Changes for Saturday?

Nottingham, Ward and Lubala should be dropped. One or two others might soon be approaching the last chance saloon too. Unfortunately most of our players are league2 level, in fact that is level from which they were signed. Others were league1 reserves or out of contract. Can you make a silk purse out of a sows ear? Can Critchley hack it in senior football?
 
I think to get a sense of perspective

Don’t forget the wonderful first half against Liverpool

The dominant performances against Everton and Stoke

This team can do it . However we just lack a midfield general who can dictate the style of play and who can lead. I want to see someone who when we are losing can galvanise the team pull us up by the scruff of our necks and keep the players in their toes

Critch is trying to do it from the sidelines but we need someone to do it on the pitch perhaps with a bit of experience

Don’t lose faith with this team they are good players .

I do think we need someone who they can gather around and get some on pitch leadership and guidance from a true captain they respect and follow who knows what needs to be done when things aren’t going our way
 
Player wise, agree Notts has to go being replaced by either Husband or Thorniley. If Thorniley can’t break into the team now that really is curtains for him.

Lubala looks like he’s trying his nuts off but needs time, and to be introduced to a settled squad. I’d actually be tempted to put Ward up top and see how he does there. He is wasted on central mid.

All the above is obvious to everyone. the more intricate changes need to come in our structure. Virtue (if fit)and Robson need to sit deep in the midfield and Anderson needs to operate advanced and centrally between the half way line and the 18 yard box, he needs to get on the ball drive at their back line, picking a pass or a shooting opportunity.

I think he’s been told he has a free role and it isn’t playing to his strengths.
 
Interesting posts where the common denominator is the current CB pairing.
I’ll throw one into the pot. Pool were two up against Swindon but wasting possession until Madine came on. The ball suddenly “stuck”, and Pool finished strongly.
Yesterday, there was nothing up front whatsoever until Madine came on. He didn’t get the ball that often, but chances started to open up, and in stoppage time Pool might have scored twice. Why ? Because Madine attracted defenders, and what had been a lock-tight defence against our puny efforts had to suddenly man the barricades. That is twice that he been introduced and changed the dynamic.
His very presence opens up space for others where before there was none.
I doubt that NC had any notion of playing him, but he might now think that he has to.
Thoughts on this thinking the unthinkable ???
 
Middxile said:
Interesting posts where the common denominator is the current CB pairing.
I’ll throw one into the pot. Pool were two up against Swindon but wasting possession until Madine came on. The ball suddenly “stuck”, and Pool finished strongly.
Yesterday, there was nothing up front whatsoever until Madine came on. He didn’t get the ball that often, but chances started to open up, and in stoppage time Pool might have scored twice. Why ? Because Madine attracted defenders, and what had been a lock-tight defence against our puny efforts had to suddenly man the barricades. That is twice that he been introduced and changed the dynamic.
His very presence opens up space for others where before there was none.
I doubt that NC had any notion of playing him, but he might now think that he has to.
Thoughts on this thinking the unthinkable ???
Click to expand...
Agree. Good post.
 
Don’t forget Liverpool and Everton.....
Meaningless friendlies.....
How are we doing when it matters....
Not very good
 
Middxile said:
Interesting posts where the common denominator is the current CB pairing.
I’ll throw one into the pot. Pool were two up against Swindon but wasting possession until Madine came on. The ball suddenly “stuck”, and Pool finished strongly.
Yesterday, there was nothing up front whatsoever until Madine came on. He didn’t get the ball that often, but chances started to open up, and in stoppage time Pool might have scored twice. Why ? Because Madine attracted defenders, and what had been a lock-tight defence against our puny efforts had to suddenly man the barricades. That is twice that he been introduced and changed the dynamic.
His very presence opens up space for others where before there was none.
I doubt that NC had any notion of playing him, but he might now think that he has to.
Thoughts on this thinking the unthinkable ???
Click to expand...
Sounds like a fair comment on Madine's impact on the team. I'd also add that pairing Madine upfront with Jerry Yates might help to replicate JY's role last season when he partnered Eoin Doyle quite successfully. At the moment I'm wondering if the current system is actually suiting Yates at all
 
In the short term (next game), I'd have Husband on for Mitchell at left back. The added defensive strength and commanding personality is needed now after this last performance.
Kaikai should replace Lubala. He only had a cameo yesterday but he looked keen and ready to add a forward threat.
Virtue needs a run out and Anderson needs time to reflect on his role.
Kemp should start on the left of the front three, with Yates operating on the right and Madine in the centre.

