Team for Stevenage

Collin

Hayden
Branthwaite
Knight-Percival
Iredale

Sagaf
Jones
Charters

Thomas
Olomola
McKirdy

Subs: Gray, Hope, Mellish, Kerr, Bridge, Elliott, Loft.

Sorenson and Carroll I'd return to their parent clubs - our own young players cannot possibly be any poorer. If Webster can make a decent cup of tea I'd keep him with the squad, but otherwise he'd be on gardening leave for the week to ponder his future as a professional.

Heh heh hope they read this board

Collin

Branthwaite
Mellish
Hayden
Knight-Percival
Iredale

Sagaf
Jones

Thomas
Olomola
McKirdy

Are those suggested teams above based upon the knowledge that they are better than the team which we already have, or are they just wishful thinking?

Feels like a 'grass is greener' case, just because we haven't seen people play we don't know that they're any better.

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From what I've seen of Mellish, Hayden and Branthwaite they looked better than those that have been playing!

When did Hayden play

I noticed a lot of people on the radio saying about paying 4/4/2 , but if we're getting dominated in midfield with 3 players in their , I fear what would happen with only 2. I do think we can look dangerous when we go forward but the issue is we need the ball to go forward and we need to be winning it in the right areas.
Positives :
-Good goalkeeper
-Good wingers
-Potentially good attacking midfield
Negatives:
-Poor tactics
-Weak full backs
-Poor centre backs
-Weak center mid
-Lack of work ethic
-Lack of knowledge of the dark arts.
-No experience in the forward line

Hayden played during pre season. Made his debut as a centre forward.

Desperation me thinks.

seesaw50 wrote: When did Hayden play

He looked very competent against Tranmere I think it was.

Having said that he can't be impressing much in training when he can't even get on the bench.

nobbyblue wrote:

seesaw50 wrote: When did Hayden play

He looked very competent against Tranmere I think it was.

Having said that he can't be impressing much in training when he can't even get on the bench.

He must be clart if he cannot dislodge any of Pressley's current 'dependable' back four.

nobbyblue wrote: From what I've seen of Mellish, Hayden and Branthwaite they looked better than those that have been playing!

Apparently not from today's reserves result at Hartlepool

Depends where their heads are at on Saturday, a battling performance like against Salford and we could grab something out of the game.

We could even fluke a win if Stevenage are as bad as Scunthorpe were.

An early goal for them though and I can see us getting tanked.

Small tight pitch though so we will see.

The most positive I can be I am afraid but in reality it looks bleak.

crunchblue wrote:

Collin
Elliott Webster Knight-Percival Iredale
Jones Sagaf
Thomas McKirdy Hope
Olomola

That looks like the best team we could possibly field to me too

Markovitch wrote: Hayden played during pre season. Made his debut as a centre forward.

So he did, seems eons ago, was at that game when he came first at centre forward...did ok as I remember in both positions

Needs to run with this team (barring injuries) for a few games...

I wonder if 4312 with McKirdy as a 10 could work, so we get to play loft and olaf, and leave out Thomas. I mean, it doesn't fix the fundamental issues of how we play but it at least gets our best players on the pitch and keeps the midfield stable.

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Like the sound of that idea Kicker. Personally it wouldn't bother me in the slightest of Thomas was left out, couldn't understand why people were creaming themselves over him coming back. I said last season he was a 45 minute man, may as well not exist in the second half of games, and has also been proved this season to be a one trick pony. That trick worked on the first home game but hasn't done since.

Talisman wrote: Like the sound of that idea Kicker. Personally it wouldn't bother me in the slightest of Thomas was left out, couldn't understand why people were creaming themselves over him coming back. I said last season he was a 45 minute man, may as well not exist in the second half of games, and has also been proved this season to be a one trick pony. That trick worked on the first home game but hasn't done since.

Don't get me wrong Thomas is a decent player but it was like the second coming when we re-signed him. He had a lot of very average games last season but people forgot.

Every single player in this league has a lot of average games. That’s why they are playing in this league.

If we had more players having average games at least we would be mid-table

Talisman wrote: Like the sound of that idea Kicker. Personally it wouldn't bother me in the slightest of Thomas was left out, couldn't understand why people were creaming themselves over him coming back. I said last season he was a 45 minute man, may as well not exist in the second half of games, and has also been proved this season to be a one trick pony. That trick worked on the first home game but hasn't done since.

Totally agree he doesnt do it fo me either!

Talking about McKirdy playing the number 10, apparently Bridge sees himself as a 10, not playing as such.

Pressley said Bridge sees himself as a number 8 and doesn’t like playing as a 10.

nobbyblue wrote:

Talisman wrote: Like the sound of that idea Kicker. Personally it wouldn't bother me in the slightest of Thomas was left out, couldn't understand why people were creaming themselves over him coming back. I said last season he was a 45 minute man, may as well not exist in the second half of games, and has also been proved this season to be a one trick pony. That trick worked on the first home game but hasn't done since.

Don't get me wrong Thomas is a decent player but it was like the second coming when we re-signed him. He had a lot of very average games last season but people forgot.

