Based on what Grant said, who are we not seeing for a while?

[oggycompton]

Title really. Clear that there was a little bit of a team meeting post yesterdays game. Senior looked shell shocked and grant came out saying he has kept faith with one or two who maybe he shouldn't have. So with that in mind... who we leaving out. For me :-

Mcgrath - Looked poor all season, some of his decision making and play yesterday was frankly awful. How Pearson is sat on the bench after one semi mistake is crazy. Probably 4th choice at the minute.
Molyneux - My favourite player and not even close but he has really struggled this year and is clearly lacking in confidence. His control yesterday was not good at all and almost everyone I speak to has wondered how he has stayed on the pitch longer than others.
Broadbent - Again another favourite player, something has happened, he has been great since January this year and to be honest started this season well but all of a sudden he is out of favour.
Maxwell - Another bright spark this season but for whatver reason prefers Senior in there. We keep getting told Middleton and him have a good connection... when can we see it?
Sbarra - Cant fault his heart but not good enough, wasn't last year and isn't this year. No way he appears in the coming weeks.

And now for players you'd like to see more of :-

Grehan - Hasn't put a foot wrong really and none of the otehrs doing anything, even O'Riordan has dropped off a cliff
Broadbent- As above, solid, argualbly one of the more consistant this season and good player
Middleton - Has to get the start over Gibson or Mols at this point
Gotts - Looks lively and involved everytime we play, how he wasn't the best option over Sbarra yesterday only Grant can answer.

For me personally the team next week if we are going to persist with this 433 formation will struggle again, but Grant seems set on it so I would go

TLT

Nixon (sterry when fit)
Grehan
Pearson
Maxwell

Broadbent
Bailey
Gotts

Gibson
Sharp
Middleton

Or what I would like to see as I genuinly thing teams know exactly how we are going to play. Chnage the system, back tobasics and get people up the top end of the pitch. Simple 442 that everyone will know how to play

TLT

Nixon (Sterry)
Pearson
Grehan
Maxwell

Gibson
Broadbent
Bailey
Middleton

Sharp
Hanlan

[GazLaz]

He says he’s been too loyal to some. He’s only been loyal to Sharp, Bailey and Mols. The others have been rotated in and out. I think he was hinting at Mols with that

Maxwell was a surprise exclusion from the team yesterday. He’s been our best player this season when he’s played. Not sure of grants reasoning for not playing him but he doesn’t help himself by leaving players out who are good. Pearson has been better than Jay. Middleton has been better than Mols. Gotts has been better than Sbarra. Fairly obvious changes to yesterday’s XI that were likely to improve us.

I think Grant over thinks the wrong things.

[Chris Black come back]

O'Riordan probably justifies a starting place but yesterday he looked like he'd won the supporter club coach raffle on way down.

[GazLaz]

O'Riordan probably justifies a starting place but yesterday he looked like he'd won the supporter club coach raffle on way down.

Jay seems to be getting stick for their first but it was O’Riordans error.

[steve@dcfd]

Yes it was ORiordans error for the first
Grant needs to ensure his defenders defend not throwing themselves forward with no cover.
Give Nixon a rest on Saturday
Grehan ORiordan Pearson Maxwell
That would be my back 4
Bailey Broadbent
Sharp and 3 others which 3 ?

[RugbyRover]

I'd say its a pretty good summary, apart from Maxwell who I think should be starting.

I agree we need to change the formation as our wingers don't appear  to be good enough and our best number 9 can't play the lone striker role.

If he's reading this I'd advise McCann to change to 3 5 2.

Keeper
TLT

Back Three
O'Reilly
Pearson
Senior

Wing Backs
Bailey
Maxwell

Midfield
Broadbent
Crew
Close

Forwards
Sharp
Middleton

I'd say O'Riordan has been good before the injury and yesterday was done to rust and being up against an ex PL forward.

Senior is good at defending, not so good attacking. He's left footed so gets in there.

Bailey has been as rubbish as the rest of them in the last few games so won't be the huge miss in the midfield he once was was. He puts in a decent cross too. Nixon gives 100% but not quite L1 standard.

I'm hoping Crew and Broadbent can rediscover their partnership from last year and hope the midfield together. Close to play further forward and pick some passes through to the forwards.

Sharp needs to play up front, between the posts. Middleton looks like our quickest player and puts in a good cross off both feet. He's capable of doing the running for Billy.

No idea how we fill the bench.

[5minstogo]

I'd say its a pretty good summary, apart from Maxwell who I think should be starting.

I agree we need to change the formation as our wingers don't appear  to be good enough and our best number 9 can't play the lone striker role.