Maxwell
Turton Ekpiteta Nottingham Husband
Virtue Robson Kaikai
Yates Madine Kemp

CJ, Mitchell, Anderson, Lubala, Shaw, Sarkic, Sims

A bit out of left field but if they're all in the squad then (fitness and injuries allowing), then they're all good enough to play.
 
Middxile said:
Interesting posts where the common denominator is the current CB pairing.
I’ll throw one into the pot. Pool were two up against Swindon but wasting possession until Madine came on. The ball suddenly “stuck”, and Pool finished strongly.
Yesterday, there was nothing up front whatsoever until Madine came on. He didn’t get the ball that often, but chances started to open up, and in stoppage time Pool might have scored twice. Why ? Because Madine attracted defenders, and what had been a lock-tight defence against our puny efforts had to suddenly man the barricades. That is twice that he been introduced and changed the dynamic.
His very presence opens up space for others where before there was none.
I doubt that NC had any notion of playing him, but he might now think that he has to.
Thoughts on this thinking the unthinkable ???
Click to expand...

I wrote more or less the same today in my blog. He's made an impact twice, not only in what he's done but what he's brought out of others.

He's too good to just ignore. I know he's played crap for us sometimes but his CV is way ahead of just about anyone else and you can see that if he gets confident and stays fit, he's going to be a force up front at this level.
 
Spider29 said:
As if he’s gonna drop CJ.....
Click to expand...

I don't really understand why they didn't give CJ a go through the middle, he was getting no joy against his full back, Yates is fine out wide so swap them for 10 minutes or so and get CJ running at a centre half instead.
 
Middxile said:
Interesting posts where the common denominator is the current CB pairing.
I’ll throw one into the pot. Pool were two up against Swindon but wasting possession until Madine came on. The ball suddenly “stuck”, and Pool finished strongly.
Yesterday, there was nothing up front whatsoever until Madine came on. He didn’t get the ball that often, but chances started to open up, and in stoppage time Pool might have scored twice. Why ? Because Madine attracted defenders, and what had been a lock-tight defence against our puny efforts had to suddenly man the barricades. That is twice that he been introduced and changed the dynamic.
His very presence opens up space for others where before there was none.
I doubt that NC had any notion of playing him, but he might now think that he has to.
Thoughts on this thinking the unthinkable ???
Click to expand...
Agree 100 per cent with this
 
1966_and_all_that said:
In the short term (next game), I'd have Husband on for Mitchell at left back. The added defensive strength and commanding personality is needed now after this last performance.
Kaikai should replace Lubala. He only had a cameo yesterday but he looked keen and ready to add a forward threat.
Virtue needs a run out and Anderson needs time to reflect on his role.
Kemp should start on the left of the front three, with Yates operating on the right and Madine in the centre.

Maxwell
Turton Ekpiteta Nottingham Husband
Virtue Robson Kaikai
Yates Madine Kemp

CJ, Mitchell, Anderson, Lubala, Shaw, Sarkic, Sims

A bit out of left field but if they're all in the squad then (fitness and injuries allowing), then they're all good enough to play.
Click to expand...
You’ve seriously got Virtue starting and Anderson on the bench?

Mitchell is a player and will improve for games.

I don’t know what to say about you’re suggestion that CJ should be on the bench. Only at Blackpool!

Yet you have Nottingham starting after his performance yesterday.

About time fans realise that NC has recruited some great potential, players who can play (unlike Virtue). Lads are stepping up a level on last season, CJ, Anderson, Yates, Robson....

Patience needed.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
You’ve seriously got Virtue starting and Anderson on the bench?

Mitchell is a player and will improve for games.

I don’t know what to say about you’re suggestion that CJ should be on the bench. Only at Blackpool!

Yet you have Nottingham starting after his performance yesterday.

About time fans realise that NC has recruited some great potential, players who can play (unlike Virtue). Lads are stepping up a level on last season, CJ, Anderson, Yates, Robson....

Patience needed.
Click to expand...
It just needs a bit of imagination and trust in players who have not yet featured.
 
No way should Nottingham start , yesterday proved that he is just a clumsy low league centre half, with very poor distribution.
 
Rektseasider said:
Player wise, agree Notts has to go being replaced by either Husband or Thorniley. If Thorniley can’t break into the team now that really is curtains for him.

Lubala looks like he’s trying his nuts off but needs time, and to be introduced to a settled squad. I’d actually be tempted to put Ward up top and see how he does there. He is wasted on central mid.

