[Zigsuk]

Despite all the blather about tactics perhaps the most important role for a manager is actually picking the team and knowing when to make changes that aren't enforced ones owing to injuries or suspensions.
The first full football season I can remember was 67/8 when Man City were champions (some things don't change!). I can still name City's first eleven from that time, as I can many of the top sides throughout the 70's. I can also name the CFC side which won the 1970. There were a couple of tweaks occasionally, but by and large the same 10/11 players appeared week in weeks out.

Now I haven't a clue who half of even the top teams are. Of course in the days when there was only one sub rather than half a team it was also easier to keep track. Also players didn't seem to get injured so much when I was young. This is rather strange as they are supposed to be fitter and the pitches better, but few top players seemed to miss loads of matches. For example, I can't remember Bobby Charlton or George Best ever being out for long, until Best started playing silly beggars anyway.

I know it's a squad game these days, but the old adage don't change a winning team still holds good.

One thing that irritated me about James Rowe (before other things) was that he barely played the same team twice and tinkered even with a winning team. I think he said he picked teams based upon the opponents, which I think was one of his numerous attempts to show what a clever, clever, brilliant coach he was with all the qualifications. Personally, I think it's over complicated bollox.

I guess that after that rambling introduction what I am trying to say is that Paul Cook, who by and large doesn't tend to make change for the sake of it, unlike Rowe, made the wholesale changes many demanded, and I was pleased he did, but that didn't work either, so what does he do now? I don't have an answer. Although it's not many years ago when town were struggling and using about 40 (mainly poor) players in a season and never fielding the same team twice. I don't think anyone wants to go back to those awful days.

Obviously he needs to make changes next week as it's an opportunity to involve those who haven't been involved - is Bailey Clements the only one who hasn't now had any game time?
I would rest both wing backs, and bring in their understudies and play play Maguire and Cook in the centre. Although it could be argued Grimes needs to play for his confidence. Regarding the goalkeeper it may be an opportunity to bring Covalan back to give him another chance. Whatever happens it appears we are currently lumbered with a couple of unreliable goalkeepers and a couple of unreliable centre halves. Not conducive to a successful campaign.
I wouldn't want to risk key players in this game,however I think Akinola needs to play. Don't think I'd risk Dobra though. Nor would I risk Kabby in such a game.

Whatever Cook decides to do his really important decisions are for the next league game and the way things are currently going I don't envy him.

[Nickycw]

I understand not changing a winning team, my concern is a good few signings not getting any minutes at the end of pre season and barely any in the league so far. Can’t be good for fitness and must be a bit demotivating. Thinking Sheck, Clements, Jones, even Cook and Akinola to an extent. PC obviously knows them a lot better than me so could all be perfectly happy, but not sure I’d be!

[azul]

Nickycw, on 09 October 2022 - 11:55 AM, said:

I understand not changing a winning team, my concern is a good few signings not getting any minutes at the end of pre season and barely any in the league so far. Can’t be good for fitness and must be a bit demotivating. Thinking Sheck, Clements, Jones, even Cook and Akinola to an extent. PC obviously knows them a lot better than me so could all be perfectly happy, but not sure I’d be!

A certain poster on here will say a player should get fit from training alone but honestly can going months on end not playing in a competitive 11 side game be good for any professional footballer let alone the team. As far as i know we have had one behind closed doors friendly, better than nothing I suppose.

[Bonnyman]

Tshimanga has to play,strikers need goals

[Carlisle_Spireite]

I'd personally be tempted to play Quigley/Asante and Tshimanga up front together. Try and get some kind of partnership started between them.
The defence situation is a difficult one as i agree that it won't do Grimes' confidence any good being dropped. However, i would like to see Maguire and Cook play together. At least they both have a bit of pace to get back for any counter attacks. But maguire is better on the left of a back 3.
I'd rest Banks aswell.

[Tha Knows...]

