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Quoted from RichMariner

I must admit, when I saw it live I thought it was a straight red. And it probably should've been.

Having said that - and I get that it was an incredibly robust challenge - I'm not convinced he raised an arm or an elbow.

There was no attempt whatsoever to play the ball, and it was cynical, but am I the only one who thinks it was 'just' a very, very strong shoulder barge?

What I'm saying is, I can sort of see why the ref only gave him a yellow - although I accept about 90% of refs would've given him a straight red.

A very strong head on shoulder barge. He's tried to do him there.

Problems for the future that lad, much prefer either Boyce or Gowling in with Collins and Pearson, at fault for three goals in the last three matches, he does not float my boat even though he thinks he should be first name on the sheet

I'm not convinced by gunning at all early days I know but it only takes one to disrupt the group

Quoted from Garth

Problems for the future that lad, much prefer either Boyce or Gowling in with Collins and Pearson, at fault for three goals in the last three matches, he does not float my boat even though he thinks he should be first name on the sheet

Fully agreed. Seen nothing so far to suggest he's anything other than an arrogant hotheaded liability.

Seems dodgy to me aswell. He's not great 1v1 and looks overweight.

Why has Gunning gone from being a good footballer and a ball-playing centre half to a liability in 1 game? Collins has looked off form the last few games imo.

Quoted from Grantley

Why has Gunning gone from being a good footballer and a ball-playing centre half to a liability in 1 game? Collins has looked off form the last few games imo.

Agree

Collins has looked overall quite poor since we went to this 3-5-2 formation

Quoted from Grantley

Why has Gunning gone from being a good footballer and a ball-playing centre half to a liability in 1 game? Collins has looked off form the last few games imo.

Do me a favour watch the highlights again, concentrate on Gunning non tackle for the first goal, easily beaten in the air for the second and had a frustratingly poor game throughout to his own quoted level, IMO Collins has gone backward since Gunnings inclusion in the team, I want to be wrong and hope he does well but I smell a wrong un and would be happy with either Gowling or Boyce were to be back in the eleven tomorrow

Quoted from Garth

Do me a favour watch the highlights again, concentrate on Gunning non tackle for the first goal, easily beaten in the air for the second and had a frustratingly poor game throughout to his own quoted level, IMO Collins has gone backward since Gunnings inclusion in the team, I want to be wrong and hope he does well but I smell a wrong un and would be happy with either Gowling or Boyce were to be back in the eleven tomorrow

Gunning is a mile away from the fitness level required which has been evident when we face anyone with tempo. Danny Collins looked better in a 4 than a 3 IMHO.

I'm sorry, but it's a stretch to blame him for the first goal. I bet he was amazed how easily they had walked into that position. And if you watch, their player off the ball is intelligent and prevents gunning from being able to make the challenge.

Quoted from Garth

Do me a favour watch the highlights again, concentrate on Gunning non tackle for the first goal, easily beaten in the air for the second and had a frustratingly poor game throughout to his own quoted level, IMO Collins has gone backward since Gunnings inclusion in the team, I want to be wrong and hope he does well but I smell a wrong un and would be happy with either Gowling or Boyce were to be back in the eleven tomorrow

So he was beaten in the air for the second. It happens. Collins had severa chances afterwards to tackle the player. Collins has gone backwards before Gunning's inclusion in the team; Gunning has only played 3 full games!

This may annoy people but I just cannot see how Gowling is League 2 standard, he's at the bottom of the pecking order for me.

Quoted from Mariner93er

I'm sorry, but it's a stretch to blame him for the first goal. I bet he was amazed how easily they had walked into that position. And if you watch, their player off the ball is intelligent and prevents gunning from being able to make the challenge.

Blame the player for most of our problems who is supposed to be in front of our back 4 -the sopposedly holding midfielder. We would be far better with Gunning playing in front of the back 4 in this position. It would put more bite into the midfield and allow us to do more attacking with the new aquisitions ,, At present the holding midfielder does absolutely nothing to warrant his place in the team week after week. That's our weak link between defence and attack

Quoted from golfer

Blame the player for most of our problems who is supposed to be in front of our back 4 -the sopposedly holding midfielder. We would be far better with Gunning playing in front of the back 4 in this position. It would put more bite into the midfield and allow us to do more attacking with the new aquisitions ,, At present the holding midfielder does absolutely nothing to warrant his place in the team week after week. That's our weak link between defence and attack

Did I read somewhere that Luke Maxwell can play the holding role well, maybe what he was brought in for?

