DCFC1388

I think NML form has been poor a few weeks before he got the captaincy.

Time for him to step up in these final 3 games

Must win game, Warne says he may need to freshen it up as we looked tired vs Wycombe so I expect a couple of changes including going back to a back 3, so in a 3412 - 

Wildsmith - Nelson Bradley Cashin - Wilson Adams Hourihane Sibley - NML - Collins Waghorn

Vickers Ward Thompson Smith Barkhuizen CBT Washington

Could be either Ward or Bird on the bench.

That line up can easily switch between 3412, 3421 & 343.

I still think we will get 2nd, going into easter weekend I thought we would get 4 points from Blackpool, Pompey & Wycombe and we have ended up getting 5 points so despite last nights result we are still in a better position than I expected.

I watched Bolton vs Bristol at the weekend & they were dreadful, if they keep playing like that there is no chance of them winning all 4 games. Hopefully Port Vale need something when Bolton play them & Darren Moore can do us a favour.

7 points from our final 3 may still be enough too as that would mean Bolton winning 3 of their 4 games which would mean it going down to goal difference. I see Bolton getting 8 points max.

We will all know more by 5pm Sat, if we win & Bolton drop points its right in our hands and we will all feel more positive.

To continue my run of form of predcting us to lose so we dont...

Wycombe 2 Rams 1

Frgs Collins

i can see us getting 4 points from Wycombe (D) & Leyton Orient (W) with Bolton getting 4 points from Pompey (D) & Shrewsbury (W) meaning we go into the final 2 games 1 point ahead of Bolton

I see them beating Port Vale at home and us beating Carlisle at home - so we just need to match or better their result vs Peterborough away when we play Cambridge away. I know the fixtures arent in that order but I can see both us & Bolton getting at least 8 points from the final 4 games - matching Warne's magical 2 ppg he always wants

The above would potentially mean us going into the final day in 3rd 😬 we need min 6 points from the next 3 games imo

my slight concern is Warne saying that the lads weren't great in training yesterday - hopefully they up their levels today ready for the match tomorrow evening

I reckon a win on Weds may see a small surge in sales as well so expect next Sat to be a sell out

Hopefully means he is close to a return

Bolton taking the league completely against the run of play. Bristol being kept out by a couple of brilliant saves by Baxter, Martin coming close on a couple of occasions

1 hour ago, JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta said:

Chris Martin to do us a favour today? That'd be absolutely lovely.

And/or Luke Thomas

i think it will be either Warne or Clowes in for an interview on Monday

5 minutes ago, MadAmster said:

Everything I've seen/heard has been Foz out for the season. Possibly not heard everything though. Bird is due to be available from the Wycombe game. Barks is training but not yet match ready IIRC. 

I am just going from this, that he might risk Fozzy on the bench vs Wycombe knowing Bradley is then back after that...

1 hour ago, MadAmster said:

Forget Fozzy for the rest of the season. Bird might make the bench. Barks not yet ready.

Pretty sure Warne mentioned that Forsyth is due back training as well as Bird & Barkuizen

With us having a longer break than them & them having a cup final on Sunday on a big pitch vs a good footballing team I would hope with our team we go there on Weds and run all over them & kill them with our pace & energy.

Depending on Ward's fitness I would expect the same starting 11. I have a feeling that 1 or maybe 2 of Forsyth, Bird & Barkhuizen may make the bench. It is getting to the point of the season where I think Warne might take a risk with injuries if needed, such as Forsyth as we have not first team defender on the bench. 

Pompey need 7points to confirm automatics, so if Bolton win on Sat as we would expect then regardless of tonights game Pompey will still need something vs Bolton

Id take 2 points from these 2 away games with 3 very winnable games after. That way even if Bolton win on Sat we will be 2 points ahead of them, yes they will have a game in hand but the next game they would have Pompey & we have Leyton Orient at home so it could be that we will be 4 or 5 points ahead before their game in hand

Just to continue my run of form where we win when i predict we will lose...

Pompey 2 Rams 0

I think we will go 433 for this game & look to hit them on the break....

Wildsmith - Wilson Nelson Cashin Sibley - Thompson Adams Smith - NML Washington CBT

Loach Robinson Ward Fornah Hourihane Waghorn Collins

With that line up we have some pace up front for the counter but also energy in the middle of the park. We need a midfield 3 vs their 3 as they play 4231

I think Thelo Aasgaard would be a decent signing, always been impressive when I have seen him & still only 21

The only centre mid we have contracted beyond the summer is Fornah. No doubt 1 or 2 might get a new deal but for me Adams is a must buy this summer.

In the last 5 games -

Portsmouth - 13 points (2.6 ppg)

Derby - 12 points (2.4 ppg)

Bolton - 6 points (1.2 ppg)

PBoro - 9 points (1.8 ppg)

Barnsley - 5 points (1 ppg)

It would take a huge swing in form for us to throw this away now. Us & Bolton would have to pretty much swap form.

I tried to predict the scores of us & Bolton with my pessimistic head on & still got us going up on goal difference....

Would be quite apt if we confirm promotion away at Cambridge which is where the Warne era started

Looking at that I am thinking 4231 with Sibley at left back?

Either that or Ward & Wilson are full backs with Sibley in the middle in a 433

I usually predict us to lose & we win, last week I had us to win & we lost so I am going for - 

Rams 1 Blackpool 2

Frgs Nelson