Morecambe

[gazan]

Difficult one this. They are bottom without points or goals so we should win shouldn't we? However, each loss for Morecambe has been by the single goal. So yes, they score but they concede a lot either. They are the away side and probably expectation is not with them. However, the Alex have a monkey on their back they've not won a home game for a long time. They also have found it extremely difficult to score and so pressure on the home team is going to be high.
I think a lot is going to depend on lineup and formation. I expect there to be no messing about in the 1st 10-15 minutes as the Alex will seek to clear their lines and will relie on hoofing it clear at the beginning of the game.
I also think it's important that they play with a 2 up front and one of those must be a proven goalscorer I.e. not Tracey. Who ever he plays I believe that, for at least part of the match, Long and Bogle must play as a front pair. I also have faith in Lankester making more of an impact than Tracey and should be given more of a chance.
A lot of this doesn't sound very Lee Bell-like and another thing he would find difficult is not playing Thomas. Sanders does a lot on the ball and needs to play. Whatever back line he plays Conway should start. If you need fighting spirit and somebody to drive ball forward then he is a starter.
So a 5-1-2 -2 for me. Holicek and Tabs playing in front Sanders. 2 wing backs to provide width. This probably removes Billington from the reckoning, unfortunately, but Bell could go with Cooney or reprise Lankester in the role.
However LB will probably stick with caution, have 2 defensive midfielders and only 1 up front.
Prediction.... hmm! 1-0 or 1-1.
Nice to be totally wide of the mark in our favour BUT whatever, NO GOALS CONCEDED IN THE FIRST 10 MINS! Please!

[MeForCrewe]

Difficult one this. They are bottom without points or goals so we should win shouldn't we? However, each loss for Morecambe has been by the single goal. So yes, they score but they concede a lot either. They are the away side and probably expectation is not with them. However, the Alex have a monkey on their back they've not won a home game for a long time. They also have found it extremely difficult to score and so pressure on the home team is going to be high.
I think a lot is going to depend on lineup and formation. I expect there to be no messing about in the 1st 10-15 minutes as the Alex will seek to clear their lines and will relie on hoofing it clear at the beginning of the game.
I also think it's important that they play with a 2 up front and one of those must be a proven goalscorer I.e. not Tracey. Who ever he plays I believe that, for at least part of the match, Long and Bogle must play as a front pair. I also have faith in Lankester making more of an impact than Tracey and should be given more of a chance.
A lot of this doesn't sound very Lee Bell-like and another thing he would find difficult is not playing Thomas. Sanders does a lot on the ball and needs to play. Whatever back line he plays Conway should start. If you need fighting spirit and somebody to drive ball forward then he is a starter.
So a 5-1-2 -2 for me. Holicek and Tabs playing in front Sanders. 2 wing backs to provide width. This probably removes Billington from the reckoning, unfortunately, but Bell could go with Cooney or reprise Lankester in the role.
However LB will probably stick with caution, have 2 defensive midfielders and only 1 up front.
Prediction.... hmm! 1-0 or 1-1.
Nice to be totally wide of the mark in our favour BUT whatever, NO GOALS CONCEDED IN THE FIRST 10 MINS! Please!

Early team news, would you believe no Long, yes you would. Hamstring injury picked up at Blackpool.

[ShropshireAlex]

Well we were poor, but Morecambe were awful - apart from the shots at the end Marschall did well to save can't see them ever scoring, and they defend by fouling. The home win was the important thing, and Hemmings took the pen well -hopefully we will continue to settle down and play better against good sides.

[Gobstopper]

Early team news, would you believe no Long, yes you would. Hamstring injury picked up at Blackpool.

You have to question why Long played against Blackpool, I understand him coming on against Man U u21 he needed to play some football, but he has played since then against Swindon and Bromley. LB knows he has injury issues so the Blackpool appearance was probably not needed. Another spell out of the team is not great but more acceptable if he got injured in a league match, where he does need to play.

[gazan]

I think that Bell might have seen it as 'minutes' in his build up of match fitness. (That is what LB would probably say, not me).
Personally I think there may be problems with the fitness regime, overall. Too many hamstring problems cropping up in recent years - including 2 goalkeeper hamstrings last season!!).
Anyway, we just have to assume that Long is never available. Shame that we have so few strikers. Thibault may get his chance earlier than expected.