Let's talk about the Cheltenham Town game

[selby]

 Normally I don't start a thread before our last game as there are a lot of unknowns form, injury etc .but with the game being changed we don't have a lot of time between the games so here goes.
  Cheltenham are currently well set in midtable with Fleetwood although playing more games but in a position a good run of results could see them knocking on the play off positions.
  In the FA Cup they went down 2-0 to Salford although missing a penalty in a fairly even game possession wise but a large disparity in shots at goal where Salford had 13 to their 4 and their keeper Day and Stubbs the central defender having very good games, Stubbs very much their organiser in a defence that was their strong point against Port Vale.
  Up front they have George Miller who it will be nice to see after his long injury lay off with us and good to see him back playing.
 In last nights game he scored his fourth goal of the season so is back up and running after a quiet start and will want no doubt to prove a point and score on Saturday.
  Their away record is not the best won 2  drawn 1 lost five scoring 11 goals but conceding 14 so we should be able to get at them.
  Our side will in a way depend on how we do tonight at Fleetwood, injury wise and form wise, hopefully we will be wanting and able to field a mostly unchanged side because we got a result and played well, and apart from tactics the manager is happy to go along with much the same team, a settled side generally means a successful side.
   So a lot of guess work for a while, a lot of hope that we go into this game on the up, but no less a subject to talk about.
  What do you think? will we be on the up or down after this evening? do you fancy our chances for this game? lots to discuss, lots to look forward to, please have your say.

[Chris Black come back]

Joint worst away record in League Two. Only two sides (Newport and Accrington) have lost more away games and both have played more away games than Cheltenham. Saying that, they are fairly solid defensively compared to that record and they have only scored a goal less than us away, before the Fleetwood game anyway.

[Alan Southstand]

Only Thursday and Friday to recover!

[Jersey Rover]

Another conundrum for GM. After tonight’s performance, do you stick with 2 up top? Who do you bench? Certainly looked more balanced. Can you play pass ball around the back in this league or is it better being more direct with 2 up top feeding off each other.

[drfchound]

With two up top we looked much more threatening so I reckon we should give it another go on Saturday against a team in the lower half of the division.

[Usher wide.]

After looking at the formation today, playing a team we have a ‘poor record’ away against in Fleetwood, Grant got it spot on.

Playing a back three with wing backs supporting the midfield two of Bailey & Broadbent (who is still to prove to me he is up to that role as a midfield general/stopper/provider) with Joe & Billy up front with Hurst in that supporting role worked a treat.

Third in the table now & have to get on ‘that run’.

Bring Cheltenham on!

[drfchound]

I thought Broadbent was very good tonight.
Nothing flashy but solid performance.

[Usher wide.]

I thought Broadbent was very good tonight.
Nothing flashy but solid performance.

I was watching on sky hound & didn’t hear his name until the 21st minute when he won a 50/50.

On 31 minutes he played a sloppy/lazy pass which ultimately led to them scoring.

I’ve yet to see anything in Broadbent that would want to see him play an integral part of our midfield. Grant clearly rates him so I defer to a wiser man in these matters.

[drfchound]

I watched on sky as well and think he did all the dirty work in front of the back three.
The commentator kept getting the players names wrong by the way.
With your precise timing of those two events it sounds more like you were looking for things to criticise him for.
Every player on the pitch made sloppy passes tonight in those conditions.
I thought he did a good job for us.
Never mind, we probably just see things differently.

[les@donr]

Has to be a win to keep the pressure on the top two, who play each other on Saturday.

[selby]

  That's with the Bradford City game away Broadbent has given the chance to other players to be the more expansive while he put the foot in and did the hard yards.
  The difference between where we are now in the division and where we were this time last season is the battling qualities  we have in midfield compared with the nice on the eye pit pat players we had in there last season that let other teams walk all over us.

[Usher wide.]

