Formation

[navypie]

Actually opposition players yesterday, could probably have queued at the nearest bus stop and still got back in plenty of time.

Even on a Sunday service.

[BigFatPie]

Midfield was a problem last year and it looks like being an even bigger problem this year. I can't believe we offered Doyle a new contract at 39 and let Tom Crawford go - I think that one may come back to bite us (he set up a goal for Hartlepool in their 4-1 win at Gateshead yesterday, BTW).
.

Ardley just doesn’t trust young players. And I think he’s scared of the more experienced players. Mind you, the way the local media arselick’s Doyle, I think everybody is scared of him. My own feeling is that we’ll never get anywhere while he’s still a regular in the team.

[nw6pie]

Ardley just doesn’t trust young players. And I think he’s scared of the more experienced players. Mind you, the way the local media arselick’s Doyle, I think everybody is scared of him. My own feeling is that we’ll never get anywhere while he’s still a regular in the team.

Agreed - I don't think we'll get anywhere this season if Doyle plays most of the games (when he's not suspended, of course).

The last two games have shown teams how to beat us - not that it was exactly a closely guarded secret: either employ the high press or flood the midfield with a 3-5-2. We'll barely cross the halfway line in either case, and definitely won't be muddying the keeper's kit.

Please prove me wrong from next week, Notts!

[jackal2]

Agreed - I don't think we'll get anywhere this season if Doyle plays most of the games (when he's not suspended, of course).

The last two games have shown teams how to beat us - not that it was exactly a closely guarded secret: either employ the high press or flood the midfield with a 3-5-2. We'll barely cross the halfway line in either case, and definitely won't be muddying the keeper's kit.

Please prove me wrong from next week, Notts!

Tactically I think you're right. When teams do either of these things we've got to be capable of varying our approach, by going more direct and/or matching the midfield numbers, because we haven't got the type of midfielders who can overcome being outnumbered.

I wouldn't pick Michael Doyle out as being 'a problem', because he's remarkably fit and mobile for his age and he clearly retains a fair amount of ability. I wouldn't have re-signed him, but given that he was, I think he has enough left to be a useful squad member. But I agree Ardley shouldn't be selecting and relying on him as much as he did last season. Giving Doyle a rest here and there would probably enable him to perform better when he does play.

What I would say is that for a player who is lauded for his experience and influence on the team, I didn't see any evidence of that from Doyle when we needed it most in the games against Harrogate. He looks as lost as the rest when things aren't going our way.

[crazyfists]

.........................Slocombe................. .....

Kelly-Evans...Rawlinson...Lacey....Chicksen

.................Doyle..........Reeves............ ....

Roberts.............Rodrigues..........Boldewijn

........................ Wootton.........................


I must say, a couple of tough choices there, because Sam Graham is a serious challenger for a central defensive role and likewise Jim O'Brien for a defensive midfield role, but I think Rawlinson and Lacey have earned their start based on last season's form, and I want to see how well Reeves does in a proper match.

From the signings Ardley made, I thought 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 was almost certainly the plan, so I'm baffled that he has been trying to shoehorn players into a variation of 4-4-2, but if pre-season has served no other purpose it has hopefully made him realise that's a mistake. If he wanted to stick with a flat 4-4-2 or play a diamond, he should have signed different players.

One thing I will say is that Ardley seems very much in favour of playing two up front, and to be fair a lot of supporters like to see that too. If so, then don't be surprised if he tries to resolve all of the conundrums above by playing a 3-5-2 like he did successfully at Barrow. That would put significant defensive responsibilities on the wide midfield players though. Are Roberts and Enzio up to that? Kelly-Evans is probably the player most capable of fulfilling both the attacking and defensive duties required of wide players in that formation.

I like this one, might as well give it a go.

[nw6pie]

.........................Slocombe................. .....

Kelly-Evans...Rawlinson...Lacey....Chicksen

.................Doyle..........Reeves............ ....

Roberts.............Rodrigues..........Boldewijn

........................ Wootton.........................

I'd play O'Brien instead of Doyle; Brindley instead of Kelly-Evans (I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I don't think DKE is good enough - dreadful first touch and I've yet to see him put a decent cross in. Yes, he's committed, but that should be the minimum requirement for everyone); and Sloth (if fit) in place of Rodrigues. No idea if Sloth is any good, of course, but Rodrigues seems a little too raw to throw into the first team at the moment and so I'm clutching at straws.

Some players are going to be playing an awful lot of Saturday-Tuesday double-headers this season, I think. Only player I'd call unlucky not to be making the first XI here is Sam Graham.