Time to Push On....

Now the transfer window has shut, I'm happy with the business Hurst has done in the end.

Don't get me wrong, I would of been delighted to take a punt on someone who's scored a few goals in the league below, ie Dallas, but sometimes that's not always possible due to various reasons.
However I am happy that Hurst has brought in a few younger players, with a decent youth pedigree, who may want to prove a point.

I would like to see Hurst be abit more positive, especially at home, by playing two up front.

Pepple in the last few appearances has shown some promise, especially in his movement and hold up play and if he works on that more, he could become a good asset to us.
Unfortunately for me that pushes Taylor down the pecking line. Taylor does well for his capabilities, but his energy and movement up top, for me has been one of our issues, especially when he plays.

I would expect/like to see a couple going out on loan, such as Khouri, Essel, Braithwaite etc and potentially even players like JMD, as I cannot see him getting much game time personally.

Newport will be a tough game and I appreciate we may play slightly defensive, however for our next home game against Crewe, I would like to see the below line up:

I cannot get to the Newport game on Saturday which I'm gutted about, but I will be at the next nine league games.
All we can do is get behind the team and hopefully we can push for a potential play off spot... Its certainly not out our reach!

UTM! .... ATAW!

Certainly lots off different options available now. Not sure he’ll go 442 though, think it’s more likely that he’ll go with a 4132 or 433

Not a prayer of 4-4-2. Just get overrun in the middle all the time.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Not a prayer of 4-4-2. Just get overrun in the middle all the time.

In the formation that I have shown, I cannot see us getting over run in midfield, although undoubtedly, the two wingers would have to be up and down throughout the game.

Quoted from Corkyefes

In the formation that I have shown, I cannot see us getting over run in midfield, although undoubtedly, the two wingers would have to be up and down throughout the game.

Newport play 3-5-2; I don’t think you could put a four up against that in midfield and expect brilliant results.

Quoted from Poojah

Newport play 3-5-2; I don’t think you could put a four up against that in midfield and expect brilliant results.

Agree, however that's why I mentioned we would need to be more defensive against Newport and my formation was for the Crewe home game.

   We definitely have the options to give any team in this league plenty to think about now. I'm cautiously very optimistic, especially when you consider the three players who are still not available and will all have big contributions to make as the season progresses. When you think about what Paul Hurst came into only 20 months ago, he has done an amazing job.

Quoted from Corkyefes

Agree, however that's why I mentioned we would need to be more defensive against Newport and my formation was for the Crewe home game.

That’s a fair riposte. I’m still not keen on a midfield four in this day and age as it makes us too rigid and predictable; something I felt was often a limitation of Hurst sides in his previous spell.

We seem to play with much greater fluidity these days, especially when McAtee is fit and playing his free role. I’d like to see that continue.

All about opinions of course.

Quoted from TonySmith

When you think about what Paul Hurst came into only 20 months ago, he has done an amazing job.

The squad he inherited:

Goalkeepers
Ollie Battersby
James McKeown
Sam Russell

Defenders
Luke Hendrie
Elliott Hewitt
Joey Hope
Duncan Idehen
Mattie Pollock
Danny Preston
Luke Waterfall

Midfielders
Harry Clifton
Jock Curran
Filipe Morais
Cameron Painter
Danny Rose
Luke Spokes
Joe Starbuck
Terry Taylor
James Tilley
George Williams
Max Wright

Forwards
Kyle Bennett
Montel Gibson
Virgil Gomis
Matt Green
James Hanson
Ira Jackson Jr
Sean Scannell
Alhagi Touray Sisay

Yep, I'd say he's done a remarkable job.

For more context, 29 players there. 19 of them are no longer playing at National League standard or above. And it’s less than two years ago.

That’s mental when you think about it.

I can go further. Of the 10 that are still are, Holloway only signed 2 of them - Terry Taylor and Sean Scannell. Worst Town manager of all time? Possibly. Worst of my lifetime? Definitely.