Quoted from golfer

Blame the player for most of our problems who is supposed to be in front of our back 4 -the sopposedly holding midfielder. We would be far better with Gunning playing in front of the back 4 in this position. It would put more bite into the midfield and allow us to do more attacking with the new aquisitions ,, At present the holding midfielder does absolutely nothing to warrant his place in the team week after week. That's our weak link between defence and attack

Who is this mystery man? Henry the mild mannered janitor? (doc)

As he appears to be a bit mental and we are poor at defending free kicks from outside of the box having Gnning sat in front of he back 4 feels like a risk but I get what you mean Golfer.

wow there really is some idiots on this board,attacking Gunning after Sat,is he your new scape goat now summerfield has gone ffs against Luton he was superb, now a liability!!!! and to say Boyce is better is crazy ,some serious heads need a serious wobbling

I worry that he could be a liability, a loose cannon
I hope I'm wrong

He is a loose cannon and not as steady as what we've had, plus he was just average against Luton, give your eyes a wobbly

loose cannon, maverick, trouble, bad apple.....sounds like a character description from a hollywood action cop movie.....

Sounds like a character assassination to me after only three games..

Only as good as your last game.

Quoted from Bigdog

Sounds like a character assassination to me after only three games..

1) Came on against Exeter - acted like a turnstile to let their player in to score their 3rd. Awful defending - 1m49s into this:

https://youtu.be/yiozXfshsMw?t=1m49s

2) Left out against Notts County - we win 2-0

3) Starts against Luton - gives away a penalty which almost cost us the match

4) Starts against Crewe - We concede 5, he makes a number of individual mistakes and then tops it off by cowardly assaulting an opposing player

Dribbling a bit and making funny faces in videos doesn't make up for all that, nor does it explain why he's only been here 5 minutes and is gobbing off to the press about expecting to waltz immediately into the starting line-up based on absolutely nothing. Call it a character assassination if you like, i'd prefer it thought of as a considered opinion. He needs to get his head down, stop acting like a prat and start playing to his potential.

Where has he said he expects he should waltz into the team automatically? Very rarely do I read the telegraph site so I may have missed it

Quoted from Davec

Where has he said he expects he should waltz into the team automatically? Very rarely do I read the telegraph site so I may have missed it

Interview with Mike White on Radio Humberside last week.

Average against Luton Garth ,were you at the game because he was in the mix for MOTM,ok he gave a peno away at the end but he was immense all game,youve obviously found your scapegoat for the season

Quoted from Tinymariner

Only as good as your last game.

We must have 11 pss poor players at the moment then :)

Quoted from Chrisblor

1) Came on against Exeter - acted like a turnstile to let their player in to score their 3rd. Awful defending - 1m49s into this:

https://youtu.be/yiozXfshsMw?t=1m49s

2) Left out against Notts County - we win 2-0

3) Starts against Luton - gives away a penalty which almost cost us the match

4) Starts against Crewe - We concede 5, he makes a number of individual mistakes and then tops it off by cowardly assaulting an opposing player

Dribbling a bit and making funny faces in videos doesn't make up for all that, nor does it explain why he's only been here 5 minutes and is gobbing off to the press about expecting to waltz immediately into the starting line-up based on absolutely nothing. Call it a character assassination if you like, i'd prefer it thought of as a considered opinion. He needs to get his head down, stop acting like a prat and start playing to his potential.

1 Gets done by a nice bit of skill by one of the best players in the league when fresh on as sub. Wasn't the only defender that got waltzed by in that game.

2 Didn't get left out as he had not started the previous game. Unused sub. And Notts County are not the same proposition as Exeter.

3 Penalty against Luton. He didn't hack anyone down. Everyone thought it was an unlucky handball. Was pushing for MOM by many fans.

4 Concede five against Crewe and is only as culpable as Collins and dare I say his name, Shaun Pearson.

So come off it, your opinion is hardly considered and more likely of one who is still hurting from the defeat on Saturday and is looking for individuals to blame or you just don't like a player of his perceived character. The guy has hardly played yet, maybe still getting fully match fit, new to the club and you're hammering only him when others in the team are as much to blame.

Players are getting singled out for criticism who have only been at the club five minutes. We should be giving them some loyalty and time before killing them.

Quoted from newarkmariner

Average against Luton Garth ,were you at the game because he was in the mix for MOTM,ok he gave a peno away at the end but he was immense all game,youve obviously found your scapegoat for the season

Agreed he should have been MOM --Lutons!

Quoted from Bigdog

1 Gets done by a nice bit of skill by one of the best players in the league when fresh on as sub. Wasn't the only defender that got waltzed by in that game.

2 Didn't get left out as he had not started the previous game. Unused sub. And Notts County are not the same proposition as Exeter.

3 Penalty against Luton. He didn't hack anyone down. Everyone thought it was an unlucky handball. Was pushing for MOM for many fans.

4 Concede five against Crewe and is only as culpable as Collins and dare I say his name Shaun Pearson.

So come off it, your opinion is hardly considered and more likely of one who is still hurting from the defeat on Saturday and is looking for individuals to blame or you just don't like a player of his perceived character. The guy has hardly played yet, maybe still getting fully match fit, new to the club and you're hammering only him when others in the team are as much to blame.

