It just all feels so ‘flakey’ at the moment. Even the comments from Bowyer about not being able to play continual 60,70,80 mins. That’s just crap. How are we meant to get any momentum with continued tinkering. Deji and Pearce HAVE to start together in a back 4 with Matthew’s or Gunter on the right and Maatsen on the left. Then play attacking players with a bit of creativity. Give Accrington something to think about. It will at least get some fans back on your side regardless of the result. Unfortunately I think LB is too stubborn for that and it’ll be a formation more worried about the opposition than ourselves.
The problem is you can always lose playing an attacking side. If Bowyer did that though I won't complain. It is more a case of moving the odds in your favour. The cagey approach simply gives opponents more chance of getting something. It doesn't have to, but we are the sort of team where it does.
All this protect players bollox , we have had nigh on a full weeks rest in between games for our last 5 matches including today .
Anyway law of averages, we can’t be shit forever but I’m a rare Watson and Pratley fan (admittedly they haven’t been great recently , especially Praout of position ) and with them not available I’m a bit nervous about it all but numbers trumps all and I’m going for a 2-1 humdinger of a win .
The body language of the players last week was poor. Something is wrong maybe players reacting to Williams, Bogle and Matthews being publicly criticised for errors but not others who have made clear errors eg Gunter.
Really down about our performances since Gillingham away. Accrington are a solid consistent physical unit. I don't fancy us at all. A back 4 of two specialist centre halves and full backs in their natural position would help. As curbs would say, back to basics and hopefully grind a result out.
Ronnie Schwartz hasn't played a game for the entire season. He'll probably be getting minutes for the U23's while Liam Millar could be on the bench. I think we will lose or draw, its going to be more of the same from bowyer.
Can't see Shwartz starting at all, might be on the bench but he literally hasn't played for half a year. Hoping he comes on with 15 minutes to go and puts them to the Charlton sword.
Ronnie Schwartz hasn't played a game for the entire season. He'll probably be getting minutes for the U23's while Liam Millar could be on the bench. I think we will lose or draw, its going to be more of the same from bowyer.
I think Millar will start and Schwartz will be on the bench.
Gilbey and Watson on perms Shinnie and Levitt on loan
To add to the existing JFC, Pratley (when not a CB) and Morgan, making 7. And that's not including attacking midfielders like Maddison, Williams and Doughty or kids.
Yet Bowyer thinks we are still missing a nasty midfielder. How many midfielders does he think we need, when we only need 2 or perhaps 3 in the side at any one time?
And still he plays a LB in there 🙄
Because there is no pace in midfield. Midfield is not new to Maatsen either. I think LB is right.
Then play him LW / LWB. He’s lost on the right. Looks a shadow of the player he is on the left
The game is going to be televised in NZ! The first game I’ve seen since the playoff final. It has a comfortable 0-2 loss written all over it, then.
I have just got back from a two week holiday and have to pick my lovely dog up from the kennels at the same time as the game though. A real shame, I’ll miss her.
That video has made me realise how much i miss football. The crowd noise is brilliant. That bit of the drum as goal celebrations die down. I cant wait to be back
I would start with the below, gives you washington, schwartz and Smyth to come off the bench if needed.
Amos Matthews Oshi Pearce Maatsen JFC Morgan Maddison Williams Millar Aneke
love this lineup
Only thing I dont like is the fact that Accrington wont just sit back... Well they probably will for the majority of the game
Trouble is at this level (and what we're finding of late), teams always get at least one chance to score and unfortunately at the moment, teams are taking that opportunity when they get it against us - What worries me about that Midfield is I question whether it'll do enough at the other end of the pitch as well as at the right end
At the same time with suspensions I dont know who I'd replace any of them with...
I would start with the below, gives you washington, schwartz and Smyth to come off the bench if needed.
Amos Matthews Oshi Pearce Maatsen JFC Morgan Maddison Williams Millar Aneke
Quite like that... But I am sure we all hated that formation not too long ago.