No Maguire please

[calvin plummers socks]

azul, on 09 October 2022 - 08:03 PM, said:

A certain poster on here will say a player should get fit from training alone but honestly can going months on end not playing in a competitive 11 side game be good for any professional footballer let alone the team. As far as i know we have had one behind closed doors friendly, better than nothing I suppose.

I really hope your not daft enough to mean me here?

[calvin plummers socks]

azul, on 09 October 2022 - 08:03 PM, said:

A certain poster on here will say a player should get fit from training alone but honestly can going months on end not playing in a competitive 11 side game be good for any professional footballer let alone the team. As far as i know we have had one behind closed doors friendly, better than nothing I suppose.

I really hope your not daft enough to mean me here?

[clarevoyant.]

Quaker, on 11 October 2022 - 08:58 AM, said:

Not very often I agree with you but I do in this case, I use an analogy I heard at a game a few weeks ago when this very subject was being discussed. "A carpenter who just saws wood all day will never be able to make a good cabinet, the more cabinets he makes, the better the cabinets he will produce".

Blimey, where do you sit? 20 odd words without blasphemy.

[dim view]

Bonnyman, on 09 October 2022 - 09:01 PM, said:

Tshimanga has to play,strikers need goals

Short highlights show that Kabby had 2 shots on target that he fashioned himself. He has to play. They also show what appears to be an absolute sitter unfortunately missed by Mandeville.

We also appear, though the highlights are p155poor, to have assigned Mandeville and Akinola for backpost duties to defend the goals, which amounts at best to panic and at worst to dereliction of planning.

[LondonBlue]

Cooper looked to have some quality in his deliveries.

[sophocles]

dim view, on 11 October 2022 - 09:35 AM, said:

Short highlights show that Kabby had 2 shots on target that he fashioned himself. He has to play. They also show what appears to be an absolute sitter unfortunately missed by Mandeville.

We also appear, though the highlights are p155poor, to have assigned Mandeville and Akinola for backpost duties to defend the goals, which amounts at best to panic and at worst to dereliction of planning.

Yes we could really do with a very tall striker who scores goals up front, and also comes back to defend high balls from set pieces. I wonder where we could find one - Alfreton perhaps?

[prolurker]

sophocles, on 11 October 2022 - 10:26 AM, said:

Yes we could really do with a very tall striker who scores goals up front, and also comes back to defend high balls from set pieces. I wonder where we could find one - Alfreton perhaps?

JRID levels of trolling out of you

[DIFH]

Zigsuk, on 09 October 2022 - 11:38 AM, said:

Despite all the blather about tactics perhaps the most important role for a manager is actually picking the team and knowing when to make changes that aren't enforced ones owing to injuries or suspensions.
The first full football season I can remember was 67/8 when Man City were champions (some things don't change!). I can still name City's first eleven from that time, as I can many of the top sides throughout the 70's. I can also name the CFC side which won the 1970. There were a couple of tweaks occasionally, but by and large the same 10/11 players appeared week in weeks out.

Now I haven't a clue who half of even the top teams are. Of course in the days when there was only one sub rather than half a team it was also easier to keep track. Also players didn't seem to get injured so much when I was young. This is rather strange as they are supposed to be fitter and the pitches better, but few top players seemed to miss loads of matches. For example, I can't remember Bobby Charlton or George Best ever being out for long, until Best started playing silly beggars anyway.

I know it's a squad game these days, but the old adage don't change a winning team still holds good.

One thing that irritated me about James Rowe (before other things) was that he barely played the same team twice and tinkered even with a winning team. I think he said he picked teams based upon the opponents, which I think was one of his numerous attempts to show what a clever, clever, brilliant coach he was with all the qualifications. Personally, I think it's over complicated bollox.

I guess that after that rambling introduction what I am trying to say is that Paul Cook, who by and large doesn't tend to make change for the sake of it, unlike Rowe, made the wholesale changes many demanded, and I was pleased he did, but that didn't work either, so what does he do now? I don't have an answer. Although it's not many years ago when town were struggling and using about 40 (mainly poor) players in a season and never fielding the same team twice. I don't think anyone wants to go back to those awful days.