Players are getting singled out for criticism who have only been at the club five minutes. Give them some loyalty and time before killing them.

I think whichever way you look at his performances to date & based upon a bit of reputation my first impressions of Gunning is that he won't be too bothered what people think of him. Which does not mean he does not care but can just put a bad performance behind him...........hint......hint! ;)

I still class him as an average journey man player who for his past experiences has made too many mistakes in the bottom league, let's hope I'm wrong and he's MOM someday, I have to compare him with Collins who shows class and talks with his boots

[quote=6]I still class him as an average journey man player who for his past experiences has made too many mistakes in the bottom league, let's hope I'm wrong and he's MOM someday, I have to compare him with Collins who shows class and talks with his boots[/quote

Has he done your Mrs or something ?

Utm

For me, it looks as though Gunning could be a pretty good player at this level - but only if he gets properly fit. Not in great shape at the moment from what I've seen. If he was a yard quicker around the pitch, that would make a big difference.

I think you can see the quality he has. He's so assured on the ball, and like others have said, when a little bit fitter, he should be a top defender.

Quoted from Bigdog

Sounds like a character assassination to me after only three games..

This:- Not one player came out of Saturday's debacle with an ounce of credit. Gunning's bodycheck assault at the end counts against him but in that first thirty minutes he was no worse than any of the others-including Pearson

Quoted from Chrisblor

Interview with Mike White on Radio Humberside last week.

I don't recall him saying that he expects to walk into the team. He said he's told MB that he thinks he should be starting.....surely EVERY player should or does pretty much do/think the same, barring perhaps the youngsters.

Judge him for performances, fair enough, but not because he thinks he should be starting. What's the point in being here as a player if you don't think that?

Quoted from sam gy

I don't recall him saying that he expects to walk into the team. He said he's told MB that he thinks he should be starting.....surely EVERY player should or does pretty much do/think the same, barring perhaps the youngsters.

Judge him for performances, fair enough, but not because he thinks he should be starting. What's the point in being here as a player if you don't think that?

He talks the talk, but will he walk the walk, don`t know of anyone else who has told MB the same (Pearson Disley Boyce or Gowling) says a lot to me

I'm reserving judgement on Gunning as I've only seen him for a game and half.  I thought he looked ok against Luton but having been here for a month would have expected him to lose a little bit of the weight that might be acceptable in Scottish second tier but not here.

My biggest issue is that him coming into the team has pushed Boyce out who looked to be getting a fair bit of momentum behind him and rediscovering the form he displayed in his loan spell here.  Crucially this has also moved Pearson out from the centre of the back 3 to the right hand side.  Boyce, Pearson and Collins may not be our best 3 individual defenders (argument for another day) but it looks a far better unit than Pearson, Gunning and Collins.  It's about the balance and by bringing Gunning in at the expense of someone who is comfortable on the right hand side of a 3 has disrupted that.

As a side note I think Collins is well overdue a rest.  He came here without a pre-season and bar the first game against Crewe when he sat on the bench, I think he's played more or less every minute since.  He's looked leggy since the turn of the year.  As good as he is, he'll be better for a rest.

I think if you were to ask any of them whether they think they should be starting, they'd all say 'Yes'. And so they should!

I don't know if he walks the walk yet, he's played what 2/3 games? I'll reserve judgement.

IF he comes good, it might be nice to have a confident player that can perhaps be a bit of a illegitimate, if channeled correctly.

Feel like people are really gunning for this new recruit................Sorry ;)

Quoted from golfer

We must have 11 pss poor players at the moment then :)

No, 10 after Saturday, as I thought Osborne was the only player to come away with any credit.

I'm probably in the minority here but I'm not that bothered about this Gunning foul on Saturday and definitely don't think it's any more than a yellow card.

Is it that dangerous? Not for me. Just a cynical foul with a bit of force without what i'd class as excessive force.

I actually wish we'd commit a few more cynical fouls as we are far too "nice" as a team and have been for years. When a team are counter-attacking against us and it looks like we could be in serious trouble, someone should be committing a foul around the half way line before it gets to that stage. And manage the game to play out time when we're defending a slim lead (take our time, get the physio on, buy free kicks by inviting contact/fouls).

Quoted from Tommy

I'm probably in the minority here but I'm not that bothered about this Gunning foul on Saturday and definitely don't think it's any more than a yellow card.

Is it that dangerous? Not for me. Just a cynical foul with a bit of force without what i'd class as excessive force.

I actually wish we'd commit a few more cynical fouls as we are far too "nice" as a team and have been for years. When a team are counter-attacking against us and it looks like we could be in serious trouble, someone should be committing a foul around the half way line before it gets to that stage. And manage the game to play out time when we're defending a slim lead (take our time, get the physio on, buy free kicks by inviting contact/fouls).

and you coach kids?

