by Jeff » 06 Sep 2011, 19:08
Although I wasnt there on Saturday, I really don't think we should be dropping McPhee for Howe on Saturday. As much as I am a big fan of "Big Rene", there is no way he is going to anything close to match fit. The prognosis was 7 to 10 days, and by my reckoning the day of the Northampton game be 11 days after the injury. Rene was looking a touch short of full fitness anyway, and you only have to look at Chris Todd to see what I rushed hamstring injury, or wrong diagnosis can do (see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14787238.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;-).
Personally I think we may face a bit of a struggle on Saturday. Northampton have a few good players and with the individuals they have they should be performing better than they are. It would seem that Johnson can't get that group to play collectively, certainly not at home where they have a poor record but at some point that is going to have to end.
Last season (the game where we turned up criminally late), their big Centre half Byron Webster absolutely dominated both penalty areas. Although it was a poor game, we were dominated by the home side last season and were lucky to get away with a point (even though we nearly snatched all three). If we resorted to pumping the ball into Howe at every opportunity, I fear we might come unstuck.
I would start with McPhee and Atieno up front, Morris and Macklin on the wings with Bodin and Howe on the bench. If that works and we are winning then great, leave Rene another week to build some fitness back up. If we need too, that gives us plenty of options from the bench - either Rene or Bodin (or both) can come on up front, Bodin could go wide left, McPhee could move to Wide right if we are getting overrun down there. I would think that would give us the most flexibility and the lowest risk.
Although I wasnt there on Saturday, I really don't think we should be dropping McPhee for Howe on Saturday. As much as I am a big fan of "Big Rene", there is no way he is going to anything close to match fit. The prognosis was 7 to 10 days, and by my reckoning the day of the Northampton game be 11 days after the injury. Rene was looking a touch short of full fitness anyway, and you only have to look at Chris Todd to see what I rushed hamstring injury, or wrong diagnosis can do (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14787238.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;-).
Personally I think we may face a bit of a struggle on Saturday. Northampton have a few good players and with the individuals they have they should be performing better than they are. It would seem that Johnson can't get that group to play collectively, certainly not at home where they have a poor record but at some point that is going to have to end.
Last season (the game where we turned up criminally late), their big Centre half Byron Webster absolutely dominated both penalty areas. Although it was a poor game, we were dominated by the home side last season and were lucky to get away with a point (even though we nearly snatched all three). If we resorted to pumping the ball into Howe at every opportunity, I fear we might come unstuck.
I would start with McPhee and Atieno up front, Morris and Macklin on the wings with Bodin and Howe on the bench. If that works and we are winning then great, leave Rene another week to build some fitness back up. If we need too, that gives us plenty of options from the bench - either Rene or Bodin (or both) can come on up front, Bodin could go wide left, McPhee could move to Wide right if we are getting overrun down there. I would think that would give us the most flexibility and the lowest risk.
