[Westbars Spireite]

 Blue5, on 14 May 2025 - 01:38 PM, said:

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.

I'm sure Paul Cook would wholeheartedly endorse that. In hindsight we didn't play badly on Sunday but we obviously didn't do enough.

[whittman]

[quote name='azul' timestamp='1747211805' post='1894091']
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
[/quote




If that Palmer header had bounced in to the net instead of hitting the bar again you can guarantee that their keeper would have rolled about in the net as though he had been seriously injured and the referee would have disallowed the goal anyway

[Zigsuk]

JonB, on 14 May 2025 - 01:11 PM, said:

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

The number of times on here people don't seem to read things properly is amazing. Okay I initially inadvertently got them the wrong way around but as I since explained SPARKES WOULD BE THE WING BACK!

[Zigsuk]

Blue5, on 14 May 2025 - 01:38 PM, said:

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.

Hence three centre backs with flexible wing backs would give protection at the back and allow attacking options. What I don't want to see is lots of the usual 70% possession, much of it pointless passing it side to side in our own half as time ticks away and no passing back to Boot unless absolutely essential (much of the time it isn't).
I don't really care how he does it but just as Mandy must be as involved as much as he can be further forward (and he has been really trying from right back) Grigg needs some sort of service and better support, otherwise he may as well not be on the pitch. He was pretty anonymous on Sunday through no fault of his own. I think if Coco is on form (he showed flashes in the last game) his combination with Sparkes on the left could be exciting. And of course it goes without saying the ball must be moved quicker.

[hilly81]

Zigsuk, on 14 May 2025 - 03:39 PM, said:

The number of times on here people don't seem to read things properly is amazing. Okay I initially inadvertently got them the wrong way around but as I since explained SPARKES WOULD BE THE WING BACK!

So Colclough central midfield? Sound.

[JonB]

 Zigsuk, on 14 May 2025 - 03:39 PM, said:

The number of times on here people don't seem to read things properly is amazing. Okay I initially inadvertently got them the wrong way around but as I since explained SPARKES WOULD BE THE WING BACK!

I know…I saw that then commented on the ridiculous bit of colclough then being in central midfield

[Westbars Spireite]

My side for Friday;

Boot

Mandeville
Palmer
McFadzean
Sparkes

Naylor
Metcalfe

Colclough
Dobra
Duffy

Grigg

[hilly81]

Westbars Spireite, on 14 May 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

My side for Friday;

Boot

Mandeville
Palmer
McFadzean
Sparkes

Naylor
Metcalfe

Colclough
Dobra
Duffy

Grigg

I know he had a poor game Sunday but I think Fleck will play. He’s our best passer of the ball by a mile and can make things happen quickly. Nothing seemed to go for him at all on Sunday.

[Westbars Spireite]

I don't think he'll pick what I have. He might well keep Gordon in and Olakigbe too.

[Blue5]

 Westbars Spireite, on 14 May 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

My side for Friday;

Boot

Mandeville
Palmer
McFadzean
Sparkes

Naylor
Metcalfe

Colclough
Dobra
Duffy

Grigg

There's little to debate with that starting 11 other than how we get Mandy further forward. We get far more from Mandy than we do from both Coco & Duffy. Does Grimes come into the starting 11 at the expense of Coco/Duffy?

[Westbars Spireite]

 Blue5, on 14 May 2025 - 07:56 PM, said:

There's little to debate with that starting 11 other than how we get Mandy further forward. We get far more from Mandy than we do from both Coco & Duffy. Does Grimes come into the starting 11 at the expense of Coco/Duffy?

By going three across the back presumably. I can't see that and don't want to see it really. In the ideal world Mandy is on the right of the three behind Grigg but unless Vontae who was supposed to be fit suddenly appears we don't have the personnel. And I don't think I want to see him in any case.

[Spireite93]

Mandy is perfectly fine where he is, as long aswe put them on the back foot

If we do that, he has the freedom the roam inside or further forward like he was doing when we were chasing the game against Bradford

It's said a couple of posts back, there's no need for a change of system, just do ours better!

[Zigsuk]

 Westbars Spireite, on 14 May 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

My side for Friday;

Boot

Mandeville
Palmer
McFadzean
Sparkes

Naylor
Metcalfe

Colclough
Dobra
Duffy

Grigg

Apart from Duffy for Grimes this is the exact side I suggested earlier which was criticised, albeit a different formation. One way to get Mandy further forward would be 3 at the back.

[Westbars Spireite]

 Zigsuk, on 15 May 2025 - 05:56 AM, said:

Apart from Duffy for Grimes this is the exact side I suggested earlier which was criticised, albeit a different formation. One way to get Mandy further forward would be 3 at the back.

Formations are quite important chief.

[JonB]

Zigsuk, on 15 May 2025 - 05:56 AM, said:

Apart from Duffy for Grimes this is the exact side I suggested earlier which was criticised, albeit a different formation. One way to get Mandy further forward would be 3 at the back.

Its not just who plays but how and where they play. Grimes for Duffy is hardly a straight swap and stuffing the 11 you picked into a 3 at the back meant having Colclough as a central midfielder! Thats pretty different!

[dtp]

hilly81, on 14 May 2025 - 07:45 PM, said:

I know he had a poor game Sunday but I think Fleck will play. He’s our best passer of the ball by a mile and can make things happen quickly. Nothing seemed to go for him at all on Sunday.

Unfortunately, on Sunday, Fleck only demonstrated that he needs to step up to the level needed in L2 and not live on past glories. He demonstrated nothing in terms of his passing abilities other than to look for MacFadzean as an easy to go to option. He showed very little of his vast experience in terms of changing the course of the game with defence cutting passes. He showed his lack of pace. He lost the ball in situations he shouldn’t have done.

If he is to play tomorrow he needs to step up his game 100%

[hilly81]

dtp, on 15 May 2025 - 08:16 AM, said:

Unfortunately, on Sunday, Fleck only demonstrated that he needs to step up to the level needed in L2 and not live on past glories. He demonstrated nothing in terms of his passing abilities other than to look for MacFadzean as an easy to go to option. He showed very little of his vast experience in terms of changing the course of the game with defence cutting passes. He showed his lack of pace. He lost the ball in situations he shouldn’t have done.

If he is to play tomorrow he needs to step up his game 100%

Completely agree. It was his worst game for us by a long way.

[Zigsuk]

 dtp, on 15 May 2025 - 08:16 AM, said:

Unfortunately, on Sunday, Fleck only demonstrated that he needs to step up to the level needed in L2 and not live on past glories. He demonstrated nothing in terms of his passing abilities other than to look for MacFadzean as an easy to go to option. He showed very little of his vast experience in terms of changing the course of the game with defence cutting passes. He showed his lack of pace. He lost the ball in situations he shouldn’t have done.

If he is to play tomorrow he needs to step up his game 100%

I wouldn’t pick him. Pity Banks is unavailable as that reduces options

[Sammy Spireite]

Does the decision by PC not to do any pre-match "pressers" suggest he's got something big up his sleeve?

Or is the (bloated) management team just wanting to keep Walsall guessing?

[Westbars Spireite]

Sammy Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 09:57 AM, said:

Does the decision by PC not to do any pre-match "pressers" suggest he's got something big up his sleeve?

Or is the (bloated) management team just wanting to keep Walsall guessing?

Him personally, or Webb too?