Sima - first 60 or last 30?

AriseSirWalter

AriseSirWalter

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If Sima only has an hour in the legs, do you start him and give him longer to impact the game or do you keep him for the last 30 mins when the game is more stretched, players are tired and potentially more space for him to run at their defense?
 
Can see both sides of the argument.

Putting him on for 60mins or so makes sense from the point of view that his pace can hurt them and his finishing on all evidence so far is clinical if he gets a chance.

On the other hand, the last 30, the game could be tight, heavy legs across the park and have him running at them.

Honestly don't know what I'd do if I was Phil but I'll trust whatever plan he has.
 
If those were the options, given everything I'd look to bring him off the bench. It's a good way to re-energise the crowd and the team.

I know it was a hypothetical, so this is largely an aside, but I suspect it'll be closer to the 70 minute mark we see him coming off the bench.
 
If he was capable of an hour I would play him for an hour but it seems more likely he has just 30 mins in him right now . He played 10 min last week remember and they will not risk any relapse .

Were he able to play an hour given it’s now five subs he could be subbed on after half an hour of course .
 
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JD1872 said:
It is probably a week too soon fro Sima to start, especially with Cantwell also trying to get match fitness.

Give him the last 30 and maybe he can start next midweek.
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We have to go with a midfield of Lundstram, Sterling, Diomande or if Sterling out wide Lawrence in there.
 
nelster said:
It is the key and deciding question.

I think from evidence of other old firm games chasing late doesnt end well.

Glad its not up to me.
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Exactly this. If we’re chasing a goal on Sunday late on people need to remember we’re also playing the officials who will do their best to chop off and deny everything.
 
I personally want the game buried in the first half.

Like a poster has already said, glad it’s not me making the decision. It’s a tough one but I trust Clement.
 
Silva has been doing well coming off the left I would start with him. Sima was anonymous the last time v then as well so I wouldn't start him just coming back from injury
 
Last 30 for me.

Whoever plays in wide left role has important role not only when we are in possession, but also out of possession.

We need to be way braver with our press against this mob and out wide player in that position need to be willing to step on to Carter Vickers so that the other diddy Scales gets ball more often.
 
I think we will go with Sterling and matondo as the wide players if Yillmaz is fit

We can then bring on silva roofe sima second half hopefully we are in front by this point and they are leaving gaps

It’s actually amazing the amount of different combinations we can field in the forward area now

Sima
Roofe
Matondo
Dessers
Wright
Sterling
McCausland

The more I think about it I think he might play sima through the middle as dessers replacement after an hour

His pace would cause them all sorts of problems
 
AriseSirWalter said:
If Sima only has an hour in the legs, do you start him and give him longer to impact the game or do you keep him for the last 30 mins when the game is more stretched, players are tired and potentially more space for him to run at their defense?
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Last 30 all day long for me.

He will be fresh, against a tiring defence and there's less chance of over exerting and aggravating the injury.

We need Sima fully fit for after the split.
 
If I wanted to be chasing a goal (and we really dont) I’d rather it was Roofe (late goal specialty) and Matondo (anything can happen first touch can go anywhere)

Sima is a bully. Soften them and hopefully get ahead of them as early as possible with him on the field.
 
Jorgthegreat said:
Silva has been doing well coming off the left I would start with him. Sima was anonymous the last time v then as well so I wouldn't start him just coming back from injury
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I wouldn’t go that far, he has had one really good game coming off the left, away in Benfica. The others pretty meh.

It didn’t work when he came on after about 30 mins and played there in the home defeat to Motherwell or home to Benfica.
 
AriseSirWalter said:
If Sima only has an hour in the legs, do you start him and give him longer to impact the game or do you keep him for the last 30 mins when the game is more stretched, players are tired and potentially more space for him to run at their defense?
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Whether he starts with Sima and brings on Matondo or vice versa we will push their full backs for the whole game. Fresh legs with real pace at 60 minutes. Can only hope it ends one way.
 
