Rotation

[Jersey Rover]

Are we making too many changes game on game. Love the fact that we have such a strong squad but should we be sticking with a more settled team in general. I get it’s been a busy period but certain players are not get a proper run. Ironside, 20 odd goals last season, looks lost now, not getting enough game time. Olowu, in good form, in fact how many games has he played this season and been on the losing side. Sbarra, where’s his chance to show. Think we just need a settled period now to try work out our best 11. Not sure many could pick the team to play week on week.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I mentioned this earlier. We can't say players aren't getting decent game time but I think he's going to carry on like this for 10 or 12 games, when he'll then assess what's working best and/or taking form into account (plus injuries obviously)

Probably after that, we'll see less rotation, keeping winning teams.

That said, there was only one forced change tonight with Westbrooke having a minor knock.


 

[pib]

I wonder why Sbarra isn’t getting a look-in? Seemed to be a well judged signing when he first joined.

[mushRTID]

I’d be rotating Gibson out next game. Very poor tonight, not entirely sold on him yet.

[Thorney]

I’d be rotating Gibson out next game. Very poor tonight, not entirely sold on him yet.

His final ball is atrocious. Over hits everything. There is a player in there but i think he looms like a player that could quite easily down tools and be disruptive.
He wont like being hooked at half time

[GazLaz]

McCann just didn’t have the answers for the Harrogate setup for the third time. The change of shape at half time didn’t help.

Really surprised he didn’t go three at the back at half time so he could accommodate the two up top.

One weapon we seem to have lost from last season is that he direct ball to the wingers making inverted runs in behind. Too many aimless long balls.

Sbarra unlucky not to get a game in a match where we had 70% possession. Why would you not pick your best/ one of the best technical player in a match like that?  You want people that are good on the ball surely.

[Cramby10]

In one of the games I’ve seen so far this season. Huddersfield in the cup I  think. Sbarra started the game and was just outmuscled far too easy almost every time he had the ball. I know it’s an easy accusation to make due to his size, but I do fear we are a step too far for him. This league is too physical.

[Chris Black come back]

Lot of sense in this thread. It was a 101pc certainty how Harrogate would play at home. Total banker. We set up for a different game entirely.

[ncRover]

One weapon we seem to have lost from last season is that he direct ball to the wingers making inverted runs in behind. Too many aimless long balls.

Gibson’s generally doing well because he has lots of quality for this level. But his lack of willingness / ability to make those runs is why I fear signing him to be our main left winger could have been a mistake.

I said this a few weeks ago - Adelakun timing those runs in behind was the main transformative force last season. Having Molyneux as the only one doing that is easily worked out and stopped.

[Metalmicky]

I honestly can't understand why we are not playing Ironside from the start - unless he is carrying a knock.  He was our top scorer last year and has proven himself at this level.... why change what isn't broke. 
Billy looked isolated in the first half and seem a bit off it... perhaps two games in 5 days is asking too much..?
I wonder if GM has considered bringing Olowu in, playing 3 centre halfs and pushing Fleming and Sterry (or Josh Emmanuel) further on.

[pib]

We do miss what Haks brought us, as much as we'd all like to deny it.

[mushRTID]

We do miss what Haks brought us, as much as we'd all like to deny it.

No denying here, we are missing all the 3 key players despite the start we’ve had.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Crikey. We lose a game, everything's wrong, we signed the wrong players etc.

We didn't show the quality in the final third we're capable of and we got done by two sucker punches. After just 6 games there's lots little things here and there that need work. We don't need to rip everything up and start again. It's a ream game and the sum of parts needs to be better than the individuals. Maybe at the moment, we're too reliant on certain individuals provided the magic. McCann says he's given players freedom when attacking which of course there's always pros and cons. Maybe at times they're too selfish and not working as a unit. They're learning on the job as is McCann.

These players so far have delivered 2 points per game average and we're still not the finished article or firing on all cylinders. There's alot to like and alot to look forward to.

[ncRover]

Crikey. We lose a game, everything's wrong, we signed the wrong players etc.