Both Cheltenham and Scunthorpe switched their right backs to left back to mark him. They just push him into the corner so he can't cross

It's an interesting one with Thomas. After 4 games, I think most were describing him as one of our best assets. He was excellent against Crawley and Barnsley, and also arguably the best of a bad bunch at Swindon. However, fast forward 5 games and he's coming in for a bit of a pasting.

Unfortunately this is the reason he's at this level. Currently, players like him and McKirdy are utterly inconsistent. He certainly isn't lacking fitness now, but if his opposition number works him out early, he can become anonymous very quickly. From afar, I'd suggest his attitude could be a slight issue. I saw a couple of games last season where, in my opinion, he downed tools within 20 minutes of things not going his way. Without knowing the lad personally, his unceremonious exit at Notts County and prompt u-turn at Gillingham would both pose slight causes for concern.

That said, I expect Thomas to be back firing soon enough. And then back off the boil again. And then back firing. The nature of a lower league winger.

If we had more genuine competition for his position, that would be positive for him and the wider squad IMO. No such luck...

Ross,Gorman,Hempstead,Ternent,Whinstanley,Barton,Owen,Martin, Balderstone,Hatton, Supermac!

KentBlue wrote: It's an interesting one with Thomas. After 4 games, I think most were describing him as one of our best assets. He was excellent against Crawley and Barnsley, and also arguably the best of a bad bunch at Swindon. However, fast forward 5 games and he's coming in for a bit of a pasting.

Unfortunately this is the reason he's at this level. Currently, players like him and McKirdy are utterly inconsistent. He certainly isn't lacking fitness now, but if his opposition number works him out early, he can become anonymous very quickly. From afar, I'd suggest his attitude could be a slight issue. I saw a couple of games last season where, in my opinion, he downed tools within 20 minutes of things not going his way. Without knowing the lad personally, his unceremonious exit at Notts County and prompt u-turn at Gillingham would both pose slight causes for concern.

That said, I expect Thomas to be back firing soon enough. And then back off the boil again. And then back firing. The nature of a lower league winger.

If we had more genuine competition for his position, that would be positive for him and the wider squad IMO. No such luck...

Agreed, glimpses last season and early part of this season I thought thank god we got him as he was the one creating most for us. As you say we are seeing maybe why he is at this level, one game unplayable, followed by a decent game and then maybe 1 or 2 quiet games.

A lot of proven Championship players I know and coaches all say he is too good for League 2, his ability at times proves that, but it is maybe the inconsistency.

SP says he cant play in a 4-4-2, I'm not sure because he does work back when playing in the forward 3, so the hard part of being a winger tracking back he already does to a certain degree.

lummy8 wrote:

KentBlue wrote: It's an interesting one with Thomas. After 4 games, I think most were describing him as one of our best assets. He was excellent against Crawley and Barnsley, and also arguably the best of a bad bunch at Swindon. However, fast forward 5 games and he's coming in for a bit of a pasting.

Unfortunately this is the reason he's at this level. Currently, players like him and McKirdy are utterly inconsistent. He certainly isn't lacking fitness now, but if his opposition number works him out early, he can become anonymous very quickly. From afar, I'd suggest his attitude could be a slight issue. I saw a couple of games last season where, in my opinion, he downed tools within 20 minutes of things not going his way. Without knowing the lad personally, his unceremonious exit at Notts County and prompt u-turn at Gillingham would both pose slight causes for concern.

That said, I expect Thomas to be back firing soon enough. And then back off the boil again. And then back firing. The nature of a lower league winger.

If we had more genuine competition for his position, that would be positive for him and the wider squad IMO. No such luck...

Agreed, glimpses last season and early part of this season I thought thank god we got him as he was the one creating most for us. As you say we are seeing maybe why he is at this level, one game unplayable, followed by a decent game and then maybe 1 or 2 quiet games.

A lot of proven Championship players I know and coaches all say he is too good for League 2, his ability at times proves that, but it is maybe the inconsistency.

SP says he cant play in a 4-4-2, I'm not sure because he does work back when playing in the forward 3, so the hard part of being a winger tracking back he already does to a certain degree.

Agree with you on the 4-4-2 thing pal. Last year he wasn't working back much, but this season – certainly in the first 5/6 games – his tracking back has been a pleasant surprise to me. I'd have no issues in us going 4-4-2 with him on the right. Gives him something to aim for with crosses too, a pair up top. Olomola has been great foil, but with the way he plays his game, there's virtually no point putting the ball in the box at the moment.

KentBlue wrote:

lummy8 wrote:

KentBlue wrote: It's an interesting one with Thomas. After 4 games, I think most were describing him as one of our best assets. He was excellent against Crawley and Barnsley, and also arguably the best of a bad bunch at Swindon. However, fast forward 5 games and he's coming in for a bit of a pasting.

Unfortunately this is the reason he's at this level. Currently, players like him and McKirdy are utterly inconsistent. He certainly isn't lacking fitness now, but if his opposition number works him out early, he can become anonymous very quickly. From afar, I'd suggest his attitude could be a slight issue. I saw a couple of games last season where, in my opinion, he downed tools within 20 minutes of things not going his way. Without knowing the lad personally, his unceremonious exit at Notts County and prompt u-turn at Gillingham would both pose slight causes for concern.

