mani or Abrahams and then Coke would slot in nicely.

It wouldn't surprise me to see us finish 7th. We will have many changes and could easily lose by 2 goals.

Chesterfield need just a point but will go out all guns blazing and could easily win by 3 goals. On the Chesterfield forum they are saying similar and are also suggesting that we would prefer a 7th place finish as they would. They even suggested that they should play for a point to secure 7th, although acknowledged that this is very risky.

It wouldn't bother me if we finished 7th, Hurst doesn't seem to mind what place we finish, other than a home draw which is now impossible. Solihull, if they get 4th, would be difficult as they played us off the pitch a few weeks ago but then we will avoid Wrexham or Stockport for a place in the final.

Then we should consider the attendance. Halifax and Solihull, even with an increase in numbers for a play off game is going to be less daunting than between 10k and 15k home fans at Notts County and similarly at Wrexham or Stockport.

I couldn't give a toss if we finish 6th or 7th Don't see any big advantage in 7th.

Quoted from ivanosandwich

It wouldn't surprise me to see us finish 7th. We will have many changes and could easily lose by 2 goals.

Chesterfield need just a point but will go out all guns blazing and could easily win by 3 goals. On the Chesterfield forum they are saying similar and are also suggesting that we would prefer a 7th place finish as they would. They even suggested that they should play for a point to secure 7th, although acknowledged that this is very risky.

It wouldn't bother me if we finished 7th, Hurst doesn't seem to mind what place we finish, other than a home draw which is now impossible. Solihull, if they get 4th, would be difficult as they played us off the pitch a few weeks ago but then we will avoid Wrexham or Stockport for a place in the final.

Then we should consider the attendance. Halifax and Solihull, even with an increase in numbers for a play off game is going to be less daunting than between 10k and 15k home fans at Notts County and similarly at Wrexham or Stockport.

A home draw isn't impossible. It's unlikely but it's not impossible. We need to win, Notts County need to lose and there's the small matter of overcoming a GD deficit of 6.

Field a fairly strong team, go for the win and no stupid mistakes before the play-offs. Whatever else happens, happens.

Hopefully Chesterfield do enough to finish 7th as Dag & Red probably pose more of a threat than them.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

A home draw isn't impossible. It's unlikely but it's not impossible. We need to win, Notts County need to lose and there's the small matter of overcoming a GD deficit of 6.

Field a fairly strong team, go for the win and no stupid mistakes before the play-offs. Whatever else happens, happens.

Hopefully Chesterfield do enough to finish 7th as Dag & Red probably pose more of a threat than them.

It’s a 7 goal GD swing in effect due to Notts’ vastly superior goals for record. It’s not gonna happen.

Quoted from Poojah

It’s a 7 goal GD swing in effect due to Notts’ vastly superior goals for record. It’s not gonna happen.

Northampton thought that last week. I accept it's very, very unlikely but it's not impossible. I do think it's important to try win the game and not make any stupid errors.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Northampton thought that last week. I accept it's very, very unlikely but it's not impossible. I do think it's important to try win the game and not make any stupid errors.

With respect, we’re not playing Scunny on Sunday.