If he's reading this I'd advise McCann to change to 3 5 2.

Keeper
TLT

Back Three
O'Reilly
Pearson
Senior

Wing Backs
Bailey
Maxwell

Midfield
Broadbent
Crew
Close

Forwards
Sharp
Middleton

I'd say O'Riordan has been good before the injury and yesterday was done to rust and being up against an ex PL forward.

Senior is good at defending, not so good attacking. He's left footed so gets in there.

Bailey has been as rubbish as the rest of them in the last few games so won't be the huge miss in the midfield he once was was. He puts in a decent cross too. Nixon gives 100% but not quite L1 standard.

I'm hoping Crew and Broadbent can rediscover their partnership from last year and hope the midfield together. Close to play further forward and pick some passes through to the forwards.

Sharp needs to play up front, between the posts. Middleton looks like our quickest player and puts in a good cross off both feet. He's capable of doing the running for Billy.

No idea how we fill the bench.

Just no

[ncRover]

I think he means Molyneux and Sbarra.

Is Grant being unrealistic expecting players to be more than they’re capable of?

If the starting XI yesterday had been free agents in the summer how many would have gone to the top 6 L1 favourites or above?

I have no problem with finishing mid table after the last time we were in this division. Still scarred.

[danumdon]

I think the problem will persist whatever formation he picks because of this fad for playing from out the back, when you have a team who are not on their game playing balls back constantly instead of building your attack you are in essence just building more pressure on yourself and the likelihood of creating the mistakes that resulted in their first goal yesterday and continued all afternoon.

If managers and coach's cannot breakout of the stranglehold of what is now considered "the way to play" then a team like ours which is built for finesse and tidy intricate play will always struggle against a side who are bigger, more robust, in your face and have the pace, tenacity and determination to swarm you into submission.

We are attempting to pay a style in between the "norm" and a quick, get forward and in their face style which we cannot sustain because our players don't have that physical and mental fortitude.

Our system massively relies on the "wide forwards" being able to push on, beat their man and get into positions where they can either shoot or affect the game for others to run onto. When that part malfunctions like it currently is then our system is found out and goosed.

We don't have an effective plan B anymore because we got rid of the only striker who could attempt to hold the ball up long enough to bring others into play. We really needed that focal point to the attack for our campaign this season, higher league, better players and we have gone backwards from what we had or were able to field and use.

Massive error in my book that could result in us either breaking the bank in Jan to get it done or playing the consequences at the end of he season.

Our only chance it seems it to get this system fired up and on it, big task if the mental approach is not right!

[moses]

I would go radical and move Bailey into central defence. Crew and Broadbent in midfield.

[Bills view]

I know it’s easy in hindsight but given the quality and experience of their forwards yesterday, Pearson should have played for his experience.

[andyst79]

He says he’s been too loyal to some. He’s only been loyal to Sharp, Bailey and Mols. The others have been rotated in and out. I think he was hinting at Mols with that

Maxwell was a surprise exclusion from the team yesterday. He’s been our best player this season when he’s played. Not sure of grants reasoning for not playing him but he doesn’t help himself by leaving players out who are good. Pearson has been better than Jay. Middleton has been better than Mols. Gotts has been better than Sbarra. Fairly obvious changes to yesterday’s XI that were likely to improve us.

I think Grant over thinks the wrong things.

Maxwells crossing has been good , I know we've moved up a division but he doesn't seem to get forward as well as he used to with those inverted runs. Hopefully his injuries are behind him & he kicks on.

[DRFCSouth]

Molyneux imo is quite often fed the ball, with an opponent in very close attendance, with little support around him. His only option often is to lay the ball off backwards. He hasn't had the one on one's he had last year. He needs to find ways of receiving the ball and immediately having a means of going at his opponent. That and other midfielders need to support one another better, giving him better options.

Middleton should be playing more. His delivery can be outstanding. Someone like Hanlan, with his physicality would benefit from those crosses. Albeit he hasn't had the best of starts up front. Hanlan did add a bit more on Saturday. Goals aside, he does bring physicality.
 
McGrath had a stinker Saturday. If I was an opposing manager, id have players all over him as soon as he turns inside on his left foot. He has no right foot and doesn't have many options when he goes inside on his left.

Sbarra doesn't seem to a starter at this level. At least Clifton adds physicality,  albeit he is a walking yellow card.

[steve@dcfd]

Grehan should be back on Monday for training as Republic of Ireland U21s don’t have a game next week.
Crew who Captained the Welsh side that lost 7. 0 is playing away against Austria on Tuesday can’t see him being back with us till Thursday so his involvement on Saturday will be doubtful

[graingrover]

What is good is the positive and sensible  comments on here .I agree that Molyneux is in a rut and crosses seem to vome only from Middleton which limits strikes on goal whoever is number 9 .In addition Molls and Gibbons almost hold hands for corners  from the right  wasting a forward in the box .

