TorquayFans.com | Torquay United Fans Forum

The strike force this season has been a let down, Bodin played his best game this season off the front in the hole. There is nothing to lose as he can create and be in the box, with the hope that Cameron is fit and we could play 4-2-3-1.
1 think this is worth a go as Benyon for all his work is not the answer. Yeoman is not either but can be an impact later in the game. The back four picks it's self or the new lad, defensive midfield Lathrop and Harding with attacking midfield of Mansell Bodin Cameron with Coulthirst up front.

If Coulthirst can play up on his own it would be a good option to play this way.
Pick your team on another post.

To be fair, I'd actually rather see Bodin as an out an out striker alongside Coulthirst than where he plays at the minute. It might work. I'd be happy with this but not happy if Bodin was to start in his usual position as he has consistently offered us nothing. He has tidy feet and can get shots off so why not give him a crack as a striker? It maybe that he has playing in the wrong position all his career and that a change would work the oracle. What else have we got to lose?

I personally would go with Rice in goal. I'd go a back 3 of O'Connor, Pearce and Downes purely because Tonge / Nicholson and Cruise give us nothing either defensively OR going forward on the wings. They invite pressure down their sides and always struggle to deal with any pace or direct play from the opposition on their sides.

By going with 3 at the back I'd flood the middle having Lathrope sitting deep as an anchorman providing protection for the back 3 and then I'd have Thompson on the right, Chappell on the left and stick Mansell and Craig in the middle. Give Craig a chance in the middle and see if he can take it for once and if he is having a shocker then we'll have no choice but to bring on Harding which would mean we lose a bit of creativity in the midfield. Just play a high line and press them high up the pitch and don't give them an inch. See if they like that and see if they are EXPECTING that. It will leave us very vulnerable to breaks on the flanks but we play 4 at the back at the minute and are still vulnerable because Tonge and Nico aren't up to it.

Stick Coulthirst up top with Bodin and get them some **** service.

I'm sure Phil Brown will know how we play and how we set up and an untrained lemming will do so too therefore try and spring the element of surprise and do it my way. We may well click or we may well get a mauling but at least I think a lot of fans will appreciate the fact that Chris is willing to go for broke here.

One thing is for sure. If we play like we have done these past two months, even in the wins then we'll just get stuffed tomorrow IMO. We are more predictable than a group of chavs going to visit a dog rescue centre and asking for a staffy. We are extremely easy to play against meaning shit teams can generally come away with the points having just done the basics well. We give the opposition nothing to think about.

We need to approach the Southend game with a different angle and whilst my suggestion may be a little offbeat, at times like these risks have to be taken.

Can't argue with that I just want to see Chris address the stiker situation and I see Bodin a jewell in our side not used to the best of his ability, Craig I'd love to see him in there.
I would prefere to keep a back four and use Cameron or Chapell on one side with the idea of feeding Cameron or Chapell.

Got to be worth a go. I've lost patience with Benyon and Hawley, and Yeoman isn't ready/good enough. Why not try it.

Bodin has always said he's a striker lets give him a chance to prove it.

I love that team, Andy, but you've got to give Craig a proper chance. It's no good dropping him into the bottom team in L2, playing with a bunch of players who are either brand new or back from long loans away, playing in an unfamiliar shape and expecting him to start playing like Messi straight away.

Give the boy 10 games picked with the same 10 team-mates every week. Let him play for 90 minutes every week and give him a bit of confidence.

This isn't unique to him, but his game is reliant on lots of other people doing the right things. It's almost like Morecambe and Wise. He'll play all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order. I saw it at Dorchester. He was playing some really good balls in behind the opposition. Problem was, not one of the plumbers or publicans in that side had even begum to think about possibly making the run to match the ball. Simpletons blame Craig for this, because they don't know any better. What a Craig type player needs is to play and train with players every week, so they know the balls he will play and he knows the runs they will make. This can ONLY come with playing time together. This is L2, central midfielders don't get any time on the ball, so they have to play a lot of fairly blind passes and just hope that their team mates are on the same wavelength. In many ways, this is how Benyon justifies his selection every week, by picking up on those balls forward from Nico which no one else does.

Matt.

ferrarilover wrote:I love that team, Andy, but you've got to give Craig a proper chance. It's no good dropping him into the bottom team in L2, playing with a bunch of players who are either brand new or back from long loans away, playing in an unfamiliar shape and expecting him to start playing like Messi straight away.

Give the boy 10 games picked with the same 10 team-mates every week. Let him play for 90 minutes every week and give him a bit of confidence.

This isn't unique to him, but his game is reliant on lots of other people doing the right things. It's almost like Morecambe and Wise. He'll play all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order. I saw it at Dorchester. He was playing some really good balls in behind the opposition. Problem was, not one of the plumbers or publicans in that side had even begum to think about possibly making the run to match the ball. Simpletons blame Craig for this, because they don't know any better. What a Craig type player needs is to play and train with players every week, so they know the balls he will play and he knows the runs they will make. This can ONLY come with playing time together. This is L2, central midfielders don't get any time on the ball, so they have to play a lot of fairly blind passes and just hope that their team mates are on the same wavelength. In many ways, this is how Benyon justifies his selection every week, by picking up on those balls forward from Nico which no one else does.

