Full to the brim with triers. Hassell, Dawson, Perkins, O'Brien and Dagnall will give you 100% every time they are picked to play. I guess Keith thought that if we are going down, then we're going down fighting. Good on him. We'll still lose games with such personnel against the better teams, but in the tighter games, of which there have been many this season, I think we could convert a few more defeats in to draws, and maybe a couple of draws in to victories. But they won't be pretty to watch. Away from home the team we sent out yesterday looks ideal, but there will still be many disgruntled voices at the home games if we play without width and churn out a succession of 0-0s. But a draw is a hell of a lot better than a defeat and I think Keith will be desperate not to lose any more home games. It'll be interesting to see what we go with for the two home games coming up: fight and desire or a bit more flair in an attempt to open up the opposition.
Agreed. O'Brien and Perkins had to come in after impressing as subs against Weds and good to see Bobby back in as he will give everything. Dagnall has looked good every time he's played this season without having any luck in front of goal. Not sure how Keith will set up at home but I would like to see Mellis back in when fit. Centre half choices will be crucial with Foster and Cranie out - maybe Edwards will get another look in or he'll stick with Stones and Wiseman?
I think we'll look considerably better to watch by replacing Greening with Perkins as we did yesterday. Ideally I think you can look to replace one of Perkins/Dawson/Hassell with a more creative player or with a wide player, depending on the circumstances. Completely agreed with the team selection yesterday & as you say, I think we need those triers in the team, particularly away from home.
I remember Mel Machin using a similar approach to get us out of bother one season when we ground out a lot of 1-0 wins during the run-in. It definitely wasn't pretty to watch, but we kept loads of clean sheets.
Bobby sat right back yesterday and I think the fullbacks would have added more width, had the change not been enforced. Dawson and Perks were on the front foot and Jimbob was everywhere. In was a quite unorthodox formation, capable of defending, holding and attacking as some bizarre swarm of little marauding misfits buzzing around Millwall's giants. Someone said the front two were isolated from the midfield but I didn't see it like that at all, there was quite a bit of interchanging going on and advanced midfielders, hence Dawson being right there to tap in the first and on hand for the second if required. It was effective, not unattractive to watch and most importantly brought home the points. And, dare I say it - restored a bit of pride for the 200 or so who went. An enjoyable and eventful game too. Next match please....
I don't know what that is? Sat back, but didn't have his feet up - no pun intended, well not the red card pun anyway,..... ???? Sorry, yes very defensive way more deeper than Greening would normally sit, in fact Bob would be there to sweep up after JG would give it away. Had Cranie not gone off he might have been more advanced but he stayed back looking after John Stones, then moving sideways a bit when Wiseman got lost up the right wing. Yes, we conceded one, but when the pressure is on, he is the 5th defender. It worked, well done Keith - we would never have spotted that as an option.
I hope you're right jay. We're in trouble. It's going to be a real scrap to stay up. I couldn't give a stuff how we play sas long as we stay up. Really hope we can keep Tudgay. Davies and Steele must not be sold. Then we have a chance.
I don't think Tudgay has any intention of staying here. If you read what he's put on Twitter he desperately wants to succeed at Forest. Nowt wrong with that, they're his club. But we haven't got to rely on him. Luke Steele would be far more likely to stay if we offered him a contract. He wants a new contract. We haven't offered him one.
Steele's wages may be out of our reach......gates of 8k and a backa that has stopped backing may have sumert to do with it..
