Stronger squad, Weaker team

[Plymouth Gull]

Good article on the OS interviewing Lingy. Totally agree aswell.

[Glostergull]

To all the moaners on here in the last few days. he know you know. He ain't daft and has been thinking about this long before you could do much about it. But he is wise enough not to bow to knee jerk reactions. All credit to St Martin.

[ferrarilover]

One win in 20 games is not knee jerk. Wombles won 9 in 43 and sacked the manager to the relief of absolutely everyone. At our present rate, we'll win our 9th game sometime in September 2016!

It's all well and good knowing that something is wrong, it's better still to know what is wrong, the real test is doing something about it.

Matt.

[AustrianAndyGull]

The sad thing is we HAVE a stronger team i totally agree but we're just not using it to full effect.

[Plymouth Gull]

One win in 20 games? Lets not exaggerate here...

[AustrianAndyGull]

Sorry Nick, i've just realised my mistake. I meant to write that i feel we have a stronger SQUAD than last term. Our first 11 without Bobby, Ellis and Eunan is undoubtedly weaker but we have more strength in depth overall i feel. We just aren't being set up properly in order to play to those strengths IMO.

[Dave]

Think Nick may have refering to Matt's post, as our team have won twice so far this season, and have won 6 of our last 20 games..still a worry though.

Confused awell, our so called stronger team of last season won 3 out of their last 10 games , this seasons so called weaker team is performing at the same level results wise, does this perhaps point to something different, like the same old, same old predictable tactics maybe ?

[ferrarilover]

One win in 20 games? Lets not exaggerate here...

Sorry Nick, it's actually 3 in 15 (18 if you include Playoffs and COC), I was working quickly from half a memory of a stat which I came across (presumably before the Wombles match), it wasn't deliberately misleading.

Matt.

[royalgull]

Think Nick may have refering to Matt's post, as our team have won twice so far this season, and have won 6 of our last 20 games..still a worry though.

Confused awell, our so called stronger team of last season won 3 out of their last 10 games , this seasons so called weaker team is performing at the same level results wise, does this perhaps point to something different, like the same old, same old predictable tactics maybe ?

Definitely a factor, at all levels now teams do their homework and they work you out after a while.

I just think we lack genuine attacking players or we have done over recent weeks. We set up defensively as a rule of thumb but without Eunan we don't have a player who is similarly attack minded who plays in midfield. All of our central midfielders are either predominantly defensive or your more typical central midfielder.

Macklin and Stevens back into the fold helps things but we are are too heavily rliant on Howe to score our goals. Need more from Bodin as he is one of our few 'star' players if you like and hopefully Macklin can continue where he left off pre injury.

Ideally I'd like us to play with 2 strikers but we don't have the personell. Jarvis isn't the answer but I don't think Ling is even looking at this alternative so we will continue in this way. For us to be at our best we need everyone fit, Lathrope back in, maybe give Craig more license and most importantly need more from whoever our two wingers are on the day.

[brucie]

I am not sure that we have a stronger squad at all. Not any viable replacements at centre forward or centre half. The likes of Yeoman,Halpin,Rice are nowhere near league standard. Cruise has looked a liability. Possibly the only place we might be stronger is with wingers ie Bodin,the emergence of Thompson and possibly Macklin shaking himself up at last.
We are struggling in midfield - not to many viable replacements there.
We really look a one man team at the moment and god help us if Rene Howe gets injured.

[royalgull]

It's hard to say that about Yeoman, Halpin and Rice because they haven't played. You did say the same about Macklin and now he's getting a chance he looks good enough.

But I do agree with the rest of your post, I'd be more concerned about 1 or 2 of our players that have played loads more than the 3 you've mentioned who still don't really bring anything to the table.

Up front we definitely have a weakness. Howe is absolutely top drawer and we have no one else anywhere near his class. Can't expect him to play 50 games a season and all to a top level up front on his own.

[wivelgull]

I agree with Brucie. With the injuries to Morris and Easton we need a new midfielder - fast! A loanee will do - and will have to do.

[Richinns]

I agree with Brucie. With the injuries to Morris and Easton we need a new midfielder - fast! A loanee will do - and will have to do.

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/story ... story.html

No according to Ling - we go with what we have got for now.

[brucie]

Macklin has been here a long time and did ok in the game before he was injured, but still has alot to do before he can be considered a first team prospect - I would put him some way behing Thompson but on what I have actually seen of Stevens I think I would prefer Macklin.

[ferrarilover]

Cruise wouldn't look a liability in L1, very calm, well composed, superb passer. Mackenzie would seem to be a fine replacement, given that he stood totally firm against the biggest scorers in the division.
Macklin is an automatic starter when fit.
The light at the end of the tunnel with Morris' injury is that now NC should be getting a virtually guaranteed start.
Rice is a very good keeper these days and would start for a number of the lesser teams in the division.
I've never been a fan of Halps or Yeoman, neither ever impress me at reserve level, which was something that even McPhee managed to do with fair regularity.
Stevens has done nothing for me so far this year, but hasn't really had long enough, so we'll give him time.

Give it a couple of weeks, when DL is back and NC/Macklin/Easton etc are fully fit and we'll be laughing.

Matt.


I've typed it, I'm not certain that I believe it, but we'll stick with it for now.