Can’t argue with any of the posts regarding the game. It was a useful 90 minutes for Zane, Ross and Ben Thornley.
I’m not sure that John Terry should be concerned by Steve Settle playing centre half, but what I would say is that the lad always gives 100% in whatever position he is played in, although I don’t think he is a centre forward or centre half.
Millie did nothing wrong after the first minute! He was stitched like a kipper by the back passes for the first and Petr Cech wouldn’t have saved the second!
My team for Saturday;
Smith
Donnelly
Pritch (or Schwarz if not fit)
Dunne
Scott
Willis
Drew
Thornley (Ben)
Thaker
Gouldbourne
Thornley (Rod)
Proffitt
Thompson
Smith
Schwarz
Settle
Burke
Millie
Improved performances by some of the newer players is making it harder to select the team, and that is exactly what we need if we are going to win games, some competition for places and everyone raising their game!
I believe I predicted 5-2 last night (after 5 minutes), I will go for a more nervous 2-1 to us on Saturday!!!
I think the two central defenders and the two up front are going to be the most difficult pairings from a selection point of view.
If fit, I would go with Pritch plus one and Rod Thornley plus one, as the experience of these two in the spine of the side is really important.
I think Thornley and Gouldbourne or Thornley and Thomo is a big question, whichever the pair we need to get the ball to them, which is why I think Thaker and Ben Thornley are an important link from wide and midfield.
The good news of course is that Nige will have a far better take on this than I ever will, which is why I’m glad he’s the one picking the team!
Now normally Neil I agree with pretty much everything you say but on this occasion just to be different I won’t!
I actually think that the ability to name more subs in this particular encounter does work in our favour. Firstly we can name a reserve keeper who we hope will not need to be used, meaning that 3 of the 6 other subs can be used.
The allowance of six means that we have choices, if we need to replace a central defender we can have a ready made replacement in Burke, Schwarz, Lenders, etc (depending on who starts), we have Steve Smith who can come in to play at left back or perhaps Ben Hunt on the right?
Up front we can (again depending on who starts) bring on Proffitt, Thaker, Gouldbourne who can all change the game potentially!
The ability to swap players with like for like replacements, or to change the way we play could prove a big advantage. If we go 3-5-2 to stretch the example, then we can bring another centre half on for a full back and an additional midfield or wide man.
From a financial point of view in terms of squad size I would agree that it makes life hard for smaller clubs, however in playing terms I think it does offer greater choices on how we can change the flow of the game depending on how we doing at the time.
I see that Thaker got a start, how did he perform? Good win, we ain’t going to win the FA Cup or the Trophy this season and the league is probably beyond our new team, but this Cup and others are not beyond our capabilities.
WHS.
The lad scored a cracker for the equaliser when we were 2-1 down, absolutely stunning strike.
He gets knocked off the ball a little easily at times and turns into trouble. He has the pace to beat most full backs he comes up against so should perhaps knock it past them and run on to it. At times he showed too much of the ball to the opposition defenders.
The lad has bags of ability, perhaps needs to toughen up a bit and at times play the easy ball.
Reminiscent of Ronaldo in his first season at Utd, tried too many tricks, selfish at times and not enough end product. Teams are now prepared to pay £130m for him!!!
With some good coaching and first team experience the lad has bags of potential.
Appears a very honest young lad who is really keen to impress. From what we have seen so far I think the lad will do very well.
completely had the same team in my head exactly as u mr. Tavern. Think zane and tomo have staked more of a claim than rod so far. Thacker and ben supplying for them 2 aswell and we may get a result on sat. Lets just hope nige picks that team.
