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Lloyder5 wrote:I don't normally read Andy's offerings, but I must say I really enjoyed the Magic Squirrel preface.

Interesting game this one in terms of trying to second guess Knill with his team selections. Can the bizarreness continue in earnest or will he go with the most appropriate 11?

Both Bodin and O'Connor return from international duty and we now have McCourt added to the squad. In addition, Azeez is in fine form.

I want the team to be:

RICE
TONGE PEARCE O'CONNOR CRUISE
AZEEZ LATHROPE MANSELL CHAPPELL
BENYON YEOMAN


Obviously Yeoman isn't here thanks to Knill but Hawley is beginning to look a dead rubber and i'd much rather Yeoman had a chance. Hawley has been in the side regularly and has scored 2. Unacceptable. To be honest i'd rather drop Hawley and give Bodin one last crack and put him up top with Benyon.

If Bodin is brought back into the 11 (IN HIS USUAL POSITION) then I will cry.

If Azeez doesn't start then I will cry and stomp my feet.

If O'Connor doesn't start then I will cry, stomp my feet and scratch my head like a baboon.

If Mansell is being ineffective then bring him off and replace him with Craig or as a last resort McCourt or I will cry, stomp my feet, scratch my head like a baboon and shake my index finger violently like Italian players do at refs when they want to say "NO! NO! NO!"

We'll have to wait and see but does anyone have any complaints to my preferred line up for Saturday?

No complaints, Andy, but I doubt it will happen (Yeoman definitely won't be there of course). I wonder if Poke will return if fully fit? And I wonder if Cruise will start ? Kev Nich had a reasonable game against York and reports from the Wycombe game suggests he was ok so maybe he'll keep his place?

Mr Knill seems to have tunnel vision re 4 - 2 - 4 line up so I expect the line up to be -
RICE (possibly Poke)
TONGE O'CONNOR PEARCE CRUISE (possibly Nicholson)
MANSELL LATHROPE
CHAPPELL AZEEZ HAWLEY BODIN
(Jak ? to come on with 15 minutes to play, Benyon with 10 minutes to play and Cameron with 3 minutes to play ....... sarcasm is the lowest form ???)

Oh ..... and I think we'll win. I'm not over confident as Mansfield have shown that they're back in league 2 to stay but I have a gut feeling that it will be a much needed 3 points ..... I'll go for 2 - 1.

This is what I would like to see.

Rice (Poke if fully fit)
Tonge O'Connor Pearce Cruise
Chappell Mansell McCourt Bodin
Azeez Hawley

Whatever,whichever way AK goes we should at least have a balanced defense, that should help our cause.

forevertufc wrote:This is what I would like to see.

Rice (Poke if fully fit)
Tonge O'Connor Pearce Cruise
Chappell Mansell McCourt Bodin
Azeez Hawley

Whatever,whichever way AK goes we should at least have a balanced defense, that should help our cause.

Generally I concur - although I'd prefer to see Mansell out for Lathrope but I don't think that will happen, so if the above team lines up I'd take it

What now for Benyon then?

How is he supposed to get any form going when he's in and out of the team constantly?

Hawley keeps his place when he can't score (and rarely looks like scoring)?

Bodin comes back in and we get what exactly?

I'd take McCourt for Mansell but would prefer Lathrope like you Jeff.

AustrianAndyGull wrote:What now for Benyon then?

How is he supposed to get any form going when he's in and out of the team constantly?

Hawley keeps his place when he can't score (and rarely looks like scoring)?

Bodin comes back in and we get what exactly?

I'd take McCourt for Mansell but would prefer Lathrope like you Jeff.

Get where your coming from Andy, however we are running a professional football team, you have to look at Benyon and Azeez and ask yourself, right now which one is more likely to get you a goal, the answer for me is Azeez.

Hawley gives a bit of physical presence, strength that perhaps you wouldn't get from either Azeez or Benyon, Bodin will give balance to the team.

Bloody A Levels!!! I've had no time whatsoever to do previews on the main page! I know I said this last time....and the time before, but this week I will definitely try to get a short one up for the game on Saturday!

forevertufc wrote: Get where your coming from Andy, however we are running a professional football team, you have to look at Benyon and Azeez and ask yourself, right now which one is more likely to get you a goal, the answer for me is Azeez.

Hawley gives a bit of physical presence, strength that perhaps you wouldn't get from either Azeez or Benyon, Bodin will give balance to the team.

I understand you Dave and you are right in saying that Azeez is at the moment, more likely to get us a goal than Benyon and so he must get the nod but why must Benyon be dropped?

Hawley adds a bit of muscle but for the most part is just like a poor mans Rene Howe, back to goal, battling for the ball to lay off and rarely getting into advanced dangerous areas. He can dink one in no probs when the mood takes but as a reliable scoring source forget it. I'd drop Hawley and run with Benners and Azeez up top if Bodin is to start.

Why do we NEED a physical presence up top anyway? We've got nippy players so let's go at the opposition with that rather than some predictable journeyman like Hawley.

Hawley is a piece of p*ss to play against. All you need to do is close him down if he gets any space on the edge of the area and it's game over for him. He has zero pace to get in behind. Very poor.

Andy, if your going with two quick front men who by and large play off the shoulder of the last defender, then you need and player like Eunan O'Kane , Alex Russel in your team who can create the chance/play the ball through for them, we haven't got that right now.

So having a player like Hawley who can hold the ball up, and will get you the odd goal can be an advantage.

Give it 5 minutes before someone comes in clamouring for Nathan Craig after that comment, Dave!

Hawley offers more than Benyon in my opinion.

Hawley can score and he showed that at scunthorpe. he offers more than goal but helps with a bit of size up top. im sure knill see's things in training hit why he gets a game. just hope whats in training gets on the pitch soon.

Nick wrote:Give it 5 minutes before someone comes in clamouring for Nathan Craig after that comment, Dave!

Hawley offers more than Benyon in my opinion.

Indeed Nick, I had considered the fact we have League 2's very own messi in Nathan Craig when I wrote that.

Jeff wrote: Generally I concur - although I'd prefer to see Mansell out for Lathrope but I don't think that will happen, so if the above team lines up I'd take it

I'd have the same as Jeff. Though, if Mansell is undroppable, then I would put Lathrope behind him and McCourt and Azeez up top, with Chappel and Bodin. Hawley to the bench. That won't happen either, though. Think we'll win this week.

tufcbrett wrote:Hawley can score and he showed that at scunthorpe. he offers more than goal but helps with a bit of size up top. im sure knill see's things in training hit why he gets a game. just hope whats in training gets on the pitch soon.

Actually, if you look at his player profile, his goal scoring record aint that great. He did okay during three seasons at Carlisle 2004-07 but he's been around a long time and the only other time he's got into double figures in a season was last season when he scored 11 for Scunthorpe. Okay - he's played mostly at Div 1 level - Carlisie, Preston, Notts Co, Scunthorpe - but I have to say that I'm very disappointed from what I've seen so far. I was expecting more from him.