Quoted from Cloudy

and you coach kids?

Kids football = development focus
Professional football = all about results.

Totally different environments. If you're implying I coach kids with that mindset then you're way off the mark.

Gunning looks like a liability to me. Get Boyce back in

I actually liked the tackle.

Quoted from Tommy

I'm probably in the minority here but I'm not that bothered about this Gunning foul on Saturday and definitely don't think it's any more than a yellow card.

Is it that dangerous? Not for me. Just a cynical foul with a bit of force without what i'd class as excessive force.

I actually wish we'd commit a few more cynical fouls as we are far too "nice" as a team and have been for years. When a team are counter-attacking against us and it looks like we could be in serious trouble, someone should be committing a foul around the half way line before it gets to that stage. And manage the game to play out time when we're defending a slim lead (take our time, get the physio on, buy free kicks by inviting contact/fouls).

Childish petulance, we were 5-0 down

Hope he scores a 20 yarder tonight and celebrates by barging a steward.

I always thought from his interviews he was quite a 'gunning linguist' ;)

Quoted from Grantley

Hope he scores a 20 yarder tonight and celebrates by barging a steward.

Or possible something like that player who scored for Coleville on Saturday and nicked a big gulp of a fans pint during the goal celebration..... :)

So from nowhere, the perceived wisdom is that Gunning is a liability after a couple of games? Christ, the overreaction on this site never ceases to amaze me. Since we got spanked on Saturday, i have seen just about every player on and off the pitch, plus the manager, vilified in one form or another. The system is wrong, the shape is wrong, the attitude is wrong, the manager has lost the dressing room etc etc. The answer to all this lies in any other formation and combination of players you could possibly imagine, even players that are not in the match day squad and some that are no longer even here. So..................

Macca in goal, we have no one else.

Mills right back because Davies is too old and "his legs have gone".

Pearson and Collins centre backs because as a three we are too slow and Gunning is a liability, or stick to a three and replace Gunning with Boyce, who is ace.

Andrew left back despite him having a poor first half and being substituted, yet no blame attached to him.

Midfield has to include Dizza because we can't possibly lose with him in the side.

Osborne a must because he hasn't upset anyone yet.

We need some width, so Tombola on the right who will run around a lot, very fast, but no end product. Or we could force Nuneaton to give us Chambers back because he can "do a job" there.

On the left we could play either of our injured lefties, Vose or Berrett. I'm sure each could play 45 mins with morphine shots before they go on.

Up front, doesn't matter as none of them look like scoring.

Subs- Any other players you think merit a game for no other reason than they have to be better than what we've tried so far.

Manager- Give Mickey Moore a go for a game and see what happens. If we win, he gets to keep the job and MB becomes assistant until he learns his lesson.

Sorted, 5-0 win to us. ;)

is it 3 games he has had now ? ......................Rob Jones looked like Bambi on ice for his entire first season.......

just saying ;)

Quoted from ginnywings

So from nowhere, the perceived wisdom is that Gunning is a liability after a couple of games? Christ, the overreaction on this site never ceases to amaze me. Since we got spanked on Saturday, i have seen just about every player on and off the pitch, plus the manager, vilified in one form or another. The system is wrong, the shape is wrong, the attitude is wrong, the manager has lost the dressing room etc etc. The answer to all this lies in any other formation and combination of players you could possibly imagine, even players that are not in the match day squad and some that are no longer even here. So..................

Macca in goal, we have no one else.

Mills right back because Davies is too old and "his legs have gone".

Pearson and Collins centre backs because as a three we are too slow and Gunning is a liability, or stick to a three and replace Gunning with Boyce, who is ace.

Andrew left back despite him having a poor first half and being substituted, yet no blame attached to him.

Midfield has to include Dizza because we can't possibly lose with him in the side.

Osborne a must because he hasn't upset anyone yet.

We need some width, so Tombola on the right who will run around a lot, very fast, but no end product. Or we could force Nuneaton to give us Chambers back because he can "do a job" there.

On the left we could play either of our injured lefties, Vose or Berrett. I'm sure each could play 45 mins with morphine shots before they go on.

Up front, doesn't matter as none of them look like scoring.

Subs- Any other players you think merit a game for no other reason than they have to be better than what we've tried so far.

Manager- Give Mickey Moore a go for a game and see what happens. If we win, he gets to keep the job and MB becomes assistant until he learns his lesson.

