Grant McCann

[BillyStubbsTears]

Hurst will be fortunate to be on the bench from what I've seen of him this season

Hurst is lightweight, but to be fair to him, he put in an excellent cross that resulted in the penalty on Saturday.

Just the right position to tempt the keeper into something rash.

He’s got something. There’s plenty he hasn’t got as well admittedly but it’s the “something” that we are lacking isn’t it.

4231 with Waters, Hurst and Moly in behind sounds ok. We have to work out how we progress to them through the fullbacks and 2 no6’s though. Thats an issue for us.

4132 at home with Waters partnering Ironside.
Bailey at cdm.

Who plays the two centre back positions?

[Campsall rover]

Hurst will be fortunate to be on the bench from what I've seen of him this season

Hurst is lightweight, but to be fair to him, he put in an excellent cross that resulted in the penalty on Saturday.

Just the right position to tempt the keeper into something rash.

He’s got something. There’s plenty he hasn’t got as well admittedly but it’s the “something” that we are lacking isn’t it.

4231 with Waters, Hurst and Moly in behind sounds ok. We have to work out how we progress to them through the fullbacks and 2 no6’s though. Thats an issue for us.

4132 at home with Waters partnering Ironside.
Bailey at cdm.

Who plays the two centre back positions?

Wood & McGrath imo.

[GazLaz]

Hurst will be fortunate to be on the bench from what I've seen of him this season

Hurst is lightweight, but to be fair to him, he put in an excellent cross that resulted in the penalty on Saturday.

Just the right position to tempt the keeper into something rash.

He’s got something. There’s plenty he hasn’t got as well admittedly but it’s the “something” that we are lacking isn’t it.

4231 with Waters, Hurst and Moly in behind sounds ok. We have to work out how we progress to them through the fullbacks and 2 no6’s though. Thats an issue for us.

4132 at home with Waters partnering Ironside.
Bailey at cdm.

Who plays the two centre back positions?

Wood & McGrath imo.

McGrath is injured isn’t he. Wood and Olowu

[BillyStubbsTears]

Wood in a back four? What could possibly go wrong?

[drfchound]

Hurst will be fortunate to be on the bench from what I've seen of him this season

Hurst is lightweight, but to be fair to him, he put in an excellent cross that resulted in the penalty on Saturday.

Just the right position to tempt the keeper into something rash.

It was Bailey (number 17) who put the ball into the box for the pen when Ironside got clattered.

[DRFCTom]

Wood in a back four? What could possibly go wrong?

Leadership and organisation maybe?

[Bessie Red]

He hasn’t got results but he hasn’t managed to get us playing any in any particular way either. First time round fans liked him for his attacking up and at em style. Saturday we played 4 centre halfs and 2 full backs and tried not to lose. That wasn’t the McCann style and I hope he finds the confidence at some point again to go for it more.

I think that may have been the circumstances of this particular game. No way could we afford to lose the game (although we nearly did!) so that played a huge factor in the negative approach. I would hope that Grant goes with a more attacking line up on Saturday.

[BigH]

We have to win our home games, simple as. Our away form is dreadful.

If you look at our run in the ‘must win’ home games sort of pick themselves.

With the honeymoon period well and truly over, GM should know enough about the division, the opposition and his own squad, even allowing for injuries, to pick a team and set them up to get a result in the games that matter.

That’s my expectation for the rest of the season. Fail that test and I think the knives will be out.

[ncRover]

Wood in a back four? What could possibly go wrong?

If the other 3 are quick, and if the keeper is quick off his line as a sweeper and the full back on Wood’s side stays back more it should negate his lack of pace.

It didn’t make sense as a signing but I do think having him in has more pros than cons at present after the Stockport debacle.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Wood and Olowu formed the centre of a back 4 in 3.5 of the first 4 league games of the season.

We conceded 10 goals.

The case rests.

[pib]

I'm no tactician but I'm sure it's more nuanced than simply whether it's a back 3 or 4. I'd imagine how high a line we play, and who plays in midfield just ahead of the back line will have an impact on how effective any particular formation/partnership is.

I would imagine if we surrender possession and play quite deep, and have one or two players sitting in front of the defence who are there to break up play, RW playing in a back four might not be out of the question.

In the first few games we were far too open, and trying to play a high line, which is not Wood's game clearly.

[selby]

  Wood and Bailey central defenders bring Flint in as defensive mid fielder, Baileys best position and potentially Flints,

[Bessie Red]

Wood in a back four? What could possibly go wrong?

If the other 3 are quick, and if the keeper is quick off his line as a sweeper and the full back on Wood’s side stays back more it should negate his lack of pace.

It didn’t make sense as a signing but I do think having him in has more pros than cons at present after the Stockport debacle.

Away at Bradford in the BSM Cup Wood was talking all through the game and obviously giving valuable advice to those around him. His presence on the pitch could be invaluable in the run in. Make sure there is a bit of pace around him and I'm confident our results will improve.

[ncRover]

Wood and Olowu formed the centre of a back 4 in 3.5 of the first 4 league games of the season.

We conceded 10 goals.

The case rests.

That Newport game was the only league game in which James Maxwell has started as an out and out left back this season.

We were 3-0 down after 30 mins and he was hooked.

I wonder if a statistician can tell us how many different defensive lineup combinations throughout the season. The amount of chopping and changing won’t help either.