Team for Exeter

Quoted from Mikey_345

See your point but it’s somewhat different to previous examples. Strikers and midfield is a lot different to playing CB in this league. Throwing a young lad in against Stockley and Exeter May not be the best way to introduce him.

Let’s be honest, this is at times a brutal league physically, just look at today’s game, and as far as I’m aware Pollock hasn’t played competitive men’s football yet.

Don’t get me wrong, I hope he and others come through.... it just for me wouldn’t be the right circumstances to throw him in. For him aswell as the club.

Agree with you here. By all means Pollock is seen as a great prospect but throwing him straight in against Jayden Stockley could destroy him. Then again, it could be the making of him.

If MJ feels he is ready, he has already shown he isn't afraid of playing the youngsters.

I would have taken 3 points from these 2 away games so whatever team plays at Exeter they are under no pressure for me and any more points for us are a bonus.

Quoted from promotion plaice

I would have taken 3 points from these 2 away games so whatever team plays at Exeter they are under no pressure for me and any more points for us are a bonus.

Tend to agree with you but another point, even if a boring 0-0, would do us nicely

I'm just not sure putting rose or woolford in defence is anymore preferable to playing a youth in his natural position.

I understand people's reservations about putting a young player in at centre back, but it's a great opportunity for Pollock if you ask me.

It's Exeter FFS, not Real Madrid. They're only 9 points ahead of us and we are actually THE form side in the division.

If we can't give a debut to a young lad who is very highly thought of, against a team 9 points above us when we're not under any pressure of a relegation fight, and have one fit centre back, I'll be a little disappointed. When would we be willing to debut a centre-back otherwise? When we're 4-0 against a team 2 league's below in a cup?

Ryan Bennett was given a chance at a similar age (I know he sometimes played at full back initially) and he was not only ready, but has gone into better things. Appreciate that not every debutant goes that way but we seem to be giving young players opportunities at the moment and this would be a great chance to really put these values into action.

What's the alternative, Woolford at left back? Mitch Rose at right back? No thanks to either for me, and that's without considering that we'd have Fox or RHJ at centre half (again, neither of those for me).

By the way, this centre back crises smacks of xmas 2005/6 to me.

Where's Glen Downey?

The only thing I wonder is why didn't Pollock come on for Harry Davis as a sub? There was a centre back there on the bench but he wasn't picked. That is what makes me feel like it's unlikely he will be picked to start.

Mitch Rose used to play at right back for Ilkeston so that's an option Jolley will maybe favour over Pollock. His brother is not a bad fullback either 😉

I’d keep changed to a minimum so either put Pollock in or one of the central midfielders as a centre back. Making two players play unfamiliar positions seems more problematic (shuffling one fullback into middle and putting a midfielder as full back).

Yeah a few people have asked me how I would approach this one if I was in MJ's shoes. For me, I'd be sticking Pollock in there, much rather have a natural CB playing. If he is not good enough to play then he should not be on the bench at all.