[Branton Red]

The team's in a rut at the minute and confidence is low.

A problem exacerbated by the group not being used to such a run as a collective and uncertainties over the step up in division.

McCann stated about not seeing belief in certain players eyes. To answer the OP they are the players we shouldn't be seeing for a while.

The team needs to be picked on attitude as much as quality at the moment. Which may mean leaving some of our higher quality players out of the side for a time.

The obvious example is Molyneux who started the season uncertainly and has got worse as the team has got worse.

The other obvious one is the goalkeeper TLT. Mistakes happen but his response to his errors at Wigan, which started this run off, both in the rest of that game and against Wimbledon show he can't be our man at the moment.

From the outside looking in Lawlor and Pearson, despite their faults, together with Bailey, Sharp and perhaps Broadbent should be the short term spine of the team McCann builds around to get the attitude on the pitch right first and foremost.

[oggycompton]

I think the thing that amazes me is the constant 'I encourage my players to be expressive and take risks', then he proceeds to drop them next game on the back of a small mistake (Pearson)

[BillyStubbsTears]

The style of football that McCann wants to play requires us to draw on the press from the opposition, then break quickly and accurately.

It's a style that requires players to take chances. We WANT the opposition to commit to challenges against us deep in our half, and for us to pass and move past them rapidly, exploiting the space they have left.

It's a style that demands a cool head in fine margin situations. It needs both sorts of bravery:

Physical, because you're going to get hit with cheap shots from players following through after you draw them in then pass beyond them

Mental, because you always run the risk of making your pass too late and looking a prick when you lose the ball.


Clifton is absolutely instrumental to the way we play this game. Not because he's a good passer. Because he is always working both to offer an outlet, and to immediately get in the opposition's face when the quick passing breaks down and the ball goes loose.

It is absolutely no coincidence that the entire team has lost confidence in their ability to play that style in his absence. The lads look shell shocked, because it is simply not working. It's screaming out for a change of tactics with the players we have.

Simple 4-4-2. Get Hanlan or Olusanya supporting Sharp. Have options to send it long and use pace or physique to battle for it. Be compact in midfield.

[In the box]

McCann has NO room for manoeuvre where selection are concerned. He previously talked about having two players for every position but this has been shown to be debatable . The players are sticking to playing style of playing out from the back , this just continues to invite teams to press higher and if we loose the ball , then they’ve got their forwards in our box before we can react . that clearly doesn’t fit their capabilities of some of our players and is only demonstrating that our forwards are left not knowing if to retreat or stick it out . Without any recognised striker other than Billy it’s just same same old of wait for an opportunity and hope we can out it away before they do !!

[ncRover]

The style of football that McCann wants to play requires us to draw on the press from the opposition, then break quickly and accurately.

It's a style that requires players to take chances. We WANT the opposition to commit to challenges against us deep in our half, and for us to pass and move past them rapidly, exploiting the space they have left.

It's a style that demands a cool head in fine margin situations. It needs both sorts of bravery:

Physical, because you're going to get hit with cheap shots from players following through after you draw them in then pass beyond them

Mental, because you always run the risk of making your pass too late and looking a prick when you lose the ball.


Clifton is absolutely instrumental to the way we play this game. Not because he's a good passer. Because he is always working both to offer an outlet, and to immediately get in the opposition's face when the quick passing breaks down and the ball goes loose.

It is absolutely no coincidence that the entire team has lost confidence in their ability to play that style in his absence. The lads look shell shocked, because it is simply not working. It's screaming out for a change of tactics with the players we have.

Simple 4-4-2. Get Hanlan or Olusanya supporting Sharp. Have options to send it long and use pace or physique to battle for it. Be compact in midfield.

Said it in the summer when Sharp signed his deal that we were going in to the season with the same front 3 that didn’t set league 2 alight first half of last season and it got shouted down.

McCann attacks that work have both speed and height in the front line to give the quicker build up option.

[In the box]

It’s been obvious from the start that the team was living off it having won the league and all the positivity generated preseason. But the Huddersfield defeat demonstrated that we are running out of finishing options and without any variations to change the outcome come. Either we get the players putting in stronger performances capable of altering the way teams  play against us or we simple have to find those out of contract players not yet found by other clubs .

[sedwardsdrfc]

If I remember rightly the last 2 seasons we were fairly poor under Grant until he added in Jan and settled on a starting 11 which just got in the routine of playing and winning. And when I say poor it’s poor considering the level.