We didn't show the quality in the final third we're capable of and we got done by two sucker punches. After just 6 games there's lots little things here and there that need work. We don't need to rip everything up and start again. It's a ream game and the sum of parts needs to be better than the individuals. Maybe at the moment, we're too reliant on certain individuals provided the magic. McCann says he's given players freedom when attacking which of course there's always pros and cons. Maybe at times they're too selfish and not working as a unit. They're learning on the job as is McCann.

These players so far have delivered 2 points per game average and we're still not the finished article or firing on all cylinders. There's alot to like and alot to look forward to.

I have raised my Gibson on the wing worry before. I’m not saying he’s a bad player I’d try him centrally.

[McCammon egg n chips]

Are we making too many changes game on game. Love the fact that we have such a strong squad but should we be sticking with a more settled team in general. I get it’s been a busy period but certain players are not get a proper run. Ironside, 20 odd goals last season, looks lost now, not getting enough game time. Olowu, in good form, in fact how many games has he played this season and been on the losing side. Sbarra, where’s his chance to show. Think we just need a settled period now to try work out our best 11. Not sure many could pick the team to play week on week.

Your post in a nutshell. We need a settled team with no rotation. So let's rotate the whole squad and bring in players who haven't started many games all season 

[Spilsby Red]

Olowu and McGrath have been good together. I would keep them as a starting partnership. Anderson is a bit of a liability, not just last night but a few times. ( just my opinion and my lad has mentioned it too).
Ironside has to start for me. Nothing against BS. Think BS would be a better impact player after Joe has worn there centre backs down.
I like Clifton. Does work hard normally. Had a bit of an odd game yesterday.
Westbrooke above close for me. Does Kelly get in before them. Prob yes.
That to me would be the starting eleven. We have enough players from the bench.

[ForsolongaRover]

It amazed me that GM has invariably started Sharp and I wondered whether this was an implicit condition of his contract. If so, it was ill-advised and seems unfair to Ironside; more than unfair really and who could blame him for wanting a transfer in January? And Sharp could well retire next April. Miller and Ironside might well have provided a better long term prospect but that’s history now too.

As for Settled vs Rotation it was a widely-held view that we have enough talent to make up two competitive 11s. So perhaps it isn’t surprising GM doesn’t know which 11 is best. Hence rotation.

[drfchound]

The usual mantra early in the season is to wait until we have played ten games and see where we are.
Maybe we should give Grant those ten games for him to work out which his best line up and style of play will be.

[dickos1]

It amazed me that GM has invariably started Sharp and I wondered whether this was an implicit condition of his contract. If so, it was ill-advised and seems unfair to Ironside; more than unfair really and who could blame him for wanting a transfer in January? And Sharp could well retire next April. Miller and Ironside might well have provided a better long term prospect but that’s history now too.

As for Settled vs Rotation it was a widely-held view that we have enough talent to make up two competitive 11s. So perhaps it isn’t surprising GM doesn’t know which 11 is best. Hence rotation.

Ironside started the first two games but didn’t do much, sharp was coming off the bench and scoring goals. Doesn’t need a conspiracy theory to understand why sharp began to start games

[ForsolongaRover]

It amazed me that GM has invariably started Sharp and I wondered whether this was an implicit condition of his contract. If so, it was ill-advised and seems unfair to Ironside; more than unfair really and who could blame him for wanting a transfer in January? And Sharp could well retire next April. Miller and Ironside might well have provided a better long term prospect but that’s history now too.

As for Settled vs Rotation it was a widely-held view that we have enough talent to make up two competitive 11s. So perhaps it isn’t surprising GM doesn’t know which 11 is best. Hence rotation.

Ironside started the first two games but didn’t do much, sharp was coming off the bench and scoring goals. Doesn’t need a conspiracy theory to understand why sharp began to start games

Correct, sorry, so all I can say now is that he there could be merit in giving Ironside first bite again. He has persisted with some of his rotations that have not worked first or second time.

[Chris Black come back]

If it was this easy we would all be managers, but it is a safeish bet that MK ‘Dons’ will not be putting eleven men behind ball and hitting on break like Harrogate. At home they are going to come out and I assume we will see a better result than at Harrogate. How we don’t have a plan B for Harrogate and Newport remains a mystery. Us potentially losing to MK ‘Dons’ less so.