3-5-2?

[SuperNickyWroe]

with downsey nearing fitness, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24713510

and playing in the friendly today, what about a 3-5-2 formation?



rice (englands no.1)

then....... downes-pearce-o'connor.

then......take yer pick....as no-one will agree the rest anyway..................

[AustrianAndyGull]

Knill has to make his mind up what his preferred formation is, stick to it and develop it. We're a third of the way through the season and I think now is a good time to stop p*ssing about with it.

It would appear he STILL doesn't know his preferred 11 or his preferred formation or style of play which means we will continue to look like lost sheep.

[Fonda]

The other option is to pick what he thinks is his best 11, and stick with it even if the players don't perform. We've been there before and people complained about 'automatic slections'.

I'm sure Knill knows the 11 he'd like to pick and how he'd like them to play. But if they don't perform, he needs to change it around.

The only players that deserve automatic selection based on performances this season are the CB's and Jordan Chappell. Apart from that, take your pick.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Nico starts the first 7 or 8 games to the surprise of many and is consistently shocking bringing about a call from many fans to give Cruise a run. Knill to his credit does this but sadly Cruise has to go to centre half soon after to cover. When he is not needed as cover anymore he is dropped and Nico comes back into the side. This is the first mistake. Has Nico suddenly been playing like superman then for the last few games (of which we have lost 5 of the last 6)? This is the first example of Knill turning a perfectly sensible situation into a f*cking comedy show. Cruise now not only must be hacked off that he has lost his place thanks to helping out at centre half but must also be questioning the ability of our manager. So the message to Cruise from Knill is bide your time and keep working hard and if you are good enough then you'll get your chance'? I dn't think it is somehow.

Secondly if we take Hawley. To my knowledge I believe I am correct in saying he has started every game? That is 14 games and 2 goals without looking dangerous. Now we can argue all day as to WHY he isn't dangerous and yes he works hard but we need our strikers to score. No doubt someone will come on and say well he works hard and creates chances for others to score so it doesn't really matter. Well when I posted the thread about who Bodin will score against next I got sort of shot down by some claiming he is not a striker therefore his goals return isn't really important. Well which is it to be then? You can't have it both ways. So if our midfielders are there to create then what are our strikers there to do then? EXACTLY. Perhaps it is the tactics of Knill that is causing the lack of chances which would be ironic. So Hawley plays regardless even though it is blatantly not working.

Thirdly he dropped Chappell for the Burton game. I know it was only one game but he IS our best attacking player by a country mile and has been generally consistent. If we take that decision in isolation, WTF was all that about?!!! Then Chappell gets brough back in again.

Similarly with Craig and Lathrope. They get brought back for a game then get dropped and then brought back and then loanees come in and so on. How is anyone supposed to be knowing what they are doing out on the field when Knill is faffing around like this?

I understand totally what Fonda is saying about fans calling for players to be dropped when they have a few crap games and likewise calling for other players to be given chances and Knill cannot please them all but all i'm asking for is some basic common sense from the man. The Nico / Cruise situation he handled perfectly initially and now he's managed to look like a complete idiot. He just messes simple things up big time. We didn't want wholesale changes 14 games in, just a bit of tweaking but Knill has caused total chaos not least by bringing in a hundred and five loanees when not required.

In addition, shouldn't Knill be practising in training partnerships between certain players and learning of their relationships with each other so that he can get an idea of how they might complement one another on the pitch or does he just sit in the dugout reading the latest copy of WHAT SQUIRREL? magazine.

The man is clueless.

Next up is Poke straight back in for Rice and when Poke struggles the first few games he'll bring Rice back in again.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Is Knill the British Ranieri?

[AustrianAndyGull]

I also need to highlight my immense concern for his (lack of) motivational skills. Half the battle at our level is getting your players to buy in to the 'team spirit' ethic and any group of players can be taught to develop and nurture this much overlooked area of player management. Having read the scenarios i have described above, having seen the languid and depressive demeanour of our manager on the touchline and having seen players who cannot communicate with each other in games I would suggest that we are also losing out on the valuable league points simply possessing this 'spirit' can bring.

[ferrarilover]

Knill has to make his mind up what his preferred formation is, stick to it and develop it. We're a third of the way through the season and I think now is a good time to stop p*ssing about with it.

It would appear he STILL doesn't know his preferred 11 or his preferred formation or style of play which means we will continue to look like lost sheep.

I'm sure he does know his best XI, just every time he tries to pick it, one or more gets injured.

Equally, a next XI will vary from week to week depending on the opposition.

Didn't we spend months bemoaning the fact that he and his predecessor kept picking the same side every week?

Matt.

[Richinns]

I'm sure he does know his best XI, just every time he tries to pick it, one or more gets injured.

