Let's talk about the Morecambe game

[selby]

  After yesterdays capitulation we are fast looking like we are coming to what could be the cross roads of the season, and this game against a side who had a moral boosting win yesterday towards their quest of avoiding relegation, while we lick our wounds after again being brushed aside by a team that looked to want it more and willing to bust a gut to get a result, while we came up with another insipid performance looking like we thought all we had to do was turn up.
  Teams cobbled together for next to  nothing in money terms compared to ourselves have repeatedly over the last few seasons rolled us over by just being competitive, strong and, its got to be said more savvy in the art of controlling a game and upsetting our rhythm, which our young loanees have failed  to overcome after being used to the pit pat from you to me game played in u21s football, and in many cases are the reason they are here to learn a lot of the time at our expense.
  Well to me  they have to learn quickly, some probably on the bus going over to Morecambe or our ambition will fall away with them.
  What team we put out I leave to the manager, but would go with few changes myself, Probably Broadbent in  unless any injuries alter the team or tactics, all are better than they showed v Grimsby and need to show it. Morecambe have a home record of 3 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses and are second bottom of the league and should be a team we can go after, and when we do play on the front foot we are better ourselves and need to play that way, we are not a team that sets out to pinch games.
  Adams their manager has a personality that opposing supporters don't exactly like, but is very good at working and getting the best out of his sides,  and will be organised and well informed about our failings and will try to exploit them, what spectacle is performed for the supporters the last thing on his mind, the only thing winning any way possible.
  How much do you put on this game? we desperately need a win  to keep any pressure on the clubs around us, can we get a result?
  Would you make changes?
  Will we try to tweak our tactics slightly?
  Would you have another man in midfield?
  Lots to discuss lots to talk about, please have your say.

[Prez]

If Grant is going 1 up front id start with Street. Id just like us to go 3-5-2 though.

[Reg of the Rovers]

If Grant is going 1 up front id start with Street. Id just like us to go 3-5-2 though.

We’re crying out for that formation Prez. Not sure why Grant can’t see that. Although not sure what formation we played on Saturday. 5-0-5 based on our lack of midfield control.

[Ian Nimmo]

Similar but start with Street and Ironside with mols allowed to float between midfield/attack as game allows/dictates.

[Filo]

If Grant is going 1 up front id start with Street. Id just like us to go 3-5-2 though.

We’re crying out for that formation Prez. Not sure why Grant can’t see that. Although not sure what formation we played on Saturday. 5-0-5 based on our lack of midfield control.

We ended up yesterday with a midfield 4 of Sterry, Broadbent, Kelly and Senior

[Reg of the Rovers]

If Grant is going 1 up front id start with Street. Id just like us to go 3-5-2 though.

We’re crying out for that formation Prez. Not sure why Grant can’t see that. Although not sure what formation we played on Saturday. 5-0-5 based on our lack of midfield control.

We ended up yesterday with a midfield 4 of Sterry, Broadbent, Kelly and Senior

Two full backs, a donkey and a pre-pubescent teen. Just what we needed to dominate in there.

[Canadian Rover]

Street I recall was brought in as a centre forward with Billy and Joe lacking the pace to get in behind teams, but he hasn't been given the opportunity to shine there. It's time we had that mobility up front whether that's in a two is a different matter.

I don't think Street offers enough out wide to make that much if a difference and Hurst, Gibson, Ennis and Yeboah have all flattered to deceive and offered little to no end product. So maybe Grant should go to a 4-3-1-2 and have Molls drifting and the front two work the channels more but then leaves an option or two in the box.

The three midfielders we always seem to better with cloggers in there than natural ball players.

But a settled team from the forward part is something we certainly need...I think Ironsides form has been stop start because that's how his minutes have gone. Maybe keeping Miller would have been a better option than Billy?

[Chris Black come back]

Their home form has picked up recently but remain second worst home record in League Two and no side has conceded more at home.

[i_ateallthepies]

I like what I've seen of Street, has pace and shows the desire to beat his man.  Several times yesterday he chased balls against a centre back that he had no right to win but got there first and made something of it.

I too would like to see him up top alongside Joe or Billy.

[Ian Nimmo]

Street I recall was brought in as a centre forward with Billy and Joe lacking the pace to get in behind teams, but he hasn't been given the opportunity to shine there. It's time we had that mobility up front whether that's in a two is a different matter.

I don't think Street offers enough out wide to make that much if a difference and Hurst, Gibson, Ennis and Yeboah have all flattered to deceive and offered little to no end product. So maybe Grant should go to a 4-3-1-2 and have Molls drifting and the front two work the channels more but then leaves an option or two in the box.

The three midfielders we always seem to better with cloggers in there than natural ball players.

But a settled team from the forward part is something we certainly need...I think Ironsides form has been stop start because that's how his minutes have gone. Maybe keeping Miller would have been a better option than Billy?

Totally agree cr except for your last line.
The way Grant plays miller would have been a lone striker or wide. Billy is suffering at present because he is not getting the service, in the main he has been played as lone central striker up against generally 2 six foot plus centre backs.

[ncRover]

If Maxwell is injured as well as McGrath we can’t play 3-5-2 as we don’t have the personnel.
Ennis can’t play left wing back as he’s right footed and Molyneux is wasted there.
I like Senior, but he isn’t really a wing back. Even you did put him there then we don’t have enough fit centre halves because we handed Richard Wood a sentimental contract because we were scared we couldn’t get anyone better (we could have).