I watched on sky as well and think he did all the dirty work in front of the back three.
The commentator kept getting the players names wrong by the way.
With your precise timing of those two events it sounds more like you were looking for things to criticise him for.
Every player on the pitch made sloppy passes tonight in those conditions.
I thought he did a good job for us.
Never mind, we probably just see things differently.

I certainly never ‘go out’ to deliberately pick fault with players before a ball has been kicked hound, the reason I clocked the 21 minutes (no pun intended) was because it was the first time I’d heard his name & glanced at the time on the tv screen.

As you say, we clearly saw the game differently. It’s one man’s opinion against another’s.

If Broadbent plays on Saturday I hope he gets & earns MOTM.

[drfchound]

I watched on sky as well and think he did all the dirty work in front of the back three.
The commentator kept getting the players names wrong by the way.
With your precise timing of those two events it sounds more like you were looking for things to criticise him for.
Every player on the pitch made sloppy passes tonight in those conditions.
I thought he did a good job for us.
Never mind, we probably just see things differently.

I certainly never ‘go out’ to deliberately pick fault with players before a ball has been kicked hound, the reason I clocked the 21 minutes (no pun intended) was because it was the first time I’d heard his name & glanced at the time on the tv screen.

As you say, we clearly saw the game differently. It’s one man’s opinion against another’s.

If Broadbent plays on Saturday I hope he gets & earns MOTM.

Fair enough Usher.
As you will know though, just because the commentary people don’t mention a player by name doesn’t translate that a player hasn’t contributed to the cause.
In the role that Broadbent was playing last night he often went under the radar, quietly going about his business, winning the ball and cutting supply lines off.
It is a role that often doesn’t make the player shine but is invaluable to the team.

[adamtherover]

Did some mention that our win rate with GB starting is outstanding!!

[graingrover]

Miller scored the goal v Port Vale latching onto a loose ball in the six-yard box that looked as though Billy Sharp had taught him to execute .

[Alan Southstand]

For me, it’s not so much about Broadbent, rather how he ‘fits’ in that engine room. If the partnership (between him and Bailey) works, it’s worth keeping with it. We also have Clifton and Kelly to come in, if all else ails, but I think Kelly is possibly more suited to the more attacking midfield role, where he’s got more freedom to hurt the opposition. Clifton is more of a grafter and can do the hard yards.

Notice I’ve never mentioned Westbrook or Close!

[selby]

  With Miller our defenders need to force him onto his left foot when he is on the run, its for standing on normally and he will try to get on his right foot at all costs.
  It was a weakness that cost him quite a few goals when here, but given room he can be a problem.

[Plumbster]

George is improving but do we need both him and Bailey to do the hard yards and keep it simple otherwise?  It’s too much to hope for distribution like Whiteman’s but I think Grant believes George is capable of more penetrating passing than he is currently showing. He is prone to playing hospital passes backwards and there was another example yesterday but, given current competition, I think he has done enough to earn the shirt and hopefully his confidence will build with an extended run in the side.

[Pintolager]

Looking at the weather forecast for Saturday, it looks like 40mph plus winds so it won't be ideal for us. The players will just have to cope with the conditions as best they can and I will just be happy to come away from the game with a win.

[danumdon]

Last nights team, display and formation, makes it quite difficult for GM to alter too much. Could be a case of some tired legs, some played most of the last two games but i'd like to see him go again with this attacking formation, personnel can differ slightly but the impulse to get the ball up field quicker, (TSL cleared a great many more balls long than usual)and the attacking threat of the two up top really gave a defence who have been pretty solid this season up to yesterday a very good workout.

I'd imagine he would want to get at least Mols back into the side and i think he can do a job in the 10 role just behind the strikers, him and Hurst could alternate between playing wide and in behind.
 
I also like the three at the back, it allows players like Maxwell and Sterry to cover more of the stronger parts of their game which is getting forward and delivering for a decent front two/three. It also looks like this formation gets us up and at them early on, in the past we have been very slow starters and this has given the opposition impulse to hurt us.

