Management thoughts on Whitehill this evening

Posted on Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Mike says –

“Once the dust had settled after our King Cup game against Whitehill on Saturday it was obvious that the same two teams wouldn’t meet this evening. They will in name of course but both teams will have changes, some forced, some tactical and some because of availability. Whitehill have Scott Gormley back after suspension and we will be without Omar who is back down in London. I obviously don’t know about the fitness of the Whitehill boys but we have Alex King very doubtful and one or two others carrying knocks. We’ll do a head count at 6.15 and Sam and I have two or three teams and formations noted down.

Saturday’s game was close, very close and we expect this evening to play out on similar lines. Whitehill are a proud club and won’t want us winning the league on their watch. Rab Paget is slowly getting his message across and I’d expect the Rosewell club to finish the season on a high. For our part we know we can stay patient as we have seven chances to win the title but we’d all like to get it out the way as soon as possible so we can concentrate on the four cups we are still in. First things first tonight and Sam and I must get it over to the players that this is just another game of football. We have to go out and play our own passing game and try to take the game to the opposition.

With Omar unavailable and Alex almost certainly out Sam and I will have to make at least two changes from Saturday. Danny O’Donnell will come in allowing Ross Archibald to move forward on the right but after that we have choices in both formation and personnel. Donal Henretty, David Etale and Stewart Fowlie are all available for that other spot and we can always change things around and bring two or all three of them in. If as we think Alex doesn’t make it Chris Smith and Jordan Finnie will come back onto the bench but the youngsters will have to wait for more action as experience is the call this evening. You’ll have to come down to the Academy tonight to see what team selection Sam and I go with.

As I say in my programme notes tonight, forget the Champions League – this is real football.” 

Mike