[steve@dcfd]

We can play 3 5 2
                 TSL
    Olowu.   Anderson Senior

Sterry.     Bailey.       Crew.     Nixon

                  Molyneux

             Ironside.       Street

Depending if McGrath and Maxwell are fit
If McGrath is and Maxwell isn’t I’d still play Nixon

[Chris Black come back]

Isn’t Nixon a right back?

[steve@dcfd]

He can play on both flanks he did it last year he’s attacking and if Maxwell is not fit he could do a job in that position

[ncRover]

But then the only wide player on the left side would be right footed

[ravenrover]

A right footed.player crossing from the left with his weaker foot might put better crosses in than we get at present

[Metalmicky]

Just watched the highlights of their weekend win over Accrington and the pitch looked like a mudbath.  Thankfully no rain in coming days, but the pitch isn't one for pretty football.

[Belle Vue Boy]

After watching Saturday's game and Some performances lately i think it's time for Bailey to be dropped and see if it gives him a spark Like Mols and Gibson got for theres. He maybe captain but doesn't mean you should be excluded from being dropped due to performances. i wasn't impressed with the lack of leadership saturday to get the lads going again. McCann is falling into the habit where managers are relying on the same players regardless of form

[Filo]

After watching Saturday's game and Some performances lately i think it's time for Bailey to be dropped and see if it gives him a spark Like Mols and Gibson got for theres. He maybe captain but doesn't mean you should be excluded from being dropped due to performances. i wasn't impressed with the lack of leadership saturday to get the lads going again. McCann is falling into the habit where managers are relying on the same players regardless of form

Bailey was excellent when he dropped to the right of a three on Saturday

[donnyguy]

Tickets now sold out.

[bpoolrover]

100 more now available

[Reg of the Rovers]

After watching Saturday's game and Some performances lately i think it's time for Bailey to be dropped and see if it gives him a spark Like Mols and Gibson got for theres. He maybe captain but doesn't mean you should be excluded from being dropped due to performances. i wasn't impressed with the lack of leadership saturday to get the lads going again. McCann is falling into the habit where managers are relying on the same players regardless of form

Bailey was excellent when he dropped to the right of a three on Saturday

I like him in there, gives us a ball player from deep and means we don't need to drop a central defensive midfielder in too deep so can stay nice and compact there. I'd start Bailey with Anderson and Olowu as a back three tomorrow.

[sf9944]

I think dropping Bailey would serve only to make it clear just how important he is to us

[RoversInSpain]

Can anyone much more tactically aware than me, explain what purpose is served using Ironside as a hold up player. Totally baffled. The lad scores goals we know that but, every game he’s back to goal, nowhere near the goal, wrestling, rarely winning a dangerous free kick holding the ball up. Who’s he holding it up for? The defence to get organised?
There’s just no free flowing attack in this method.
Ironside should be playing, he’s good!  but not this way. It’s like watching the same game over and over. Please help me out on this.

[Cramby10]

It’s the only way we can get up the field as we can’t pass wind and have very few players with pace.

[ncRover]

There’s one midfielder who can put a foot on the ball and pass who hasn’t been tried yet…

[Cramby10]

There’s one midfielder who can put a foot on the ball and pass who hasn’t been tried yet…

not good is it. Yet we have to suffer Clifton Sbarra and Broadbent. Unfathomable.

[Ian Nimmo]

Can anyone much more tactically aware than me, explain what purpose is served using Ironside as a hold up player. Totally baffled. The lad scores goals we know that but, every game he’s back to goal, nowhere near the goal, wrestling, rarely winning a dangerous free kick holding the ball up. Who’s he holding it up for? The defence to get organised?
There’s just no free flowing attack in this method.
Ironside should be playing, he’s good!  but not this way. It’s like watching the same game over and over. Please help me out on this.

Can’t help you on this one, because you are totally correct. Generally when he does win the ball, it’s passed out wide!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Can anyone much more tactically aware than me, explain what purpose is served using Ironside as a hold up player. Totally baffled. The lad scores goals we know that but, every game he’s back to goal, nowhere near the goal, wrestling, rarely winning a dangerous free kick holding the ball up. Who’s he holding it up for? The defence to get organised?
There’s just no free flowing attack in this method.
Ironside should be playing, he’s good!  but not this way. It’s like watching the same game over and over. Please help me out on this.

I'm trying not to be overcritical of Ironside but I'm struggling to see the value he's bringing to the team at the moment.

He played well in the MK Dons game when he managed to find some space, looked more on it, and scored a good goal.

I was really hoping he'd turned the corner but based on Saturday, maybe not. There was an opportunity for him to have a crack a goal during that encouraging first 15 mins, but he chose to move the ball on. This is our striker, who's stats for goal efforts this season must be really poor.

Yes, some of it depends on good service, but so many times, he isn't where we want him to be when crosses come in. When was the last time he looked like being a threat from corners?

He has looked for a while, he's been going through the motions, with half the desire we saw last season.

For example. Our disallowed goal on Saturday.

https://youtu.be/HYWxsWKB-YY?si=EBTUMCKFGdiWLXgX

He layed the ball off and made his way into the area, but then he got marked by their defender and didn't seem to me he was busting a gut to get into a position to attack the cross and get away from his marker.

Whilst I agree we should be getting quicker ball into the box (just as Moly did for Streets goal from the left) we still need Ironside to be more dynamic in his play. More movement, less wrestling please.

[selby]

  Whoever and however we play we need three points, just find a way.