Would like to see Hinds & Cooper start. Pick a side on merit, not Warney's favorites that's one of the reasons Williams wouldn't stay. Mattock needs to be fit for Wimbledon. Side for today I'd go with Iverson: Ihiekwe Cooper Robertson Hinds: Wiles Lindsay Barlaser Vassell; Smith Ladapo. Picked Vassell on the left cause rest to pick from can only use their right foot. Hope Lindsay can take corners & free kicks. They were abysmal tues.
Going today see what team is put out hope to see Lindsey play give that trialist a run according to the Tizer Warney likes him. Didn't get much of run the other night he might be worth a punt.
Iverson outstanding today. Olesunde alot better. Only thing lacking was width. Wiles can play Right midfield. Hope we have signed Clarke to play Left midfield.
Also been today the full back had a decent game Clarke just waiting for it to be announced. Agree we could do with a bit of width. That young lad c/h is a big unit for his age Morris took his goal well good link up with Vassell.
Warney says waiting for International clearance: Clarke. All the paper work is done. Be an interesting team selection for Wimbledon with 6 midfield players & a bid gone in for a Centre back.
I really must stop going away on holiday. Went to Majorca and we sell Vaulks, go to Devon and we sell Ajayi. Two decent players who we will miss greatly.
I think its fair to say we will not meet opposition with the same quality Leicester showed today in Div 1. They moved it around quick and had a fair bit of class on the ball from the likes of Gray, Iheanacho, Mendy and Barnes. I thought they were easily the best team in the first half but we were just best in the second.
Iversen made some good stops and on this showing will be a good replacement for Rodak. I think our back four looks vulnerable. Olosunde is learning on the job and looked better going forward than defending. I felt he was at fault for the first goal. Robertson and Ihiekwe looked like they could be got at most of the game but they were up against some serious talent. It looked to me like Barlaser was playing just in front of the back four for long periods in the first half allowing MacDonald to get further up the pitch. Not sure this is the right set up and when MacDonald moved deeper in the second half he looked a lot more comfortable. Barlaser has talent and can pick a pass but he also sent out some bad passes. He has time on the ball and i would like to see him higher up the pitch.
We are now playing three up front with very little width. I am not sure this will ever suit Smith and it might be time to cash in on him after a very good season last year. I thought Morris showed up in flashes and Ladapo looked quick with a trick when he came on. He has to play next Saturday possibly with Vassell and Morris up top with him. Still not totally convinced with Vassell but i think he has to be given a chance down the middle more and certainly not out wide which is no good for him.
We are a work in progress and again Jones is out injured. I feel he has to play right back to tighten the back four up. With all these players leaving and a lot coming in it could take time to get up to speed. Just hope we can stay in and around the top eight because i think as the season progresses we will get better. Too early to judge but after an initial viewing of quite a few i am fairly optimistic of a decent season.
whiston01 if we get a Centre back what do you think about playing Ihiewke at Right back? though Olesunde improved today from tues. Don't think any of our midfield players stood out today. I don't like 3 up front. Wiles after tues would start on the Right side of midfield. Hope Clarke can slot straight in on the left. Smith would be better with some Width. One of the strikers will have to go only need 4. Who? not Smudger.
Gwru, whether you like it or not we look like we are playing 433. Clarke has been signed as a back up to Mattock, hopefully pushing Mattock for a place. We aren't going to play two wide midfielders. And ihiekwe wont start at right back at Wimbledon unless we've got no fit right back. No square pegs in round holes. Do you not think that if we were going to play 442 in our first league game we would have practiced it in our friendlies? Do you not think that if Ihiekwe was being considered to play out of position at right back he would have had a go there in a friendly? What don't you get? Listen to what the manager is saying and look at what he is doing. We are playing 433. We've played it in every game since and including Parkgate. We are going to be a bit vulnerable defensively. We are going to ask our full backs to bomb on and give us width. We are going to be a threat with three powerful interchanging forwards. We might not win every game but we will be too powerful for a number of league one sides. We are going to try and score more than the opposition. Get used to it and enjoy the ride.
smiler I don't like 3 up front. Clarke can play left midfield. So we are going have 3 midfield players not in the starting 11. Doesn't suit Mattock, he's been reckless in the tackle with only him on the left. Smith as well I don't want to see him on the wings. Warney thinks we can steamroller sides. Doesn't work out that way.