Looks like we could hit a good seam of form and start to consolidate our position in the top three, kicking on from here.

[Alan Southstand]

Where’s that ‘fingers crossed’ emoji?

[drfchound]

Looking at the weather forecast for Saturday, it looks like 40mph plus winds so it won't be ideal for us. The players will just have to cope with the conditions as best they can and I will just be happy to come away from the game with a win.

Just had another look at the weather prospects for Saturday afternoon.
Heavy rain, regular wind speed of around 30mph and gusts up to 54mph.

[roversdude]

Maxwell seems to not be quite back up to speed yet, hopefully the minutes at Fleetwood have helped

[Campsall rover]

Broadbent did ok at Fleetwood.
The conditions were awful so playing controlled precise football was impossible.
My criticism of George in general terms are that he plays far too many safe square passes or backwards.
When he was signed GM said and he said himself that he was a box to box midfield player with an eye for a goal.
That’s something we have hardly seen from him at all. Is that because he actually isn’t really able to play that role or is it because GM has deployed him in a different role?
He often looks a bit leggy to me and lacks the pace needed.
Maybe unfair to compare of course but he is no Paul Green.
Yes he is still young and I am sure he will improve as a player as time goes on but I don’t see him at present as being the partner that Owen Bailey needs for us to have the really functional midfield that would undoubtedly make us Champions.

At present it’s a mixture of Kelly, Clifton, Broadbent and possibly Westbrooke or Close fulfilling that role.
All good players & all have their strengths and weaknesses.
The fact that GM has chopped and changed shows non of them have been able to show they are the one good enough to cement their place as the No 1 choice.  Something that Owen Bailey has done.

[steve@dcfd]

GM has got to decide whether he wants the stability of Broadbent or the erratic nature of Kelly who is weak in the tackle going forward with the ball is ok if allowed to, runs into blind alleys and leaves gaps behind him when he looses the ball.

Weather wise it’s not looking good gusts between 40/50mph 50/60 % chance of rain so do go with the same side that played Fleetwood

[selby]

  Whatever the team make up play, and we seem to go with picking a side from the squad the manager thinks are the best set up to play the opposition, we need to start winning games on home soil.
  We have a good away record where teams take us on, but have dropped points at home when sides have set up to stop our game and disrupt play.
  We need to start finding a way to overcome the negative tactics, although taking our chances in front of goal, like we seem to do away from home would be the simple way of solving that problem.

[philsky]

Really looking forward to this one.

6am start for me. Take mum to Tesco, have a brunch then hopefully head back south with the three points secured.

Be nice to end the day in second spot.

[swain_drfc]

I watched on sky as well and think he did all the dirty work in front of the back three.
The commentator kept getting the players names wrong by the way.
With your precise timing of those two events it sounds more like you were looking for things to criticise him for.
Every player on the pitch made sloppy passes tonight in those conditions.
I thought he did a good job for us.
Never mind, we probably just see things differently.

I have never been a Broadbent fan but have to agree with you here. He was excellent on Wednesday doing all the dirty work. Unfortunately along with Sterry he is a scapegoat for most.

[Colemans Left Hook]

I watched on sky as well and think he did all the dirty work in front of the back three.
The commentator kept getting the players names wrong by the way.
With your precise timing of those two events it sounds more like you were looking for things to criticise him for.
Every player on the pitch made sloppy passes tonight in those conditions.
I thought he did a good job for us.
Never mind, we probably just see things differently.

I have never been a Broadbent fan but have to agree with you here. He was excellent on Wednesday doing all the dirty work. Unfortunately along with Sterry he is a scapegoat for most.

what's in a name you might think ?  Albert Broadbent was also a regular "scapegoat" over 50 years ago

[graingrover]

“ what's in a name you might think ?  Albert Broadbent was also a regular "scapegoat" over 50 years ago “

Albert ‘Pegleg ‘ Broadbent reputed to only having a left boot .