Left midfield for Saturday?

With Frankie Artus almost certainly ruled out of Saturday's game, and both KHM and Soares cup tied, the question arises of who to put in his place? As far as I can see there are 3 main options!

Option 1 - Straight swap with Makofo

Option 2 - Put Bradley Wood in at left back and push Townsend up (IMO he has the pace, skill and crossing ability to do a good job)

Option 3 - Put Coulson left midfield and Bradley Wood right midfield (I'm sure he's played in that role previously)

Now I'm not usually one for putting square pegs in round holes and I don't think a change of formation would be beneficial, so the sensible option would be option A. I do however doubt Mafofo's ability to track back and support Townsend, which he would definitely need to do against an in form Matty Blair! Would he also be match fit having not played in a couple if months? I suppose the same could be said for Wood though!

Still torn but I think I'm leaning toward option 3 with Coulson providing support for Townsend!

UTMM!

Serge is quickly becoming the forgotten man at BP.

I've never thought Serge was any good so I'd pick option B

Any sign of a Green return I wonder?

I'd go with Makofo but I'd be tempted to play him on the right and Coulson on the left to help out Townsend. The other options involve playing at least a couple of players out of position. Don't think it'd be fair on Wood after so long out to chuck him in at left back against an in-form Blair.

Another option would be to stick church in from the start, personally I would put brad in left mid he can do a job anywhere on the pitch. Only problem would be a lack of defensive cover on the bench.

Makofo definitely, if he's fit.

Though hardly brilliant, he's a hard-worker and has caused a number of problems for opposition teams this season with his pace and strength. In fact, I'd say that this season he has tracked back well when in the team. Looking at the stats, in the three games Makofo has started playing in front of Townsend, he has scored 4 goals!

The idea of moving a full-back out of position into midfield when you have a wide player available is a poor one. Our consistency in recent months has come from having specialist players in their preferred positions. This needs to continue.

wing backs  

                     McKeown
      I'Anson, Garner fit again, Pearson
Silk                                             Townsend
          Disley       Church    Thanoj
                  Elding      Hearn                  

Give Serge a go definately!

Quoted from Maringer

Makofo definitely, if he's fit.

Though hardly brilliant, he's a hard-worker and has caused a number of problems for opposition teams this season with his pace and strength. In fact, I'd say that this season he has tracked back well when in the team. Looking at the stats, in the three games Makofo has started playing in front of Townsend, he has scored 4 goals!

The idea of moving a full-back out of position into midfield when you have a wide player available is a poor one. Our consistency in recent months has come from having specialist players in their preferred positions. This needs to continue.

You do realise that wide left midfield is not frankies natural position. Plus makofo has not played a game for ages it would be suicide chucking him in to play ninety minutes.

Quoted from Southwark Mariner

wing backs  

                     McKeown
      I'Anson, Garner fit again, Pearson
Silk                                             Townsend
          Disley       Church    Thanoj
                  Elding      Hearn                  

On paper that looks fairly decent, but with the run of form were in at the minute, i wouldn't mess around with the formation. I can see Church coming in and hi or Thanoj dropping out wide. The problem with putting Serge in is he doesn't track back and York full backs like to push on and attack as they did at their place earlier in the season and ripped Ridley apart. Shame Louis Soares is cup tied, perfect replacement

Serge will come in I think./ Shouty will pin him up against the wall before the game and threaten to pull his spleen out if he doesn't track back,.....

Gotta think every man in the squad will want to play in the team at the moment... So I'd chuck serge in and give him his chance to hold a place, the squad knows that if they play well they will stay in the team (silk eg).

C'mon serge get them shiny boots on the ball and cause some yorkie misery!

Put Serge in. All they have to do is tell him explicitly how important it is that he tracks back.

where does soares come into this ?

He's cup-tied. As it Hughes-Maison I believe.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

He's cup-tied. As it Hughes-Maison I believe.

correct. ill shut up now

Soares is cup tied unfortunately

Start Serge there, everyone deserves a chance, although he hasn't set the world on fire this year still scored a few goals, pretty sure he will want a chance to establish a place in a winning 11..

Can Southwell play on the left?? I'd preferably not see Serge!!

serge, personally think he will do an excellant job as he has a point to prove.

Quoted from chiumento

Can Southwell play on the left?? I'd preferably not see Serge!!

I'd bring Dale on last 15-20 if Serge isn't all so effective

As I understand things, Artus has played on the left at times for all his clubs (though he sees himself as a central midfielder, perhaps in a Ciaran Toner stylee), so I certainly wouldn't say he's been playing out of position.

Anyway, I just don't understand where the whole "Serge doesn't track back" theory comes from? In the games I've seen him play this season, he certainly did his fair share of defensive work and often needed to be back using his pace to help out when Ridley was playing at left-back.

Don't forget the stats. In the three games Townsend and Makofo have started together on our left, Serge has scored 4 goals!

Not Serge!

Am I right in thinking his last game for us was against Luton? and since then we havn't lost a single game (except after extra time) that's good enough reason for him not to play imo

edit: just looked and he also started the Bath and Newport games which were bad draws, so I shall let him off slightly!!

