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The games up to Christmas are as tough as you get. The key to survival will be the choice of players available, and it seems to me we badly need all the experience we have. This means limiting the unavoidable weaknesses in the goalkeepers and forwards. But we are fortunate in having 5 men vastly experienced in this league and above, who I would like as fixtures in the runup. They are all turned 30, and are playing for the latter part of their careers.
If EEL and Flint could manage to share the back line decision-making they would be formidable together. At 33 and 37 they will be thinking about where we are next season. Flint would also need to extend his contract beyond December. Might be a problem sharing. Midfield has to include Paterson if fully fit. His career has been exceptional with 470 appearances in Championship and League 1, and he will be thinking ahead at 34 and having not played this level before. Of those available I would prefer Gilmour and Francis alongside, and who would hopefully be inspired by the connection.
The wings are fine and I would play Hannant as backup to Brown. At 33 he will also be looking ahead. Preferably I would bring in Hendo immediately. He is obviously itching to play and would bring life, and goals, to the forward line.
This still leaves some issues, but I would not risk Beckwith or Pettit during the crisis, because they have never played at this level and it would be a brave man who expected them to instantly adapt.
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FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 20:19 - Nov 10 with 0 views
FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 11:26 - Nov 10 by samueloneils
The games up to Christmas are as tough as you get. The key to survival will be the choice of players available, and it seems to me we badly need all the experience we have. This means limiting the unavoidable weaknesses in the goalkeepers and forwards. But we are fortunate in having 5 men vastly experienced in this league and above, who I would like as fixtures in the runup. They are all turned 30, and are playing for the latter part of their careers.
If EEL and Flint could manage to share the back line decision-making they would be formidable together. At 33 and 37 they will be thinking about where we are next season. Flint would also need to extend his contract beyond December. Might be a problem sharing. Midfield has to include Paterson if fully fit. His career has been exceptional with 470 appearances in Championship and League 1, and he will be thinking ahead at 34 and having not played this level before. Of those available I would prefer Gilmour and Francis alongside, and who would hopefully be inspired by the connection.
The wings are fine and I would play Hannant as backup to Brown. At 33 he will also be looking ahead. Preferably I would bring in Hendo immediately. He is obviously itching to play and would bring life, and goals, to the forward line.
This still leaves some issues, but I would not risk Beckwith or Pettit during the crisis, because they have never played at this level and it would be a brave man who expected them to instantly adapt.
Playing EEL and Flint together in a back four would leave us exposed to pace. It could work in a three but even then it’s a question of whether either can play anywhere but centrally.
Paterson isn’t a midfielder. Could play as the 10 but has shown little to show he offers anything more than Henderson. Watson commented about the size of the squad, but signing Paterson when we have plenty of other options just muddies the water further. We have to get people out in January.
Hannant doesn’t play centre forward. Getting Dieseruvwe fit and seeing if he can prove doubters wrong before January is something we can hope for. For now, Henderson would be the alternative to Brown.
FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 20:19 - Nov 10 by 442Dale
Playing EEL and Flint together in a back four would leave us exposed to pace. It could work in a three but even then it’s a question of whether either can play anywhere but centrally.
Paterson isn’t a midfielder. Could play as the 10 but has shown little to show he offers anything more than Henderson. Watson commented about the size of the squad, but signing Paterson when we have plenty of other options just muddies the water further. We have to get people out in January.
Hannant doesn’t play centre forward. Getting Dieseruvwe fit and seeing if he can prove doubters wrong before January is something we can hope for. For now, Henderson would be the alternative to Brown.
Paterson has the experience to play as a 10. East could be another option there. With players coming back there will be a lot of options. The good thing is that we can manage the minutes of the midfielders and not expect then to have to play the full game.
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FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 10:56 - Nov 11 with 0 views
FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 20:19 - Nov 10 by 442Dale
Playing EEL and Flint together in a back four would leave us exposed to pace. It could work in a three but even then it’s a question of whether either can play anywhere but centrally.
Paterson isn’t a midfielder. Could play as the 10 but has shown little to show he offers anything more than Henderson. Watson commented about the size of the squad, but signing Paterson when we have plenty of other options just muddies the water further. We have to get people out in January.
Hannant doesn’t play centre forward. Getting Dieseruvwe fit and seeing if he can prove doubters wrong before January is something we can hope for. For now, Henderson would be the alternative to Brown.
You are quite wrong about Jamie Paterson. I saw him play many times for Bristol City . Very versatile but never an out and out striker. He was more of an attacking midfielder, very mobile and intelligent. He could certainly play a no. 10 role or as a link man out of defence, I would love to see he and Hendo together for a sustained spell. Both creative and lively.
I agree EEL and Flint lack pace but both work on anticipation rather than speed, which is an asset we dont possess except for wingplay. There is nobody coming back from injury who has pace as far as I can see, and last year Whatmuff playing so far upfield provided a sweeper role.
