Final League Position (POLL)

What slightly worries me is our lack of cover for Watt and Sutton. As others have noted, both looked leggy at times yesterday, committing fouls in dangerous areas because they couldn't get goal side of the ball carrier. Watt also had a period in the first half when he hit several fairly simple passes straight to Orient players.

If Cooke gets injured or needs a rest we have Rowe and Clarke who could replace him in the attacking central midfield role. But I don't think we have like for like replacements for Watt and Sutton. We could move Cooke into the defensive duo and play Rowe ahead of him but that's not ideal given how well he is performing further forward.
AO'C has played at DM in the past, reasonably well, but he's doing really well at RB and I don't think T&S would want to tinker with the defence. Maybe Reece Staunton could do a job there. He seems good enough on the ball.
Thoughts?

 

I think Evans can play in several positions including central

 

Possibly. I know he's played as a wing back and an attacking CM (ie the Cooke role) but I'm not sure I see him as a defensive CM.

 

I would only move Cooke from his role as a '10' as an absolute last resort. I'd try any other option we have if it meant not dropping him into central midfield. I thought Watt struggled again last night, he gave cheap ball away and at times did look tired. That said i like the lad and think he offrs a lot when on his game. I'd like to see Crankshaw given a start, he already looks a great piece of business.

 

I'm of this thinking, but tonight's result raised an eyebrow

 

I agree.
Well surprised by that score.
Blows it wide open

 

Never been convinced they're that great. We played them with 9 men and actually deserved to beat them

Another club at the top who ain't that good

However, Cheltenham, Exeter, Tranmere, Bolton and Salford are hence why the play-offs are our best chance

 

Their gamesmanship is taken to another level

 

And then we are waltzing straight through league one !!! As Champions.

 

Anyone rethinking their vote?

 

No, sticking with my 8th-12th

 

Im pleased to see your positivity is back after a brief hiatus!

 

I did originally think we would get 3rd but after those two losses my vote (bizarrely unchanged) at 4th to 7th remains unchanged.
The fact that no team is blitzing this league helps considerably.

 

9 points is a lot to make up at this stage of the season.

Some will say we have two games in hand over Morecome and that is true but the problem is everyone barring Harrogate between us and Morecombe have games in hand over them.

Exeter have two games in hand over Morecome and sit 3 points behind them.

I think its a big ask for us to finish in the top 7 now. Jumping up and down for a draw against Bolton at home was stupid. We have to learn to hate dropping points. When we do that we will get out of this awful league.

 

The last three results have changed my mind and I'm going 9th and missing out by a couple of points that McCall could and should have easily picked up. Harrogate's form worries me but I think we can overcome them, and I think Carlisle might pick up the pace now they have a win. Morecambe, Newport, Harrogate & Salford to drop below us
Forest Green
Bolton
Tranmere

Cheltenham
Cambridge
Exeter
Carlisle

Crawley
Bradford City

 

Me too. I predicted 8-12th but then briefly thought I was too pessimistic and that we we would make the playoffs. But I now feel that we have been worked out by other teams who are preventing the likes of Sutton and Watt from knocking the ball around as they were a few weeks ago. And we are paying the price for not recruiting a wise old head in central midfield in January. We now look far less creative and we're missing Cooke badly.

 

Now we can replace Rowe with Cooke.

Anything above 8th is extremely ambitious when relying on a couple of individuals.

 

It is hard to call this season, do think its do-able right down to the last game of the season.

do disagree about cheering about snatching a point at the death. Shows determination that!