MA has to supply a good performance - whatever the result.
If the fans think we are in for another 2 years of passing it backwards and sending corners straight to the keeper, then he will struggle to win the crowd over.
difficult starter for Apples and team (whoever he selects) but an opportunity to put down a positive marker .. I'll be happy with a draw and a solid performance especially from the defence
We haven't got the squad to play the Dinosaur (which is what I'm calling the 442 from now on). We've only got two wingers (and Charlie Kirk). Meanwhile we've got six CBs and seven CMs. We've built the squad to play 352 and expect us to play it.
We haven't got the squad to play the Dinosaur (which is what I'm calling the 442 from now on). We've only got two wingers (and Charlie Kirk). Meanwhile we've got six CBs and seven CMs. We've built the squad to play 352 and expect us to play it.
We’ve got CBT, Tyrece Campbell and Chen Campbell so that’s 3 wingers. I think 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 are our best options at the moment
Whatever else has happened we have scored some and with the prospect of a brace of good forwards I think we will today. The defence is clearly the big issue and given the context I would be delighted with a win, although think 2-2.
This is most definitely not “must win”. Must win or what is the consequence? Seriously it’s early in the season and it’s a new manager who has had a week to turn around issues in virtually every area of the team.
All this waffle about lacking ambition if we don’t demand a Manager turn around the mess instantly is really getting very tiresome. It like some think they are somehow special or prophetic for stating something axiomatic (we all want to win / get promoted / have stability etc) tied to a completely arbitrary red line on a ridiculous time scale …..
Lets see how they play and the results over ten games- then we will begin to get the measure of things
We haven't got the squad to play the Dinosaur (which is what I'm calling the 442 from now on). We've only got two wingers (and Charlie Kirk). Meanwhile we've got six CBs and seven CMs. We've built the squad to play 352 and expect us to play it.
We’ve got CBT, Tyrece Campbell and Chen Campbell so that’s 3 wingers. I think 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 are our best options at the moment
Stevenage are probably one of the few sides you could get away with playing a Dinosaur against because they're not going to play through you. But we're not going to see it regularly this season.
It will be interesting to see what Appleton does in his first game. Stevenage are my local side and they are definitely not a top of the table side but Evans has them playing above the sum of their parts. Charlton sides tend to let teams like Stevenage go at them away which will mean we lose this. We should have better players and be able to impose that on them but I'm not overly hopeful of it.
Really difficult to know what he’s going to do and who he leaves out the squad. With Stevenage being a bigger and tougher side, he might go with a back 3 or 5 however you want to look at it.
However, to me you have to play May, Leaburn, and Blackett-Taylor.
I can see Anderson coming out and Taylor coming in as almost an extra protection and allow the front 4 or so to play.
Isted Asiimwe Hector Jones Edun Dobson Taylor C.Campbell Leaburn CBT May
Lots of rotation across the front 4 and still enough physicality with Hector and Jones to deal with their longer balls up top. Leaburn still as a striker but he might drop off a little as May will look to get in behind.
This is still without Abankwah, Thomas, Camara, Fraser, McGrandles, Kirk, Kanu, and Aneke. The squad might not be hugely strong, but there is depth here.
Stevenage are a very well drilled and organised side - the complete antithesis of us this season and I expect us to concede a couple of goals. I would like to see Maynard-Brewer back in goal but, given that he’s just returned from international duty, I expect Appleton will retain Isted for now.
Whatever formation we play, it has to include our best offensive players, May, Leaburn and Blackett-Taylor (the latter in an advanced position, rather than messing around as a wing back). I’m a big fan of Tyreece Campbell but this sort of frenetic, physical game probably wouldn’t suit him. Camera’s physicality would be useful in a game like this but, in his absence, I’d go with Dobbo and Taylor in midfield, with Chen Campbell on the right and looking for pockets of space in advanced positions.
After 6 defeats in 8 games and some of the worst defensive performances I can remember, I’d be very happy with a point from this one.
If Watson is fit enough, he gets the nod for me over Asiimwe - purely based on experience at this level atm because NA needs to be taken out of the firing line ASAP in my opinion.
This formation fits in all of our best attacking and available players in positions they are comfortable.
On paper, May up front “on his own” could look a bit scary but we’ve seen Leaburn play off the right a number of times last season and he’s always managed to make the supporting runs that means his strike partner isn’t as isolated.
