[Westbars Spireite]

Lee, Hird and Evatt, the last men standing (just about).

[Search & Destroy]

Our right hand side was desperately poor LM isn’t a right back and olakigbe , well I don’t know what he is

One things for sure he offers LM absolutely zero protection

[sophocles]

 Search & Destroy, on 14 May 2025 - 06:53 AM, said:

Our right hand side was desperately poor LM isn’t a right back and olakigbe , well I don’t know what he is

One things for sure he offers LM absolutely zero protection

Correct, Walsall soon spotted that and both of their goals came from that side. We can't risk Mandy being exposed like that again, or they'll make 2-0 into 4-0 very quickly. Whoever replaces Olakigbe has to give Mandy some protection. I also think we really need Grimes to come in to provide a bit of height and strength both in defence and in attack from set pieces, as they completely dominated in that respect from the first 20 seconds onwards. Like others, I've referred to it being half-time, but of course it's better than that because we've got another whole game to come, so I'm still hoping Cooky and the boys can turn it round.

[JonB]

When we need 2 goals to make it level in the tie should we be worrying about protecting full backs when i suspect as usual Mandeville will be going off wandering into midfield anyway as he has done recently.

Against Bradford as we chased goals Mandeville pretty much vacated full back and Olakigbe played pretty much as a wing back and did a decent job. They will play pretty much as they did after scoring at ours with their wingbacks\fullbacks sitting in. Olakigbe has played as much of a part as anyone in recent weeks getting us to the playoffs and while he didnt do well on Sunday i still think he has a lot to offer with his pace going forward.

I'm also not sure about them dominating set pieces, thought we defended them pretty well and our attacking corners Palmer won a number of first headers but they just didnt quite drop for us or werent on target.

[Wooden Spoon]

 h again, on 12 May 2025 - 10:41 PM, said:

It's hardly controversial, it's standard coaching and always has been. At the most obvious level it means the 'keeper has further to travel to reach the ball.
Not sure what you're trying to say.

Standard coaching is head it back in the direction it came as the keeper is also likely moving the way of travel if the ball.


My friend coaches kids in Colchester - that’s what they are taught to do.


Where did you do your coaching and telling kids to head the hall downwards?

[azul]

 JonB, on 14 May 2025 - 07:48 AM, said:

When we need 2 goals to make it level in the tie should we be worrying about protecting full backs when i suspect as usual Mandeville will be going off wandering into midfield anyway as he has done recently.

Against Bradford as we chased goals Mandeville pretty much vacated full back and Olakigbe played pretty much as a wing back and did a decent job. They will play pretty much as they did after scoring at ours with their wingbacks\fullbacks sitting in. Olakigbe has played as much of a part as anyone in recent weeks getting us to the playoffs and while he didnt do well on Sunday i still think he has a lot to offer with his pace going forward.

I'm also not sure about them dominating set pieces, thought we defended them pretty well and our attacking corners Palmer won a number of first headers but they just didnt quite drop for us or werent on target.

Our three best chances in the second half were all headers, Naylor, Palmer (where it bobbled on the bar although I’m sure Grigg flicked it on) and Pepple

[Zigsuk]

I know Cook won’t do it but I would play 352 with the following team

Boot
Palmer Fadz Grimes
Mandy Metcalfe Naylor Sparkes Colclough
Dobra Grigg

Subs Gk. Gordon, Jacobs, Duffy, Pepple, Mo, Banks if fit Fleck if not.

[Goku]

Zigsuk, on 14 May 2025 - 12:24 PM, said:

I know Cook won’t do it but I would play 352 with the following team

Boot
Palmer Fadz Grimes
Mandy Metcalfe Naylor Sparkes Colclough
Dobra Grigg

Subs Gk. Gordon, Jacobs, Duffy, Pepple, Mo, Banks if fit Fleck if not.

Cook won't do it because that's absolutely insane mate.

[Zigsuk]

I know some will whinge, for example having Dobra as a striker but he is a goal scorer and it would be the classic striker combination of big man little man, although Grigg is by no means a big man. Surely with these two, Coco, Mandy and Sparkes in offensive positions backed up by Naylor and Metcalfe there should be enough creativity to create chances. The 3 at the back would also give security with Palmer cover for Mandy.
Whatever personal or formation Cook MUST find a way to allow Mandy to get forward where he is so often our most influential player without him becoming exposed.

