ChaddySmoker

I must admit that I did have high hopes for this season under LJ but a few are saying on the ezine board that we will have to start all over again for next season with building a new squad!

Am I correct in thinking that we will have Lanzoni, Kasunga and Korey Smith plus all of the forwards, JCH, McDonald, Rooney, Sidney, Dayton and Philliskirk for next year or on contracts that could easily be renewed? Mills is a good player whom I reckon we could/should get

The only ones I can see that we might have problems with are Brown, Grounds, Tarky, Montano and Wes!

This is why I believe LJ is giving some game time to Mellor, Millar and Winchester to see if they are going to make the grade

Playing players out of position is irrelevant, a good player is a good player. Kusunga can play C/Half and/or Right back, Grounds same on the left. Good team selection as we have 3 full backs out injured at the moment, we don't have the funds for a massive squad and I for 1 would rather have options in attack if anywhere!

But we are still not scoring enough goals, That is the problem

JCH getting his chance, at last. I don't care about polite players, feed the beast!

We seem to have a relatively predictable back 4 when they're fit, that being: Lanzoni at RB, Kusunga and Tarky in CB and Grounds at LB. I'd say the same about the midfield pair being Korey Smith and Wes. However, our attacking line-up is far more contentious.

 

With the likes of Rooney, JCH, Montano, Dayton, MacDonald, Philliskirk and Schmeltz at disposal who should we play and in what system?

 

Personally I would choose Dayton and Philliskirk in the CAM positions, supporting MacDonald and Rooney. That excluding Montano and JCH who I think are equally as worthy of a place.

 

It's a tough dilemma for LJ yet it needs to be sorted by the 16th for MK Dons in order for us to have settled team ready to build partnerships and understanding.

 

We do however need to change our shape/system as we are not providing enough shots on target when our football is in the main excellent and good to watch!

LJ sticks by his 'wingers' who come into the hole, rather than the touchline wizards so I would like him to try more of a 4-3-3 system with at least 1 wide player staying wide, Schmeltz or Montano and even on occasions going to 3 at the back, especially at home at nil-nil! JCH all the time for me, I am afraid!

 

 

At home matches, where we're unbeaten in 4, we've mostly retained the passing, high-pressing, intense football. Was Swindon, Orient and a half against Carlisle evidence of your theory?

 

It's really annoying me now that LJ's tactics at Wolves are being held against him. In one match against a team that will destroy this league we trialled a different system and set-up to maximise our chance of getting a result. That, with some poor away form, where in the main we've actually played the brand of football we were promised anyway, has caused you to exaggerate all of them points.

He's adapted us slightly in an attempt to make us more efficient but the football has not started to dry up whatsoever.

 

I totally agree, the major problem so far is that the threat from our wingers has evaporated, Dayton, Sid, Montano and Miller have not pulled their weight recently plus we have had 2 right backs and our left back out injured. That has contrived to give us much less width, meaning less entertainment

plus1

and from ALL!

A nice lad, half decent cricketer as well for the Town team! (Rochdale!)

Amazing what one game can do. Many werr purring after Saturday, we lose one game and suddenly we're going to be thumped by the league's bottom side who haven't won at home since 1066.

 

Not saying we'll definitely win by any means but if we can't go there without even thinking of a shot of a win then where can we go?

Quite correct JSS, There is no point turning up as a player in any game or even as a supporter without the hope and anticipation of a victory, Brizzle 1-5 OAFC KTF

Scorers Sidney 4 (out of 18 open goals) and Tarky at both ends!

Although Wes and smith have looked decent so far I do think we lack a bit of creativity in the middle, especially when the wingers are being marked out of the game.

Precisely, it is midfield where our problems lie and has been since the season started, even when we have been playing well. Defence, OK we are still missing a centre half but Grounds seemed to be doing that job alright until Tuesday night.

How about three at the back, plus two flying wingers, and Philliskirk behind two strikers, and a hatful of goals against a struggling side?

OOOOOOOHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Tomorrow night's match between Notts County and the mighty Latics, is the commentary match, on BBC Manchester (95.1FM). Programme starting at 7pm. Commentators : Ian Cheeseman and Huddersfield Town 1st Team Coach : Steve Eyre.

Cheers for that, may I ask is it possible to listen online to that, as certain radio stations do not seem to be allowed?

Get Sidney on!

Precisely, so when we start against Swindon on Saturday with Rooney and most likely Miller too (Although I want to see Sidney every home game!) there will be several people on here saying that this now proves that they were correct that Rooney should have started against Wolves, it beggars belief.

LJ is the manager and no surprise he has to manage and that means to manage every aspect of our club over a full season!

Give him a 5 year contract now and back him. TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY! KTF!

A half decent centre mid with good tackling, passing and shooting ability will never look very good when partnered with a crab!

That is not actually criticising anybody!

All this crying out for a settled team, does any1 want us to start on Saturday with the same 11 as Tuesday?

By the way there is always the problem of tiredness with 3 games in 8 days, perhaps resting Rooney and Millar was part of his plan! To use the squad?

I hope for Preston away, they are already sick of the sight of us!

As I said in another thread, if we're looking for a formation that the team can settle into and understand easily and can last for a number of games in a row, then it has to be 4-4-2.

 

We've got the players who can play that system in their natural positions and we can have good balance throughout the team with a few options in different positions if there are injuries.

As Mills is better as an attacking option and will pretty soon have to return, hopefully only temporarily, to Burnley, the back 4 would all be centre halves so there is nothing natural about that within a 4-4-2.

I think our best player so far this season has been Grounds BUT at Centre back, Kusunga really is a centre back too, therefore, let us try 3 at the back, rather than putting bloody Winchester in there. If Lanzoni gets fit he can play right mid, (he really looks good enough to play anywhere) or wingback with Mills on the left, then get 2 bloody wingers on for every home game. Lets not worry about the opposition unless its perhaps Wolves or Peterbro and get SIDNEY on the ball.

Korey should play every game but we only play well when he plays well and that seems to be only 45 minutes every match, so lets change the system to help him and get Wes out of there, he cannot pass, never shoots (OK Preston so it was only once!) and never uses any space he creates.

With either goalie that leaves us with 3 places to fill, so that is where the rotation should come in, Philly, Dayton, Rooney, Mac, Monty, Miller JCH.

For away matches alternate Mellor and Wes to play alongside Korey if we need to fill the centre mid area, but if its 0-0 at half time, change it then, not at 60 minutes!

Sorry obviously Tarky is always in there, have I added up correctly?

That's probably manager-speak for '5 of them were crap!'

The only fluidity seems to be within the water on the pitch, in danger of being abandoned? Get SIDNEY on, as their best player and fullback has gone off injured.

I aint coming out with the obvious joke about our false No 9

LJ wont want his forwards to play 3 games in a week, saving them for Saturday perhaps?

It seems that Wolves are lining up 4-5-1 as Doyle is on the bench! Perhaps we are matching them!

Ooooh I wonder how he manages to get by then, with gas prices going up by so much! So that is the team talk sorted. Come on Sidney, show them up!

At least Millar shoots on site. Just watching the highlights of the Championship and most of the goals come from shots from the edge of the area, or outside.

A very important 3 points when we didn't play well and I feel that it will give us momentum to win at least 1 of the next 2 games, then onwards and upwards, hopefully.

Regarding fans in the main stand moaning, I cannot believe that, never!