Why not just have the same team but with C.Campbell on the right and Leaburn up front? Leaburn has only really done well on the right when he comes off the bench as he’s got fresh legs, I’m not sure starting he’d be as good there. We really need him to be up front with May. That 4-4-2 would be what I want us to play until Camara and Fraser are back.
For this game though I think getting 3 CBs on the pitch could be a good idea because of how Stevenage play and their threat from set pieces, so I’d go
Isted Jones Hector Thomas CBT Taylor Dobson Edun C.Campbell Leaburn May
I think that gives us balance with attacking threat from both sides. Edun is better defensively than CBT so that covers our lack of good LCB options.
Not picking Leaburn and May as a front 2 would be criminal when they are potentially the best strike partnership in the league
If Watson is fit enough, he gets the nod for me over Asiimwe - purely based on experience at this level atm because NA needs to be taken out of the firing line ASAP in my opinion.
This formation fits in all of our best attacking and available players in positions they are comfortable.
On paper, May up front “on his own” could look a bit scary but we’ve seen Leaburn play off the right a number of times last season and he’s always managed to make the supporting runs that means his strike partner isn’t as isolated.
Why not just have the same team but with C.Campbell on the right and Leaburn up front? Leaburn has only really done well on the right when he comes off the bench as he’s got fresh legs, I’m not sure starting he’d be as good there. We really need him to be up front with May. That 4-4-2 would be what I want us to play until Camara and Fraser are back.
For this game though I think getting 3 CBs on the pitch could be a good idea because of how Stevenage play and their threat from set pieces, so I’d go
Isted Jones Hector Thomas CBT Taylor Dobson Edun C.Campbell Leaburn May
I think that gives us balance with attacking threat from both sides. Edun is better defensively than CBT so that covers our lack of good LCB options.
Not picking Leaburn and May as a front 2 would be criminal when they are potentially the best strike partnership in the league
CBT IS NOT A WINGBACK
He's done alright there so far, though. I admit I really didn't want him playing wingback before the season started but it suits him attacking-wise. He picks up the ball deeper and can run at players more. Out on the wing he'd get the ball with the defender on his back and he'd struggle to turn and play.
Lots of posters are pinning their hopes on a Taylor-Dobson defensive midfield partnership. Did you not watch the Port Vale game? They were woeful together.
The problem is, if we go too defensive against Steveange we play into their hands. The simple, or difficult problem is to stop kamikase mistakes defensively. I think if we played 10 in defence somebody would conspire to make an error that costs us. It is what we do and it is Appleton's job to stop that but not forget about our attacking threat which is just as important.
Comments
This is most definitely not “must win”. Must win or what is the consequence? Seriously it’s early in the season and it’s a new manager who has had a week to turn around issues in virtually every area of the team.
All this waffle about lacking ambition if we don’t demand a Manager turn around the mess instantly is really getting very tiresome. It like some think they are somehow special or prophetic for stating something axiomatic (we all want to win / get promoted / have stability etc) tied to a completely arbitrary red line on a ridiculous time scale …..
Lets see how they play and the results over ten games- then we will begin to get the measure of things
However, to me you have to play May, Leaburn, and Blackett-Taylor.
I can see Anderson coming out and Taylor coming in as almost an extra protection and allow the front 4 or so to play.
Isted
Asiimwe Hector Jones Edun
Dobson Taylor
C.Campbell Leaburn CBT
May
AMB, Ness, T.Watson, L.Watson, Anderson, T.Campbell, Tedic
Lots of rotation across the front 4 and still enough physicality with Hector and Jones to deal with their longer balls up top. Leaburn still as a striker but he might drop off a little as May will look to get in behind.
This is still without Abankwah, Thomas, Camara, Fraser, McGrandles, Kirk, Kanu, and Aneke. The squad might not be hugely strong, but there is depth here.
My train has been cancelled so I'm now gonna be getting there later than I wanted to be.
Proper getting the arsehole with trains now, strikes, overcrowded, don't run on time and cost far too much money.
Exact reason I usually try and drive
Whatever formation we play, it has to include our best offensive players, May, Leaburn and Blackett-Taylor (the latter in an advanced position, rather than messing around as a wing back). I’m a big fan of Tyreece Campbell but this sort of frenetic, physical game probably wouldn’t suit him. Camera’s physicality would be useful in a game like this but, in his absence, I’d go with Dobbo and Taylor in midfield, with Chen Campbell on the right and looking for pockets of space in advanced positions.
After 6 defeats in 8 games and some of the worst defensive performances I can remember, I’d be very happy with a point from this one.