Wycombe to bury you, not praise you. Wycombe (h) Sat 6 Aug @3pm.

[Prufrock]

Aye, it would be a nice confidence boost for the Burtons and Morecambes. No guarantees but maybe less of a "oh god we're going to get turned over".

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Aye, it would be a nice confidence boost for the Burtons and Morecambes. No guarantees but maybe less of a "oh god we're going to get turned over".

There's that, but Wycombe are also doubly troubling in that they're (expected to be) promotion rivals as well as long-ballers. On last season's evidence, we had trouble beating members of either group.

[irie Cee Bee]

For me it would be Aimson, Iredale and Dadbod starting instead of Jones, John and Dapo respectively. Santos gave away lots of unnecessary freekicks at Ipswich running into the back of players facing away from our goal. Doing that against Wycombe would be suicidal, so I hope he is more careful. We cant give them too many set plays. Hard to drop your best performer last match, so Johnston stays for me and stays in his position with Iredale more a LB instead of LWB and plays tucked in with Bradley doing the attacking on the right. Aimson is a stronger (in strength and heading) defender than Jones so against this type of opposition should play. We should be utilizing the squad and if he doesn't play in these types of games, when will he play?

[BWFC_Insane]

I get the height thing about Aimson for Jones but I’m not convinced you leave out your most consistent player and for me best defender regardless of the stature we might lack at times.

I also worry about playing non wing backs and wing back. How will we open up Wycombe is a key issue and as much of one as can we stop them taking advantage of our weaknesses at the back.

[irie Cee Bee]

Its just that I believe that this season, rotation will make us more effective. Evatt will need to learn quickly how to use his squad effectively both in picking the starting team and making the changes. I noted Ipswich made several changes at different times in the 2nd half as they took over the game before we made even one. We have players on the bench who we must keep game sharp and fit. We weren't great last Saturday. I just believe that while none of our players can be considered game winners, they are many good players in the squad, hence, while Jones is a better defender than Aimson, I noted he was down a few times getting treated on Saturday after hard knocks, and this is not the game for him based on the type of opposition we will be facing this w/e. Anyway, I am not the Manager and Evatt sees them everyday. I will back whatever eleven he puts out.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I noted Ipswich made several changes at different times in the 2nd half as they took over the game before we made even one.

I too noted that they were changing earlier than us. They were on top in the first part of the second half but still made two subs on 59 minutes and two on 71. We made our first change on 70, a double on 77 and one more on 83. Given the depth of our squad and frankly how the game was going I expected earlier changes.

[Worthy4England]

I noted Ipswich made several changes at different times in the 2nd half as they took over the game before we made even one.

I too noted that they were changing earlier than us. They were on top in the first part of the second half but still made two subs on 59 minutes and two on 71. We made our first change on 70, a double on 77 and one more on 83. Given the depth of our squad and frankly how the game was going I expected earlier changes.

Yes indeed. It felt a little more like there was a predetermined subs plan and we stuck to it despite what the balance of the game on the pitch was...

[The_Gun]

I’ve long felt that substitutions are a weakness for Evatt, and I worry slightly that this weakness will be further exacerbated by the new rule.

[boltonboris]

For me it would be Aimson, Iredale and Dadbod starting instead of Jones, John and Dapo respectively. Santos gave away lots of unnecessary freekicks at Ipswich running into the back of players facing away from our goal. Doing that against Wycombe would be suicidal, so I hope he is more careful. We cant give them too many set plays. Hard to drop your best performer last match, so Johnston stays for me and stays in his position with Iredale more a LB instead of LWB and plays tucked in with Bradley doing the attacking on the right. Aimson is a stronger (in strength and heading) defender than Jones so against this type of opposition should play. We should be utilizing the squad and if he doesn't play in these types of games, when will he play?

Jones is a better ground defender than Aimson, but agree that we'll need every available inch of height on Saturday

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

For me it would be Aimson, Iredale and Dadbod starting instead of Jones, John and Dapo respectively. Santos gave away lots of unnecessary freekicks at Ipswich running into the back of players facing away from our goal. Doing that against Wycombe would be suicidal, so I hope he is more careful. We cant give them too many set plays. Hard to drop your best performer last match, so Johnston stays for me and stays in his position with Iredale more a LB instead of LWB and plays tucked in with Bradley doing the attacking on the right. Aimson is a stronger (in strength and heading) defender than Jones so against this type of opposition should play. We should be utilizing the squad and if he doesn't play in these types of games, when will he play?

Jones is a better ground defender than Aimson, but agree that we'll need every available inch of height on Saturday

My eyes and brain tell me you're right, but Brommers' data last season suggested Aimson was one of the best in the division let alone the team

If any of our defenders can be outwitted by Sam Vokes dribbling at them, they need a restart course

[Bruce Rioja]

I’ve long felt that substitutions are a weakness for Evatt, and I worry slightly that this weakness will be further exacerbated by the new rule.

I agree entirely, and have done throughout his time here. He seems dead-set against making substitutions on the hour mark, even when we're crying out for a change at that point.

Further - Not sure if Evatt's explained his thinking elsewhere, but I have absolutely no idea as to why he replaced Lee with Bakayoko as our first substitution on 70 last week.

[officer_dibble]

I’m not defending him on substitutions per se, but I thought we did ok with them in the league two season - Miller time and all that. I can’t explain Saturdays either. We have a much better squad this season so no excuses going forward.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Further - Not sure if Evatt's explained his thinking elsewhere, but I have absolutely no idea as to why he replaced Lee with Bakayoko as our first substitution on 70 last week.