Obviously he needs to make changes next week as it's an opportunity to involve those who haven't been involved - is Bailey Clements the only one who hasn't now had any game time?
I would rest both wing backs, and bring in their understudies and play play Maguire and Cook in the centre. Although it could be argued Grimes needs to play for his confidence. Regarding the goalkeeper it may be an opportunity to bring Covalan back to give him another chance. Whatever happens it appears we are currently lumbered with a couple of unreliable goalkeepers and a couple of unreliable centre halves. Not conducive to a successful campaign.
I wouldn't want to risk key players in this game,however I think Akinola needs to play. Don't think I'd risk Dobra though. Nor would I risk Kabby in such a game.

Whatever Cook decides to do his really important decisions are for the next league game and the way things are currently going I don't envy him.

He’s still has no control over injuries and poor refereeing, that’s his current problem.

[h again]

dim view, on 11 October 2022 - 09:35 AM, said:

Short highlights show that Kabby had 2 shots on target that he fashioned himself. He has to play. They also show what appears to be an absolute sitter unfortunately missed by Mandeville.

We also appear, though the highlights are p155poor, to have assigned Mandeville and Akinola for backpost duties to defend the goals, which amounts at best to panic and at worst to dereliction of planning.

Conceding at the back post is criminal - two in one game, and another hit the bar just shouldn't happen. A decent cross to the back post allows a player lurking there to get a run at it, and therefore a higher jump. It isn't rocket science to set up accordingly and put a defender there who can defend, not relatively small midfielders.

[DIFH]

Zigsuk, on 09 October 2022 - 11:38 AM, said:

Despite all the blather about tactics perhaps the most important role for a manager is actually picking the team and knowing when to make changes that aren't enforced ones owing to injuries or suspensions.
The first full football season I can remember was 67/8 when Man City were champions (some things don't change!). I can still name City's first eleven from that time, as I can many of the top sides throughout the 70's. I can also name the CFC side which won the 1970. There were a couple of tweaks occasionally, but by and large the same 10/11 players appeared week in weeks out.

Now I haven't a clue who half of even the top teams are. Of course in the days when there was only one sub rather than half a team it was also easier to keep track. Also players didn't seem to get injured so much when I was young. This is rather strange as they are supposed to be fitter and the pitches better, but few top players seemed to miss loads of matches. For example, I can't remember Bobby Charlton or George Best ever being out for long, until Best started playing silly beggars anyway.

I know it's a squad game these days, but the old adage don't change a winning team still holds good.

One thing that irritated me about James Rowe (before other things) was that he barely played the same team twice and tinkered even with a winning team. I think he said he picked teams based upon the opponents, which I think was one of his numerous attempts to show what a clever, clever, brilliant coach he was with all the qualifications. Personally, I think it's over complicated bollox.

I guess that after that rambling introduction what I am trying to say is that Paul Cook, who by and large doesn't tend to make change for the sake of it, unlike Rowe, made the wholesale changes many demanded, and I was pleased he did, but that didn't work either, so what does he do now? I don't have an answer. Although it's not many years ago when town were struggling and using about 40 (mainly poor) players in a season and never fielding the same team twice. I don't think anyone wants to go back to those awful days.

Obviously he needs to make changes next week as it's an opportunity to involve those who haven't been involved - is Bailey Clements the only one who hasn't now had any game time?
I would rest both wing backs, and bring in their understudies and play play Maguire and Cook in the centre. Although it could be argued Grimes needs to play for his confidence. Regarding the goalkeeper it may be an opportunity to bring Covalan back to give him another chance. Whatever happens it appears we are currently lumbered with a couple of unreliable goalkeepers and a couple of unreliable centre halves. Not conducive to a successful campaign.
I wouldn't want to risk key players in this game,however I think Akinola needs to play. Don't think I'd risk Dobra though. Nor would I risk Kabby in such a game.

Whatever Cook decides to do his really important decisions are for the next league game and the way things are currently going I don't envy him.

He’s still has no control over injuries and poor refereeing, that’s his current problem.