That said, I expect Thomas to be back firing soon enough. And then back off the boil again. And then back firing. The nature of a lower league winger.

If we had more genuine competition for his position, that would be positive for him and the wider squad IMO. No such luck...

Agreed, glimpses last season and early part of this season I thought thank god we got him as he was the one creating most for us. As you say we are seeing maybe why he is at this level, one game unplayable, followed by a decent game and then maybe 1 or 2 quiet games.

A lot of proven Championship players I know and coaches all say he is too good for League 2, his ability at times proves that, but it is maybe the inconsistency.

SP says he cant play in a 4-4-2, I'm not sure because he does work back when playing in the forward 3, so the hard part of being a winger tracking back he already does to a certain degree.

Agree with you on the 4-4-2 thing pal. Last year he wasn't working back much, but this season – certainly in the first 5/6 games – his tracking back has been a pleasant surprise to me. I'd have no issues in us going 4-4-2 with him on the right. Gives him something to aim for with crosses too, a pair up top. Olomola has been great foil, but with the way he plays his game, there's virtually no point putting the ball in the box at the moment.

That's what I wanna see. Think Pressley may be to stubborn though. Give Olomola up top with Sorensen feeding off him a try. Thomas can't play LM is a shit excuse as Bridge can't play the CM role and he persists with it.

I've always been an advocate of, when you're struggling and current tactics aren't working, switching to 4-4-2. Keep it simple, either big man & little man or ball-holder & poacher up front, with 2 wingers who have a bit of pace and can whip crosses in. Elvis is deluded if he is saying the players he's got can't play in that formation - they clearly can't play in the current one either and he is nullifying potentially good players by not playing to their strengths. At least give it a go and if it doesn't work revert back, can't possibly be any worse than things are at the moment anyway. Plus, saying as much gives your entire game plan away to the rest of the league!

Baffling state of affairs if players can only play one system, never heard that as an excuse before.

More like SP has been watching PL teams and reading text books too much.
Goals come from getting balls in the box and more than one of our players being in there.

Talisman wrote: I've always been an advocate of, when you're struggling and current tactics aren't working, switching to 4-4-2. Keep it simple, either big man & little man or ball-holder & poacher up front, with 2 wingers who have a bit of pace and can whip crosses in. Elvis is deluded if he is saying the players he's got can't play in that formation - they clearly can't play in the current one either and he is nullifying potentially good players by not playing to their strengths. At least give it a go and if it doesn't work revert back, can't possibly be any worse than things are at the moment anyway. Plus, saying as much gives your entire game plan away to the rest of the league!

We don't have a the centre midfielders with the ability to play 4/4/2 , we get over run with 3 in there even when they are againt 2 .

I'm going to duck out of putting forward a team for Stevenage.

The situation is so bad that I cannot suggest anything better than the current line-up with the exception of finding a place for Hallam Hope in the team, assuming he's available after international duty.

seesaw50 wrote: Baffling state of affairs if players can only play one system, never heard that as an excuse before.

More like SP has been watching PL teams and reading text books too much.
Goals come from getting balls in the box and more than one of our players being in there.

This 433 thing with 2 strikers out wide is the latest fashion being taught on all the fa training courses, I was told by 1 coach

Bluedazblue wrote: I'm going to duck out of putting forward a team for Stevenage.

The situation is so bad that I cannot suggest anything better than the current line-up with the exception of finding a place for Hallam Hope in the team, assuming he's available after international duty.

Hope for Carroll and put Sagaf in midfield I would have thought.

For anyone coming to the game using the A1, it's closed both ways this weekend around Huntingdon.
The diversion is adding on 30 mins - 60 mins to the journey.

Anybody on route to the game from Carlisle. I salute you!

newcarlislefan wrote: For anyone coming to the game using the A1, it's closed both ways this weekend around Huntingdon.
The diversion is adding on 30 mins - 60 mins to the journey.

I can’t find any info on this today mate, defo closed?
We are in Peterborough ready to do the last hour around 11.30.

lummy8 wrote:

newcarlislefan wrote: For anyone coming to the game using the A1, it's closed both ways this weekend around Huntingdon.
The diversion is adding on 30 mins - 60 mins to the journey.

I can’t find any info on this today mate, defo closed?
We are in Peterborough ready to do the last hour around 11.30.

Yeah this is true I’m afraid not sure it’s completely closed but the delays are horrendous. I have family members who live just 5 minutes from the traffic works but it took us an extra half an hour to get there. I was there quite recently so it’s pretty current info.

Cheers I’ll leave earlier

I’m surprised at people slagging Thomas off. If it wasn’t for him we’d be bottom of the league. Even last week in a quiet game he flashed one across the goal which could easily have been another assist. Not sure Pressley singling him out in his interview will help mind- I thought that was out of order

Supporters bus managed to bypass the delay, got here early... in our Mutual friend pub

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Let's hope you have a good afternoon Tommy!