Lee hasn't completed 90 minutes since January (Ipswich at home - interestingly, he scored after 74). With five subs per game and his 34th birthday in the rear-view mirror, I somewhat doubt he ever will again – for us, at least: wouldn't surprise me if he carried on in D4 next season, perhaps for a less high-tempo team.

Subbing Lee wasn't a surprise. Neither was pushing Dapo to 10 – perhaps a more cautious manager would have brought on a more like-for-like midfielder, but (1) Dempsey was out (2) we had a benchload of forwards (3) Dapo has played 10 lots before (4) Evatt is not a particularly cautious manager.

Should it have been Bakayoko? Personally I'd have gone Bodvarsson, who is IMO a better link-player. But we soon changed it again anyway. First thing Baka did was to ran straight over to Dapo and point towards our goal, in a clear "gaffer says drop into the 10" movement. I have to say, Dapo did not move. (If memory serves, we were defending a corner, so arguably we needed a body back.) It's possible we switched to a 3-4-3 and tried to pin their full-backs, er, back but that would be a risky move when midfield was already struggling.

Didn't matter for long, as seven minutes later Dapo was hoiked for Kacha – not Sadlier, sadly - and Charles for Bod. I think we'll see a lot of games where all the front men rotate.

Another thing Evatt says in the BBC RM podcast is that Sadlier gives us cover at wingback but can also play "at 9 or 10".

[BWFC_Insane]

I don’t think Evatt is terrible at his substitutions but I do feel it’s a bit pre ordained. I don’t ever feel he’s got that instinct for a change or even the ability to see a problem early and just change it when necessary.

Allardyce at times when we were overrun down a flank or in the middle would make an early change. Just fix it, stem the flow.

Evatt seems tactically a bit short at times during games and we sometimes wait too long for the change. He has options now but using them in the right moments is important.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

[officer_dibble]

I suppose he’s still a young manager so let’s hope he is learning. Would like to see Sadlier get some time this weekend particularly if we need a goal!

[Bruce Rioja]

Should it have been Bakayoko? Personally I'd have gone Bodvarsson, who is IMO a better link-player. But we soon changed it again anyway.

Indeed. My question isn't one of why was Lee taken off? It was why was he replaced by Bakayoko rather than Bodvarsson, who, it looked to me anyway, like we were screaming out for at that point, and had been for the 10 minutes prior, too.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Should it have been Bakayoko? Personally I'd have gone Bodvarsson, who is IMO a better link-player. But we soon changed it again anyway.

Indeed. My question isn't one of why was Lee taken off? It was why was he replaced by Bakayoko rather than Bodvarsson, who, it looked to me anyway, like we were screaming out for at that point, and had been for the 10 minutes prior, too.

Aye. I like Baka and he can be a useful lad to have around, but I would say that right now, the only time I'd suggest bringing on him rather than Bod is if we're slinging in a succession of dangerous low crosses and nobody's getting on the end of them. He seems to me to be the likeliest candidate to have that boring but important knack of being in the right place at the right time between the sticks.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I’m not defending him on substitutions per se, but I thought we did ok with them in the league two season - Miller time and all that.

From the 21st Nov game at Stevenage onwards, teams were allowed up to five substitutes. We played 34 games thereafter and made 112 subs out of a possible 170 - an average of 3.29 per game. He only used the full five on five occasions - when beating Southend 3-0, when being humiliated 6-3 at home by Vale, when drawing 1-1 at home to Morecambe (the Maddison red card game), the 2-0 cakewalk at Oldham and the 2-1 defeat at Grimsby. That suggests he only did it in extremis - either when we were sauntering or desperate. So perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised he only made four subs at Ipswich. Except that we're supposed to have a much deeper squad now.

Out of interest, I got an email today exploring the substitution levels among Premier managers, and it turns out his two big heroes* Klopp and Pep had very different attitudes last season. Pep made the fewest, averaging just over 2 per game, 70% of his available options. For comparison, among all managers who managed 38 PL games last season, on aggregate they used 95% of their available subs. Klopp used all three subs on 36 of 38 occasions, Tuchel 35, Arteta 34. Brentford's Thomas Frank did it every single time.

*sob Marcelo miss u so much i want 2 run 2 u

[The_Gun]

I’m not defending him on substitutions per se, but I thought we did ok with them in the league two season - Miller time and all that.

From the 21st Nov game at Stevenage onwards, teams were allowed up to five substitutes. We played 34 games thereafter and made 112 subs out of a possible 170 - an average of 3.29 per game. He only used the full five on five occasions - when beating Southend 3-0, when being humiliated 6-3 at home by Vale, when drawing 1-1 at home to Morecambe (the Maddison red card game), the 2-0 cakewalk at Oldham and the 2-1 defeat at Grimsby. That suggests he only did it in extremis - either when we were sauntering or desperate. So perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised he only made four subs at Ipswich. Except that we're supposed to have a much deeper squad now.

Out of interest, I got an email today exploring the substitution levels among Premier managers, and it turns out his two big heroes* Klopp and Pep had very different attitudes last season. Pep made the fewest, averaging just over 2 per game, 70% of his available options. For comparison, among all managers who managed 38 PL games last season, on aggregate they used 95% of their available subs. Klopp used all three subs on 36 of 38 occasions, Tuchel 35, Arteta 34. Brentford's Thomas Frank did it every single time.

*sob Marcelo miss u so much i want 2 run 2 u

Pep also rotates his starting lineup a lot, though.