Sorted, 5-0 win to us. ;)

In which case Ginny, may I suggest you look on other sites. A fairly similar one to ours would be the Luton equivalent of the fishy (Luton Outlaws), but I'm sure pretty much any of the unofficial sites of the 90 odd league clubs would suffice. Depending on the size and support of the club, but in terms of variation of opinions it will be pretty much the same as this site. Some would quite happily hang their manager/players etc etc whilst others would quite happily let them sh@g their wife. I understand that sometimes it's hard to understand why someones opinion may differ so drastically to our own, but honestly, it's not a 'fishy' thing. It's not a 'Grimsby Town' exclusive. It's just a fact that football brings out emotions in us (in EVERY club) that in normal circumstances we would control better. It would be a pretty boring forum otherwise. As I am sure EVERYONE will agree ;)
UTM

Luton Outlaws is actually one of the worst forums in the country so you played yourself there! ;)

Quoted from ginnywings

So from nowhere, the perceived wisdom is that Gunning is a liability after a couple of games? Christ, the overreaction on this site never ceases to amaze me. Since we got spanked on Saturday, i have seen just about every player on and off the pitch, plus the manager, vilified in one form or another. The system is wrong, the shape is wrong, the attitude is wrong, the manager has lost the dressing room etc etc. The answer to all this lies in any other formation and combination of players you could possibly imagine, even players that are not in the match day squad and some that are no longer even here. So..................

Macca in goal, we have no one else.

Mills right back because Davies is too old and "his legs have gone".

Pearson and Collins centre backs because as a three we are too slow and Gunning is a liability, or stick to a three and replace Gunning with Boyce, who is ace.

Andrew left back despite him having a poor first half and being substituted, yet no blame attached to him.

Midfield has to include Dizza because we can't possibly lose with him in the side.

Osborne a must because he hasn't upset anyone yet.

We need some width, so Tombola on the right who will run around a lot, very fast, but no end product. Or we could force Nuneaton to give us Chambers back because he can "do a job" there.

On the left we could play either of our injured lefties, Vose or Berrett. I'm sure each could play 45 mins with morphine shots before they go on.

Up front, doesn't matter as none of them look like scoring.

Subs- Any other players you think merit a game for no other reason than they have to be better than what we've tried so far.

Manager- Give Mickey Moore a go for a game and see what happens. If we win, he gets to keep the job and MB becomes assistant until he learns his lesson.

Sorted, 5-0 win to us. ;)

Nearly... but Disley needs to be like Schrödinger's Midfielder, both there and not there at the same time, because dont forget whilst he cant be possibly out the team his legs have apparently also "gone"

Quoted from Grantley

Luton Outlaws is actually one of the worst forums in the country so you played yourself there! ;)

And you have just proved my point exactly. I think it's one of the better ones and you think it's cr@p. Neither of us is wrong because it's our own varying opinion. As I'm sure you would agree ;D

Quoted from moosey_club

is it 3 games he has had now ? ......................Rob Jones looked like Bambi on ice for his entire first season.......

just saying ;)

I must admit Moosey, I've thought that before, and he had more than a decent career both with us and afterwards too

Quoted from Garth

Childish petulance, we were 5-0 down

Yes, it may have been. But that's not exactly the point i'm making. I'm not saying I want people to start being aggressive when the game is dead. I'm saying we should show a bit more professionalism/gamesmanship in committing a foul that benefits the team every now and then. Just a shirt-pull on the half-way line to stop a counter attack, take a yellow for the team and break up the game. Things like that. We don't do it enough yet other teams do it to us and we moan about it after a 0-1 defeat like we've been cheated.

And before Cloudy jumps in, that is not what I encourage children to do at all. As said earlier, junior football and professional football are different worlds with different priorities.

Quoted from 935

Nearly... but Disley needs to be like Schrödinger's Midfielder, both there and not there at the same time, because dont forget whilst he cant be possibly out the team his legs have apparently also "gone"

Ah!
But where exactly on the pitch is the 'quantum superposition' that Disley will be playing in??

Disley the ginger tom cat.

I get your point Civvy, i should have said your average football fan. I know hysteria reigns with all fans at all levels.

Quoted from ginnywings

So from nowhere, the perceived wisdom is that Gunning is a liability after a couple of games? Christ, the overreaction on this site never ceases to amaze me. Since we got spanked on Saturday, i have seen just about every player on and off the pitch, plus the manager, vilified in one form or another. The system is wrong, the shape is wrong, the attitude is wrong, the manager has lost the dressing room etc etc. The answer to all this lies in any other formation and combination of players you could possibly imagine, even players that are not in the match day squad and some that are no longer even here. So..................

Macca in goal, we have no one else.

Mills right back because Davies is too old and "his legs have gone".

Pearson and Collins centre backs because as a three we are too slow and Gunning is a liability, or stick to a three and replace Gunning with Boyce, who is ace.

Andrew left back despite him having a poor first half and being substituted, yet no blame attached to him.

Midfield has to include Dizza because we can't possibly lose with him in the side.

Osborne a must because he hasn't upset anyone yet.

We need some width, so Tombola on the right who will run around a lot, very fast, but no end product. Or we could force Nuneaton to give us Chambers back because he can "do a job" there.

On the left we could play either of our injured lefties, Vose or Berrett. I'm sure each could play 45 mins with morphine shots before they go on.

