Let's talk about the Stockport county EFL cup game

[selby]

  After todays master class in solid defending we approach a game on Tuesday in a competition quite a few of our supporters deride , but no doubt some of the same people will dive on a trip to Wembley that can give the season and the team a boost if we can overcome Stockport County on Tuesday evening.
 It could be billed as one of worst defences in the division against the top striker Wooten, and just who would you put money on?
  Me I would go two of three Bailey, Byrne, and Pearson our three best defenders, the rest from back to front in all positions much a muchness to me.
  Like Cardiff we are up against a team who lost their last game today and will have extra incentive to use us  to get back on track, our speciality.
  So big choices for the manager, a big reward and uplift if we get a win, most of the players have done us proud in the other rounds and have stood up to be counted, but hopefully Grant has an idea of his best side, But what side does he pick? Me quite openly I would question what I think he thinks is his best central defence pairing, but its his neck on the block, but as defenders  my choice would be between Bailey, Pearson, and Byrne.
  So can we get an uplift after this afternoon's reality check? would it be just the uplift the club requires? are you getting to like the competition? are you going to your first game in the competition this season?
 Lots to talk about, and a chance to get todays disappointing display out of our system, please have your say.

[Rupee92ONLY]

I don’t think McGrath is ready for the level but you really really really hate that lad don’t you

It seems every post you make (well certainly every thread starter) you’re shoe-horning in a mention of our best centre backs being named anyone other than him. Pearson is dogger now.

[Pancho Regan]

  After todays master class in solid defending we approach a game on Tuesday in a competition quite a few of our supporters deride , but no doubt some of the same people will dive on a trip to Wembley that can give the season and the team a boost if we can overcome Stockport County on Tuesday evening.
 It could be billed as one of worst defences in the division against the top striker Wooten, and just who would you put money on?
  Me I would go two of three Bailey, Byrne, and Pearson our three best defenders, the rest from back to front in all positions much a muchness to me.
  Like Cardiff we are up against a team who lost their last game today and will have extra incentive to use us  to get back on track, our speciality.
  So big choices for the manager, a big reward and uplift if we get a win, most of the players have done us proud in the other rounds and have stood up to be counted, but hopefully Grant has an idea of his best side, But what side does he pick? Me quite openly I would question what I think he thinks is his best central defence pairing, but its his neck on the block, but as defenders  my choice would be between Bailey, Pearson, and Byrne.
  So can we get an uplift after this afternoon's reality check? would it be just the uplift the club requires? are you getting to like the competition? are you going to your first game in the competition this season?
 Lots to talk about, and a chance to get todays disappointing display out of our system, please have your say.

I only made it as far as your first 6 words but that’s fairly normal.

Let’s go again Rovers and book that trip to Wembley.

[selby]

  Rupes LDR, as a matter of fact I thought the third goal was as bad.
 

[Fal]

Selby, these match threads are getting worse by the week with your constant persistence in ignoring that McGrath exists and constantly wanting Bailey there. We get it, you love Faulkner and hate McGrath, we don’t need to know on every thread and post

[steve@dcfd]

Good how you blame the defence again
The problem today was there was not enough players in midfield. The two wide players did nothing either going forward or helping the defence . The first goal came from poor control from a midfield player which gave space . The second goal was atrocious from front to back no pace to stop the CH which a common trait in our side. We needed extra body's in midfield and we didn't do that until we were 3  0 down. But Grant still did not do it right . Were are what we are a middle table to bottom side playing the one of the teams who have players on wages that would pay for all our starting eleven. So we move to Tuesday we must look at the team formation if we want to win the game. But we scoring goals in this game as well as defending could be a problem.

Note as for Bobby he as yet failed to start again only coming on as a sub in the 86 mins last night

[Lesonthewest]

Would absolutely love us to book a trip to Wembley for the club, fans, & everyone else connected, but would swap a defeat to Stockport with 3 points at Plymouth in a heartbeat. We have to stay up.

[Reg of the Rovers]

8pm kick off, as opposed to the usual 7pm in this competition.

