His ommision of Paul Hayes from tomorrows game reeks of "we are saving him for the playoffs". Does he realise we have a game to win at Walsall? The man just never seems to take ANY sort of risk. He has done fantastically well to give us more than a decent chance of the playoffs in the final game. Everything is in our own hands (and has been for many weeks). However, in recent games he has seemed more than happy to settle for a draw rather tham gamble for a win. Does anyone expect anything other than a bore draw tomorrow? If we ARE drawing with 10 minutes to go, will he twist or stick? Recent history suggests he will stick. Stephen
In all honesty..... what do you think changing from a 442 to a 352 at oldham was, when he has never done it before.... points in the bag or as you put it a risk...
He's been forced to take a chance tomorrow, he's probably going to play Nardiello from the off, he'll not like doing that, not with the blue eyed wonder striker out with a chipped finger nail, but the next conundrum for Ritchie will be the first playoff match, having seen Nardiello fire us there, who will he pick?, I'll go for Lazy Hayesy.
RE: In all honesty..... Yes, I agree it IS a difficult situation. We could have gambled and lost every game. I think by Andy's own admission he made the change at Oldam because he thought we were getting overrun in the midfield. Whatever the reason, it worked. It's a personal view, but I would have liked to see him gamble a bit more in the home fixtures. For example, in the recent home draws, there was only the Bradford game where he actually sent one of the Defenders up the pitch for the last few minutes. Playing out a draw tomorrow would be an extremely risky strategy. If Walsall offered Andy the option of taking a draw or playing the game, I reckon he would take the draw. Now that WOULD be taking a risk! Thanks, Stephen
Nardiello, given the chance, would score goals on a regular basis, Hayes as been given the chance, and can't.
Come on guys, not that old chestnut. There are plenty of threads discussing Hayes vs. Nardiello. I'm puzzled why Hayes in injured though. Did he finish the Bradford game?
RE: Allen, you ought to know better! I really don't know what you're getting at Stephen mate. AR often throws on a third striker in games we're drawing for example. Why risk Hayes if he's injured?
RE: Allen, you ought to know better! Maybe I didn't do my reasech properly, but hardly ever put on a third striker does he? nor does he move one of the defenders forward. In particular, if we have a free kick on the half way line, he seldom "loads" the penalty area with his center backs. They usually stand on the half way line. How about sending Antny forward? Occasionally he moves Hayes back into midfield and brings on Wright or Nardiello. I wouldn't call that having three strikers though. It's a bit of a negative view of things, I know. But I really do think he is afraid of gambling and losing. Whatever happens, I hope he is still with us next season. Stephen
RE: Allen, you ought to know better! You have some valid points mate, particularly the one about loading some defenders into the box from free-kicks. It annoys me when we get free-kicks in decent positions and just tap them short when we have the likes of Reid, Kay and Hecky to come forward. If there's a quick free-kick on fair enough but most of the time they're pointless. I don't know if that's 'negativity' though. Maybe it is.
Cant argue with that, If we had Hayes and Nardiello playing upfront week in week out we'd have no problems scoring goals.
Ritchie's strategy Defend from the front.</p> Nardiello is incapable of doing this hence his exclusion..well that and his poor attitude, bone idle, lack of discipline & injury prone nature.</p> We would not have had so many clean sheets had nads appeared regularly.</p> Having said that we may have scored more....</p> Richteas stuck to his guns and we are in a possible PO position with one game to go.</p>
RE: Hayes is injured If we make the playoffs, what's the odds that he will shake off his "groin strain"?
I applaud him for that Definately, to take the season to the last game (and still have a tremendous chance). He has certainly "held his nerve".
RE: Allen, you ought to know better! some good points there mate, I know what you mean , we have been so tight at the back (19 league clean sheets)maybe we could have gone more attacking at times, but we have only become tighter at the back because the whole team are more defensive minded and isn't that what we all wanted 18months back.</p> As for the strikers I think I would go with the two old boys of the four tomorrow.</p> Richards and Nardiello. 24 years old ...old twits eh!.. </p>