Pompey Game - Would you risk Zohore?

Personally I would not - let Ward start instead.

I would also not be surprised if many of the 1st team do not start. With the Villa game on Saturday we want to make sure we have our best players fit and fresh

No way. I expect Ward, Pilks, Mendez, Halford , Jazz , Damour and Murphy to start. Possibly even Kennedy. With a couple of youngsters on the bench, like Coxe and Mark Harris.

That competition has got a lot to answer for.

My heart nearly packed in when we took on one of the best clubs in the division and matched them for everything in the final only to lose in the gamble of penalty kicks.

Lets not risk Zahore. One near heart failure is enough.

I'd like to see a complete change round for the Pompey game with key players rested for Villa. Maybe Pilkington, Mark Harris, Jazz, Kennedy etc and I would certainly keep Damour and NML fresh for Saturday. Maybe a start for Ward to give him game time.

I think this will be a good opportunity for Danny Ward to get a full 90 minutes and hopefully, get a goal or two to build his confidence. Also, a good opportunity to introduce Cameron Coxe, after showing in pre-season he's more than good enough to get a chance. If we win, great. If we lose, at least our reserves have had a run out and some of our youngsters get some first team experience. My team would be something like:

Murphy

Richards
Connolly
Halford
Coxe

John
O'Keefe
Mark Harris
Kennedy

Pilkington
Ward

Personally I would not - let Ward start instead.

I would also not be surprised if many of the 1st team do not start. With the Villa game on Saturday we want to make sure we have our best players fit and fresh

No

Absolutely not!

Tell him to have a bath and an early night so he's fully ready to give John Terry the runaround next Saturday!

Personally I would not - let Ward start instead.

I would also not be surprised if many of the 1st team do not start. With the Villa game on Saturday we want to make sure we have our best players fit and fresh

Agree.

No it's an ideal game for Ward to get some time.

No it's an ideal game for Ward to get some time.

Agree but with Zohore on the bench 'just in case', as this is a game I'd like to see us win!

Time to give some of the others a chance to shine and to give Damour a chance to prove he should be a starter for me though I think we should stick with Morrison and Bamba at CB's adn think Ralls doesn't look 100% sharp yet so could benefit from some more gametime

Murphy

Jazz
Morrison
Bamba
Coxe

Mendez Laing
Damour
Ralls
Kennedy

Pilkington
Ward

subs, Etheridge, Halford. Waite, Weymans, Harris, Hoilett, Zohore

Apologies for spelling Zohore incorrectly -

No it's an ideal game for Ward to get some time.

Agree but with Zohore on the bench 'just in case', as this is a game I'd like to see us win!

Sorry, I wouldn't even have him on the bench. He needs to be looked after and the Carling Cup, or whatever it's called, is the lowest of our priorities this season.

If we get through, great, as it gives us extra games to keep reserves up to speed but certainly don't want key players risked until we get the the semis

No it's an ideal game for Ward to get some time.

Agree but with Zohore on the bench 'just in case', as this is a game I'd like to see us win!

I agree.

praying Warnock gives him the day off.
any chance of us having a decent league season depends largely on this guy.
id be totally peed should he get any sort of injury in this game.
and equally peed off should he tear them a new one,score 4 or 5 and draw even more attention to himself resulting in more interest and bigger offers.

I think youll see less changes than you think. Saturdays used subs will play and one or two more changes I reckon.We need the team to get to know each others games. Apart from Jazz I would expect the defence to stay similar to the one which ended on Saturday.

I wouldn't start anyone who started Saturday with the possible exception of the goalkeeper (sometimes best to keep a player in goal to keep momentum going). I'd give all the substitutes a full game plus anyone who didn't make the squad who might be utilised in the first team.

I would not risk Zohore starting but I would possibly bring him on late on in the game to help keep fitness up and give Ward a rest if it looks like going another 30 minutes.