I know the league is priority but I think we have to go for this, strongest 11 to start for me and use success in this competition to develop confidence and positivity for the rest of the season.

Plus huge for fans to see their club at Wembley - I hope Grant respects that and gives this our best effort.

[Filo]

8pm kick off, as opposed to the usual 7pm in this competition.

I know the league is priority but I think we have to go for this, strongest 11 to start for me and use success in this competition to develop confidence and positivity for the rest of the season.

Plus huge for fans to see their club at Wembley - I hope Grant respects that and gives this our best effort.

What is our strongest 11, I’m not sure our manager knows that

[Reg of the Rovers]

8pm kick off, as opposed to the usual 7pm in this competition.

I know the league is priority but I think we have to go for this, strongest 11 to start for me and use success in this competition to develop confidence and positivity for the rest of the season.

Plus huge for fans to see their club at Wembley - I hope Grant respects that and gives this our best effort.

What is our strongest 11, I’m not sure our manager knows that

It’s a good question! He definitely doesn’t seem to know how to balance our team to manage particular opposition.

In previous rounds it’s had the feel of letting lads start who’ve not had much game time recently, with Mols, Bailey and other ‘regulars’ have been on the bench.

Given how unreliable / inconsistent Gibson, Haks and Middleton have been I’d play a 4-3-2-1 with Mols and Lee in the 2, and Francis as the 1 if fit, Hanlan if not. Bailey, Gotts and Clifton as a solid 3 and Byrne plus 3 in the back four.

[mpc123]

I think mols and bailey deserve a rest, they looked knackered yesterday.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think mols and bailey deserve a rest, they looked knackered yesterday.

Well if you let them have this Tuesday off, they’ll also have Sunday 12 April off as well.

[selby]

  What is the strongest line up? Flint who scored for Buxton yesterday at third placed Merthyr in a 3-1 win for Buxton and is allowed to play if Buxton don't have a game and has performed very well in previous rounds against Bradford City and Grimsby.
 And a number of players such as Adelakun have also played in rounds for us and could come into the reckoning.

[steve@dcfd]

So is the National league North semi final trophy on Tuesday no so why select Flint. We have a full squad of players to select from. We should go as strong as we can. It still might not be good enough. The selection of the midfield is the vital one. We can't be so wide open so easy to play through. We have Close Broadbent Gotts Clifton Lee and maybe Bailey. Unfortunately Eronokwo may still not be available so we have Hanlan or Billy.

[drfchound]

I think that Grant will give Sharp a start on Tuesday, simply because of his record in the competition this season.

[GazLaz]

I think that Grant will give Sharp a start on Tuesday, simply because of his record in the competition this season.

That would be a crazy decision.

[steve@dcfd]

Yes it might be Gaz but Hanlan is no better and if Eronokwo is not ready not sure who he selects for the striker position

[GazLaz]

Yes it might be Gaz but Hanlan is no better and if Eronokwo is not ready not sure who he selects for the striker position

Find it interesting that people think Hanlan is no better than Sharp.

[selby]

  His all round game might be Gaz, but a half chance in the box he is nowhere near Sharp.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Sharp has missed a few sitters this season. He just shouldn’t be playing at this level anymore. He knows it too.

Hanlan will (should) be in L2 next season if we can shift him on but he’s moved over with his family and got a place here, so that’s gonna prove difficult.

[steve@dcfd]

Yes it might be Gaz but Hanlan is no better and if Eronokwo is not ready not sure who he selects for the striker position

Find it interesting that people think Hanlan is no better than Sharp.

it is interesting Hanlan closes down but his control of the ball either with back to goal or infront of goal is pathetic. His closing down of defenders or even defending from the front is also poor. His finishing is not good either Billy is better. But neither are a good league 1 standard Billy is down to his age Hanlan is down to him not being an out and out front man and finisher.

[Barmby Rover]

This really depends on Stockport and who they play, if they go for the weakened side then Rovers will just stride over them. With other teams when they have done that our squad has enough to beat most teams in the division. When it gets this close though I suspect they will play the full team, with only one or two changes from the Saturday team, we should do the same, I am hoping Okoronkwo will be fit and we can jettison Hanlan and maybe bring Robinson in for maybe Harry, or Bailey to give him a rest, with the option of bring him on as an impact sub. We need to win this one. for the season.

