Quote Originally Posted by AucklandRover View Post
Champs - it is clear from TM's comments that he feels we badly miss Lenihan. I suspect the reason Mowbray has often fielded both Smallwood and Evans is because they provide more protection for the defence. However, it doesn't look as if Evans is going to be fit until the weekend, so I imagine we'll see Whittingham alongside Smallwood.
Perhaps he will go back to using Antonsson wide-left, but I doubt that Chapman will start, given Bennett's good form. (I think the first two games of the season have made Mowbray very cautious about a wholesale attacking line-up).
Did Nuttall and Wharton play for the Under-23s on Monday evening? If so, they clearly won't be considered, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Nyambe in.
That still leaves a second striker. Will Graham and Samuel both play? Certainly, Graham needs to show some form. I thought he would be very good in L.1, but he has been poor so far.
In other words:
Raya
Nyambe Mulgrew Ward Williams
Bennett Smallwood Whittingham Antonsson
Graham Samuel.

Who knows, really, but TM doesn't take many risks. Even this line-up he might see as too adventurous if Plymouth have a good right winger.
That's the thing with the cautious style. He played 2 up front away at Oldham where we completely lost the game in midfield. We got swamped. The whole idea of buying Dack was he had played with Samuel and they forged a good partnership. Dack does need games. Play Chapman from the start. This line keeps getting rolled out and everyone is simply accepting it. Conway starts but adds nothing. No goal threat, no pace, turns inside which stifles every attack, as it gives them a chance to get back and get their shape. Plus he only ever passes backwards and or sideways. We already have the majority of our midfield doing that already. Simple, easy passing that goes nowhere. Evans will come back, we probably need him? But is he really going to win us a match? We lack that creativity. Conway also does noy offer any cover to the full back. So I need to really question the reasons why Chapman, who equally doesn't track back, but DOES get marked by 2 defenders, does go past people, does have pace, does look to play the ball forward etc is deemed not good enough. I just think everyone is accepting this? Why? Its not worked so far, lets be honest. So if things aren't going well, consider a change.
Graham is lost. The worry is we start banging the ball up to him. Yet he offers no physicality. The ball doesn't stick with him. He is not up for the battle in this division, trust me. He has had loads of chances, and he offers nothing. Play Nuttall. He and the other young lads from our academy MUST start to play a part. Forget Graham, Conway etc etc ....they are not up for this.
I don't understand how we can be missing Lenihan? He wont be back until well after Jan. And hasn't played this season. He signed a centre half, who is adequate. I don't think he is any better or worse than Ward. Sadly the idiots (fans like Bob) have turned on him. And his confidence is shot. The fans are not helping getting on his back. On sat I'd say nobody other than Caddis was half decent. Ward was far FAR from our worst performer. Yet the fans where on his back from the first whistle to the last. Shocking really. And about as unhelpful as you can get. He got stick for the full 90 and everytime he touched the ball, the tension was heard. That goes down to the players. And at no point was Ward accountable for anything bad. Yet folk still ask that Graham gets another chance? Why?