Rival Son

Send him out on loan, then. We can’t be putting players in for fitness reasons!

Interesting. You’re comfortable with Tutu switching from left wing back, to left wing, to right back and now right wing back, over a few months, and yet you’re wary of playing Morley - a right-footed midfielder, with proven crossing ability, and experience of playing in defensive positions - at right wing back. For what it’s worth, I think Morley is a stronger and more technically gifted player than Tutu. I believe he can do a job a right wing back.

I’ve just posted a thought on a slightly different role for Morley, in the Stevenage thread. Then I looked on this thread, to see this discussion! Feel free to critique my post on the Stevenage thread.

If we are to keep the Wigan formation tonight, and Tutu is unable to play two 90 minutes in three days, I’m going to suggest something left field, to replace him: Aaron Morley. From an attacking perspective, Morley would offer something different to Tutu. While he is unlikely to have the same quick footed movement of Tutu, I believe his first time crosses into Dalby would be far superior to those of Tutu. And from a defensive perspective? Well, both Evatt and Schumacher have previously pulled Morley back into defence, where he’s not looked out of place. While I don’t think he’d have the acceleration of Tutu, I do believe he’d be stronger in the tackle. This thought first germinated with me, during the second half at Wigan, as I grew increasingly frustrated at Tutu’s inability to deliver decent ball into the box.

Sounds like we could be the Spurs of League One! Spurs would be buying Joel Randall, while Brentford would be signing Dom Ballard!

What will happen is that other managers will work out this formation, as well. What we have introduced is a variation to how we set up. As @Tombwfc rightly says, yesterday does not mean we will play like this for the remaining 20 matches. it will, however, keep opposition managers guessing as to how we may approach a game. We should be no more wedded to this system, as to two wingers, or any other combination. The squad needs players who can adapt to this variation. Not players who are one-dimensional in a single role, and to recruit as such would be a folly.

Dempsey is not, and never has been, a 10. He is an 8. A 10 is a forward who drops deep to receive the ball and push forward. An 8 is an attacking midfielder who also tracks back and makes tackles; what used to be called a box-to-box midfielder. When Dempsey started, he did so as an 8 in a three man midfield. We did not play a 10 in those games. Dempsey is a unique player in our squad and one we’d do well to cherish.

Did you miss Dempsey coming on for Simons at 0-0 and adding both attacking impetus and defensive grit, which helped us score the winner and snuff out any Wigan late push? He did more in the final 15 minutes (plus injury time) than Simons had managed in the previous 75 minutes. To say Dempsey will struggle get another game this season, shows a clear ignorance of what he offers us.

A lot of unfair criticism of Sheehan and Dalby. Sheehan has been virtually a one-man midfield and everywhere, while Simons is hiding. i think Dalby has had a decent half. He’s held it up pretty well and won a lot of ball, with little support. And he was there for the Conway cross. He went front post, as he did at Peterborough and scored, but it went over his head. It was Burstow that was MIA.

Apart from the fact he volleyed it in, rather than headed it, you’re absolutely correct. We can still get to the byline and be effective with inverted wingers. Conway illustrates how a full back can do this, but it also illustrates how we need Tutu or AN Other at right back, to do the same.

3 years for Taylor. Dalby is 4.

3 years for Simons. Still questionable. Don’t understand the love-in from some on here. Has shown very little, in my opinion.

London Whites will probably have at least a third of those tickets.

So, we don’t need a right back then? This is top priority, assuming Cogley is leaving. Centre back? We’ve just paid 6-figure transfer fee for a centre back. Number 10? We’re overflowing with 10s. We can’t get another in, without shifting at least two of them. Moreover, we have an 18 year old 10 - Toby Ritchie - who deserves a look before we waste any more precious money.

Quite right. It was Jimmy Dickinson who brought Cissoko into both Plymouth and Bolton. In defence of Dickinson, he had nothing to do with Taylor and Dalby, who were done deals before he arrived.

Clearly, something has gone on with Cogley. Everyone’s ball is getting a turn in the bingo machine, except Cogley’s. If the player wants out, we need to get him off the payroll, ASAP, and get a replacement in.

I’m in this camp. The keeper gives confidence to the defence, not the other way around. in fact, I’m sure some confident keepers consider playing behind a weak defence as an opportunity to shine. Now, where do we find one of those confident and able keepers?

Nolan inexperienced? I’m not advocating for change (yet). However, have a look at Nolan’s coaching career over the last 9 years. He has more on his CV than either Evatt or Schumacher had, when they were appointed, and at a higher level. Four and a half years at a senior level in the Premier League, working with higher quality players than both Evatt and Schumacher have ever done; both as a player and a manager.

That’s a Championship team, though, some of whom came down from the Premier League with us. A more relevant comparison might be the team that Bruce Rioch built in 1992/93, to take us up from the third tier. Especially, the “cheap” forward partnership of Andy Walker (Phil Neal signing, the season before) and John McGinlay (one of Bruce’s first signings).

The one change I’d make is Tutu for Christie. I don’t understand why Schumacher persists with the more attacking option of Tutu away from home, and the more defensive option of Christie at home. Seems the wrong way around to me.

Charlie Warren scores his first goal for Aldershot, in a 4-1 win. Sam Inwood also featured at left back. Two wins and a draw for the Shots, in the three games since Charlie arrived. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ckgz7qwk7l8t

No, there doesn’t. We can have as many loans as we want, but only put 5 in a matchday squad. I’d be happy if Cissoko disappeared from the squad.

My view Tutu: possibly, at right back. Simons: no, retain Sheehan and Erhahon (it was cramp). Dempsey: probably, but see later. Cissoko: no way, Jose. Gale to retain. Burstow: not up front. Dalby’s showing some positive signs, and deserves a start for me. I do wonder, though about trying Burstow as the 10? It’s where he’s played a lot of games, prior to joining us. Lack of form, though, might give the nod to Dempsey, with Randall as his sub. Maybe try Burstow as 10, with Dalby at 9 in the EFL Trophy?

Almost, but the other way around. Our pitch was the minimum allowed for the Premier League, on the orders of Big Sam, to suit our style of play and stifle the opposition. However, it was then discovered to be too narrow for UEFA rules. Therefore, we had to extend by about a yard, either side, for UEFA Cup matches. This yard included a groove worn into the grass by the linesmen, running up and and down. The weather for the game against Zenit was atrocious, and persistent rain throughout the day collected in the grooves, resulting in channels of water down both wings. A farce of pitch and a match. But we won 1-0.

Here we are in agreement. The need to raise money was paramount. However, as I pointed out in earlier post, our biggest problem is not defence - annoying though the mad few minutes yesterday was - but our inability to put goal attempts on target and, ultimately, into the back of the net. The inability to convert good possession and position into opportunities and goals is very much our Achilles heel. Yesterday, were we more incisive in front of goal, we should have been looking back at those two slips, and thinking how they nearly cost us, after our 3-2 victory.