Stevenage (H)

[Stig]

7 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

I said first thing that he was going to be a handful. Fortunately nobody got injured in his tomfoolery and he got first use of the soap early on.

Great work by Kenny to keep niggling at him to draw that reaction. He's got much more of a shithouse streak to him than we've seen from our players for quite some time. Excellent to see.

I think my main takeaway from this game though, is we have to do everything possible to get 3rd or 4th - those are the kinds of decisions you can force at home.

[tomski]

Thoroughly enjoyed that last night. Thought we tore them a new arsehole.

[desperado]

Hardest thing for SS now is how much emphasis he’ll put on consistency of selection to get positive results in these last 3 games…

…as opposed to him wrapping certain key players in cotton wool and protecting them for the play-offs.

A really hard one to call. After last nights performance I think ACD, Rodrigues, Kenny, Dalby and Sheehan are the key players for us creatively. 

[BeeversLeftPeg]

5 hours ago, Zico said:

they'd conceeded less than a goal a game before tonight

More than 10% of the goals they've conceded in the league this season were last night. Mental stat.

[CambridgeBWFC]

7 minutes ago, desperado said:

Hardest thing for SS now is how much emphasis he’ll put on consistency of selection to get positive results in these last 3 games…

…as opposed to him wrapping certain key players in cotton wool and protecting them for the play-offs.

A really hard one to call. After last nights performance I think ACD, Rodrigues, Kenny, Dalby and Sheehan are the key players for us creatively. 

With two out of the three at home I am less concerned about protecting players. The away is also fairly local. The same, similar team should start both home games, and hopefully similar changes and times. The away is the one I would want/expect changes to protect them. 

[desperado]

9 hours ago, RONNIE PHILLIPS said:

One thing we have learned from tonight , its either Dalby or Burstow......never both. Burstow looked a totally different beast tonight.

Good point.

I can’t recall a game when Dalby and Burstow have started together and impressed me as a partnership. 

Burstow always looks great to me when he comes on as a sub - very good yesterday. 

Would love him to have a De-Freitas moment at Wembley!  

[desperado]

7 minutes ago, CambridgeBWFC said:

With two out of the three at home I am less concerned about protecting players. The away is also fairly local. The same, similar team should start both home games, and hopefully similar changes and times. The away is the one I would want/expect changes to protect them. 

It’s one of those debates, where both sides have merit.

But I tend to agree with you. I think ACD, Rodrigues and Kenny will benefit from starting/playing together in this run-in.

Not over-playing them and subbing/resting them at the right times will be key (but also impossible to execute - you just know there will be someone out there calling SS fit to burn if one of them gets injured 🙃) 

[Tombwfc]

25 minutes ago, desperado said:

Hardest thing for SS now is how much emphasis he’ll put on consistency of selection to get positive results in these last 3 games…

…as opposed to him wrapping certain key players in cotton wool and protecting them for the play-offs.

A really hard one to call. After last nights performance I think ACD, Rodrigues, Kenny, Dalby and Sheehan are the key players for us creatively. 

 

I don't think it's even a consideration until Luton. If anything ACD, Kenny and Rodrigues could do with the minutes.

The playoffs are two massive, high pressure games in the space of 4/5 days. It'd be counterproductive to come into that with our best players having barely kicked a ball competitively for weeks.

[Ani]

Just now, desperado said:

It’s one of those debates, where both sides have merit.

But I tend to agree with you. I think ACD, Rodrigues and Kenny will benefit from starting/playing together in this run-in.

Not over-playing them and subbing/resting them at the right times will be key (but also impossible to execute - you just know there will be someone out there calling SS fit to burn if one of them gets injured 🙃) 

I think people need to understand that SS and this staff have access to information on players fitness, so if say Kenny is rested against Huddersfield it is not because he is tinkering he is ensuring he is fully fit for last 2 games. Being able to sub ACD with 65 minutes to go was easy when we were winning, imagine doing that at 1-1. 
 

The difference ACD makes to the team is immense, as well as 2 goals his quality on the ball and energy lifts everything. 

[BeeversLeftPeg]

18 minutes ago, CambridgeBWFC said:

With two out of the three at home I am less concerned about protecting players. The away is also fairly local. The same, similar team should start both home games, and hopefully similar changes and times. The away is the one I would want/expect changes to protect them. 

Huddersfield are virtually out the running, and possible that Luton will be too come that last game. Don't want to give Bradford any opportunity to be volleying ACD / Kenny et al.

