This is it, the "NO Excuses" game, Nigel Adkins has already stated that apart from two players he has his full squad to pick from, its all down to that team selection and tactics.

A few months ago I always used to mention must win games, quite a few people seemed to take umbrage with me over this, they didnt seem to grasp my point that every next game is a must win game and that the plan should be to win the games needed to get promotion as quickly as possible, back in November we had a great opportunity, a run of games against lower table sides and with 29 games left to play, needing only to win about 14 of them to virtually guarantee promotion, here we sit 12 games later and we havent put too many points on the board, ideally we should be at least 24 points better off, but its only 13, so we have to look forward not back.

Luckily for us most of the other sides havent fared too much better, so we start in second place at the beginning of this weekend, what we have to do hasnt changed drastically in that we still need to be looking at that two point per game average that I harp on about so much, iof we do so then we will have 84 points, will that be enough to go up automatically, very possibly but I wouldnt put all my money on it.

What has changed drastically though is the top six, West Ham have overtaken us, are four points ahead now and will be looking to increase that gap by the end of our trip there on Tuesday night, but perhaps the bigger threat comes from Birmingham City, this was why I was forever saying that every game is a must win, they are now only two points behind us and coming up fast, their period of outstanding form is now, not like ourselves three months ago and six months ago and that is the main worry, their goal difference is identical and perhaps more worrying, they dony concede many goals, they are tight at the back and we arent, our last 10 games have produced 10 points, theirs 20, exactly that two points per game I am always talking about.

So for the visit of Burnley we have to put the past behind us and look forward, we have to win this game and then look to the next must win game , we just have to start winning games and putting winning runs together, we havent won two games in a row since we beat Brighton back in November that isnt good enough.

So the time for excuses to stop is now, the time for talking about people grabbing oars is over, I want our players to grab a through ball in the box and put it in the back of the net, I want fine actions not fine words.

Nigel Adkins has a tough task this weekend, being blunt he has a big squad, but in the main those that have come in and made it bigger since last summer are not any better than what we already have, none of them have really grabbed the supporters by the throat and put themselves forward as a player of the season candidate and its time a few of them did, Nigel's job now is to be brave and make the right decisions.

At the back he probably doesnt have much choice, one fit right back, two fit centre halves and a choice between Harding and Fox, which in fairness shouldnt be too difficult.

In midfield he really has to get the balance right and he has to be tough, Lallana is nailed on, but the other three positions could be taken up by anyone of a number of players, the big question is does he stick with Cork & Schneiderlin in the centre and then decide between Pucheon and Chaplow on the right, or does he go for what I believe might be the best way to set it out, personally I would start Puncheon on the right, I would play Chaplow in the centre, as what we dont have their in the other three is a player that can get himself into the box, then its anyones guess whether you put Cork or Schneiderlin with Chappers, that emphasises my point about how little quality our signings have added to the squad, some of them have been good like Cork, but not really that much better than what we have.

Up front it should be a complete no brainer, Lambert & Billy Sharp, if it isnt, you have to wonder whats going on at St Mary's.

omy line up would be

Davis

Richardson, Fonte, Martin, Fox

Puncheon, Cork, Chaplow, Lallana

Lambert, Sharp.

The subs bench is crucial, Burnley are a side that go for it on the road, they either win or lose, they have yet to draw, so we have to go for the jugular, so I would have

Bialkowski, Lee, Schneiderlin, Guly, Reeves

That has good attacking options along with players that can adapt, Guly can play up front or in midfield and Reeves can play midfield or full back, it has options.

If we do that then we have possibly just about our best starting line up (Hooiveld apart) and a strong attacking bench for a home game, the bench is crucial in that it offers options, both is we need to close out the game or go for it, its hard on the likes of De Ridder, Harding, Connolly, Holmes etc not even to get on it, but we have to be hard now, there is no place for sentiment.

As Mentioned Burnley are a good away side, they have won 8 on the road and lost 6 and havent drawn one yet, the 19 goals for and 18 against say one thing, this is a side prepared to go for it, so it should be just the type of side we like toplay down here, it also suggests a Jeckyl & Hyde team who you are never quite sure which one will turn out on any given day.

Enough for now, what we need to do is clear, we have to win, anything less and we will surely drop out of the automatic promotion spots and at this stage of the season that is not a good thing.

Photo: Action Images

Fordy added 10:57 - Feb 10 Chaplow looked off the pace on Tuesday so it would be a real surprise if he throws him into such a big game. It's becoming clear that NA sees Morgan and Cork as his main pairing in the centre, which is why he rested them on Tuesday. Apart from that he might throw Jos in if fit enough and he could well start with Guly ahead of Puncheon on the right.
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BlackRod added 11:19 - Feb 10 I pretty much agree with your team selection. Whether Chappers plays will depend on how NA judges his fitness during training. On paper this is a strong team. A lot of our success at the end of last season and the start of this was down to the partnership between Lambert and Connelly. If Sharpe ploughs his own furrow we may end up with the usual succession of near misses combined with the usual critical errors that lead to goals then the misery might well continue. But that's the worst case scenario. If we beat Burnley we could go on to do the same with West Ham. In any event Nigel has to get the engine going again, and quickly.