Up front, doesn't matter as none of them look like scoring.

Subs- Any other players you think merit a game for no other reason than they have to be better than what we've tried so far.

Manager- Give Mickey Moore a go for a game and see what happens. If we win, he gets to keep the job and MB becomes assistant until he learns his lesson.

Sorted, 5-0 win to us. ;)

Genius..love it!!

For some reason, he reminds me of the Barry Conlon situation.. high on skill, low on attitude

Quoted from Cod Cheeks

For some reason, he reminds me of the Barry Conlon situation.. high on skill, low on attitude

"low on attitude"??
Please expand.

Quoted from TAGG

"low on attitude"??
Please expand.

Different to Wee Dave Boylen who was low on altitude ;)

Quoted from Garth

Different to Wee Dave Boylen who was low on altitude ;)

👍😂😂

Is morphine allowed? Maybe we could get a half out of Davey B?

Quoted from Rik e B

Is morphine allowed? Maybe we could get a half out of Davey B?

There's a good chance Maradona got away with it, along with the Cortisone and Cocaine.

Quoted from Rik e B

Is morphine allowed? Maybe we could get a half out of Davey B?

From recent personal experience I can assure you there's no morphine needed where Davey B is concerned, still got an excellent football brain and can still put a good tackle in, all be it at a slower pace. ;)

Today I was totally mystified as to the role Gunning was supposed to be playing .Was it as a centre half (old school) or a sweeper?As a CH he was never in position and as a sweeper virtually always out of position. He constantly collided with his own defence when going for headers and yet stood off the ball when he should have been giving the opposition a hard time.Because,up to our first goal, we were obviously playing in defensive mode with the midfielders sitting well down the field, I just could not see why Gunning was even there,which then begs the question as to why Bignot did not have more players up front instead.Was this down to how Bignot asked/told them to start or just plain confusion on how to execute these plans- because plainly it didn't work well at all and we may as well have been playing as a ten man squad.Judging by previous comments the guy can be a bit of a maverick but as it's the first time i've had chance to see him today I would say he certainly looks the classic centre half in build etc.but certainly did not shine as one.Was Bignot so desperate for a win that he chose this rather chancy option.I enjoyed the last two thirds of the game and over all we did deserve the win as Mansfield did not live up to their current table position.

Quoted from Stranger in the Park

Today I was totally mystified as to the role Gunning was supposed to be playing .Was it as a centre half (old school) or a sweeper?As a CH he was never in position and as a sweeper virtually always out of position. He constantly collided with his own defence when going for headers and yet stood off the ball when he should have been giving the opposition a hard time.Because,up to our first goal, we were obviously playing in defensive mode with the midfielders sitting well down the field, I just could not see why Gunning was even there,which then begs the question as to why Bignot did not have more players up front instead.Was this down to how Bignot asked/told them to start or just plain confusion on how to execute these plans- because plainly it didn't work well at all and we may as well have been playing as a ten man squad.Judging by previous comments the guy can be a bit of a maverick but as it's the first time i've had chance to see him today I would say he certainly looks the classic centre half in build etc.but certainly did not shine as one.Was Bignot so desperate for a win that he chose this rather chancy option.I enjoyed the last two thirds of the game and over all we did deserve the win as Mansfield did not live up to their current table position.

Must agree, really didnt see the point of having him there today, immobile, not very effective on the ball and quite frankly...... in the way of our play at times...Disley in there would be a great fit IMO.

Thought he played the defensive midfield role quite well tbh. Won pretty much all of the headers (I think two players going for the same ball was a tactic to pressure the Mansfield players), cleared any dangerous balls and used his physicality well. I'd be terrified of him if I was an attacker.

Thought it was quite clear from the off he was playing as a deep-sitting midfielder yesterday. In front of a back 4.

And he was positionally very good. Screened the back 4, dropped deep when the full backs went forward (allowing then to effectively play as wing-backs) and was there to stand right in front of the Mansfield striker they kept lumping the ball up to. With Gunning on his toes and Collins/Pearson goalside right behind him he had no chance of winning headers.

Looked like he got in the way of Pearson and Collins sometimes but his face when he goes in to win the ball is mental glad he is on our side lol.

Needs a more a attacking role.

Slightly off topic I know Gav Gunning is a big unit but how big is that Maxwell he looks an absolute beast.

It was a well thought out plan to play Gunning in front of the back four for this game . MB obviously had done his homework and knew Mansfield played a lot of long balls from the back. If Comley had played , who I rate the game would not have suited him. Gunning' s strength in the air and on the ball meant we nullified their threat.

For me, Gunning was a bit out of it during the early stages of the game but then got more involved as the first half went on and he did a decent job helping out the defence,especially in the air. I was a little disappointed by his distribution and the accuracy of his clearances when he did get the ball. Just aimlessly whacked away more often than not. If he continues to play that role, I hope we'll see improvement in this area in future games.

