After Saturday poor result what changes can we make for Friday game. For me Cole would be on the bench, but not sure what else we could do.
Based on the last 25 minutes at Oakwell against these I’d be tempted to pack midfield because they over ran us last time but maybe that was us running out of steam and not having any adequate reinforcements from the bench to combat it.
Ian Evatt did well in the second half of our last match with that tactic, he made sure their number 8 Sheehan got on the ball more and he was allowed to dictate play because their midfield simply overpowered ours. Like you said, that will definitely be a tactic they try again and we need to combat that.
In my opinion we play strongest 11 that served us well most of season. Play offs are a different competition…we’ve been guilty of saying out of contract players have lost interest at some point or another in recent weeks but name a player that wouldn’t want the chance of playing at Wembley
Still a worry for me that at least 5 of our starting 11 and possibly none of our first team coaches will be at our club next season , but like you say who wouldn’t give everything to get to Wembley.
Devaney picked the consensus best XI on Saturday. There’s not much more we can do other than put the same team out again and hope for the best.
Dropping coles okay but the replacements aren't upto much usually and I don't think we should throw a 18 year old into a play off semi. It's a tough one.
If they’ve watched our last few games, they will be working on corners and then set-pieces into our box. Hopefully we’ve practiced marking properly and staying ‘switched-on’ at these. Personally I’d leave 2 players up near the half-way line, but our last few coaches have all preferred the ‘everyone back’ tactic.
Its the options or lack of them that means we will have to go with the team that’s been failing for the last 12 games
We perhaps ought to think about getting Cadden and O'Keefe to swop wings, so that they can cut inside as a goal threat rather than failing to go down the outside. Our occasional crosses hardly ever get past the first man anyway.
Results have been good this season (other than last few weeks) but performances haven't. All season I've thought about about how I'd change it but come up with nowt. I don't really like the formation we play (would be great with Eaden on the right, Barnard on the left, Higgy behind a front 2 of Ward and Shipperley and any 6 other blokes out of the pub, but we haven't got that, we've just got 11 blokes out of the pub), but I can't see any other options. Recruitment forces our hand as far as formation is concerned. Occasionally Collins selected a player who I wouldn't have chosen, but usually he picked the same team as I would. Zero options in terms of formation and personnel. Even the players I like have limitations. Phillips scores and creates plenty of goals but can be anonymous for 80 minutes in a game. McAtee works hard and scores some sublime goals, but misses easy chances and gives the ball away in midfield at least twice per game putting us under extreme pressure. Kane I never took to, but has played well for most of the season, but he offers no protection to the defence. Connell has just looked off it all season. I would have probably picked the team Devaney did for our last game, as would Collins. I can't imagine there will be much of a change for the Bolton game as there aren't any better options. Maybe 1 or two changes in personnel that, if we're honest, won't offer us anything different or better. The team and formation is selected based on the recruitment with very little that can be altered. Doesn't mean we won't win, any team can beat any other, but it's very much hope over expectation.
I can't believe I'm actually saying it, but Russell would be a huge plus for this one if he's fit. Plonk him just in front of the back 3 and tell him to stop anything in white.
