Reo Hatate

Depends on the player and how they look after themselves. Also...it's not pre-season. Hatate will have been looked after behind the scenes and will have been in some form of training during his recovery process.

 

If he's been training all week I'd feel pretty comfortable in him starting. But we all saw Mooy drop a 2/10 performance the last time we played them after he was out for a while. So there's a risk there too.

Massive having him back, regardless.

 

Reo is a naturally fit guy and also on the right side of 30, if he's anywhere above 80%> fit then I think we have to take a chance on him.

This is effectively our last big game for 4 months

 

I am in agreement. Hatate could have the game won for us by HT. Get him fucken started, no messing about.

 

We can bring him on when Huns tire out. At half time, even.

 

Depending on fitness I guess, but I think Ange will likely start him. He'll want a good, fluid start to the match and for us to be able to 'play our football' from the off, not 60 minutes in.

They'll press us and probably man-mark McGregor, so Hatate being mobile enough to drop deeper when required to help with our build-up, receive the ball in tight spots and run through the lines, etc. could be important.

 

Im leaning towards this now aswell, I said to my Dad earlier he'd be ideal coming off the bench about 60 minutes in but him starting could be the difference in us controlling the game from the get go.

 

We have Iwata and McGregor. Fresh Huns may try to go hard on Hatate, to force a sub from us and disrupt our plans.

 

Couldn’t agree more!

 

Would much rather start with a 75% fit Hatate than 100% fit O’Riley, tbh.

McGregor, Iwata and Hatate pls

 

He won't start though if he isn't like more than 85% fit though as @Seán Mac D said, it's not like it's a Kyogo situation last season that he's barely trained all week then is thrown in off the bench just to aggravate his injury again.

 

They know the heat is on and they'll be swarming the midfield just like they done last game. Had it been for better decision-making they should have taken advantage of Mooy's dallying on the ball & slack passes.

Hatate can take it under pressure, turn inside or out, break lines with a run or pass and peel wide into space. I think it's crucial we get him on the park from the off.

 

Jota is the only change I make from last week game and this game going to be a 100 miles a hour so really can't risk anyone not match fit from the start .
I'm happy to throw on hatate and abada for the last 30 mins of the match .

 

Get him in from the start. If he has a good 60minutes in him, that is where we can take the game away from they *. Massive having him back.

 

Hatate on 1 leg over Oriley after his performance last week

 

This for me..

If he's anyway near fit I'd start him. Get at these * early and 5hen if he's struggling we have plenty on the bench to come in.

 

Cannot make my mind up whether I want him to start or not. Choosing to just see what Ange goes with and have full faith he'll make the right call.

 

I'll be astounded if he doesn't start. He's arguably iur most important player in an attacking sense and Ange knows this. He plays pretty much every single game he's available. He's had a full week of training, passed fitness tests etc. He'll be ready to go.

 

Hope he's fit and sharp enough to start obviously, but even if he's only got 20-30 minutes off the bench that's still plenty of time for him to make an impact especially against players starting to tire.

 

If hatate starts and I'm sure he will. him and callum can run the show early don't let them into the game score an early goal then play our beautiful game and * hammer them