Weakened team at Gateshead – unacceptable
Weakened team on Saturday – essential
Don’t agree with either of those claims. It wasn’t ‘unacceptable’ to field a weakened team at Gateshead. It was very poor too field a side with so many changes and not give travelling fans an idea this might be happening to save the time and expense going (though awaywego apparently only goes for the craic regardless so…), His excuse and doubling down was poor too.
It’s not ‘essential’ at all to play a weakened team on Saturday. In my opinion, the starting eleven for Tuesday needs more game time to work on tactics, passages of okay and shooting. If you don’t believe he would get pelters for playing a weakened team on Saturday and losing Tuesday, I strongly disagree. Evidence for boot sticking in from a section of the online fanbase suggests otherwise.
The result at Gateshead mattered, the result on Saturday doesn’t so it shouldn’t surprise anybody if team changes are made. At the moment the only result that matters is Tuesday. As for Tuesday’s starting eleven needing more game time – they’ve had all season, another 90 minutes isn’t going to make much difference. Shooting, passing, tactics – isn’t that what training’s for?