This post has been edited by Zigsuk: Today, 12:40 PM

[Zigsuk]

 Goku, on 14 May 2025 - 12:26 PM, said:

Cook won't do it because that's absolutely insane mate.

I said some will whinge. Why insane? I give my reasoning below. Over to you.

[Goku]

 Zigsuk, on 14 May 2025 - 12:42 PM, said:

I said some will whinge. Why insane? I give my reasoning below. Over to you.

No, not whinging, just pointing out how mental it is. Colclough isn’t a left wing back, he doesn’t have a defensive bone in his body, we would be roasted by any right-sider worth their salt. Grimes doesn’t want to be pulled out wide but he would have to be in your formation because he’d have to cover for Colclough constantly, so we’d be exposed. You also seem to have put a left back in central midfield, and you have the audacity to tell Cook what he “MUST” do.

Absolutely crackers.

[Westbars Spireite]

 Zigsuk, on 14 May 2025 - 12:32 PM, said:

I know some will whinge, for example having Dobra as a striker but he is a goal scorer and it would be the classic striker combination of big man little man, although Grigg is by no means a big man. Surely with these two, Coco, Mandy and Sparkes in offensive positions backed up by Naylor and Metcalfe there should be enough creativity to create chances. The 3 at the back would also give security with Palmer cover for Mandy.
Whatever personal or formation Cook MUST find a way to allow Mandy to get forward where he is so often our most influential player without him becoming exposed.

It'll be big man, little man combination apart from the fact it won't be? Ok.

[Zigsuk]

 Goku, on 14 May 2025 - 12:57 PM, said:

No, not whinging, just pointing out how mental it is. Colclough isn’t a left wing back, he doesn’t have a defensive bone in his body, we would be roasted by any right-sider worth their salt. Grimes doesn’t want to be pulled out wide but he would have to be in your formation because he’d have to cover for Colclough constantly, so we’d be exposed. You also seem to have put a left back in central midfield, and you have the audacity to tell Cook what he “MUST” do.

Absolutely crackers.

Okay I inadvertently put him and Sparkes the wrong way round. Is that better for you?
And apart from getting Mandy further forward Grigg has to have some one nearer to him. When he doesn’t score he’s barely involved. His best work is done off the ball but having such a good player reduced to almost a passenger in some games is ridiculous. I think many fans are getting fed up of one striker. It might work if the one has the pace of Eoin Doyle but Grigg doesn’t have that, and Doyle had quality such as Robertse, Clucas and O Shea supporting him. I’m not saying Dobra should play alongside Grigg but just behind him. He needs someone much closer.

[JonB]

Goku, on 14 May 2025 - 12:26 PM, said:

Cook won't do it because that's absolutely insane mate.

Had folk wanting Olakigbe dropping to play someone that protects Mandeville more then someone comes up with Colclough as a wing back...bonkers!!

[JonB]

Zigsuk, on 14 May 2025 - 01:10 PM, said:

Okay I inadvertently put him and Sparkes the wrong way round. Is that better for you?

Not overly as Colclough is a winger and now you have him as a central midfielder effectively!

[Westbars Spireite]

We don’t need to rip up the way of playing. We just need to do what we do well better and quicker and with minor personnel tweaks.

[JonB]

Westbars Spireite, on 14 May 2025 - 01:17 PM, said:

We don’t need to rip up the way of playing. We just need to do what we do well better and quicker and with minor personnel tweaks.

Yep exactly this....we're one of the top scorers in the league doing what we've done all year. Trying to go to something completely different in the space of a few days ahead of Friday is crackers.

[Blue5]

 JonB, on 14 May 2025 - 01:20 PM, said:

Yep exactly this....we're one of the top scorers in the league doing what we've done all year. Trying to go to something completely different in the space of a few days ahead of Friday is crackers.

It's not an easy situation really as I said here (https://www.thecfss....dpost&p=1893867) yesterday.

Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you. However for the first time this season, we are starting 90 mins of football at 2-0 down. We can't really afford to concede a goal and we need to score at least two goals to get something from the game. As far as I'm concerned, we need to be more positive, more direct and play with more intensity on Friday.

[Painted Wagon]

We beat the eventual champions 3-0 away, we can do it again

[Bankrobber]

It’s a tough one. We’ve had three goes at Walsall this season and not won once. Madness might be doing the same thing again and expecting a different result.