Town continue their hectic run of games with a trip to Middlesbrough this lunchtime. It comes with just two days gap since their somewhat disappointing draw with QPR on Good Friday and the tight turnaround means it’s likely Carlos will shuffle the pack when making his team selection today.
Middlesbrough have become a very good side under Chris Wilder since he took over earlier this season and they are in with a good shout of reaching the playoffs. Given the stiff opposition and the tired legs in the camp it will require a fine balance of keeping things fresh but playing the strongest possible lineup.
Here’s how I think we’ll look today…
Goalkeeper: Nicholls
There’s very little to say about Nicholls selection, he’s one of the best keepers in the league and has saved many points for Town over the course of the season. I did notice Ryan Schofield was at the game on Saturday and was high-fiving Town’s players as they left the pitch. He’ll be recovered from his injury soon and there will be a decision about what we do with him. There’s no chance of him taking Nicholls’ spot between the sticks so we may be better loaning him out to be first choice somewhere else and bring in experienced cover (or keep hold of Blackman).
Defence: Pipa, Lees, Colwill, Ruffels
Pipa and Turton are different propositions but I don’t think I could say which is the first choice at the moment. With Turton starting on Friday and Pipa being fresher after only playing a few minutes off the bench, I think the Spaniard will get the nod today.
Central defenders tend to be able to play more consecutive games then other outfield players so I see no reason to break up the Lees and Colwill axis. With Colwill being a highly rated loanee there may be instructions from his parent club to not overplay him but otherwise he should play. Naby Sarr was sensational off the bench in the Luton game but I’d be concerned about his tendency to make errors if he started today.
Harry Toffolo is typically fit enough for as many games as you can throw at him but I think Josh Ruffels will play anyway. He hasn’t played as many matches as he should have done this season and therefore deserves to be given a chance. He’s been unlucky to be the understudy for a very reliable and consistently healthy player but if he’s fully fit and Toffolo has played lots of minutes lately it makes sense to give Ruffels a run out.
Midfield: O’Brien, Russell, Eiting
It’s becoming a bit of a catchphrase of this blog now but Lewis O’Brien should be played in his best position. That means playing him on the left side of central midfield. He can do a job for the team elsewhere but it should be our policy to put our best players where they can be most effective and work everything else around that.
I have no doubts about O’Brien’s fitness as he’s like the Duracell bunny in his relentlessness. I’m less sure about Hoggy and Russell’s ability to keep going for back to back games and suspect one or both will make way today. Hoggy is getting on a bit now and has long-standing injury issues so I think he’s most likely to be rested.
Jon Russell can then drop into the deep lying defensive midfielder role. His lack of pace and occasionally iffy positioning can expose him at times but his eye for a pass and physical strength count in his favour.
I think my most leftfield selection for this game is Carel Eiting coming into the starting lineup as he didn’t even make the bench against QPR. However, his deal runs out at the end of the season so surely we’ll give him some game time before then to see if he has a longer term future at Town. I’m a big admirer of his but his return has been overshadowed by Jon Russell’s emergence and he’s now got to prove his worth to justify a longer contract.
Forward: Sinani, Rhodes, Thomas
In these articles I typically try to guess what team the head coach will select rather than the one I’d personally go with. Danel Sinani wouldn’t be my personal pick but Carlos seems to pick him regardless of form (which has been poor lately). In fairness, our other attacking options to play on the opposite flank to Sorba Thomas are poor. Holmes looks off the pace, Anjorin even worse, Koroma is badly out of form and Rolando Aarons is perma-injured. I’d hoped Danny Grant might make a breakthrough this season but it sounds like he’s still needing to build up his fitness in the B Team.
Jordan Rhodes will surely start with Danny Ward ruled out with injury. Right? Well, Carlos didn’t bring on his only striker on the bench against QPR despite Ward’s injury and Town’s obvious lack of presence at the top end with a Sinani and Thomas strike partnership. Surely avante garde tactics will be cast aside and a proper striker will be played for the game.
Like with O’Brien, Sorba Thomas should be played in his strongest position rather than experimenting with anything else. I can understand the logic of putting our quickest and most creative player up front but the reality was underwhelming and Thomas makes much more sense as a winger or wingback than he does as a striker.
I get the feeling everybody is more relaxed about Town getting promotion this time.Yes it would be great.Yes we would have a massive budget to bring players in but I think fans are wary about Town becoming a concertina side like Norwich.I think in Corberan we have a very successful manager and either way if we go up or stay in the championship he is the future for Town.That’s assuming one of the bigger clubs don’t come sniffing round.
I think Hoggy would be disappointed to be left out again this former club.
Well he’s not !!
CC must play Eiting and I was more than surprised that he wasn’t even on the bench as sub he’s a talented player and needs to play . His contract expires at the end of the season leaving him out we will never really know just what we have missed. He is fresh and eager to go put him in the starting eleven CC
I agree but he’s not made the bench again today and Scott High has. It seems unlikely he’ll get a look in between now and the end of the season.