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FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 11:43 - Nov 11 with 0 views
FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 10:56 - Nov 11 by samueloneils
You are quite wrong about Jamie Paterson. I saw him play many times for Bristol City . Very versatile but never an out and out striker. He was more of an attacking midfielder, very mobile and intelligent. He could certainly play a no. 10 role or as a link man out of defence, I would love to see he and Hendo together for a sustained spell. Both creative and lively.
I agree EEL and Flint lack pace but both work on anticipation rather than speed, which is an asset we dont possess except for wingplay. There is nobody coming back from injury who has pace as far as I can see, and last year Whatmuff playing so far upfield provided a sweeper role.
If we played with three at the back, EEL and Flint could be supplemented by Wilson, who has pace (if not yet the experience to anticipate quite so well) or perhaps Bilongo
I too would like to see Paterson and Hendo spending time on the pitch together, although it's more likely they'd play in a similar role. Keeping the ball on the floor might even benefit Mani D on his return since it's his aerial prowess that's been lacking (except when directly in on goal)
It may still take a while, as players out injured return to fitness, to establish a settled team but the key has got to be quality and allowing those with the better skillsets to knit together
FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 10:56 - Nov 11 by samueloneils
You are quite wrong about Jamie Paterson. I saw him play many times for Bristol City . Very versatile but never an out and out striker. He was more of an attacking midfielder, very mobile and intelligent. He could certainly play a no. 10 role or as a link man out of defence, I would love to see he and Hendo together for a sustained spell. Both creative and lively.
I agree EEL and Flint lack pace but both work on anticipation rather than speed, which is an asset we dont possess except for wingplay. There is nobody coming back from injury who has pace as far as I can see, and last year Whatmuff playing so far upfield provided a sweeper role.
It was the point saying midfield has to include Paterson if he’s fit. He could only play as the 10 in the current formation, not as a traditional midfielder.
The problem around that is back to the issues about how open we are across the pitch, that 10 role has been one of the reasons. The distances are far too great. It would only work effectively, in my opinion, with a player such as East there - a proper midfielder who can drop into a three when we haven’t got the ball.
No doubting Paterson’s pedigree but when it comes to the issue Watson mentioned about having too big a squad. We need to offload people in January.
Forwards (inc. no.10s/wide players) Dieseruvwe (injured), Rodney (injured) Henderson, Hayes, Hannant, Silcott-Duberry, Smith (injured), Brown (on loan), Middleton, Paterson.
Current fit players: 2 keepers, 6 defenders, 5 midfielders, 7 forward players.
Again, a reasonable squad size.
Yet when (if) those not yet announced as out long term are back it will look like this: 3 keepers, 8 defenders, 5 midfielders, 10 forward players.
We can’t keep adding to that without movement out first.
Add in Taylor and we have even more central midfielders and wide players. The main issue is the composition of the squad. Who is the 10 in the 442? Unless Jenkins was going to play there we started the season with a hole. We have five wide players and others who can play there. We have a number of centre backs with only Wilson and Bilongo who is more of a full/wing back who have any pace. Outside of Dieseruvwe there is no real back up for Brown and he has struggled to make an impact.
The transfer window will be interesting and as you say some will need to leave before others come in.
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FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 10:56 - Nov 12 with 0 views
FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity on 10:56 - Nov 12 by samueloneils
My concern is the runup to Year-end. We need the best players available up till then.
York Northampton Barnet Cheltenham Newport in the Cup Exeter Bristol R Rotherham Salford
We desperately need 10 points minimum from the league games.
As it stands Taylor`s loan and Flint`s contract end in January.
You're absolutely right, this is going to be a very testing period
The cup win may have helped restore a bit of morale, but the fundamentals haven't really changed and even with players returning from lengthy injury layoffs, it'll take time to get them up to speed (they won't be at their best) and even then, we're some distance from what might be called a settled first XI, a team that's fully tuned up
It took JM three seasons to get there
With all the other issues IW has to contend with, keeping everyone reasonably happy is pretty major. Players who might be shipped out in January aren't going to be busting a gut (there will be a glut for other clubs to choose from, with the "shop window" being a bit of a false hope, and if they were performing well, why are we looking to ship them out, etc.). All this is something he's unlikely to have experience of; he's admitted the squad size doesn't help when most of them are fit to play
So... gaining points will be a struggle, but essential. Hang on to your seats, it's going to be a (continuing) bumpy ride, starting Saturday
Agree DA but I don't see why we cant get points against Northampton, Bristol, Rotherham and Exeter. Don't think we can get 10 but possibly two wins and two draws.
Regarding players we need to be more resilient and develop more of an attacking threat. Leaving Mani out of the matchday squad is probably counterproductive in this regard unless he is injured.
As has been mentioned I am hopeful that Paterson / East can perform in the No 10 role.
There has to be a clear out in January and a focus on more quality in 3-4 key positions.
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