just back

Quoted from diehardmariner

It was definitely a back 3.  Cook and Gibson as wing-backs.  

Cook isn't a wide player, never mind a wing-back so he was dragged all over the shop.  Hence why Pollock was shifting across to cover.  

Is this really true? Someone said it was 4 4 2 in this or another thread? Did not see the game myself so no idea.

If it was 3 5 2 why not just stick anyone at WB Jolley. Its not like its probably the most important position in a 3 5 2 formation....

So basically after the unmitigated disaster that was Clifton at WB on the first game of last season he thought Cook of all people would be able to play there?

We have been conned...again.  

Put it this way, if it was 4-4-2....Pollock was far too inside to be playing right-back.  Also if Whitehouse and Cook were the wingers, I don't remember them once even getting near the touchline.  In fact I can't recall Whitehouse going out wide at all.

To my eyes it was 3-5-2 which eventually became 5-3-2 with a very deep midfield and Hanson dropping in to help out at the back.  Even if it was 4-4-2 you've got players out of position.

Right back/right wing-back is unfortunate.  It's probably the one position we're adequately stocked to cover (although not convinced either Hendrie or Hewitt are wing-backs) and it's rare to have both of those players unavailable at the same time.  But to put a 17-year-old on the right of a back three, covering a striker playing as wing-back is just daft.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Put it this way, if it was 4-4-2....Pollock was far too inside to be playing right-back.

Pretty sure Jolley told BBC interviewer that Pollock was at right back.

Hopefully McKeown and Hewitt back for next game, plus Wright maybe.

To me it just proves how out of favour Ring is, unless he's injured and I've missed it...

Quoted from Hagrid

Just been speaking to A fellow in the cricket club, Dave EvansX occasional referee assessor, was there yesterday watching the hame,  spoke to Mike Flynn afterwards, he said we were the worst team they’ve played this season

We were the worst team they’ve played and yet we were a goal up for much of the game and they only scored through a penalty 🤔

Quoted from Posh Harry

We were the worst team they’ve played and yet we were a goal up for much of the game and they only scored through a penalty 🤔

Well thats MJ'S team-talk sorted for the replay then!

Reading all these posts on the formation and the positions played against Newport it is pretty clear that not many of the 2000 strong crowd knew who was supposed to be playing where. It is evidently obvious that if Jolly has devised a plan they haven't practised it on the training ground. Is there a plan,does Jolly AND his staff understand it themselves,do they instil it into the players. Are the players playing to orders instead of using their own ability for what they were signed for. Are the players scared to use invention and flair in case they upset the boss. Don't the senior players who have more experience than Jolly discuss options with him and his staff or aren't they allowed to. Jolly-matches are won and lost on the training ground so get this sorted as a priority. You have a side kick who supposedly is there to assist but if neither of you have the ability to deviate from the mish-mash that has been created then I am sorry and hope that you both find alternative employment elsewhere.

Quoted from golfer

Reading all these posts on the formation and the positions played against Newport it is pretty clear that not many of the 2000 strong crowd knew who was supposed to be playing where. It is evidently obvious that if Jolly has devised a plan they haven't practised it on the training ground. Is there a plan,does Jolly AND his staff understand it themselves,do they instil it into the players. Are the players playing to orders instead of using their own ability for what they were signed for. Are the players scared to use invention and flair in case they upset the boss. Don't the senior players who have more experience than Jolly discuss options with him and his staff or aren't they allowed to. Jolly-matches are won and lost on the training ground so get this sorted as a priority. You have a side kick who supposedly is there to assist but if neither of you have the ability to deviate from the mish-mash that has been created then I am sorry and hope that you both find alternative employment elsewhere.

The problem is that as a manager it is very hard to backtrack and re-boot or whatever the current jargon is. Once the players have got lost in a maze of different formations and tactics from the boss it is almost impossible for that boss to clear their minds of crap and redeem the situation. We saw this identical issue with Bignott where he lost the plot but at least he was trying to win games, not trying to not lose them!

Ironically the only recent manager to do a successful about turn on tactics and selection was Slade Mk 1. When he come from Scarborough he made that first season’s side play 3-5-2 with a bit of success but then he changed it to 5-3-2 with Reddy up front the next year and we should have gone up.

*3-4-3/3-4-1-2/3-5-2 then 4-4-2

Jolleys Jumble  

Maybe this is the master plan. If we have no idea what formation we were playing how will the oppo be able top prepare to face us?