Matt.

Matt you remembered my post a few months ago you must have liked it.

I've been saying this for two years, and before that about Eunan. Nice try, Mr Hansen, but I was pushing this line when Mervo was running this site from his bedroom.

Matt.

Matt. I was on about Morcombe and Wise nothing else and you were in Mervo's bedroom!Who's mervo

I'd go for

Poke
Oconnor Pearce Downes Nicho/new lad
Cameron Harding Lathrope Bodin
Stockely Coulthirst

anyone who can guess what team our manager will put out tomorrow ,should have a go at the lottery , I don't think anyone could have named any team he has put out since hes been here , he used 30 players and the tea lady would have played , but she hadn't got her boots.
I was at York on Tuesday , and to see Thompson take the field before Jordan chapple is a **** disgrace.
hes not fit to polish his boots.
I am ever the optimist , I always think we can win , but with benyon, shambo olick , Thompson, what a shit trio, no wonder we couldn't score .. not a hope in hell , when will the manager realise benyon is totally **** useless he offers nothing , hes a whinging grass **** sucker.

AustrianAntheaGull wrote:To be fair, I'd actually rather see Bodin as an out an out striker alongside Coulthirst than where he plays at the minute. It might work. I'd be happy with this but not happy if Bodin was to start in his usual position as he has consistently offered us nothing. He has tidy feet and can get shots off so why not give him a crack as a striker? It maybe that he has playing in the wrong position all his career and that a change would work the oracle. What else have we got to lose?

I personally would go with Rice in goal. I'd go a back 3 of O'Connor, Pearce and Downes purely because Tonge / Nicholson and Cruise give us nothing either defensively OR going forward on the wings. They invite pressure down their sides and always struggle to deal with any pace or direct play from the opposition on their sides.

By going with 3 at the back I'd flood the middle having Lathrope sitting deep as an anchorman providing protection for the back 3 and then I'd have Thompson on the right, Chappell on the left and stick Mansell and Craig in the middle. Give Craig a chance in the middle and see if he can take it for once and if he is having a shocker then we'll have no choice but to bring on Harding which would mean we lose a bit of creativity in the midfield. Just play a high line and press them high up the pitch and don't give them an inch. See if they like that and see if they are EXPECTING that. It will leave us very vulnerable to breaks on the flanks but we play 4 at the back at the minute and are still vulnerable because Tonge and Nico aren't up to it.

Stick Coulthirst up top with Bodin and get them some f**king service.

I'm sure Phil Brown will know how we play and how we set up and an untrained lemming will do so too therefore try and spring the element of surprise and do it my way. We may well click or we may well get a mauling but at least I think a lot of fans will appreciate the fact that Chris is willing to go for broke here.

One thing is for sure. If we play like we have done these past two months, even in the wins then we'll just get stuffed tomorrow IMO. We are more predictable than a group of chavs going to visit a dog rescue centre and asking for a staffy. We are extremely easy to play against meaning sh*t teams can generally come away with the points having just done the basics well. We give the opposition nothing to think about.

We need to approach the Southend game with a different angle and whilst my suggestion may be a little offbeat, at times like these risks have to be taken.

I would love to see our manager have the balls to try something like this. Personally I think there are some good ideas there.

I doubt it would happen though, bound to be the same old faces and tactics and Hargreaves has to keep his mates in the team somehow.

okehampton gull wrote:anyone who can guess what team our manager will put out tomorrow ,should have a go at the lottery , I don't think anyone could have named any team he has put out since hes been here , he used 30 players and the tea lady would have played , but she hadn't got her boots.
I was at York on Tuesday , and to see Thompson take the field before Jordan chapple is a f**king disgrace.
hes not fit to polish his boots.
I am ever the optimist , I always think we can win , but with benyon, shambo olick , Thompson, what a sh*t trio, no wonder we couldn't score .. not a hope in hell , when will the manager realise benyon is totally f**king useless he offers nothing , hes a whinging grass f**king sucker.

Is that Polish as they take our jobs. Or oh yes polish it fits.

It seems we will never know but I just hope Chris or his assistant read these posts as it's really worth a shout. We supporters do want us to score. We wil dream!!

Chris please try something different Bodin and Stockley or Coulthirst it's time for change give Craig a Chance in a 4-1-3-2

..O'Connor............Pearce(c)........Downes....

........................Lathrope.......................

...............Harding..........Cooper............

..................,.......Craig..........................

....Coulthirst........Stockley.......Cameron/Bodin.

Subs: Bodin/Cameron, Cargill, Keeper, Yeoman plus 3 others.

Has Goodwin got another game to go before he's back?