[GazLaz]

Sharp has missed a few sitters this season. He just shouldn’t be playing at this level anymore. He knows it too.

Hanlan will (should) be in L2 next season if we can shift him on but he’s moved over with his family and got a place here, so that’s gonna prove difficult.

Rob is absolutely right and has said what I was going. The main thing about Sharp this season is that he’s missed plenty of chances. Not been clinical at all.

[NickDRFC]

Sharp has missed a few sitters this season. He just shouldn’t be playing at this level anymore. He knows it too.

Hanlan will (should) be in L2 next season if we can shift him on but he’s moved over with his family and got a place here, so that’s gonna prove difficult.

Rob is absolutely right and has said what I was going. The main thing about Sharp this season is that he’s missed plenty of chances. Not been clinical at all.

According to footystats.org, Hanlan has scored 4 league goals from an xG of 3.94 and Sharp 3 from an xG of 4.54. I know that a lot of people will dismiss it as nonsense, irrelevant etc but that shows that, in the league at least, Sharp has been wasteful and Hanlan has done alright with the chances that he has got.

EDIT - just checked for the EFL trophy and Hanlan has 2 from an xG of 2.32, Billy 5 from 3.87. So in this tournament Billy’s actually been overperforming.

[selby]

  I can agree with that Gaz, but unlike others he has been in the positions to get something on them and has also had a couple chalked off for off side.
  He Is the only one who attacks the six yard box consistently.
 What we do wrong with him is expect him to chase about as well, it's not and never has been his sort of game.
 We don't make it easy for anyone up there by themselves, we could have better admittedly, but we don't make it easy for them we do have, who would probably be more prolific elsewhere.

[drfchound]

I think that Grant will give Sharp a start on Tuesday, simply because of his record in the competition this season.

That would be a crazy decision.

I’m not disagreeing but it is just my opinion of what Grant might choose to do.

[steve@dcfd]

We are debating over two strikers who have scored Hanlan 4 goals in 24 games and Sharp who's scored 3 goals in 32 games in the league Neither are near top scorers in the league. If stay in the league then we will need far superior strikers next season to improve will we be able to afford it I'm not sure. If it wasn't for Owen Baileys goals and Luke Molyneux contribution we would be in a relegation position now.

As for this competition Billy as scored more as stated above.

[steve@dcfd]

  I can agree with that Gaz, but unlike others he has been in the positions to get something on them and has also had a couple chalked off for off side.
  He Is the only one who attacks the six yard box consistently.
 What we do wrong with him is expect him to chase about as well, it's not and never has been his sort of game.
 We don't make it easy for anyone up there by themselves, we could have better admittedly, but we don't make it easy for them we do have, who would probably be more prolific elsewhere.

When watching Hanlans control of the ball either with back to goal or going forward it's like Bambi on ice. You never feel he can have total control.

[selby]

  We chased Street and lost, he got us up last season and that took his value out of reach.
  Where we have been poor in the past is not taking any notice of tips for such as Aaron Collins, Josh Stones and a number of others both strikers and other positions when they would have cost buttons.

[mpc123]

I think mols and bailey deserve a rest, they looked knackered yesterday.

Well if you let them have this Tuesday off, they’ll also have Sunday 12 April off as well.

I'd rather that happen, than risk injury too of 3 to 4 weeks.

I wouldn't mind going to Wembley but not for that.

Go for 3 5 2 from the off flood midfield, try to control the game and have 2 upfront if orinokoflow cant play then hanlan and sharp with Clarke in goal. Robinson in midfield with gotts and close with nixon and maxwell with byrne, mcgrath and senior as 3 at the back.

Then have gibson, middleton, clifton, lee, adelaken for changes in attacking formation or if we need goals to change the game later on. I love a good snatch it at the end cup game.

Or lee instead of sharp possibly.

We have pretty much used the squad to get here upto now.