Team for Port Vale

Quoted from Maringer

I can see the sense in giving JDS a run further up the field, but I do wonder who that would leave us playing on the right, assuming Luker isn't fit?Burns, I suppose, but he's not settled enough to show much as yet and lots of players aren't great playing on their weaker side.

I'd imagine the line-up will mostly be selected based on who is fit, as for most of the season. If Rose really did pick up an injury yesterday, Obikwu had better be back, even if he isn't able to last a full 90. More important to stay in the game during the first half than have somebody on the bench who can hopefully change it when you've fallen behind.

I think If we set up as we have done we'll get beaten convincingly. Which is why I picked a 4-1-4-1 formation. Our best chance of getting a result at PV is to keep it tight and try and nick a goal later in the game. A draw on Monday wouldn't be the end of the world given we play the worst team in L2 over the past 6 months next Saturday.

How are we actually playing at the moment?

We were dreadful at Crewe. We beat Morecambe convincingly but benefitted from a draw being no good for them and it played into our hands. We were quite poor at Harrogate, were fortunate to go in 2-0 up at HT and completely failed to manage the game in the 2nd half. And yesterday we were terrible.

A negative 4-1-4-1 and spoiling the game could be the way to go.

Obikwu, Luker, Davies, Barrington who all looked like ok loans but for different reasons all have failed in reality.

We definitely should have tried to offload Pyke & Wilson last summer.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Obikwu, Luker, Davies, Barrington who all looked like ok loans but for different reasons all have failed in reality.

We definitely should have tried to offload Pyke & Wilson last summer.

Pretty sure we would have if we has found someone stupid enough to pay them what we were giving them

I think it was a 'gamble' to have so few players with proper league experience. Probably a deliberate choice due to the way we're trying to develop players. I realise Obikwu and Luker aren't ever going to be ours and others will benefit from their development, but it's a long game and if higher division clubs see we're happy to play their youngsters, we're likely to continue to get promising prospects coming in on loan. I suspect that, without the injuries that have plagued us throughout the season, Barrington may well have played quite a bit less this year, but he has at least remained fit.

Largely by avoiding tackles and headers. He's a rank coward in the man's game. Even U21's would see him as a wimp. Could have made it 3-0 at Harrogate but neshed out.

Quoted from Croxton

Largely by avoiding tackles and headers. He's a rank coward in the man's game. Even U21's would see him as a wimp. Could have made it 3-0 at Harrogate but neshed out.

Some people need to remember Barrington is only a few months past his 20th birthday.

When Barrington made his first league start he was 9 days younger than Harry Clifton was when he made his first league start in a 1-0 home defeat to Exeter with Ollie Watkins scoring the winner. Nobody put a huge burden of expectation on Harry Clifton at that age or for a number of seasons after.

An example. Harry Clifton scored 4 league goals and provided 2 assists in 109 L2 appearances from his debut in 17/18 until our relegation at the end of 20/21. Luca Barrington has scored 4 league goals and provided 2 assists in 36 L2 appearances this season.

You can argue about where they have been deployed, but the reality is they are both attacking midfield players.

Some stats from this season to consider...

Barrington has 2 assists which put him fifth for Town players
Barrington has a xA (expected Assists) of 2.9- puts him second behind Hume on 9. When worked out per 90 mins he's third.
Barrington has an accurate long ball success rate of 57.4% which is top for Town players ahead of Luker (50%) and Rose (40%).
Barrington has a shot conversation rate of 12.5% which is better than Green (11.5%), JDS (10%), Luker (10%), McEachran (9.1%), Khouri (8.8%) & Vernam (8%)

My opinion... Barrington always looks scared to make a mistake. He goes for a safe pass too often when a more risky and potentially rewarding pass is available. But he's done well for us and he's contributed to our season. He's only going to get better and would be a good signing if Brighton don't renew his contract in the summer.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Some people need to remember Barrington is only a few months past his 20th birthday.

When Barrington made his first league start he was 9 days younger than Harry Clifton was when he made his first league start in a 1-0 home defeat to Exeter with Ollie Watkins scoring the winner. Nobody put a huge burden of expectation on Harry Clifton at that age or for a number of seasons after.

An example. Harry Clifton scored 4 league goals and provided 2 assists in 109 L2 appearances from his debut in 17/18 until our relegation at the end of 20/21. Luca Barrington has scored 4 league goals and provided 2 assists in 36 L2 appearances this season.

You can argue about where they have been deployed, but the reality is they are both attacking midfield players.

Some stats from this season to consider...

Barrington has 2 assists which put him fifth for Town players
Barrington has a xA (expected Assists) of 2.9- puts him second behind Hume on 9. When worked out per 90 mins he's third.
Barrington has an accurate long ball success rate of 57.4% which is top for Town players ahead of Luker (50%) and Rose (40%).
Barrington has a shot conversation rate of 12.5% which is better than Green (11.5%), JDS (10%), Luker (10%), McEachran (9.1%), Khouri (8.8%) & Vernam (8%)

My opinion... Barrington always looks scared to make a mistake. He goes for a safe pass too often when a more risky and potentially rewarding pass is available. But he's done well for us and he's contributed to our season. He's only going to get better and would be a good signing if Brighton don't renew his contract in the summer.

I’m sure it’s not only supporters of our club that slip into scapegoating when things don’t go our way, especially when it’s a young player. Good comparison re Clifton who couldn’t pass water in a Town shirt.

I love the way some posters have cognitive dissonance and try to reframe the reason for the Harrogate meltdown being Barrington trying to place a shot rather then blast it when in reality it was a bench of comeback players, our in ability to defend & a Rose own goal that cost us the win.

The assist at Colchester & goal versus Morecombe has been erased from history.

Maybe the question of when was the last time Rose scored from open play is one worth facing into, but then again that won’t suit the narrative & agenda.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Maybe the question of when was the last time Rose scored from open play is one worth facing into, but then again that won’t suit the narrative & agenda.

That's probably Barrington's fault for not creating a good opportunity for him.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

That's probably Barrington's fault for not creating a good opportunity for him.

Just seen my typo 🙈

The striker “Ross” clearly hasn’t scored for a while, he’s not the only one.

Feels like we need a few changes ahead of the Port Vale game. As we get closer to the end of the season results will obviously trump the underlying performance at this stage. Maybe a bit of a freshen up will give us a breath of fresh air.

Eastwood

Rodgers
Tharme
McJannet

JDS
Turi
McEachran
Hume

Green

Rose
Burns/Vernam

Whilst Turi and McEachran may not look the most physical, allowing them to be disciplined and sit would allow Hume and JDS to make more forward runs which would hopefully not only cause problems but open up space in the middle for Vernam/Burns and Green. Turi is also very good at breaking up play. Rose would benefit from more support around him and one of either Rodgers or McJannet would have licence to join in as well.

Vernam wouldn't last a whole game I fully appreciate that. Would include Obikwu if he is back (Artell can be crafty) and I don't see why he would be back from Coventry if he wasn't close to game time.

Either way, we go again. UTM.