Let's talk about the Morecambe game

[selby]

  The last time I went to Morecambe it was one of the most memorable away games I have ever attended with great crowd scenes celebrating Coppingers goal and the way the team had performed as a whole.
  Whether we will be able to replicate anything like that on the 2nd of January must be a doubtful dream if the performance is anything like we produced yesterday. We were poor from back to front and start to finish yesterday, looked disjointed with no defensive balance, slow compared with Sunderland, and even I have given up on our strikers ever showing that they can control a ball never mind threaten a defence.
  Olowu, Jones, Smith, Rowe and Knoyle apart it was hard to see anyone who could possibly be up to the job of being in a team that can get us out of the trouble we are in.
  So what do we do going into this game? firstly Morecambe are not a Sunderland side in form looking to go up to the Championship, they are a side that pull together, play to their strengths and have a player in Cole Stockton that scores goals, someone we would give our right arm for to play here. They will be physical because teams know we don't compete in that part of the game and are seen as push overs, they will disrupt any sign of us getting our game together with the tactical foul, and like every other side lately will try to start on the front foot and get an early goal to impose themselves on us.
  It's hard to see what changes to improve our chances we can make before the transfer window, Faulkner for me over Blythe as he is a defender first and foremost, right footed to give balance with Olowu who is left footed and is a more basic defender bigger stronger and faster, the only disadvantage if it is a disadvantage is how young he is.
  Hopefully a couple of the walking wounded injured players we have could make this game, news on injuries always being hard to obtain from the powers that be at the club.
  Going back to Blythe I think he would be suited to playing a deep mid field position in front of a back 3/4 being mobile and can pass a ball but not physical enough to compete with the big physical strikers we expect him to come up against one on one, the Scunthorpe sub and the Sunderland striker just shoved him aside one on one.
  Hopefully Gailbraith and Close are getting near to being fit to play which would improve us immensly in mid field with Smith and Rowe, and Bogle at least looks interested and should be a starter
  It is a big game, probably more on it than yesterdays game, but no easier if we don't show more form and aggression.
   So who would you pick?
   A new official manager will be in charge, if it is GM I will be happy with that, will you?
   Morecambe are a decent team, used now to winning ways, are we capable of getting a result there in your opinion?
   Are you going to this game?
   Lots to discuss about this game, please have your say.

[bigbadjack]

Me and my boy are going, can’t wait

[Campsall rover]

Me and my boy are going, can’t wait

So am I but not sure about the “cant wait” bit. 

[Scooter]

I plan on going

[sha66y]

We will draw at best,

there is no shame in defeat though !

But we could get lucky!

I have plenty of tissues for those who’s hearts just keeps on breaking………..

[foxbat]

we desperately need 3 points though.

[Bezza]

I expect we played Sunderland for the TV money, but if we are going to this game with the same squad will we get it called off or throw the chance of 3 points away,

[Campsall rover]

I expect we played Sunderland for the TV money, but if we are going to this game with the same squad will we get it called off or throw the chance of 3 points away,

We have to have Anderson and Galbraith back. Preferably Close also.

Oh and the invisible man up front he has more chance of scoring than the 4 amigos.
Stupid me we have been playing with the invisible man up front all season.

Seriously give Bogle a start if he is now up to speed. Nothing to lose.

[roversdude]

Galbraith was back training after Covid so there is a good chance with him being back.
Anderson was a big miss apparently a reoccurrence of plantar fasciitis that he had earlier in the season
Close is a strange one as he should have been back for the Lincoln game
It sure if it’s confidence or lack of games with Hiwula but his first touch is terrible (he can trap it further than I can kick it)
I would definitely start Faulkner in front of Blythe just because he is more physical
The news on Taylor and Seaman seems to have gone quiet

[steve@dcfd]

We have 8 permanent players injured who return seems to be months. Will any of those eight be available for game time in January. Which person above the physio is carrying out an in-depth investigation why the players getting injured and when will they return.

So against Morecambe it looks to be the same 18 squad plus hopefully Galbraith who is following the back to work protocol for Covid.

[Padge_DRFC]

Don't expect to see Anderson playing any time soon with that injury. We'll see Williams back before him

[scawsby steve]

It's the next match listed on iFollow, but it doesn't say whether it's just audio, or video.

Surely with it being a Sunday, it'll be available to watch?

