Tuesdays team selection

[Scott Brehaut]

It's far from delusional to realise how imperative it is that we try our utmost to get into those play-offs until it's impossible to do so. Who remembers the last 3 FA Trophy winners without looking it up? If we were to look at any other club and say "They won the FA Trophy" would it impress any of us? The only thing we should be doing right now is trying to get out of this league. You guys go for the Trophy and see just where we end up, it won't do us any good whatsoever. Money? We'd earn many times more just by getting back into the league. Staying in this league any longer is just going to see us fall lower and lower with our expectations and ambitions. How some people attach any importance to it is beyond me, short term blinkered viewpoint at its best. Did anyone think we could go on that winning streak earlier in the season? Did anyone think we would be so bad immediately after? The same group of players can do the same again and although it is ulikely it's still possible and while other teams drop points against each other a team can come from nowhere and scrape into the play-off spots. While we can, we should be throwing all our resources at it, it's the holy grail for our club.

FA Trophy? Do me a favour.

Whilst I'd love the chance to see the Gulls at Wembley again (and it is far easier for me to get there from here than it is to get to Torquay!!), playoffs must take priority whilst there is still a (slim) chance of us getting into them.

[Southampton Gull]

A quick glance at the previous few seasons in the conference shows that the following points were required to reach the playoffs.... 77, 80, 81, 78.

To reach that minimum of 77 points, we would need 31 points from 12 games. Really? You still this this bunch have a chance of that? Ridiculous considering current form if you ask me. Of course you can argue that there might be a really low points tally needed this season, but we are 14th with quarter of the season to go. It aint happening and I'm not even being pessimistic.

You can say what you want about the trophy, but it's important to a lot of people like me who are struggling to find anything enjoyable about supporting the club at the moment.

How many wins did the same bunch get earlier in the season? The point is it's possible, I didn't say likely but while it's still possible it has to take preference. We lose our parachute payments after this season so it will get even tougher then. Yes it's very unlikely BUT stranger things have happened and if you would rather have a day out at Wembley to cheer yourself up then that's your choice. I know what I'd prefer.................

[SBP]

Its not an excuse is it - the third game in a week on a heavy pitch will suit Wrexham because we have to force the pace of the game they don't. Sports nutrition has nothing to do with it. Leg weary players on Saturday will NOT get us past Wrexham - fresh players might.

Brucie, if they are playing multiple games in a short space of time they dont do much training. What do you think the teams of 20-30 years ago use to do with only 1 sub.

[tomogull]

It's far from delusional to realise how imperative it is that we try our utmost to get into those play-offs until it's impossible to do so. Who remembers the last 3 FA Trophy winners without looking it up? If we were to look at any other club and say "They won the FA Trophy" would it impress any of us? The only thing we should be doing right now is trying to get out of this league. You guys go for the Trophy and see just where we end up, it won't do us any good whatsoever. Money? We'd earn many times more just by getting back into the league. Staying in this league any longer is just going to see us fall lower and lower with our expectations and ambitions. How some people attach any importance to it is beyond me, short term blinkered viewpoint at its best. Did anyone think we could go on that winning streak earlier in the season? Did anyone think we would be so bad immediately after? The same group of players can do the same again and although it is ulikely it's still possible and while other teams drop points against each other a team can come from nowhere and scrape into the play-off spots. While we can, we should be throwing all our resources at it, it's the holy grail for our club.

FA Trophy? Do me a favour.

Whilst I totally agree that the priority has to be to get out of this league (up not down), although it is still mathematically possible to do so, I don't think we've got a snowball's chance of hell of getting anywhere near the play offs. We've already dropped too many points against teams we should have beaten. There are nine teams between us and the final 5th place. Most have better goal differences and a couple - Halifax & Gateshead - have played less games. At present, we're not even threatening to play well. At the beginning of the season, I thought we might be in play offs or thereabouts. Now I'm not confident that we will even end up in the top half of the table. Okay - the Trophy is a bit of a non event but it has brought in some money for the club. Perhaps this extra money has allowed Hargreaves to bring in Dawson, Gueguan, Campbell and Reid.

In any case, having just squelched my way across a field, all this is probably academic. With more rain forecast tonight and tomorrow, I think tomorrow night's match must be very doubtful. And if Wrexham's pitch needed two inspections last Saturday, I reckon their match against Forest Green must be even more doubtful.

[Trojan 67]

Tuesday's team selection should be consistent with EVERY team selection : the strongest selected side playing the appropriate game winning tactics.

Hargreaves unfortunately is proving himself inept when it comes to team selections, tactics and in game changes. Alfred Town(A)being one such example. The smooth know it all talker of the TV studio couch has become a faltering, mumbling aftermatch excuse maker and in comparison is making Tisdale up the road appear to be both a master tactician and orator.



Time now to sharpen my blunt instrument ready for use Saturday teatime. :devil:

[Gullscorer]

We should be able to buy some cheap parachutes from somewhere..

[DJ Gull]

Dave SG does make a good point, and I can assure all I hadn't missed the point Dave makes, it's one I normally would agree with, however I think to many mistakes have been made, to many cheap points been lost (should easily have 10 points more than we do have)and gap probably to wide now.

That said I have no doubt CH will go out Tuesday and play his strongest side and have real go at winning the game, and hope we do, just don't want us to end up with nothing at the end of this season.

I'd Say 20.

[nickbrod]

From the Manager's comments on the OS we're going to be on the front foot tomorrow night still aiming for the play-offs. I reckon we'll see Downes returning with both Reid and Campbell starting but don't ask me what the team will be; I can't second-guess the manager!

[portugull]

I am going and my selection is

Rice

Dawson Pearce Downes Cruise

Guegan Young Ajala Reid

Bowman Campbell

Dawson because he is a right back.
Downes because Angus is carrying an injury

Cruise because Ives is 17 and needs careful handling. Not too many games close together.

Guegan because he will add something to our midfield
Reid because CH should tell him to to run his socks off for 65 minutes and then sub him.

COYY

[Behind-the-Gulls]

I am going and my selection is

Rice

Dawson Pearce Downes Cruise

Guegan Young Ajala Reid

Bowman Campbell

Dawson because he is a right back.
Downes because Angus is carrying an injury

Cruise because Ives is 17 and needs careful handling. Not too many games close together.

Guegan because he will add something to our midfield
Reid because CH should tell him to to run his socks off for 65 minutes and then sub him.

COYY

Cruise is still injured.Angus is on nine bookings as well as carrying an injury-he's the most likely to not be involved tonight.