EDIT 1 - On review
JFC and Morgan are wrong sides of the CDM roles there, added to this Morgan isn't really defensively capable to play there. I'd consider bringing Vennings back in as I remember him being a bit more defensively sound than Albie (Unless Vennings is injured) OR I'd have recalled Lapslie, who would be perfect for RCDM.
Aneke won't have his impact from starting. He is an impact player and that's fine.
So my changes would be to this:
Amos Matthews - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen F.Caskey Maddison - Morgan - Millar Bogle - Washington
then change to finish something like this in your recommended formation possibly pushing Matthews forward to RCDM for Gunter to replace Morgan:
Amos Matthews - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen Morgan - F.Caskey Maddison - Williams - Smyth Aneke
(we're all falling into the trap of playing players out of position which does lead me to believe Bowyer may have some kind of argument for doing so)
EDIT 2
Try as I might I cannot understand Bowyer's thinking. It's all madness and I think we COULD have the quality to not need to play 4231 or any formation with just 1 up top and instead would argue in favour of a diamond or flat 4-4-2. either
Amos Gunter - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen F. Caskey Morgan - Millar Maddison Aneke - Schwartz
I would start with the below, gives you washington, schwartz and Smyth to come off the bench if needed.
Amos Matthews Oshi Pearce Maatsen JFC Morgan Maddison Williams Millar Aneke
Quite like that... ButI am sure we all hated that formation not too long ago.
One area I'll always defend Bowyer over Robinson is the fact that at least he's not rigid with the formation he plays - Bowyer at the moment is probably the anti-Robinson though in the sense he cant seem to decide on any formation
Comments
2-0 win
Anyway law of averages, we can’t be shit forever but I’m a rare Watson and Pratley fan (admittedly they haven’t been great recently , especially Praout of position ) and with them not available I’m a bit nervous about it all but numbers trumps all and I’m going for a 2-1 humdinger of a win .
Really down about our performances since Gillingham away. Accrington are a solid consistent physical unit. I don't fancy us at all. A back 4 of two specialist centre halves and full backs in their natural position would help. As curbs would say, back to basics and hopefully grind a result out.
Only joking... Rocket Ronnie off the bench 1-0
Maddison
Washington Aneke Millar
Maynard-Brewer Purrington Matthews Williams Smyth Bogle Schwartz
Is how I'd like us to set up
That video has made me realise how much i miss football. The crowd noise is brilliant. That bit of the drum as goal celebrations die down. I cant wait to be back
Amos
Matthews Oshi Pearce Maatsen
JFC Morgan
Maddison Williams Millar
Aneke
If all Bogle does is tire out the opposition then perfect, let him do that, then unleash the Chuks!!
Trouble is at this level (and what we're finding of late), teams always get at least one chance to score and unfortunately at the moment, teams are taking that opportunity when they get it against us - What worries me about that Midfield is I question whether it'll do enough at the other end of the pitch as well as at the right end
At the same time with suspensions I dont know who I'd replace any of them with...
EDIT 1 - On review
JFC and Morgan are wrong sides of the CDM roles there, added to this Morgan isn't really defensively capable to play there. I'd consider bringing Vennings back in as I remember him being a bit more defensively sound than Albie (Unless Vennings is injured) OR I'd have recalled Lapslie, who would be perfect for RCDM.
Aneke won't have his impact from starting. He is an impact player and that's fine.
So my changes would be to this:
Matthews - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen
F.Caskey
Maddison - Morgan - Millar
Bogle - Washington
then change to finish something like this in your recommended formation possibly pushing Matthews forward to RCDM for Gunter to replace Morgan:
Matthews - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen
Morgan - F.Caskey
Maddison - Williams - Smyth
Aneke
EDIT 2
Try as I might I cannot understand Bowyer's thinking. It's all madness and I think we COULD have the quality to not need to play 4231 or any formation with just 1 up top and instead would argue in favour of a diamond or flat 4-4-2.
either
Gunter - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen
F. Caskey
Morgan - Millar
Maddison
Aneke - Schwartz
or
Amos
Gunter - Oshilaja - Pearce - Maatsen
Maddison - Morgan - F.Caskey - Millar
Aneke - Schwartz