Think his last game was Port Vale in the FA Cup, where he scored the winner ? That's when his injury occurred.

GIVE the lad a chance imho he as always given his all  him and young Townsend have had a good set of games together. UTMM

Serge without doubt. As the case when garner artus and silk got a chance they stood up and took it....this is the next one who has been waiting again for his oppurtunity can he grab it with both hands? play well perhaps score a goal we win...... your in son......simples!!!

Serge for me he deserves a chance, no playing around with a winning formation please if it aint broke dont fix it-----just a little Serge repair maybe

I am available height 5ft.3ins left sided player played nearly four hundred games for Town, the legs might be a little worn but the distribution of the ball will be sound I can assure you.

Yes seriously we need to have a genuine left sided player for these important games that are coming on our doorstep.
NEWFOOTBALLER

As Arthur, Soares, Hughs-Mason & Miller are cup tied, Elding suspended and Artus injured.

If we play:-
McKeown - Silk - Garner - Pearson - Townsend - Coulson - Disley - Thanoj - Makofo, Hearn & Duffy againat York.

That leaves...  Wood, Southwell, Church & I'Anson as four of the five subs. So who will be the fifth?

The only other player available that has been on the bench this season is Freeman, will it be him or someone else?

P.S.  Sorry Dave it won't be you!

Green?

Quoted from sutton mariner

Green?

Thought the left the club around the same time as Kempson, and told to go get fit. As we've not heard anything official about him since, I highly doubt he is even close to being fit.

Get Serge back in, seems the obvious choice to me and we can't go swapping our formation about now we're winning!

Thanoj to play left side with Church more central.

Quoted from BlackBoots

Thanoj to play left side with Church more central.

that seems to me the sensible option, with serge on the bench

Who's Green?
Forget about him, cant see him coming back.

I hope im wrong.

Its a difficult one, as I think Thanoj has being excellent recently, wouldn't want to unsettle the midfield that much.

Give Makofo a chance, he might be brilliant, everyone else whos coming in has given a good account of themselves.

What is sensible about playing a young central midfielder in an unfamiliar position on the wing whilst leaving a winger on the bench? Before his injury, Makofo was playing reasonably well and scoring goals. He's just got to start on Saturday.

after being told he could leave serge started this season on fire, hopefully being out of the side for a while will see a similar reaction from him.

would love to see dayle southwell get a good half hour at least.

get serge on the pitch in left midfield. he wont need to track back as much because townsend is quite fast and townsend and makofo can work together to combat their right back. i know people would rather not see makofo playing but hes got pace and hes surely a better option than a square peg in a round hole or a round peg in a square hole whichever one it is. come on serge makofo prove all of the doubters wrong

My team for sat:

Macca
Silk garner miller Townsend
Thanoj disley church coulson
Duffy Hearn

Quoted from jimgtfc

My team for sat:

Macca
Silk garner miller Townsend
Thanoj disley church coulson
Duffy Hearn

Swap Miller for Pearson or I'Anson as Miller is cup tied.

Playing two players out of position instead of just slotting Makofo in on the left? Madness.

I think Serge was a real credit to himself in pre-season with his work rate and the fact that he forced his way in to the manager's plans after being put on the transfer list. With this in mind I think he'll do well if he plays because he will be wanting to prove his worth after a lengthy absence and with competition from Artus, KHM and Soares.

i think S&H know what they are going to do, so lets just leave it to them.

Quoted from Maringer

What is sensible about playing a young central midfielder in an unfamiliar position on the wing whilst leaving a winger on the bench? Before his injury, Makofo was playing reasonably well and scoring goals. He's just got to start on Saturday.

Agreed.

Although Steve Croudson's left footed, how about playing him at left back with Townsend left wing?  

A new loan signing maybe..

Cracking analysis Mighty Mariner !  

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

Would he also be match fit having not played in a couple if months? I suppose the same could be said for Wood though!

Exactly !

As I said on the Elding thread, it takes a very brave man to change a winning side but this is the downside - players like Wood, I'Anson don't play and lack match practice.
Better now than when they're totally lacking match practice stepping off the bench in the playoff final ?

Two options - put off the issue (and hope eveyone stays available and we don't get beaten until EOS) or try to resolve it.
I might well have played Wood, Ianson anyway regardless of the forced changes.

Winning run is very important but fact is, it's not the same side anyway, so I'd be tempted with Church too. (but I wouldn't)

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

I do however doubt Mafofo's ability to track back and support Townsend, which he would definitely need to do against an in form Matty Blair!

Maybe so but not convinced - he's tracked back well enough before ?

Makofo's not eveyone's cup of tea but bottom line, if he doesn't play here when does he ?
If he's gonna rot on the sidelines for eternity we might as well pay off his contract now ?  

.........................McKeown
Wood.........Pearson.....I'Anson.......Townsend
Coulson.....Thanoj.......Disley..........Makofo
..................Hearn......Duffy

Having watched last nights game it was evident that both York full backs were uncomfortable against Gateshead's pacey wingers and were undone on a number of occasions, especially their right back! Now the one thing Makofo has in abundance is pace and I think with both him and Coulson running at them will scare the shite out of them!