Team for Exeter

I would be tempted to play Pollock, sure he's very young and inexperienced and never played a competitive game before but he looks a big physical lad just like his father was and that should aid him slightly in the physical battle against Stockley. Add to that he's a natural centre back.

I agree, great opportunity for him and what a message to send to the youth set up lads if he's given the nod

Quoted from Abdul19

Dave Moore alongside Whitmore, full backs stay the same. Less changes to the unit the better.

Legs have gone, I'm afraid.

(But don't tell him I said so   )

MJ's first instinct in his post match interview was to suggest playing Fox at centre back. That would mean Woolford at left back and Pringle in front of him. Having never seen Pollock play I wouldn't know if having a makeshift centre half and those two down our left would be more of a risk that throwing a big unit of a young lad in and keeping Fox at left back. My instinct (without any knowledge of the young lad's abilities other than he was on the bench yesterday and is well thought of) would be to give Pollock his chance.

So if Pollock gets selected and bearing in mind that we are playing against a decent team who are in good form away from home with another game against a tough side coming up, could we look at stiffening up the midfield and hand game time to one or two that need games? Thinking out of the box a little, maybe play Rose and Welsh as added protection in front of the centre halves with Embleton, Hessenthaler and Clifton ahead of them with licence to get forward at all opportunities behind Thomas? A 4-2-3-1 going forward reverting to a 4-5-1 when defending?

                               Mckeown
RHJ           Whitmore          Pollock            Fox
                    Rose                Welsh
   Clifton                 Embleton              Hess
                              Thomas

somehow looks a bit more solid than..

                              Mckeown
RHJ           Whitmore             Fox            Woolford
Cardwell     Clifton    Hess        Embleton          Pringle
                              Thomas

It's a difficult one for MJ, no doubt about that.

Other than the Davis injury, the biggest disappointment for me was to see Ahkeem pull up injured yesterday because he looked useful when he came on and really at home in a League Two game..

For a young lad, playing Pollock against Exeter will go 1 of 2 ways.

Draw 0-0, and his confidence will go through the roof

Lose 3-0, 4-0, and it will hit him hard

                           McKeown

Clifton     Whitmore    Fox    Hall-Johnson

      Hessenthaller    Rose.M     Pringle

                          Embleton

                Cardwell         Thomas

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

For a young lad, playing Pollock against Exeter will go 1 of 2 ways.

Draw 0-0, and his confidence will go through the roof

Lose 3-0, 4-0, and it will hit him hard

Really?
Not in my view. Footballers are brought up to play, to try to win but know sometimes it goes against you. It doesnt make you want to pack up whether you are 17 or 37. It makes you determind. One game doesnt make or break a player
Pollock listens to his old man. He will know the ins and outs

I for one would play him rather than having several players out of position

Same team as Saturday for me with Pollock coming in for Davis and either Mitch rose or Welsh coming in for Clifton/Hess to sit right in front of the back 4 to add protection, Welsh experience might be ideal to help Pollock.

I’m pretty sure Rose played as a wing back for Mansfield a fair bit too.  He was playing well before he got injured and Hess took his opportunity, so we may well see Rose slotted in there.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

For a young lad, playing Pollock against Exeter will go 1 of 2 ways.

Draw 0-0, and his confidence will go through the roof

Lose 3-0, 4-0, and it will hit him hard

You learn more about yourself from losing than you do winning.  If he crumbles after one set back, is he destined to be a footballer?