Walsall welcome Forest Green Rovers tonight in the final group game of the Papa Johns Trophy. With Walsall already through, it provides Taylor with a great opportunity to rotate.
Defence and Goalkeepers
This is where Walsall can only rotate a couple of players as Zak Mills is currently our injured. Ash Taylor and Tom Leak are be set to come in, although it is unsure whether Leak will feature in the middle or on the right. With Taylor’s playing time limited this season, he will be looking to make his mark in the match.
In goal, Jack Rose is likely to start to allow some rotation there. He has played well this season when featured, but has been kept out by the form of Carl Rushworth. These games are the chance to keep Rose in the forefront of the managements mind.
The big issue is the fitness in defence. Stephen Ward would ideally be rested, however with a lack of cover on the left with Mills injured, he will more than likely play, unless Matt Taylor decides to try a different system out.
Midfield and Attack
Sam Perry and Alfie Bates have really struggled to break in the side with Labadie, Kinsella and Jack Earing all performing ahead of them. Earing has been the breakthrough in central midfield with Kinsella out injured.
Like Taylor and Rose, Perry and Bates will be wanting to perform well to be put back in the forefront of the managements minds after being starved of minutes.
Bates especially has struggled, and if he does not feature tonight then it will be a big tell as to whether he could be departing this season.
Out wide is slightly different regarding rotation. With Khan, Phillips, Kiernan and Shade all fit, it allows strong coverage on the wings, as well as Khan in a No10 role.
Khan will be expected to start and it provides a platform for him to build up match fitness and stake a claim for first team football.
Phillips could start as a striker to give Miller a rest too. Fitness management is key, and with the amount of midweek matches increasing, this game is a chance to rest key players.
Second Round Guaranteed
With Walsall through to the Second Round, it allows Taylor to make these changes, or others that he feels are needed.
Despite his comments at the fans forum, Taylor has shown previously he will happily trick the media with player fitness news, so there may be a surprise addition on the bench, although this is highly unlikely to be the case for a match such as this.
This competition will always divide opinion, but it is being used well for Walsall and Taylor. So far, Walsall have earned a reported £35,000 prize money, with up to £10,000 up for grabs tonight with a win.
Each win in the competition from this stage onwards sees prize money double, meaning if Walsall reach the quarter-finals, they will have accumulated over £100,000 in prize money alone.
Taylor realises this, but has done it tactically, by playing those needing game time, either as they return from injury, or to allow those who have not featured heavily the opportunity to play.
Momentum is key. A highly rotated side that wins will also mean that those players will be feeling confident should they be brought to the side for future games.
The longer this set-up for the EFL Trophy continues, the more it is being used tactically by all clubs, and that is probably the best way to actually go about it.