Equally, a next XI will vary from week to week depending on the opposition.

Didn't we spend months bemoaning the fact that he and his predecessor kept picking the same side every week?

Matt.

Yes but that was last year so now everyone has found something else to moan and bitch about.

[AustrianAndyGull]

If he does his job with some semblance of normality then we don't find ourselves a point from the bottom of the entire football league. I don't see what about this is so hard to understand. If he does his job with a modicum of ability then nobody can moan or whinge can they? So it is in fact Knill that is causing us to moan and whinge and not because some of us have an in-built moaning setting. If we were in 18th place and playing reasonably well then that's fine, it's not great but it's where we're at and we can all accept that Knill would be doing a decent job. We aren't 18th so what does that tell you? That we are all moaning for the sake of it or that Knill is doing a sh*t job?

[NA Gull]

Nico starts the first 7 or 8 games to the surprise of many and is consistently shocking bringing about a call from many fans to give Cruise a run. Knill to his credit does this but sadly Cruise has to go to centre half soon after to cover. When he is not needed as cover anymore he is dropped and Nico comes back into the side. This is the first mistake. Has Nico suddenly been playing like superman then for the last few games (of which we have lost 5 of the last 6)? This is the first example of Knill turning a perfectly sensible situation into a f*cking comedy show. Cruise now not only must be hacked off that he has lost his place thanks to helping out at centre half but must also be questioning the ability of our manager. So the message to Cruise from Knill is bide your time and keep working hard and if you are good enough then you'll get your chance'? I dn't think it is somehow.

Secondly if we take Hawley. To my knowledge I believe I am correct in saying he has started every game? That is 14 games and 2 goals without looking dangerous. Now we can argue all day as to WHY he isn't dangerous and yes he works hard but we need our strikers to score. No doubt someone will come on and say well he works hard and creates chances for others to score so it doesn't really matter. Well when I posted the thread about who Bodin will score against next I got sort of shot down by some claiming he is not a striker therefore his goals return isn't really important. Well which is it to be then? You can't have it both ways. So if our midfielders are there to create then what are our strikers there to do then? EXACTLY. Perhaps it is the tactics of Knill that is causing the lack of chances which would be ironic. So Hawley plays regardless even though it is blatantly not working.

Thirdly he dropped Chappell for the Burton game. I know it was only one game but he IS our best attacking player by a country mile and has been generally consistent. If we take that decision in isolation, WTF was all that about?!!! Then Chappell gets brough back in again.

Similarly with Craig and Lathrope. They get brought back for a game then get dropped and then brought back and then loanees come in and so on. How is anyone supposed to be knowing what they are doing out on the field when Knill is faffing around like this?

I understand totally what Fonda is saying about fans calling for players to be dropped when they have a few crap games and likewise calling for other players to be given chances and Knill cannot please them all but all i'm asking for is some basic common sense from the man. The Nico / Cruise situation he handled perfectly initially and now he's managed to look like a complete idiot. He just messes simple things up big time. We didn't want wholesale changes 14 games in, just a bit of tweaking but Knill has caused total chaos not least by bringing in a hundred and five loanees when not required.

In addition, shouldn't Knill be practising in training partnerships between certain players and learning of their relationships with each other so that he can get an idea of how they might complement one another on the pitch or does he just sit in the dugout reading the latest copy of WHAT SQUIRREL? magazine.

The man is clueless.

Next up is Poke straight back in for Rice and when Poke struggles the first few games he'll bring Rice back in again.

I rarely post on the web page as I don’t want to get into any sort of argument about things, but this post has got me riled. It smacks of someone who does not understand football, management and just wants to just moan. It was only in July he was your saviour, now you say he is an idiot. In another post, without any hint of irony, you say you are not fickle!! Genius.

1. Cruise comes in at LB, moves to CB and performs adequately. Nicho plays well enough at LB in Cruise’s absence does not deserve to be dropped again, but now knows a lowering of standard will see him benched. IMO there is little to choose between them and Nicho seems to be a target for some.
2. Agreed he should score more, but every player has a role and he is doing his. He is strong, holds the ball up and brings others into play. I thought he was excellent v Portsmouth which gave Chappell and Azeez more freedom to come in from the wings and know that when the ball gets lumped forward they can make a decent run and stand a good chance of getting the ball. He did get the assist for the goal and McCallum should have scored from a Hawley pass. IMO what lets Benyon down is that while he is a willing runner and decent finisher his link up play is not up to scratch. McCallum looked like he had potential and I would hope that he gets a few games. Your constant slagging off of Bodin is tiresome and childish.
3. He did drop Chappell as this is his first season as a regular. He is young and while he is probably our best player he needs to be managed through the season and maybe Knill thought 3 games in a week is too much for him. Knill knows him and his physical condition better than any of us. Better to rest him for the odd game than risk injury when he is tired. He is a high energy player and he was knackered after about 70 mins on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if it happens again this season.
4. Craig and Lathrope were here when Knill arrived and it is clear that they are not good enough in Knill’s eyes or do not fit into the system he wants to play. Lathrope will be off soon I would think, and maybe Craig. Maybe someone in the know can confirm.
5. Total chaos? Hardly. If Harding had remained fit we would not have got Mccort in, if Yeoman had impressed then Ball and maybe McCallum would not have been brought in. Things change in football and you have to adapt. Ling was slated when he said that “the answer is in the building”
6. What do you think he does in training? Play 3 and in?
7. I would suspect Poke would return as, although Rice has been a lot better than many expected, Poke is the better keeper.

