Wide Men

[stevegull]

And i'm not talking about Rene Howe.

It appears Ling has been trying to find the perfect formula to get the best our of our wingers this season, but what do you think is the perfect combination out wide for us?

Ling first placed faith in 'young' Danny Stevens to deliver the goods from out wide but since two rather lacklustre displays from the diminutive winger he found himself slowly phased out of the team, culminating in him being left out of the squad for the last two games.

A similar situation happened with Ian Morris, although over a longer period of time. Morris remained in the side for long periods although many fans grew frustrated at his performances, while others thought he was good to have in the side as he was a bit bigger than our other midfielders and could at least retain possession. Recently, the former Scunthorpe man has found himself on the bench and his appearance have been from the bench, although i questiong his ability as an 'impact player' as he doesn't seem to have the pace to trouble a tiring defence.

The arrival of Billy Bodin wasn't first thought to trouble the wingers we already had at the club, although he has impressed with both his link-up play and his direct running since arriving on loan from Swindon, and he has had appearances up front and out wide, as Ling tries to find his most effective position. Few would agrue that Bodin shouldn't be in the side, but should he be a wide man for us?

Next up to the stand is Chris McPhee. The returning wide midfielder is definitely more of a 'delivery' winger when he is asked to play out wide, as he again lacks the raw pace to get past his man on the outside. Also, while many of the McPhee hate brigade may argue against it, McPhee has scored in his brief outing up front, although personally i'm not sure he is a natural finisher, but that could just be me thinking more of his previous spell at the club.

Lloyd Macklin is the next potential candidate. Fans were long promised of his pace by former boss Paul Buckle, who failed to truely use him during his tenure but when he appeared in pre-season and terrorised Exeter City's defence, many fans took him straight in to their hearts, i mean, which Torquay fan didn't want to see Tisdale and co. squirm like that? However, since this pacey and tricky display Macklin has once again been reduced to substitute appearances and failing to really get into games. Like Danny Stevens, he is a pace option out wide, but both seem to be lacking the final delivery to best utilise the threat of Rene Howe in the box.

Ling has said that he is happy to turn to youth if it calls for it, so perhaps Saul Halpin could be called into the fray sooner rather than later, but he is something of an unknown quantity to Torquay fans, who would very much love another player to come through the youth system to become a first-team regular.

Those are the options and i leave it to you to enter the discussion now, just wanted to know what everyone thought would be best for the team.

Personally, i think we should play the likes of Morris and McPhee out wide away from home to make us a more solid unit and harder to break down and then throw on the pace of Macklin should we need to chase the game. At home i think i might go for Morris and Macklin, so we can have Macklin stretching their defence on one side and Morris providing a threat with his delivery from the other side.

[Robiberto22]

morris on the left and mcphee on the right for away games and bodin on left and macklin on right for home - boom!

[Dave]

Never been an advocate of swaping players and formations from one home to an away game, it just does not help with getting a settled side or game plan, for me the best way forward is for any manager including Lingy to know what his best 11 is and strongest game plan "A" and freshen things up as you go along.

I do not get what the problem with Macklin is, Buckle must have seen something in this lad to sign him on, i understand player budget constraints, however no manager worth his salt signs a player regardless of how much money there is in the pot if he simply is not good enough, you use the loan market as Buckle did, while you keep searching untill you find a player that fits the size of your wallet.

Does Macklin display a poor attitude around the club, does he not train well, if so move him on, as Stevegull says Macklin ran rings around the greek full back in the p.s.f and from what i have seen of him he looks full it and raring to go.

Morris and McPhee are not wingers not as long as either of them have a hole in there buts,i have never liked defenders being played on the wrong side, however as we all know playing wingers on the wrong side can be effective even more so when they are swapping sides during the match, for me Bodin and Macklin that gives the team pace and craft to unlock any defence, along with a return to Howe and Atieno up front stick with it and give it time.

[stevegull]

Good points, forevertufc. Do you think that Bodin and Macklin have the delivery required to get the most out of the tall Atieno and the physcial brute Howe? Because as a defender i would be very worried if a winger hung up a high cross and those two were sitting underneath it ready to attack. It seems to be Bodin may well be able to have enough about him to throw in a telling delivery every now and then, and he has the pace to find space as well but i can't help feeling as if, despite the amount of people in our squad who can play wide, we have enough quality in that area of the pitch.

