Playoffs

[dave.woodhall]

Do we risk losing momentum if we rest players?

Momentum is one of those words that suddenly came about a year or two ago and means absolutely nothing. It was talked about last season after we lost in the cups and both times we went on our best runs straight after.

[Legion]

Do we risk losing momentum if we rest players?

No. Protect and save our strongest players for when it matters.

[andyh]

In the words of the great Marcellus Wallace.
That’s momentum messing with your brain. Fuck momentum.

Rest who needs to rested (protected) for the last 2 games and just win the 3 games that now matter.

[mike]

I'm hoping we rest Axel, SJM, Jack and Tammy for Leeds. I don't especially see Norwich wanting to hack any of them to pieces so either play them or bring them on for the last half hour (obviously not all four) in the last match.

[Brazilian Villain]

Assuming we finish 5th and are home to the Baggies, will we be playoff game B and therefore kicking off at 5.15pm rather than 12.30pm?

[OzVilla]

This is why we have this much celebrated squad of players surely, rest the big guns and use it wisely. Rest SJM, Grealish, Tammy, Mings and bring in Hutton, Kodj, Elphick, Angela and Barney.  Dont let Leeds get a close up look at us while we have orders to run the feckers ragged whatever the result. They wont be able to rest players just yet if they are still in with even an outside sniff of automatic.

[Risso]

This is why we have this much celebrated squad of players surely, rest the big guns and use it wisely. Rest SJM, Grealish, Tammy, Mings and bring in Hutton, Kodj, Elphick, Angela and Barney.  Dont let Leeds get a close up look at us while we have orders to run the feckers ragged whatever the result. They wont be able to rest players just yet if they are still in with even an outside sniff of automatic.

Trouble is, they’ll almost certainly be out of it by Sunday. Sheff U are at home to Ipswich on Saturday, so our game on Sunday is probably going to have the look snd intensity of a pre-season friendly, with both teams wanting to protect players for the play offs.

[OzVilla]

Ahh I didn't realise they played the day before.  That's a shame, so worst case scenario is we play as Leeds side totally demoralised.  Not sure how much depth they have in their squad.  I've always thought a team in Leeds situation that misses out having been up there all year then has the potential to go out of the play offs in straight sets.

[Dave P]

Momentum would work both ways. What if we kept the same team for the last 2 games and SJM got 2 silly yellows or Jack got injured. We’d be playing Lansbury or BB in our biggest games of the season with them having no game time or ‘momentum’. We should really use getting in the play offs early to our advantage.

I’d also say, whatever happens in the last 2 games, we surely have momentum from the past 10 games.

[olaftab]

Momentum is overrated. If you treat the Leeds game as “ reserve” game it does not effect the next game v Norwich. Rest as many as we can next Sunday.

[London Villan]

Leeds would still have a very slim mathematical chance, so they would need to go for it. A real dilemma as they can’t just give up. But they have blown it. Beaten by a Villa ‘B’ team would just add to their demoralisation too.

[Damo70]

For years I have always fancied the team who hit form and come with a late run to qualify for the play offs to go on to win the play offs. On the other side of the coin I have always thought the team that misses out on automatic promotion is in danger of not being able to pick themselves up for the play offs. Compare the disappointment of the team which finishes third in the table to the relief and delight of the team that manages to finish sixth.

[amfy]

Momentum would work both ways. What if we kept the same team for the last 2 games and SJM got 2 silly yellows or Jack got injured. We’d be playing Lansbury or BB in our biggest games of the season with them having no game time or ‘momentum’. We should really use getting in the play offs early to our advantage.

I’d also say, whatever happens in the last 2 games, we surely have momentum from the past 10 games.

Agree - & it’s not as if we’d be scraping the barrel with the players we have to come in, or throwing the game. We can still put a really good team out whilst resting some key players, & give them some fringe players game time in case they are needed.

[Scratchins]

A reporter on talkSport overnight - don't ask me who, said that he can't see past Villa being promoted. We are not relying on one man,we have had 9 different scorers in this run, even the full back Enda Stevens has chipped in with 1 !!!

[Chris Smith]

For years I have always fancied the team who hit form and come with a late run to qualify for the play offs to go on to win the play offs. On the other side of the coin I have always thought the team that misses out on automatic promotion is in danger of not being able to pick themselves up for the play offs. Compare the disappointment of the team which finishes third in the table to the relief and delight of the team that manages to finish sixth.

Although last season Fulham blew automatic promotion by losing to the Noses on the last day and we all know what happened in the play offs.