Guess it depends on who else is fit.

On the left, you'd really be starting Silva given how he's been doing recently.

It's great to have him as an option again.
 
I’d have him on for the last 30 minutes, don’t think he will be ready to play for much more than that at this point unfortunately.
 
two2tango said:
I think we will go with Sterling and matondo as the wide players if Yillmaz is fit

We can then bring on silva roofe sima second half hopefully we are in front by this point and they are leaving gaps

It’s actually amazing the amount of different combinations we can field in the forward area now

Sima
Roofe
Matondo
Dessers
Wright
Sterling
McCausland

The more I think about it I think he might play sima through the middle as dessers replacement after an hour

His pace would cause them all sorts of problems
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Don’t you think Rabbi’s most effective actions in a game are in attacking transition moments mate ? And maybe his worst is defensive transitions . I don’t think he will start on Sunday he would be an option if / when Celtic retreat deep too as he is nimble and skilled enough to work space and cross / shoot .

One obvious part in this game will be dead balls / corners and physicality is your premium on those moments . We have three tall forwards in Silva , Dessers , Sima . These guys would equally be valuable against defensive corner kicks .

Point being this will be in the reckoning in how we setup across the 90 plus minutes .
 
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Highway Star said:
Last 30 all day long for me.

He will be fresh, against a tiring defence and there's less chance of over exerting and aggravating the injury.

We need Sima fully fit for after the split.
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The obvious risk in aiming for the last 30 is of its catch up or a draw then they may well be deep lying which undoes some his potency .
 
marc_dgris said:
Much depends on the availability of Yilmaz. If Yilmaz plays then I'd play Sima for the latter part of the game. If we're starting with Borna, I'd play Sima from the start as he's probably better tracking back than Silva or Matondo.
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Good point it also depends on other team selections and as you mention if BB starts maybe Sima becomes more important because Silva wasn’t that great covering v Hibs and Matondo may be short on that too
 
Very context heavy answer and if we fail to win lt'll be damned if you, damned if you don't territory.

If we are a goal down after missing a barrowload of chances it'll be too late to bring him off the bench and if he's part of that last third malaise people will say he should never have started!

Persinally I'd start him.
We - and more importantly Celtic - know what will happen with Dessers, Sima through the middle will be an option they will be far less comfortable with.
 
The team is crying out for a fit and firing Sima.

Problem is he’s unlikely to be fit and firing for another few weeks. Otherwise he buries that chance at the death on Saturday.

Last 20 for me, if needed.
 
Mater said:
Can see both sides of the argument.

Putting him on for 60mins or so makes sense from the point of view that his pace can hurt them and his finishing on all evidence so far is clinical if he gets a chance.

On the other hand, the last 30, the game could be tight, heavy legs across the park and have him running at them.

Honestly don't know what I'd do if I was Phil but I'll trust whatever plan he has.
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Everything you say is true but, my question is more down to the best replacement.
Would you rather have Matondo starting or substitute?
He did well against Hibs but I’m not sure I’d trust him as a starter against them.
He could easily be as effective a sub as Sima.
I know Silva has played wide left but was ineffective against Hibs and again, it’s a trust issue.
Sunday is the most important game of the season for us so I’d be playing our best players first.
 
Last 30. Having barely played for months if you start him and he breaks down you're using a sub in the first half. A scenario we'd rather avoid I'm sure. Think back to the last game Roofe started. Against St Johnstone I think it was. 15 minutes in he tries a shot and that's him f*cked for months.
 
tazzabear said:
He doesn’t seem to but it’s a question I still have.
We wouldn’t have too much of a forum if all we did is what the manager does.
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If we are behind we of course would benefit from faster attackers coming on the pitch especially when they are usually vulnerable at full back. Matondo and Sima would give us they options.
We could be behind with Sima on the pitch the first 60, then what do we do?
 
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