All the above is obvious to everyone. the more intricate changes need to come in our structure. Virtue (if fit)and Robson need to sit deep in the midfield and Anderson needs to operate advanced and centrally between the half way line and the 18 yard box, he needs to get on the ball drive at their back line, picking a pass or a shooting opportunity.

I think he’s been told he has a free role and it isn’t playing to his strengths.
Click to expand...
Husband made a difference just by being able to bring hte ball out of defence and he is a calming influence.
 
I'd possibly try starting madine, drop Lubala and put Yates on the left. Then why not try Sarkic in place of Anderson or Ward (Sarkic being on of the few players we've signed with league 1 experience). Then I'd have Husband in the centre, replacing Notts.
So a team of:

Maxwell
Mitchell
Husband
Ekpiteta
Turton
Robson
Ward
Sarkic
Hamilton
Madine
Yates
 
TangerineArmy said:
with so many replies on threads from spider has anyone ever liked one of his replies? I can't imagine anyone liking as just talks shite... but just curious
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Oh, bless, does Tangy want to be liked then. As for talking shite remind me who it was who bet on Bolton, Blackpool and Norwich to win their respective leagues

Not the first time you’ve targeted Spider. You a secret admirer or something
 
Recidivist3 said:
Oh, bless, does Tangy want to be liked then. As for talking shite remind me who it was who bet on Bolton, Blackpool and Norwich to win their respective leagues

Not the first time you’ve targeted Spider. You a secret admirer or something
Click to expand...
3 games in you fool... let's see end of season.. ultimately it's £1 bet... but how u can remember that then u have a great memory... and who have u gone for.. reading, Lincoln and cambridge?

As for targeting spider... when... but no doubt u will be able to quote with such a great memory?????
 
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£1 bet. I know, I was a bit harsh.

you just need to click on avatar and then messages to see someone’s posts

I did a treble on Citeh, Wolves and Bayern today to lose with collective ten goal deficit.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
You’ve seriously got Virtue starting and Anderson on the bench?

Mitchell is a player and will improve for games.

I don’t know what to say about you’re suggestion that CJ should be on the bench. Only at Blackpool!

Yet you have Nottingham starting after his performance yesterday.

About time fans realise that NC has recruited some great potential, players who can play (unlike Virtue). Lads are stepping up a level on last season, CJ, Anderson, Yates, Robson....

Patience needed.
Click to expand...
 
Was away at the weekend. A defeat doesn't half bring the knee jerk numpties out of the woodwork. Every friggin time. One bad performance determines everything they say, zero objectivity. Try to to think past the last 90 minutes, if you can. Goldfish analysis, you might call it.

I understand everything that Critchley has been trying to do. Our best players were loan players, he wasn't given much to work with, and there's a salary cap to deal with He has attempted to overhaul the entire squad in one window, and the window hasn't shut yet either. We are not the finished article. And we have played 3 league games with lots of good football, but we are not yet sorted at either end of the pitch. Critchley is new to this too. Allow him some time to adapt and to find some remaining key components. A couple if defenders in particular. If you are capable of it. So many football fans stamp their feet like two year olds.

It has made sense to convert Nottingham to centre back. I guess it's a bit if an experiment, maybe a salary cap induced experiment. But he's out of position on the left hand side, and surely Husband is better suited. Critchley only inherited one left centre back, Thorniley, who hasn't looked up to the task at all. Nottingham and Ekpiteta should be competing for the same slot.

Ward doesn't really look like a midfield player to me. But then neither does Oxlade-Chamberlain. It's a very positive move to play him there, but maybe not away to Gillingham. I could see him playing in the right of the front 3, with CJ on the left.

Anderson and Robson have been great in my opinion. One bad game doesn't nullify that. There was obviously a collective problem that affected individual performances. Midfield has done well so far anyway, it's tweaks up front and at the back that we need, allied with patience.

If we are going to get crosses in, we need a Mitchell type on the right in place of Turton. We are looking for one, I'm sure. But these types of full backs create vulnerability in defence, space behind, it's a difficult balance.

Up front we have a position to resolve on the left. Garbutt may well sort that out. My personal jury is still out as far as Yates is concerned. The step up to League One seems to have stymied him, but it's far too early to judge. He is providing work rate and isn't yet getting the service he needs, probably. He may be better on the left, where he did well for Swindon. Maybe Madine will claim the central role, maybe a new player will arrive.

Be patient. And allow Critchley some space to learn about the division. He's obviously a very intelligent and focused coach. He understands the game better than any of us, and has performed brilliantly since he arrived at the club. Let's not do the angry mob nonsense, it's so destructive.
 
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