Quoted from Tommy

Thought it was quite clear from the off he was playing as a deep-sitting midfielder yesterday. In front of a back 4.

And he was positionally very good. Screened the back 4, dropped deep when the full backs went forward (allowing then to effectively play as wing-backs) and was there to stand right in front of the Mansfield striker they kept lumping the ball up to. With Gunning on his toes and Collins/Pearson goalside right behind him he had no chance of winning headers.

I don't see how anybody can disagree with this post. It was a very good piece of management to play him in front of the back4. When you play this system it stops the 2 centre backs being drawn forward out of position. I don't know if people noticed that it allowed the 2 full backs to attack with Gunning dropping back when one of the centre backs covered the full backs. He played a very intelligent role yesterday - their forwards were completely nullified and all the team fitted into this new formation perfectly. I can see good times ahead.

Only problem may be how quick the centre halves tot up bookings in upcoming games ?

As one who feels that Gunning should not be in the team in front of Gowling or Boyce, yesterdays performance definately confused Mansfield as it did our defence and the crowd, going to head the same ball as Pearson and Collins was school boy stuff and his distribution was poor.
What he has is physicality and thats it, to say that he had understanding with the rest of the defence is IMO naive.

If Marcus insists in playing him, lets hope he proves me wrong, I don`t like to be negative on such a great effort by the team and management but I can`t just except that he really knew what he was doing yesterday.

Credit to Marcus as I reckon he out thought Evans with Gunning's position yesterday. We actually have a few players at the club who could take that role if required as well. The man sitting gave us a better balance I think and seemed to fit well with the FBs and mid field

I thought Gunning got to grips with it in the end despite some passes that he over cooked. One thing I would say from where I was sat his talking seemed to make a difference and helped keep us shape better

Gunning is a funny lad he even wanted to take the penalty apparently 😀

There's only one naive-There's only one naive-there's only one naive' a lullaby to Garth :)

I think he did a good job in there. With our formation, mansfield were always going to get crossing opportunities, so his physicality helped. There were also a few times were his brute strength really showed, easily out muscling people while he was actually on the ball.

I think he did ok yesterday, would like to see Maxwell in that role, with him being a Birmingham prodigy he might have physicality and technical ability whereas Gunning just looks like a thug who will scare players, his communication was dreadful yesterday as was his distribution.

Quoted from Mariner_09

I think he did ok yesterday, would like to see Maxwell in that role, with him being a Birmingham prodigy he might have physicality and technical ability whereas Gunning just looks like a thug who will scare players, his communication was dreadful yesterday as was his distribution.

Good call that on Maxwell, funny about the communication thing though we sit in the Upper Smiths/Youngs/Findus I though the talking was much better overall yesterday and some of that came from him? People in the lower and Ponny would have a better perspective though TBH.

Quoted from Mariner_09

I think he did ok yesterday, would like to see Maxwell in that role, with him being a Birmingham prodigy he might have physicality and technical ability whereas Gunning just looks like a thug who will scare players, his communication was dreadful yesterday as was his distribution.

It's about time we had a 'thug' in the team..
Every team we have played for the last few years has had one and in consequence we have been bullied out of a lot of games because of it.

If we played 4-1-3-2 with gunning as the 1 then that gives us the option of playing this formation in defence and gunning dropping back to make it 3-5-2 while attacking. Is this all about MB wanting a fluid formation and players intelligent enough to carry out these plans. If that is the case then firstly it is ambitious at this level to try and create a squad that can do this, but secondly, if he can do this then it is exciting for the future and shows a very ambitious manager who wants to experiment and move this team forward.

Almost certainly it would also result in complete inconsistancy, at least in the short term, but it will be a roller coaster. It will also be reliant on the manager being supported by the board to get in the players he feels he needs to do this. It seems so far they have.

I feel that times could be very exciting moving forward. I for one and happy to hold on to the railings and see where this takes us.

UTFM

Quoted from TAGG

It's about time we had a 'thug' in the team..
Every team we have played for the last few years has had one and in consequence we have been bullied out of a lot of games because of it.

One thing yesterday demonstrated is that Gunning is not easily knocked off the ball and, whilst some of his passing was pretty woeful, this makes such a difference especially with Osbourne & Jones being equally difficult to "bully". There was clearly some issues with his positioning and two players attacking some headers but if this is a new position for him that is to be expected and will hopefully something that will improve the more games he plays.

That said what a size Maxwell is and if he can play it will certainly be interesting seeing him added to the mix. Given that MB has spoken a lot about getting players in early for next year I have pondered whether there is the possibility that Dyson and/or Maxwell may be released come the summer or if they are solely here to aid their professional development.