Three points for the Dons tonight?

[Stig]

43 minutes ago, desperado said:

Hardest thing for SS now is how much emphasis he’ll put on consistency of selection to get positive results in these last 3 games…

…as opposed to him wrapping certain key players in cotton wool and protecting them for the play-offs.

A really hard one to call. After last nights performance I think ACD, Rodrigues, Kenny, Dalby and Sheehan are the key players for us creatively. 

I still don't like the sound of a Rodriguez and Sheehan midfield 2 in a tough play off match. Add Gale and ACD on the wings and that whole midfield is so lightweight.

Played well last night I agree, but I'd be tempted to put EE in there for someone, especially in the away leg and final.

[desperado]

1 minute ago, Stig said:

I still don't like the sound of a Rodriguez and Sheehan midfield 2 in a tough play off match. Add Gale and ACD on the wings and that whole midfield is so lightweight.

Played well last night I agree, but I'd be tempted to put EE in there for someone, especially in the away leg and final.

Yeh I tend to agree.

The players I mentioned are all key to our creativity, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they start every game.

Erhahon is definitely going to have a role to play in these last few games. 

[ianofcleveleys]

38 minutes ago, Ani said:

I think people need to understand that SS and this staff have access to information on players fitness, so if say Kenny is rested against Huddersfield it is not because he is tinkering he is ensuring he is fully fit for last 2 games. Being able to sub ACD with 65 minutes to go was easy when we were winning, imagine doing that at 1-1. 
 

The difference ACD makes to the team is immense, as well as 2 goals his quality on the ball and energy lifts everything. 

Kenny’s being managed with the calf issue, ACD easing back, all the SS talk pre match suggested taking it steady with them. Surprise, but a pleasant one when they lined up at kick off. 

I'd see them playing v Huddersfield, if we win them being carefully handled in the Bradford and Luton games. With them, we win the play offs, without them we dont. 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

I don't think I agree about protecting players for the play-offs

I'd rather they just keep playing and got into a bit of a rhythm, I'm not sure stop-starting does anyone any good

[Eddie]

32 minutes ago, Stig said:

I still don't like the sound of a Rodriguez and Sheehan midfield 2 in a tough play off match. Add Gale and ACD on the wings and that whole midfield is so lightweight.

Played well last night I agree, but I'd be tempted to put EE in there for someone, especially in the away leg and final.

This is the bit I can’t figure out how it will go.

I agree - Sheehan and Rodrigues midfield 2 worked well last night, but we were at home, Stevenage don’t have the same quality of some of the other teams up there and obviously we played against 10 for 60 minutes.

In a play off away leg, or the final (fingers crossed), I’m not sure we can afford to set up so attacking.

But - I’m not sure you can drop Rodrigues for the biggest matches, he’s too good and you can’t drop Kenny to play Rodrigues behind Dalby. You also can’t go to 5 at the back to fit 3 centre mids in because ACD is back and your best player has to play in his best position.

There’s only 1 option to bring Erhahon into midfield with all that in mind - he comes in for Sheehan. Personally I don’t like that idea, Sheehan is the heartbeat of the team and is too important to drop, but for the balance of the midfield if you’re playing a 2 in an away game / Wembley final then I’d say it’s Erhahon plus 1. Tough call!

Edited April 15 by Eddie

[jeep]

Check out the Rodrigues pass to Gale for the 2nd goal. He thread it through a needle.....

Played well straight from the off.....

Onwards & Upwards.....

 

[ianofcleveleys]

4 minutes ago, Eddie said:

This is the bit I can’t figure out how it will go.

I agree - Sheehan and Rodrigues midfield 2 worked well last night, but we were at home, Stevenage don’t have the same quality of some of the other teams up there and obviously we played against 10 for 60 minutes.

In a play off away leg, or the final (fingers crossed), I’m not sure we can afford to set up so attacking.

But - I’m not sure you can drop Rodrigues for the biggest matches, he’s too good and you can’t drop Kenny to play Rodrigues behind Dalby. You also can’t go to 5 at the back to fit 3 centre mids in because ACD is back and your best player has to play in his best position.

There’s only 1 option to bring Erhahon into midfield with all that in mind - he comes in for Sheehan. Personally I don’t like that idea, Sheehan is the heartbeat of the team and is too important to drop, but for the balance of the midfield if you’re playing a 2 in an away game / Wembley final then I’d say it’s Erhahon plus 1. Tough call!

Was clear to me from SS comments and that game last night he isnt going to entertain 352, 343 etc, so folk like me going on about it is null and void. 