You might not like it gwru but all the evidence from several friendlies and everything the manager is saying is that 433 is the way we are going to play. So you speculating about a centre half playing out of position at right back, and about a central midfielder playing wide right, and about us only needing four strikers, and about a lad signed as a left back playing left midfield is fantasy. The starting point for all your speculation is that we are going to play a traditional 442 with a right footed right winger and a left footed left winger. But we aren't. Even though you want us to. That's my point. I don't know how to say it any more clearly.
smiler can you see Jones bombing down the right wing. You don't take league 1 for granted. Set up right. Know we haven't got out & out wingers but Wiles had no problem tues beating the full back on the right getting a good cross in. Like same on the left. Only playing 3 in midfield where's the cover for defence. 4-4-2 the way to go.
No i wouldn't play Ihiekwe at right back gwru. However, i take your point about Jones bombing down the right wing, that wouldn't be his strong point either. I think its fair to say Warne is going for a 4.3.3 formation to start off with. Now have we got the players to play that way is another matter.
In my opinion all the six strikers look more comfortable playing down the middle. To alleviate this it looks like they have license to roam and move around with Morris more comfortable coming in from the left and possibly Vassell the same whilst Smith and Proctor come in from the right. Ladapo should be the ace for me as he has pace, a trick and can score in this league. I will stick with what i said about cashing in with Smith, if we are not moving Kayode out on loan. After last seasons limited choice, at times only Smith fit (partly) and able to play the loan striker role it is refreshing to see a change. I really hope this set up works and we see some exciting football.
My worry is the back four and the loss of Ajayi and Vaulks in the midfield looks to me like we could be a bit light. This is a tough, uncompromising league and what it lacks in flair it will have it in graft and aggression. Can our midfield of MacDonald, Barlaser, Wiles, Crooks and Lindsay stand up to it? Time will tell. I have no doubt Barlaser will be able to pull the strings if he has the time, i am sure Wiles will develop as the season goes on, but will Warne start off with him? Crooks fades in and out of games for me but at times he looks good. Lindsay comes with a big reputation north of the border but again i think he will need time to adapt. Now on to my biggest worry, the back four. With no Ajayi and Vaulks in front of them i think they are going to come under the cosh, especially from the better sides. If we play Olosunde and Mattock as full backs they will be expected to go forward and the centre will be left with Ihiekwe and Robbo, with probably MacDonald in front of them. That lacks pace and a leader unless MacDonald can lead. We also have Olosunde who is learning the finer arts of positioning and reading a game. I would start with Jones at right back if fit. He will not go bombing on but his higher league experience should be invaluable. Gwru was correct when he talked of Mattock being reckless because of lack of cover in front. I will also add Robertson being reckless when he moved to left back. Robbo's problem is his lack of pace though whether he is left wide or left centre. Interesting times and to all you doubters about Warne. We will find out this season if he is good enough.
whiston01 got a feeling Macdonald will be another Potter. Won't play that many games. He doesn't look free to me when he moves. If Jones starts at Right back going to have someone in front of him getting forward. Olesunde improved that much from tues think he's booked his place for Wimbledon. My side for Wimbledon Iverson Olesunde Ihiewke Robertson Mattock Wiles Barlaser Crooks Clarke Ladapo Smith
You are playing 4.4.2 i take it with Wiles on the right and new lad Clarke on the left Gwru. No i think it will be 4.3.3 or a 4.1.2.3
After only seeing one game i am not sure what he will do. I will have a stab at it. I will leave Jones out as i believe he is not yet fit (again)
Iveresen
whiston01 we agree on the keeper & defence. I like to pick players on merit. Wiles tues gave our best midfield performance out of the two home friendly's. He'd start for me on the Right side of midfield in place of Macdonald. Smith in place of Morris. I'll give you Vassell, play him on the left at least he's not totally right sided.
-- Edited by gwru on Sunday 28th of July 2019 11:37:23 AM