[Dave]

To be honest i dont know if Bodin is the type player to find space and stand a cross into the box, however i say that because i have not seen him do it, if you look at his goals against Cheltenham and Rotherham, and the penalty he won at the Daggers they were all very similar, Bodin strkes me as a player who likes the ball to feet, run with it and play short give and goes.

I think Macklin is possibly the player who could deliver the ball into the box your looking for, in the p.s.f against Exeter he proved it, when he did there full back and put an inch perfect ball into Kee who scored, the upside to Macklin is he will allways have the pace to get into the right position to cross the ball in, the downside is iam not sure he has got the consistancy, however if he 2-3 out of every 5 right there is goals to be had.

For me Bodin gives you the craft, Macklin the pace, they are two different types of player and thats not allways a bad thing out wide and little less predictable, not saying it would work however.

Anyone else want to join in, its not about who is right or wrong, only opinions, go on dont be shy.

[Gulliball]

This is the area of the team that we're a bit of a mess. The goalie picks himself, we're solid along the back four and pretty settled (with some dependable subs), Mansell and O'Kane play in the middle, and Howe plays up front. if we could get two wingers on form and playing week in, week out, then we'd have a very settled side. You've essentially got Morris, Macklin, Bodin, Stevens, McPhee and Atieno fighting for the two wide spots and to partner Howe. Bodin apart, I don't think any of those have shown the form so far this season to suggest they're going to nail down a starting place, and he's only here until January, so I think we're going to have to get used to what we've got - and at least we know where we have to improve, although Atieno aside they're all contracted into next season.

It would be a great moment for Morris, Macklin and Halpin in particular to really step up a gear and hit some form. McPhee we need to find the best position for, and Atieno will blow hot and cold. Stevens 'impact sub'.

[Dave]

My question would be has macklin had a fair chance to show what he has got, so far out of 10 matchs Macklin has only started 1, and come as a sub in 2 other games.

[JamieE]

No I don't think he has. He has shown potential in small glimpes at times, we didn't play well last week, and I think it's the perfect time to give him a couple of starts and see what's what. If you have had a playerfor over two years and STILL don't know whether he's capable, you need to give him that chance sharpish!

It's a pretty big game for us today, we need to get back on the winning track. Would like to see Bodin and Macklin start out wide today with Atieno through the middle and O'Kane in behind. Morris and Mcphee on the bench.

[stevegull]

How did they do yesterday? Any chances created from wide positions?

[Trojan 67]

Bruce Stuckey on one flank, Tony Scott on the other. No ?

Doug Clarke and Ronnie Barnes then ?


Macklin and Bodin.

[royalgull]

Macklin needs a run of games. He's got the most potential out of all of them, I'm not convinced Stevens is going to get any better, McPhee I want to like but I find his finishing incredibly poor for someone that got 18 goals last year. Macklin is the one that is worth the time perservering with. Might be some short term pain in terms of he might not be great all the time for a little while but once he gets a bit stronger and fitter and believes in himself a bit more he's got everything else. His delivery is hit and miss but it will improve, he's a goal threat and he's got out and out pace.

I'd also like us to sign another striker to play alongside Howe. I like Atieno as an impact sub option.

[kittiwake]

How about Atieno on the wing? He is fast and fit and likes to play around the pitch rather than hang about near the box.

Think he'll be a more reliable player now - see his interview on OS about settling into life in Devon.

[stevegull]

Not a bad idea about Atieno out wide, but that would probably leave us with McPhee back up top!

However, from what i've seen Atieno has a tendancy to wonder, and whilst playing at front that can be a good thing, it could be a liability should he find himself having some kind of defensive responsibility...

[yellowforever]

We're playing with a flexible front three at the moment and I think it's working. I think the best would be:

Bodin - Howe - Atieno/Macklin

Bodin to cut in onto his strongest foot, Howe to be the lead/main frontman, and Atieno/Macklin to rotate on the right.

Sorted