Rotation station
Talking point 🗣️
It’s always been a good day when after a match I can argue for almost every player as MoM. That was yesterday.
I chose Miles Leaburn in the end but it was a toss up.
Yes TC was excellent but I had Danny McNamara down as a close second to Miles. The ex-Millwall boy may had got my vote if I’d seen the video clip of him in Taty’s ear after his penalty mess sooner!
McNamara like Karlan Grant have already shown why they have played so many Championship games. Grant was clever when he received the ball in his own half and used the ball well and never looked flustered.
Amari Bell was another top performer yesterday. He had the toughest opponent of all in Bowen, but positionally he was excellent.
Okonkwo was refreshingly calm, and commanding. His kicking I am sure will come under review but a couple of times his throws allowed us to move away from under defensive pressure quickly. He only met his new team mates on Thursday.
Lloyd Jones and Koumetio in a back two are both imposing and worked well together. On another day Lloyd’s goal alone would have been rewarding of the MoM.
I was pleased that Nathan Jones kept with the four at the back. It must have crossed his mind to go to the fire blanket of a five, but we thrived by having the extra attacking player and both Grant and TC worked really hard defensively.
Coventry, so far, looks to be playing a level up from last season alongside Chalobah, who will have much better game opportunities to be able to get on the ball and keep us in possession.
The lowest mark for the starters may have been Carey, but he does get us up the pitch it’s just that he needs to improve his decision making, but he completely played his part yesterday.
All the subs added to the performance. A word for Mwamba in that he did not look out of place at all when he came on in the 66th minute for Carey.
Question now is who will be rested and who plays on Wednesday at Tottenham.
Ordinarily the Carabao Cup would call for changes but Jones and the fans will want to give a good account of ourselves.
The League games come fast though. Five in fifteen days follow the trip to Tottenham.
I think Jones will rest what I’ll call the usual suspects – Bell, Leaburn, Chalobah. I reckon Carey will come out for Knibbs. Apter could replace Grant, and Alli likewise for TC.
I would like to see Akonkwo continue with Lloyd Jones and Koumetio in front of him to further the partnership, especially with Mannion injured.
Mannion and Godden now join Ramsey in the medical room with Kelman and Edwards closer to returning.
Injuries could still well be our Achilles heel this season, and with the club being forced into moving squad players out before the window it is vital we keep key players fit. That will certainly be going through Nathan Jones mind this week.
I agree CA maybe bring TC on at about 60 mins if we need him as we know he is is so powerful when everybody tires i would defo start with Kanu and give him some minutes it would do his confidence the world of good if he started against spurs.. COYR
If we retain the same tactics against Spurs that we have followed this season then Nathan would start Mbick for his height and power rather than Kanu. Nathan also brought on Mbick against West Ham which suggests Mbick is in front of Kanu in Nathan’s mind.
As usual I find myself out on a limb when it comes to our team and manager.
After what has been a dream start to the season. We have an opportunity to go to an out of sorts Spurs and (possibly) win.
Thus advancing in the League cup (for once) What a rare joy it would be to have a cup run.
But apparently, according to other fans elsewhere, this idea is madness. Three points at home to Preston is much more important. As if the two results are somehow mutually exclusive. It’s August, and yes I know how fragile our squads tend to be. Surely we can chance a first team outing in the cup in August?
Having said all that, I’m pretty certain that Nathan Jones won’t be listening to me. He will put out a weakened side and our chance of glory will (probably) be gone.
Concentrating on the league, the usual get out clause for many a manager.
I agree, it would be a dream to have a cup run, and nothing better than coming up against an out of sorts Spurs team this early. I doubt that they’ll put out a full strength team too.
With us winning 2 from 2 in the league, and Preston losing 2 from 2 we have an opportunity to sit top after 3 games. With the two above us likely to drop points – Southampton at home to Millwall & West Brom away to Boro. Wouldn’t it be nice to see us looking pretty at the top a couple points clear!
Unusually Daggs, this time I disagree with you. I think protection of the first team squad is more important than getting through another round of a Mickey Mouse cup we are never going to win.
We already have four or five on the treatment table, two weeks into the season, and can’t afford to have too many more…..a fit squad and points in the league must be the main ambition this season, even this early in the campaign.
Have to agree with your comment Greg,
I think it’s more important to focus on league games to protect some of the squad as its going to be three games a week.
Getting points in the bag is protection for the future as happened last season for us.
Although the trip to Spurs is a ‘glamour’ tie I reckon next Saturday against Preston is far more important. NJ has difficult decisions to make re team selection but there are really only two things I am interested in v Spurs :
1.. No injuries to our most important players.
2.. Let’s hope we don’t lose heavily.
An honourable defeat at Spurs will suit me fine if we don’t sustain any injuries and get 3 points next Saturday (which could see us top of the league).
It will also be very interesting to see what team Spurs put out. They have all the pressure on them because if they fail to beat us then their manager will come in for loads of criticism. So they might well field a pretty strong eleven.