Fleetwood at home 9th February

More like a lack of interest.

 

Butterfield for Wood, I reckon, with O'Brien pushed out wider

 

You might be right but I think it would be a shame. Good as OB is, Wood is a more natural wide left player and that seems to give us a decent balance

 

Whoever plays ............. going for a 2 - 0 City Win !

 

Agree Ronnie 2-0 so that’s two Ronnie’s going for 2-0 . Team selection not sure maybe just built round Adam Chicksen

 

Hope the players are interested. Big game.

 

I’ve gone for a draw on my prediction. Fleetwood seem a half decent side under Barton.

Got some good attackers so we need to be tight at the back. I’d say similar team but being butterfield in for someOne to carry the ball in midfield.

 

I think we stil have a joke thread .

 

Agreed. Tough call for Hopkin because O'B's energy in the middle is vital for us and Wood has done a good job providing some width, but Butterfield could add some genuine quality.

I wonder if he'll revert back to the Xmas tree formation rather than 4231. That would allow Butterfield to play centrally with O'Brien covering wide left which he has done successfully at points this season.

 

When you expecting us to win?

Point not good enough.

 

Back 4 picks itself now, midfield is the area that selection becomes more tricky. I'd leave Butterfield out atm as he hasn't played a lot of football and Akpan has been getting better each game. I'd go with the 11 that started last Sat again.

 

I suspect Hopkin wants to play 4-2-3-1 with O'Brien and Butterfield holding and a more fluid Clarke, Payne and Ball higher up. I think the idea is that we do not have a striker who is strong in the air so we'll play on the floor through the middle and the fullbacks can push up and hit deeper crosses if we get thwarted. It won't look much different from our recent better performances but we've sometimes struggled after substituting tired midfielders. I think the strengthening of midfield in the transfer window means the three listed above will be expected to press defences harder earlier in the game and then we now have good replacements for tired legs in Akpan, Colville, Wood and Anderson. I still worry about the lack of cover at the back but O'Brien and Butterfield should be strong protection and I think Hopkin intends to defend from the front with the attacking midfielders who are all capable of sticking it in the net if we turn them over in their own half. We've got a strong midfield now and I'm quite optimistic about scoring more from open play but still concerned about the lack of capability in the air against bigger sides. My guess is there will be more 3-2 wins, hopefully starting tomorrow!

 

I’am in a cheerful mood today no Mr Grumpy. Going over to sort Season Tickets out and call into Bar Italia .

 

Butterfield must start if fully fit. By far the best player in our squad at present.

Quietly confident about this one, c'mon City lets get out the relegation zone once and for all!

 

Thats the way mate get your priorities right .

 

We have to go on the offensive in our home games. Butterfield needs to come in for Wood. Hopefully Woods is fit and can replace Chicksen too. The rest should be unchanged.

 

You couldn't resist could you

 

Whatever could you mean.....?!

It's a key game. I want us to put our strongest side out.