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shaunicus wrote:Howe in for McPhee, and Bodin/Stevens in for Macklin. McPhee did OK on Saturday but I'm pretty sure we would have scored more with a fully-fit Howe playing - he's a much better player. It's unfortunate for McPhee but Cobblers away are a different kettle of fish to Macc at home and we should play our best team. Actually thought Morris played quite well on Saturday - he gives us balance on the left hand side and tracks back reasonably well so I'd keep him in the side. I still don't see the point in Macklin and don't think I ever will so give one of Bodin or Stevens a go on the right - preferably the former as that gives us the option to go 4-3-3 as we did after an hour against Macc if things don't go to plan.

----------------Olejnik----------------

Oastler-----Saah---Robbo-----Nicho

Bodin----Manse---O'Kane-----Morris

-----------Atieno---Howe--------

Glad somebody stuck up for Morris there as I was begining to think I was the only one that rated him. Always seems to work hard and always in space, hope his debut goal isn't too far away.

PhilGull wrote: That's a dangerous game to play though. Dropping a form player for 'the best' player. The best players become blasé and the others become disillusioned.

Sorry I think you are confusing me as Martin Ling

I have no idea how to manage a football team, or it's players, but compared to the world in which I work if you ask someone to do something different to their normal role, they tend to do well because it is something new and different. It doesn't mean they can do it week in week out though.

I would have thought dropping the best player for the form player is also dangerous for morale. Normally if someone is your best player they have already proved their consistancy and you don't want them to lose their tempo for the club or the team.

I am going to stick with playing FIFA 2011 rather than pretending I can manager a club.

I can't see Howe being in the starting line up at Northampton. Depends on how well he's recovering from the injury as to whether it's wise having him sitting for hours on a long coach journey to Northampton & back. Particularly as we've got a home game a couple of days later against Cheltenham.
I'd guess at Atieno & Bodin as the front 2 at Northampton. McPhee back to a wide midfield role & Macklin returning to the bench.

Then let's see whether Rene's fitness will allow him to feature on Tuesday night v Cheltenham.

When i wrote this i sort of suspected that Rene Howe would probaly not be fit for Saturday, however with Damien Davey you never know, when it comes to players injury treatment it would not be the first time Damien Davey would have pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

I think if Rene Howe is not fit for Saturday it's a given that Chris Mcphee will start up front, this is where it could become a more difficult decision for Lingy, Howe will be fit sooner rather than later, should Mcphee continue to preduce the same performance level that we saw Saturday it will become harder for Lingy to drop Mcphee and restore Rene to the starting 11.

It just shows what a tough job at any level fooball management can be, which ever way Lingy decides to go when Rene Howe is fit, i 100% trust Lingy to handle the right way, i know it is still early days, however the team spirit, there determination to get results which they have shown in a number of games, is up there with any Torquay team i have ever seen, again a great credit to the current management duo.

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.

Jeff wrote: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;-).

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.

I completely agree Jeff good post

Father Jack wrote:Is Bodin not left footed? Cant see him playing on the right wing if thats so Mav

It seems to be the fashionable thing at the moment to play people on the alternative wing to their preferred kicking foot. Bale last night for example caused England all sorts of problems from a right wing position.

Supporters of this argue it allows them to cut in opening shooting opportunities and at the same time forcing your full back to tackle with their (usually) weaker right foot. They also argue that it doesn't matter that it limits their effectiveness of whipping crosses in from the bye-line as it is the full back who should advance and cross from this position.

Not sure Ling would want our full backs pushing so far forward away from home, particularly Nicho who might struggle to get back(!), but he may well feel that Bodin can be just effective on either wing?

Thats as maybe DY, but does "fashion" not change regularly?

Would it work in the bread and butter of League 2?
Im not sure the Rochdales, Chesterfields etc that gained automatic promotion the last couple of season went that route (although 4 of the 6 are in the bottom third of L1 so maybe they should have). They usually seemed to have someone pacy on at least one wing to get the defences backpedalling to try and defend the area when a ball came in from out wide. That still seems to be the most productive way of getting goals, get the defence reversing while the strikers are looking to get onto a decent ball in front of them. I think any defender will say thats the situation he hates most. Not sure the manager would be overly keen on the full backs pushing too far forward either, as that requires real pace and stamina to do that for 90 minutes.

We tried this last year with Jake Robinson on the left. It's all a bit predictable, but it's often effective.

Matt.

And prior to that with Danny (for some time). Can indeed get predictable and nullified by the opposition

Jeff wrote: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.

Good post Jeff. And I agree with the forward/wide start line and bench.

I was pleased to see McPhee get a start up front against Maccers and from my viewpoint he didn't disappoint. He got 18(?) for Kidderminster last season and I'm reckoning most came from a central midfield/striker role, not the wide positions.

As for man management of McPhee, he'll play more games than he will sit out, so no problem for either the manager or the versatile utility player.

I spoke to Rene on monday and he was hoping to be back in full training today and fit for saturday.

Ling was pretty clear in his interview on gullsplayer that he's not going to rush Rene Howe back only for him to get injured more seriously.

It sounds like McPhee had an alright game on Saturday, so I wouldn't be too concerned with him staying in there.

We'll have Bodin pushing for a place too, so no need to risk Howe unnecessarily.

Father Jack wrote:And prior to that with Danny (for some time). Can indeed get predictable and nullified by the opposition

I have a feeling that with Danny, it may to be more a lack of any real talent, but your (our) point still stands :~D

Matt.

ferrarilover wrote: I have a feeling that with Danny, it may to be more a lack of any real talent, but your (our) point still stands :~D

Matt.

Anything done repeatedly becomes predictable though, your argument could easily be applied to a player constantly looking to go outside their full back. Perhaps the best solution is to have wingers who are adaptable enough to switch wings throughout the game.