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SaintNick added 11:44 - Feb 10 Chaplow's fitness is of course an issue, but we have to do something different otherwise we will get the same results and that is a midfield that cant score
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st_bangkok added 11:57 - Feb 10 Where was Chaplow playing when he was playing well, centre mid or out wide?
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stmichael added 11:58 - Feb 10 Birmingham are not all that. They have been very average scraping 1 goal in their last 2 home games and will not manage 2 points a game or anywhere near it. If Guly starts ahead of Puncheon then it is a clear indication that Guly will start when fit whatever his form. I wonder why that is - contract clause or instructions from above !! Would probably play Chaplow and Schneiderlin because frankly I dont get Jack Cork. A midfielder has to make a contribution and he does not score , create , break up , get up and down , head or tackle . The only time he looks good is when we are in control of a game and 2 or 3 up.

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SaintNick added 12:02 - Feb 10 Chaplow played well out wide because he had to play there but he is essentially a central midfielder and would be better employed there unless we have a problem out wide, Puncheon for all his trouble should be tried there
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Olley added 12:07 - Feb 10 I feel this game for 90 min run is to early for Chappers, unless he has improved significantly from Tuesday, he will need time. Reeves should have a place on the bench & for sure Sharp should have his debut with Ricky. I believe Fox should return & there is noise that square head [Jos] will return but again based on the defensive partnership of Fonte & Martin, I am not sure that this is much of a gamble even with his lack of first team action. What is vital that all supporters just sing their hearts out all match regardless of how we start, we need to do our bit to provide the atmosphere / confidence to the team, they surely need it! COYRS!

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1teeminants added 12:21 - Feb 10 Agree with your team Nick more or less but i doubt Chappers will start prob schneiderlin. Echo reckons Hoovield could be back i would put him ahead of Martin. Burnley have a great away record won 5 of last 6 aways but if we can win this i feel sure we can go on another run and beat West Ham who are overrated IMO. THIS REALLY IS A MUST WIN GAME and i dont usually say that.

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nobby added 12:24 - Feb 10 I would always put Guly in and I think he is unfairly criticised at times. He has been, and still is, one of our best players. He is our 2nd highest goalscorer and statiscally our no.3 best player overall. A lot of the time he hasn't been played in his best position. No one complained when MLT never rolled his sleeves up but he was there when you needed him. Although obviously I wouldn't Guly in the same class, he does provide us with quality. It's a team effort and when they are all doing what they do best individually no one can complain. Davis, Richardson, Fox, Lallana, Guly, & Lambert should all be automatic selections, De Ridder has always proved useful when coming off the bench so I would have him waiting in the wings. Sharp should also start but the rest is up for debate. I have a feeling that on Saturday they will come out all guns blazing and so long as they don't f@nny around in the box and taking their chances then the 3 points will be secured by half-time!! COYR!!

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tiptop added 12:37 - Feb 10 That looks pretty close Nick. but... Im sure Hooiveld starts; meaning Martin could sit out completely. Central midfield: Corn making decision! Young Ben Reeves has to be close to starting...maybe even more so than Chaplow after tues. We need something extra..NOW. Reeves can spot a pass and hit the channels, is hungry, effective and match fit. Chaplow has to be involved somewhere(Its his home town club too). Still i think NA will go with: Schniedelin and cork. The bench: Bart, Reeves, Chaplow, Lee, Guly

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tiptop added 12:48 - Feb 10 I heard Cork is struggling with a hamstring . If hes out Reeves in and de Ridder on the bench
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Whatsforpud added 12:59 - Feb 10 Nick, the first part of your article talks about a possible 84 points required. This has been trimmed down from 90+ you were targeting some while ago, and it will be interesting to see what the optimum total will turn out to be. However, these numbers,trying to look at the whole picture in one go, especially in the earlier stages of the season, seem very daunting to me. I prefer to look at our position on a match-by-match basis, and be content to look at the table and as long as we are doing better than others around us, leave it at that. One game at a time, as they say. Anyone else think like me?

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tiptop added 13:04 - Feb 10 Everybody knows you need to keep winning and drawing at leaste to be in with a chance. Next game is all that matters..until the next game.
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nobby added 13:20 - Feb 10 Whatsforpud; agree to some extent, but you can't really keep your fingers crossed and hope the teams around us slip up. One game at a time but win it! Otherwise we'll be stumbling along till the end of the season.
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SaintNick added 13:23 - Feb 10 Whatsforpud I didnt talk about 84 as a target, I said thats where we would end up if we got two points per game average from now on and I suggested it might be enough given the current points totals in the division, however i did say I wasnt sure that it would be saying that as we are second in the table we are doing better than anyone else round us is short sighted and we will soon find ourselves dropping like a stone, yes a season is a long period, but if all your points are in the first half of it then not only is this season heading for meltdown but next year also, we have to look to our current form and that of our rivals

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bstokesaint added 17:54 - Feb 10 Davis Richardson. Fonte. Hooilveld. Fox Chaplow. Cork. Schneiderlin. Lallana Sharp. Lambert Subs: Bart, Guly, Lee, Puncheon, Harding That team should get 3 points against 99% in this division. Up to the fans to be patient and get behind the team from the start.
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nobby added 19:43 - Feb 10 good call bstokesaint. I would swap Guly & Cork around, and have Aaron Martin on the bench instead of Harding.
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