Team for Gateshead

We lost against Aldershot playing a pressing attacking game and Hurst has been scarred by that. Personally I believe we'll beat Barnet, we defend well when McKeown, Magnay, Toto, Pearson and Aza all play. If we can nick a goal on the counter twice and keep them out for two games, we'll throw the promotion race wide open. 8 points behind them with 2 games in hand.

Quoted from Vance Warner

Don't underestimate the physical impact of playing away on a Wednesday night. For a start they won't get back home until early on Thursday morning. That gives Thursday off before back in again on Fri. They then have an early start on Sat. Professional athlete or not they need to catch up on their rest. Don't understand why the game is a Wednesday not a Tuesday, the extra days rest would make a big difference. By the way who's at the peak of their game!

What about the part-timers that do it, then turn up to work on a Thursday/Friday on building sites then train Friday night then play on a Saturday and still perform better than our lot?

Full-day off Thursday, half a day training on Friday. Can't be that early of a start on Saturday's as some of the squad are up well past midnight on FIFA!

Quoted from Jaws

If a professional athlete can't play twice a week at the peak of their game, considering they had a fortnight without a game at the beginning of December and ten days without one at the beginning of January, then don't play them for the Barnet game!

I agree. Strange isn't it. If you tell people they will be too tired to play well on Saturday if they play in midweek, how often they don't play well on the Saturday.

True enough about injuries and suspensions but football life is a risky business and and what this team needs more than anything is some team spirit boosted by a win. There is a chance of that at Gateshead even if it is a nothing match. For team morale it would be a big plus prior to Barnet.

The only plausible reason for not playing a strong side is if the manager is scared of losing to Gateshead Reserves and that would have the reverse effect on first team morale with everyone joining in yet more criticism. If he plays a weak side it means little or nothing is expected of them and any win or even losing on penalties would be a bonus.

Quoted from SamTheMariner

We lost against Aldershot playing a pressing attacking game and Hurst has been scarred by that. Personally I believe we'll beat Barnet, we defend well when McKeown, Magnay, Toto, Pearson and Aza all play. If we can nick a goal on the counter twice and keep them out for two games, we'll throw the promotion race wide open. 8 points behind them with 2 games in hand.

If we do that I will go so far to say that I would give you a great big...................................................................green tick.

Quoted from SamTheMariner

We lost against Aldershot playing a pressing attacking game and Hurst has been scarred by that. Personally I believe we'll beat Barnet, we defend well when McKeown, Magnay, Toto, Pearson and Aza all play. If we can nick a goal on the counter twice and keep them out for two games, we'll throw the promotion race wide open. 8 points behind them with 2 games in hand.

I suspect he was "scared" as well as scarred, Sam. It was not long after that when he started to play the holding midfielder and concentrated on nullifying the opposition. You could be right about the results though there will still be plenty of critics if they are achieved in crappy games with a defensive game plan.

McKeown

Thomas
Doig
Parslow
Bignot

Winfarrah
Mclaughlin
Venney
Neilson

Hamish
Hannah

Subs
(in the voice of Andy Tate, Man Utd Fan) Don't Care

Quoted from Vance Warner

Don't underestimate the physical impact of playing away on a Wednesday night. For a start they won't get back home until early on Thursday morning. That gives Thursday off before back in again on Fri. They then have an early start on Sat. Professional athlete or not they need to catch up on their rest. Don't understand why the game is a Wednesday not a Tuesday, the extra days rest would make a big difference. By the way who's at the peak of their game!

Because the Gateshead ground is in use for have an athletics meet  on Tue night  

Quoted from cleethorpes_mariner

Because the Gateshead ground is in use for have an athletics meet  on Tue night  

That would liven the game up a bit, if the players had to dodge the odd javelin/discus/middle distance runner.

Quoted from Abdul19

That would liven the game up a bit, if the players had to dodge the odd javelin/discus/middle distance runner.

For me, has to be (if all are fit):

                       Draper

Bignot      Parslow      Doig     Thomas

                 Clay    McLaughlin
                                            
Mackreth         Neilson         Pittman

                        Palmer

Subs: Walker, Disley, Arnold, Hannah, Watson

What it will probably be:

                    McKeown

Magnay     Nsiala     Pearson     Thomas

Mackreth     Clay     McLaughlin     Neilson

           John-Lewis     Pittman

Subs: Bignot, Disley, Brown, Arnold, Palmer