That team that turned out last night, however vulnerable it still was at times, even against 10 men, is the one that's our best chance of winning the play offs. We haven't the defensive tools, certainly in a 4231, to stiffen it up in an away leg and go fir a 0-0 or 1-0, so we might as well go for it from the off. 

If we get in the final hopefully the venue and conditions will allow a football match to take place and our better quality players to win the day.

[Mounts Kipper]

Must say Tutu looks a far better player alongside Duberry. If he’d of stayed fit we’d of got autos.

[Eddie]

4 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Was clear to me from SS comments and that game last night he isnt going to entertain 352, 343 etc, so folk like me going on about it is null and void. 

That team that turned out last night, however vulnerable it still was at times, even against 10 men, is the one that's our best chance of winning the play offs. We haven't the defensive tools, certainly in a 4231, to stiffen it up in an away leg and go fir a 0-0 or 1-0, so we might as well go for it from the off. 

If we get in the final hopefully the venue and conditions will allow a football match to take place and our better quality players to win the day.

I think I agree for the home leg and possibly the final. It also helps having GJ at left back, Forino back there and Tutu looking far more comfortable with ACD ahead of him - suddenly the back line doesn’t look as weak and therefore the need for midfield protection is slightly reduced.

I’m sure across the 3 games we’ll see a mix, but I’d be very surprised if we don’t see Erhahon start the away leg at least. Probably next to Sheehan with RR ready to come on for the last half an hour.

[boogs]

32 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Must say Tutu looks a far better player alongside Duberry. If he’d of stayed fit we’d of got autos.

Yep. This was said by our group last night. Duberry is more than prepared to track back and get stuck in. Apter offers none of that (or anything really) and that really showed when they switched. 

Edited April 15 by boogs

[FrancisFogarty]

2 hours ago, Stig said:

Great work by Kenny to keep niggling at him to draw that reaction. He's got much more of a shithouse streak to him than we've seen from our players for quite some time. Excellent to see.

I think my main takeaway from this game though, is we have to do everything possible to get 3rd or 4th - those are the kinds of decisions you can force at home.

If he hadn’t seen red I think ACD, Sheehan and Dempsey would definitely have been on his radar. He could have caused some damage.

As you said Kenny drew the reaction. 

[Rival Son]

16 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I think I agree for the home leg and possibly the final. It also helps having GJ at left back, Forino back there and Tutu looking far more comfortable with ACD ahead of him - suddenly the back line doesn’t look as weak and therefore the need for midfield protection is slightly reduced.

I’m sure across the 3 games we’ll see a mix, but I’d be very surprised if we don’t see Erhahon start the away leg at least. Probably next to Sheehan with RR ready to come on for the last half an hour.

You have talked so much sense in your last two posts. Sheehan is the heartbeat of our team. Nor is he a wallflower. Despite being small in stature, he is not afraid to do the dirty work in midfield, will make tackles and will not shirk from a kick or other foul.

I think Erhahon will add extra resilience to the squad, on his return, perhaps by replacing Rodrigues, where a little more grit is needed. I’m not sure, though, where Simons will fit in, when available.

Edited April 15 by Rival Son

[JimmyRiddle]

11 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I think I agree for the home leg and possibly the final. It also helps having GJ at left back, Forino back there and Tutu looking far more comfortable with ACD ahead of him - suddenly the back line doesn’t look as weak and therefore the need for midfield protection is slightly reduced.

I’m sure across the 3 games we’ll see a mix, but I’d be very surprised if we don’t see Erhahon start the away leg at least. Probably next to Sheehan with RR ready to come on for the last half an hour.

I was thinking the same last night about the conundrum with Kenny playing  and 2 in midfield, for all the reasons you stated in your earlier post.

Until Jan we play with a deeper lying striker, No.10, Burstow, Randall, McAttee, Forss all had a go at one stage or another.

Last night, was a clear 442, but with wingers pushed up, 4-2-4, or more. So still leave us vulnerable to teams overrunning us or countering against us at pace.

However, SS clearly wants Kenny into he team and wingers, and a back 4. So is a midfield 2 whether we agree or not as I see it.

It's just who, but I agree Erahon would be the one for any scraps.

[Johnnyrotten]

10 hours ago, Traf said:

Horseshit, man

Steeling a living, con man

[BoltonPro15]

Not seeing many comments about Gale having a bad attitude - weird that innit.

Unless all the WW psychologists are just having a day off.