Harrogate v BWFC

oops...great minds think alike..hold it right there, i'll move mine onto yours David
(two match threads started within 1 minute of each other !!)


ok deleted mine now.

agree David, we need to try 3 in midfield... it's a simple enough strategy as summed up with this short quote by Venables

“If you can’t outplay the opposition, you must outnumber them.”


quotefancy.com/quote/1625653/Terry-Venables-If-you-can-t-outplay-the-opposition-you-must-outnumber-them

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/terry-venables-column-cheer-i-saw-signs-hope-england-against-norway-9716377.html


why can't the manager see this and fix it mid-game though ?

I must be getting cynical (lol me cynical). I think we'll get slaughtered. 3-0 Harrogate. Just my feeling regarding an unsettled team, change of system and lack of ability. These lads score goals, we don't, not yet anyway.

I think the first win will ome against one of Oldham, Grimsby and Barrow. I dread we don't bet any of those teams.

I think Greenidge is injured rtf, not replaced and in fact I think he could be a big asset for us when he’s properly fit because he really does have serious pace. I’m not worried about changes to the line up because all of these players are orking with each other in training and they must be changing around regularly in that. Any player should be able to fit in when needed without causing a problem. There doesn’t seem much point keeping struggling players in the team When you have other choices and it’s only by trying them that you find out what works best. Hopefully that will be this weekend, though I have no evidence it will other than I believe our squad is one of the best in L2 but hasn’t yet lived up to it. I think they will tomorrow.

I entirely agree rtf. My reminiscence is that I witnessed the debut of Harry Charsley at Brentford in 2017/8. Loaned from Everton, plunged straight into a midfield , looked lightweight but not without promise was hooked without ceremony after about 60 mins and never featured again in team or I think on bench. That was under Parky, but there have been many others who have favoured new players. Megson was awful. Straight in they went and were in favour until they fell out. This manager has introduced us to all manner of bit part players as you say, all within a spiel of eight weeks of practice to a set system and an unwavering Phoenix researched profile- and each time someone appears, kneejerk at the last minute- into the team or onto the field they go any old where ( and surprise surprise they get injured.)


So we have been presented with a complete mish- mash of personnel, styles and not to put to fine a point on it horsexxxx. The fact that all managers have favourites, prioritise new acquisitions ahead of time or as Evatt thinks promote youngsters too early or prefer rotation or abhor it etc etc does not excuse.. Keith Hill gave us interminable horsexxxx with apologies to equine lovers, Parky was bland, neutral and rigid, Freedman was full of 'trust me I know best', Coyle loved wingers, Lennon loved away hotel stays and so on. Let's be in no doubt whatever: at this point in time Evatt has not got a clue what to do and stands xxxx to xxxx with all of the aforementioned.


However Evatt is young, relatively, a track record of learning and moving forward and seems honest and clear, so he has going for him that unlike all the above who were all found out he is in a situation which allows him some time and he might well work out how to make progress with these players. That's what we need to cling on to?

Re Saturday and striving not to repeat matter on the Newport thread, we are underdogs because they have a settled team and we are fielding a scratch one. There have been positives on view- to date I think Amoateng, Tutte, Hurwood- Lockett, Isgrove and even Gnaouha had bright little cameos despite being Charsley moments. In general the Jones Hickman link offers promise. We have several times seen Gordon leave markers for dead and push past them to cross or nearly convert a cross. we know Darcey and Brockbank can play. Sarcevic, Doyle and Delfouneso have experience and success on their CVs, the first two at this level; and we have had reasonably competitive possession rates. So whatever team Evatt musters we have a bit of a chance. I think he has some key decisions

1. Does her persist with Crellin and if not fall back on Gilks or give Alexander a whirl..

2. Does he break up Delfouneso and Doyle. As it stands, being outnumbered in midfield and flaky at the back, we can't afford two up front. If we dare go with three at the back, maybe we can keep two up- that after all was how Parky got us up from Div 1 and got Le Fondre into the team. But if 4 I think one has to go to the bench. At present neither is featuring enough. They aren't target men per se. Maybe Miller will fit better or Gnouhaha. Or does he push one or other wider. Last week Delfouneso drifted wide and Doyle back. Delfouneso clearly struggled wide. He could maybe play deeper, Doyle wider. But together now on an away ground is very questionable and we are playing one man short if both play.

3. Can Crawford and Sarcevic play in the same team and this relates to 2.

4. Who could form a partnership at the back in a three or four

5. Does he protect the back four with one or two deep lying midfielders as per Parky's and Lennon's preferred model and in general do we put more emphasis on defence and counter attack rather than scoring one more than them/ In other words do we move into pragmatism and realism and build.?

Wouldn't exactly call our club Goliath right now, Oom. More like BHS, never too big to fall from grace.