[roversdude]

Anyway we’re going and looking forward to it

[bpoolrover]

We Will be there hopefully if possible we will have a couple of new players available

[5minstogo]

We won't see Anderson for a while so the defence picks itself. I'd stick Tommy and Smith together in midfield, Hiwula (reluctantly) and Barlow wide. Bogez and Dodoo up front. Standard 4 4 2

[elmsallrover]

Al be surprised if we see Anderson in a rovers shirt again think he will go in the summer

[Chris Black come back]

Probably safest to count Anderson out for the season with the other eight. Once they enter the treatment room they rarely return.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I think we’ve had a ‘false nine’ up front all season.

[roversdude]

We Will be there hopefully if possible we will have a couple of new players available

Doubtful listening to GMc after the Sunderland game, apparently because it’s a bank holiday registrations won’t happen until 3rd Jan

[Chris Black come back]

They have a reasonably poor home record in the league this season - played 11, won 3, drawn 4, lost 4. Their form more generally in the league is very poor - last 5 games are lost 3 and drawn 2. They haven't scored a league goal since 23 November and drawn blanks in their last 4 league games.

In short, this is a poor, poor team but probably not weak enough for us to beat away from home though.

[Campsall rover]

They have a reasonably poor home record in the league this season - played 11, won 3, drawn 4, lost 4. Their form more generally in the league is very poor - last 5 games are lost 3 and drawn 2. They haven't scored a league goal since 23 November and drawn blanks in their last 4 league games.

In short, this is a poor, poor team but probably not weak enough for us to beat away from home though.

If that’s the case CBcb it just shows how poor we are. 
We simply have to be capable of going there and winning because we have to pick up some points away from home. If we can’t beat this lot then who will we beat?

[steve@dcfd]

Campsall out of the players that will be available what side would you choose to beat Morecambe

[Campsall rover]

Campsall out of the players that will be available what side would you choose to beat Morecambe

The strongest one available.

But if your the manager we have lost already.  We are playing Morecambe on Sunday not Sunderland.

They are really struggling at the moment. They have not scored in the league since Nov 23rd and are conceding goals.
Yes even Dodoo has a chance of a goal and I hope Bogle starts up front. Play Dodoo wide right.

I know our team is very below what we need but hopefully Galbraith is back and maybe Close.
With those 2 we have some creativity. We just need to get on the end of chances and be clinical.

Simple. If only it was.

[i_ateallthepies]

We won't see Anderson for a while so the defence picks itself. I'd stick Tommy and Smith together in midfield, Hiwula (reluctantly) and Barlow wide. Bogez and Dodoo up front. Standard 4 4 2

Now that sounds like a plan.  Tommy Smith, we've needed some steel in midfield (this one for those of us who cut our football teeth in the 60 and 70s).

[silent majority]

It's the next match listed on iFollow, but it doesn't say whether it's just audio, or video.

Surely with it being a Sunday, it'll be available to watch?

It should be. I'm sure we can check that out SS.

[Chris Black come back]

We won't see Anderson for a while so the defence picks itself. I'd stick Tommy and Smith together in midfield, Hiwula (reluctantly) and Barlow wide. Bogez and Dodoo up front. Standard 4 4 2

Now that sounds like a plan.  Tommy Smith, we've needed some steel in midfield (this one for those of us who cut our football teeth in the 60 and 70s).

He's dead.

[Campsall rover]

We won't see Anderson for a while so the defence picks itself. I'd stick Tommy and Smith together in midfield, Hiwula (reluctantly) and Barlow wide. Bogez and Dodoo up front. Standard 4 4 2

Now that sounds like a plan.  Tommy Smith, we've needed some steel in midfield (this one for those of us who cut our football teeth in the 60 and 70s).

He's dead.

Revert to plan C or is it Z we are on now.

[i_ateallthepies]

We won't see Anderson for a while so the defence picks itself. I'd stick Tommy and Smith together in midfield, Hiwula (reluctantly) and Barlow wide. Bogez and Dodoo up front. Standard 4 4 2

Now that sounds like a plan.  Tommy Smith, we've needed some steel in midfield (this one for those of us who cut our football teeth in the 60 and 70s).

He's dead.

So, only slightly less effective than our existing DM?

[Chris the Rover]

Morecambe currently leading against Crewe

[bpoolrover]

Morecambe 1 up against Crewe at min