Quoted from Posh Harry

If we played 4-1-3-2 with gunning as the 1 then that gives us the option of playing this formation in defence and gunning dropping back to make it 3-5-2 while attacking. Is this all about MB wanting a fluid formation and players intelligent enough to carry out these plans. If that is the case then firstly it is ambitious at this level to try and create a squad that can do this, but secondly, if he can do this then it is exciting for the future and shows a very ambitious manager who wants to experiment and move this team forward.

Almost certainly it would also result in complete inconsistancy, at least in the short term, but it will be a roller coaster. It will also be reliant on the manager being supported by the board to get in the players he feels he needs to do this. It seems so far they have.

I feel that times could be very exciting moving forward. I for one and happy to hold on to the railings and see where this takes us.

UTFM

This!

Wow what a post and well said that man. My evening and optimism has gone up ten fold.

Thanks Posh Harry, I've just raised a glass 🍻👍

I don't know what all the fuss is about. So he's not Claude Makelele but this is league 2 and we beat a form team 3-0. He's played a handful of games for the club and again yesterday i heard someone say he was a liability. It's amazing how someone makes a comment like that and suddenly it becomes true in the minds of fans. Not all players need to be silky on the ball; teams need all sorts of players and as long as it works and the balance is right, it doesn't matter too much. You can't expect all players to hit the ground running; just look at Pearson, who has improved no end over the season and is rightly getting plaudits. We are far from the finished article.

Didnt think Gunning had a bad game yesterday,hes quickly becoming one of my favourites,and its about time we had someone who sticks it up em,ffs weve had our midfield bullied all season,it was so good watching us put the foot in,and not jumping out of tackles,so sorry Garth i know hes your new antichrist but i for one think hes exactly whats needed,then again i loved watching Bobby Cumming now that man could tackle,UTM

I don't think anyone's suggesting that they all need to be wonderfully technical footballers but midfields have to be able to play football, I wouldn't mind it if he just won it and gave it but he seems insistent on playing 40 yard passes which regularly are wildly misplaced!

I've got no time for Gunning, I long for the silky smooth skills of our midfield greats like Hudson,Niven and Micky Cummings ??)

Quoted from Mariner_09

I don't think anyone's suggesting that they all need to be wonderfully technical footballers but midfields have to be able to play football, I wouldn't mind it if he just won it and gave it but he seems insistent on playing 40 yard passes which regularly are wildly misplaced!

He's not really a midfielder though is he? I think there is more to come from him and he showed against Luton that he could carry the ball from the back well.

He seemed alright to me and perhaps people should give him a chance to get his foot in the door before screaming liability?

Quoted from newarkmariner

Didnt think Gunning had a bad game yesterday,hes quickly becoming one of my favourites,and its about time we had someone who sticks it up em,ffs weve had our midfield bullied all season,it was so good watching us put the foot in,and not jumping out of tackles,so sorry Garth i know hes your new antichrist but i for one think hes exactly whats needed,then again i loved watching Bobby Cumming now that man could tackle,UTM

Bit strong there ;D an antichrist is an evil or sinister individual, not so our Gunning, just a player IMO whose position in the team would be better occupied by A another (Disley, Boyce, Gowling or Comley)

Personally I prefer the Osborne/ Vose type of footballer to the so called hard men of the game, you win nowt with thugs.

Quoted from golfer

I don't see how anybody can disagree with this post. It was a very good piece of management to play him in front of the back4. When you play this system it stops the 2 centre backs being drawn forward out of position. I don't know if people noticed that it allowed the 2 full backs to attack with Gunning dropping back when one of the centre backs covered the full backs. He played a very intelligent role yesterday - their forwards were completely nullified and all the team fitted into this new formation perfectly. I can see good times ahead.

It was a good piece of management and tactically one that wold have wrong footed Fatty Evans. We have played three centre backs in a line recently and I would imagine Fatty Evans would have expected that when the team sheet was announced. IMO I think it is a good position for Gunning to play as he does look comfortable on the ball. This is obviously a new tactic that MB has introduced on the training pitch and it is inevitable that initially Gunning might get in the way of the two centre-backs behind him. Once they develop a better understanding then I'm sure he will have more confidence in both Pearson and Collins when it comes to dealing with the long balls and he is there to pick up the ones that drop a bit short. It's not a format that would work for every match but certainly against route one teams it could be very effective.

The yard dogging spoiler rarely wins the main plaudits from the stands remember.

Quoted from Garth

Bit strong there ;D an antichrist is an evil or sinister individual, not so our Gunning, just a player IMO whose position in the team would be better occupied by A another (Disley, Boyce, Gowling or Comley)

Personally I prefer the Osborne/ Vose type of footballer to the so called hard men of the game, you win nowt with thugs.

Every team needs a yard dog and Gunning shielding the two centre backs worked as Mansfield went more direct to Green as the match went on.

I think everyone likes to watch an 'Osborne/Vose' type of player as Leicester liked to watch Vardy and Mahrez but ask them if they'd like Kante back!