I know quite a few people in professional football and trust me 95% of the stuff written on fans forums is nonsense. Fans don’t really appreciate that the manager, coaches, staff players all have a much better understanding of what needs to happen than the fans. Knill is getting better players in than what we have

This is not a pro-Knill post. I have seen enough managers in my time to know that he is far from the best manager we have had, but far from the worst either. He may get it right, he may not but he will have to do things his way as he is the one who will lose his job if he does not make it work.

I think we will stay up as the team has more potential than it is showing. We are 25% of the season gone and therefore have 75% of the season to go. Things can change very quickly.

[AustrianAndyGull]

I rarely post on the web page as I don’t want to get into any sort of argument about things, but this post has got me riled. It smacks of someone who does not understand football, management and just wants to just moan. It was only in July he was your saviour, now you say he is an idiot. In another post, without any hint of irony, you say you are not fickle!! Genius.

1. Cruise comes in at LB, moves to CB and performs adequately. Nicho plays well enough at LB in Cruise’s absence does not deserve to be dropped again, but now knows a lowering of standard will see him benched. IMO there is little to choose between them and Nicho seems to be a target for some.
2. Agreed he should score more, but every player has a role and he is doing his. He is strong, holds the ball up and brings others into play. I thought he was excellent v Portsmouth which gave Chappell and Azeez more freedom to come in from the wings and know that when the ball gets lumped forward they can make a decent run and stand a good chance of getting the ball. He did get the assist for the goal and McCallum should have scored from a Hawley pass. IMO what lets Benyon down is that while he is a willing runner and decent finisher his link up play is not up to scratch. McCallum looked like he had potential and I would hope that he gets a few games. Your constant slagging off of Bodin is tiresome and childish.
3. He did drop Chappell as this is his first season as a regular. He is young and while he is probably our best player he needs to be managed through the season and maybe Knill thought 3 games in a week is too much for him. Knill knows him and his physical condition better than any of us. Better to rest him for the odd game than risk injury when he is tired. He is a high energy player and he was knackered after about 70 mins on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if it happens again this season.
4. Craig and Lathrope were here when Knill arrived and it is clear that they are not good enough in Knill’s eyes or do not fit into the system he wants to play. Lathrope will be off soon I would think, and maybe Craig. Maybe someone in the know can confirm.
5. Total chaos? Hardly. If Harding had remained fit we would not have got Mccort in, if Yeoman had impressed then Ball and maybe McCallum would not have been brought in. Things change in football and you have to adapt. Ling was slated when he said that “the answer is in the building”
6. What do you think he does in training? Play 3 and in?
7. I would suspect Poke would return as, although Rice has been a lot better than many expected, Poke is the better keeper.

I know quite a few people in professional football and trust me 95% of the stuff written on fans forums is nonsense. Fans don’t really appreciate that the manager, coaches, staff players all have a much better understanding of what needs to happen than the fans. Knill is getting better players in than what we have

This is not a pro-Knill post. I have seen enough managers in my time to know that he is far from the best manager we have had, but far from the worst either. He may get it right, he may not but he will have to do things his way as he is the one who will lose his job if he does not make it work.

I think we will stay up as the team has more potential than it is showing. We are 25% of the season gone and therefore have 75% of the season to go. Things can change very quickly.

Apologies for getting you riled. I just want to moan you see , you are right I am very fickle, I have NO basis for my criticisms and a deep misunderstanding of complex modern footballing management methods. You on the other hand presumably have managed at professional level and therefore are in the 'know' as it were. I do apologise again and can accept your opinion of me as valid due to your superior experience of management. Where did you manage again?

[wodger of awabia]

If he does his job with some semblance of normality then we don't find ourselves a point from the bottom of the entire football league. I don't see what about this is so hard to understand. If he does his job with a modicum of ability then nobody can moan or whinge can they? So it is in fact Knill that is causing us to moan and whinge and not because some of us have an in-built moaning setting. If we were in 18th place and playing reasonably well then that's fine, it's not great but it's where we're at and we can all accept that Knill would be doing a decent job. We aren't 18th so what does that tell you? That we are all moaning for the sake of it or that Knill is doing a sh*t job?

