John-Lewis

Love him or not, I personally think we will miss him today. We will miss his physical prescence and his link up play. Having said that I am sure PH will have worked on an alternative style of forward play and I hope it works. One thing is for sure the Welling defence will be pleased he is not playing.

I'd prefer strikers that know where the net is, I think a Hannah / Pittman is the best combination at the club so I hope they both do themselves justice today. It's true that Ross isn't the best at playing with his back to goal so don't pass it into his feet, instead get the ball wide or in front of Ross to run onto as given half a chance I have more confidence in his finishing than I ever will in LJL's. I'm not knocking Lennell, he grafts and gives his all - I can't ask any more than that.

From what I've seen of Pittman, he can hold the ball up when we choose to play it into feet so we still have that option. I just hope both do themselves justice as I don't think I'll ever be convinced by LJL's prowess in front of goal.

Interesting stats below (up to end of last season):

Lennell John Lewis:

Career apps: 217
Career goals: 27

0.124 goals per game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenell_John-Lewis

Ross Hannah:

Career apps: 220
Career goals: 134

0.609 goals per game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Hannah

But how many of Hannah's goals have come at a much lower standard? I'd wager most of them. If I was defending, I know which one I'd rather mark.

We'll certainly have to play in a different style without the physical presence of LJL up front. Need to get down the wings and move the ball quickly as well as making sure the passing and possession in midfield is better. We won't have the 'out ball' of the long punt so often (though Pittman isn't bad in the air from what I've seen). This is why I think we need to play two proper wingers if we're going to play 4-4-2 so one of the midfielders would need to be dropped. The alternative is 4-3-3 with, I'd imagine, Pittman, Neilson and Hannah playing up front. I'd like to see Arnold in the team at some point as well as his pace and aggressive running ought to cause problems.

Quoted from mariner91

But how many of Hannah's goals have come at a much lower standard? I'd wager most of them. If I was defending, I know which one I'd rather mark.

Still got to put the ball in the net, wherever you play...

I will certainly miss him today, for me the best combination ive seen up to now is Lenny and Pittman, Hannah has never really done it for me since he signed on a permanent deal and someone should sit him down and explain the offside rules to him. Whatever the outcome today, i honestly think that Lenny should be in for tuesdays game against Lincoln, we will need a battering ram there.

Despite my reservations about lenny, there is no doubt that he is a right handful and he single handedly destroyed Alfreton. Problems arise in tight games with few chances when he spoons that crucial opportunity. I'd rather see hannah 1 on 1 with that vital chance but a lot of times we don't get those chances without lenny there to soften up the defence. It's a dilemma and one I feel we need to get a balance on because we have alternated between toothless in some games and unstoppable in a couple of others. None of lennies goals this season have been match winners despite how well he has played on the whole. Williams showed last week the value of taking chances at crucial times in games.

I do think we will miss lenny today and think he should be a shoe in for Tuesday. He is a must away from home.

Quoted from 75

Interesting stats below (up to end of last season):

Lennell John Lewis:

Career apps: 217
Career goals: 27

0.124 goals per game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenell_John-Lewis

Not that it makes practically any difference, but Lennell John Lewis stats were messed up through some random people on wiki not  updating the table correctly, fixed it now updated from Feb 14 to Sept 14.

Career apps: 248
Career goals: 31

0.125 goals per game

EDIT:  Ahh just league goals, they hadn't screwed that up.

Career apps: 218
Career goals: 27

0.123 goals per game then including last game.

Well !  come 5pm we will know if we missed him or not.

To answer the question - yes. Ginnywings makes a good point though.