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If you were the gaffer what would you do for the game with Southend on Saturday regarding Aaron Downes one match suspension.

Scenario 1. You try to get someone in on loan which will be extremely difficult for 1 match.

Scenario 2. We start with Brian and Angus and have no back up center back on the bench.

Scenario 3. Again we start with Brian and Angus but take 1st year pro center back Jake Hutchings to sit on the bench as cover.

I added the last scenario as I'm not sure if kirtys can be recalled from his loan move and I've heard that although young Hutchings needs to fill out a little he is a better prospect.

Scenario 3. Angus can do a job no doubt and if Kirtys cannot be recalled then have Hutchings on the bench. Or could we use someone else as an emergency centre back?

I'd probably leave things as they are with Saah & MacDonald at the centre of defence. If one of them got injured would it be possible to move Joe Oastler into the centre and bring on Leadbitter to fill Joe's place at right back ?

I think it would be rough on Macdonald to bring a new face in to start, he has done nothing wrong to suggest he shouldn't get the spot. As for the bench, If we have time/resources after getting a striker in then yes, get a centre half to sit on the bench. Otherwise, Oastler can play centre-half and I'm pretty sure Cruise can too at a push. Maybe even Labadie in an emergency.

I agree with Andy on this one, possibly for the first time .. No offence mate !!

I would take the young lad even if its just for experience, why play someone out of position when you have someone who can play in that position. He was on the bench earlier in the year against port vale so why not again ? And if your good enough it shouldn't matter about your age, look at Tyler Harvey at Plymouth he is getting regular starts and when our youth team played Plymouth recently Hutchings kept Harvey quiet for the whole game.

scenario 2, cruise and oastler are able to fill in if required- or Labadie.

Although if it was for more than 1 game then put him on bench, but we need attacking players for now.

supergulls wrote:I agree with Andy on this one, possibly for the first time .. No offence mate !!
I would take the young lad even if its just for experience, why play someone out of position when you have someone who can play in that position. He was on the bench earlier in the year against port vale so why not again ? And if your good enough it shouldn't matter about your age, look at Tyler Harvey at Plymouth he is getting regular starts and when our youth team played Plymouth recently Hutchings kept Harvey quiet for the whole game.

No offence taken SG!

What may change Knill's thinking is that unfortunately Downes will serve a TWO match suspension as it is his second straight red of the season (h v Rochdale) and so he will miss both the Southend (a) and the Chesterfield (h) games. For that reason, I think Knill may try and bring in another centre half before Saturday ... IF he can.

It's clear, judging by his post match tweets, that he (Downes) feels like he has let himself and everyone else at the club down, and he came in for some over the top stick last night, in the "heat of the moment" on twitter from one "fan" in particular. Extremely harsh on Downes, yes he has been poor the last couple of games and cost us goals and quite possibly points but as far as I am concerned he has been head and shoulders our best and most consistent performer this season and he deserves to be cut a bit of slack.

I am sure Downes will be absolutely gutted to be missing two vitally important games in our run in and in particular the home match against his old team Chesterfield, where (in the away) game he seemingly gave one of his best performances earlier in he season.

Like I say, with only one (Saah) experienced centre half and one inexperienced (MacDonald - who has it must be said never let us down) one and one totally untried one (Hutchings) I think Knill will try and fetch another one in.

I'm gutted for Aaron as i know he will be upset at missing the Chesterfield game. He was highly regarded up in these parts and all at Chesterfield loved having him around the place. His missus used to run the club shop and speaking to Chesterfield fans they all thought he always gave 100%. He has always given 100% for us and has been one of our top 3 best players this season. That is why anybody who gives him abuse for these two games just gone is in my eyes a total moron and has zero sympathy and understanding. What about the previous games (most of them ) when he been there for us? Other players couldn't complain if they got some abuse but to give Downes some for a couple of dodgy games beggars belief. I for one can forgive him this 100% as he has given me and my club 100% this season. If many others had done the same then we wouldn't be in this sh*t so lay off Downes as it's pathetic.

I like using 100% - so what?! :na:

I'd go for Scenario 3.

I'd also change my first name to Juan

Scott Brehaut wrote:I'd go for Scenario 3.

I'd also change my first name to Juan

Juan Knill, I like it.


Juan Knill then sit behind it for the rest of the 90+stoppage I don't like.

Scenario 3 - Aberdeen Angus seems bullish enough to continue partnering Saah and if young Jake is the next prodigal prospect then name him in the squad.

downes has been superb all season, he doesnt deserve any stick, he has got my player of the year vote already, lets hope we can hang on to him next season. as gas fans said keep him fit and he is the best centre half in the league.

There are players in the team who are not the players they were last season, and others who've lost form over the course of this campaign. I wouldn't knock Downes, who has consistently played well. But if Kevin Nicholson 'lost his legs', other players have also lost something, even Lee Mansell, whose error led to Downes' dismissal last night.

These are not bad players, but all can experience a dip in form, and if any of them feel they're going to start a game regardless, then they will tend to rest on their laurels. But it has also been the way the team has been coached and organised, with too defensive a formation, which has been part of the reason for our current position and loss of confidence.

The players can be applauded for effort, but they need to regain their confidence, fighting spirit and determination; far too often, lack of confidence causes mistakes and heads drop unnecessarily when they lose a goal.

We should not be afraid to bring in fresh legs to start a game, nor to change to an attacking formation. We need to improve morale and determination, and to score goals to win more games. Last night was a good start. If only we had kept eleven men on the pitch...