Andy I don't think you will be able to convince a lot of the members of this forum that Knill is a very poor manager, & based on his results & performance this season does not have a clue how to manage his players. They just seem to think "that it will all come out in the wash" & he will eventually be able to get the team out of the sh#t'
There seem to be quite a few that believe that Knill is doing a good job, & will get us up to mid table by the end of the season, I don't know what makes them think that he will be able to do this, other than "blind faith"
I should guess that the board are rapidly losing patience with Knill as they have to keep putting their hands in their pockets to pay for all of these loan signings. If he has another 2 point month in November, I should think that they will get rid of him. The new manager must be given enough time to sort things out, & as you have said a third of the season has already gone.

[AustrianAndyGull]

I'm not trying to convince people wodge, just for people to accept that regardless of what it takes to be a manager and regardless of injuries and suspensions at the moment they have to agree that Knill is doing a poor job. If they don't agree then that would mean Knill would be achieving the minimum level of what constitutes success by currently being in 18th place or better. We are 5 places away from that therefore on the stats he is failing. I'm not banging any drum just pointing out that he isn't very good at the minute. People who say i'm moaning for the sake of it. Believe what you f*cking well like who cares?! I know what I mean and what I am trying to say. Why do we accept crapness just because we are Torquay? This mentality has to stop and it has to stop now. We pay Alan's wages and therefore for him to be relieved of criticism then he should at least be making gradual progress. He isn't and we're still naff. If he does his job properly then nobody moans it really is as simple as that so he knows what he has to do to stop it. Why should we 'understand' what the manager is trying to do? He doesn't even have to be successful here FFS such is our acceptance that Torquay are MEANT to be sh*t!! All we want is 18th, 19th , 20th place perhaps and he can't even manage that as it stands!! Unbelievable Jeff!!

[Dutchgull]

I rarely post on the web page as I don’t want to get into any sort of argument about things, but this post has got me riled. It smacks of someone who does not understand football, management and just wants to just moan. It was only in July he was your saviour, now you say he is an idiot. In another post, without any hint of irony, you say you are not fickle!! Genius.

1. Cruise comes in at LB, moves to CB and performs adequately. Nicho plays well enough at LB in Cruise’s absence does not deserve to be dropped again, but now knows a lowering of standard will see him benched. IMO there is little to choose between them and Nicho seems to be a target for some.
2. Agreed he should score more, but every player has a role and he is doing his. He is strong, holds the ball up and brings others into play. I thought he was excellent v Portsmouth which gave Chappell and Azeez more freedom to come in from the wings and know that when the ball gets lumped forward they can make a decent run and stand a good chance of getting the ball. He did get the assist for the goal and McCallum should have scored from a Hawley pass. IMO what lets Benyon down is that while he is a willing runner and decent finisher his link up play is not up to scratch. McCallum looked like he had potential and I would hope that he gets a few games. Your constant slagging off of Bodin is tiresome and childish.
3. He did drop Chappell as this is his first season as a regular. He is young and while he is probably our best player he needs to be managed through the season and maybe Knill thought 3 games in a week is too much for him. Knill knows him and his physical condition better than any of us. Better to rest him for the odd game than risk injury when he is tired. He is a high energy player and he was knackered after about 70 mins on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if it happens again this season.
4. Craig and Lathrope were here when Knill arrived and it is clear that they are not good enough in Knill’s eyes or do not fit into the system he wants to play. Lathrope will be off soon I would think, and maybe Craig. Maybe someone in the know can confirm.
5. Total chaos? Hardly. If Harding had remained fit we would not have got Mccort in, if Yeoman had impressed then Ball and maybe McCallum would not have been brought in. Things change in football and you have to adapt. Ling was slated when he said that “the answer is in the building”
6. What do you think he does in training? Play 3 and in?
7. I would suspect Poke would return as, although Rice has been a lot better than many expected, Poke is the better keeper.

I know quite a few people in professional football and trust me 95% of the stuff written on fans forums is nonsense. Fans don’t really appreciate that the manager, coaches, staff players all have a much better understanding of what needs to happen than the fans. Knill is getting better players in than what we have

This is not a pro-Knill post. I have seen enough managers in my time to know that he is far from the best manager we have had, but far from the worst either. He may get it right, he may not but he will have to do things his way as he is the one who will lose his job if he does not make it work.

I think we will stay up as the team has more potential than it is showing. We are 25% of the season gone and therefore have 75% of the season to go. Things can change very quickly.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Yeah it would be wouldn't it.