So the question is why doesn’t he start the season with a 1st choice of his best players. Having a good squad means competition and cover not 5 changes every game!! That often ends badly even with the mega clubs.

For example Senior is a good cover option at left back but he isn’t better than Maxwell and Maxwell has been playing well. So it’s a fairly simple decision on who you pick if your life depends on 3pts. Everyone, players and manager, have a look in the mirror get back to basics and we’ll be fine.

Not much we can do to really push up the division till we can sign forwards in Jan but we can get back to been solid and pick up plenty of points before then.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

The squad rotation thing can lead to mixed messages. Players can play well and then find themselves left out of the starting line up or even left out of the squad altogether. Also, we have certain players who invariably make the team irrespective of their performances. Obviously Bailey which we can understand as he's been very consistent but also Molyneux, who's very rarely been left out. Broadbent was in that category until recently. McCann says it's horses for courses but when we consider Middleton and Gotts contribution in the week, then you would expect them to be tasked with going out and doing it again.

You can understand if players might be lulled into thinking it doesn't really matter if I play out of my skin or not. Maybe a 7/10 will do??

Of course it isn't that simple but we need to make it mean something to earn a starting spot. When players are in form they just want to play, midweek game or not.

[Barmby Rover]

I thought Molyneux's miss against Luton was a prime example of how his game has gone wrong this season, if he had controlled the ball and calmly passed t into goal we could have had at least a draw that day. I know there were other errors where you could say the same thing, but His lack of calmness and control is where he needs to be taken out to work on specifically, maybe one to ones with Copps. I have no doubt he can work his way back in, but we need him to operate effectively, not as he is at the moment. Middleton can do his job better at the moment, and he crosses a ball better than anybody else in the squad.
Gotts has the energy and determination to operate as a number 10 behind Billy, and maybe Hanlan up front.
Maxwell can also feed the front line better than Senior, the change should be a shoe-in and I di expect GM will play him next weekend.

[les@donr]

Gotta has to start. He scored two goals at Grimsby. He is an attacking midfielder that along with Middleton will support Sharp. There has to be energy in our attack which has been lacking.

[Move DRFC]

Really didn't get the Senior over Maxwell one. JM been very good this year and is having a run of games. Just seemed to get dropped for no reason.

Broadbent is also not out of favour. Close has only started 2 matches and that's because he's been on fine form and deserved a start.

Maxwell, Gotts, Pearson, Broadbent will all start on Sat anyway.

[Alan Southstand]

The major problem we have is that if you take Sharp out the side, then you’re downgrading the forward line straight away! We have not signed anyone to compete with Sharp for a starting birth. This is holding us back as there is no plan B at all and I just don’t get this partnering Hanlan with Sharp is somehow going to improve us?

The Lawlor plan hasn’t worked either (some may not think so) as he naturally wants to stay on his line the majority of the time. Similarly with Close, lovely footballer if you give him time and space. Disappears when the opposition are all over you like a rash. And don’t get me started on Sbarra! What GM sees in him I do not know.

We also seem to be down to 2 from 3 wide men now, as Ajeyi is nowhere near the level required.

Pick your best players, Grant - it would be a start, at least.

[selby]

  At this level we have no stand out players, a big squad full of players who need to be on form to be consistent division 1 players, nobody who would be picked in a division representative side.
  We therefore need at least six or seven every game to be really on it and the others to play well at the same time. we have done it once for a full game against Bradford, and sporadically during the other matches we did well in, but in most of those games we had periods when we were quite lucky and didn't play that well and got away with it.
  Compare this side with the side we last won this division with to see the comparison in class, nobody in this side would match their counterpart and get in that side on a regular basis.
 

[Donnybax]

McGrath was shocking but he has been all season. Maybe he's not over what ever injury it was.
Sbarra isn't good enough for the football league, seems a likeable lad but absolutely no ability and incredibly lightweight.
Nixon also looks terrible but with the injury issues for sterry we don't really have an alternative.
Maxwell is miles clear of senior. Another one who tries hard but little ability.
Close is a funny one. Couldn't get a game in league 2 and ended up in the conference and is now viewed as our best central midfielder in league 1. I would say he's better than Broadbent though. I don't see Broadbent as a McCann type holding midfielder at all. When he came for his spell he turned down Houghton and I remember him saying it was because he wasn't mobile enough. Well Broadbent is slower than McCombe and is also incapable of passing forwards. 2 absolute no nos for a McCann type holding midfielder.

[grayx]

I’d say Molyneux, Mc Grath, Sbarra are the obvious ones to be worried.