Team News

If as is being mentioned .. the players are not fully fit , then its no wonder we keep having players break down ,

If all players are fully match fit I would like to see Jolley play something like this on a regular basis to see if it could gel into a cohesive side. Subs or alternatives in brackets who fit into the system in that position..

3-5-2


GK
McKeown

CB
Davis
Whitmore
Famewo

(Hendrie)

RWB
Hendrie

(RHJ)

LWB
Pringle

(Fox)
(RHJ)

CM
Welsh
Rose
Hessenthaler

(Embleton)
(Clifton)

CF
Thomas
Vernam

(Cook)
(A Rose)

Something like this, uncomplicated and plays to our strengths when looking at the balance of the squad we've got. If any players in brackets interchange with the selected starting eleven, I don't think it would weaken us and maybe give us an extra dimension to our play, whether shutting up shop while leading or pushing for goals if we're behind or drawing. That's my take on what I've seen from every game this season, our strongest players in their rightful positions, and even though we've had the odd injury, MJ has put nothing like this side out yet..

The shape yesterday didn't help Thomas did o.k. at when given the ball but nobody gave him any options in terms of being able to lay it off, the one up front also meant that nobody advanced into channels, we where actually quite easy to play against. Maybe the one up front would have been better complimented by Clifton's energy in a more central position.

Quoted from Abdul19

Agreed. Thomas and Vernam up front, Embleton wide. Maybe have a shot or 2.

Shame we haven't got a decent left back but hey ho.

Can't see how embleton gets into our best 11

Quoted from toontown

Can't see how embleton gets into our best 11

So, if that's the case, why is he England U20s captain???

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

So, if that's the case, why is he England U20s captain???

Perhaps he isn't played out wide for them, it certainly didn't suit him against Oldham. Twice he had the ball near the edge of the pitch but proceeded to just run the ball off the pitch as he had no idea what to do under pressure. I recall Sam Kelly doing the exact same thing. It doesn't bode well for me. Maybe he needs time to adjust to league 2 but it was a worrying start as far as I'm concerned.

Quoted from toontown

Perhaps he isn't played out wide for them, it certainly didn't suit him against Oldham. Twice he had the ball near the edge of the pitch but proceeded to just run the ball off the pitch as he had no idea what to do under pressure. I recall Sam Kelly doing the exact same thing. It doesn't bode well for me. Maybe he needs time to adjust to league 2 but it was a worrying start as far as I'm concerned.

I don't think it's fair to judge Embleton on one game. It's fairer to judge others, such as Collins, who is becoming a liability, as opposed to Famewo who has done very little wrong.

Quoted from toontown

Perhaps he isn't played out wide for them, it certainly didn't suit him against Oldham. Twice he had the ball near the edge of the pitch but proceeded to just run the ball off the pitch as he had no idea what to do under pressure. I recall Sam Kelly doing the exact same thing. It doesn't bode well for me. Maybe he needs time to adjust to league 2 but it was a worrying start as far as I'm concerned.

You make a fair point, but he is one of our better squad players and when you're saying that it doesn't say much about the strength of our squad per se....I also am very, very concerned that MJ is starting to clutch at straws now, as soon as I saw that team announced my blood boiled...
I am no football manager and have zero football qualifications yet anyone with half a footballing brain would have the balls to have dropped Collins, Woolford and started with Famewo and Vernham respectively...
And that's my concern, he already has his favourites, he needs to grow a pair and tell those who are not performing to sit on the bench....

When I heard that Woolford offers athleticism in the middle of the park I spat my cup of coffee out in amazement at what I was hearing.