Match Thread Home v Salford Tuesday 27th April@7.00pm

yeah, T&S suggest that AOC will go to RB (on a permanent basis ? Is anything permanent at this place though?). FCD was caught out against Southend as well as Exeter - not his fault, done well for 18, but what happens when Hosannah is back? Will Hosannah play for us again anyway? Think they risk disruption by moving AOC to RB - I think he's been solid alongside Paudie. Weak link in the back four for me is Connor Wood - does he want out? Staunton should be getting close now, but they won't rush him back (I hope). Sutton and Watt midfield, but Watt has to shape up soon, or I would be in favour of trying AOC in that role. Cooke, Evans and Crankshaft (or Billy if fit), with Rowe spearheading. Thought Stevens was anonymous when he's played, and I'm beginning to see Cook as backup only. Just my opinions. Couldn't tell who was on the pitch on Tuesday.

 

Well done for the first thread BTW!!
I think our current formation suits more defensively minded full backs so could see AOC and Staunton being the players of choice when Staunton is back fit. That would give Watt & Sutton more licence to push forward with Cooke allowed a free role.
Rowe up front, Evans and Vernam either side, both capable of tracking back.....
We’re building a hell of a team for league 4!

 

Firstly, let's hope the game is on.



I think with the potential for a hard pitch, the management of any players with injuries or niggles need to be carefully considered. 21 games in 11 weeks and 3 tricky games. First and foremost, safety.

To the game, it will be interesting to watch the back 4 and how it adopts with, potentially, AOC at full back. Will he be able to provide a supply down the right? Be good to see Canavan, whom the scunthorpe commentary team, suggested he didn't like getting dragged out wide (mobility issue?) and I thought was very slow to react to the long punt last week, when Bowman won the penalty.
We seem to be inviting pressure on atm, sitting more deep but we need to use the ball quicker & better, both on and off. Push up.
Salford are a big test, especially Henderson. For that I'd be happy with a point, 4 points over the next 3 games tbh.

@BearBantam, leave us 'instigators' alone. We do like a good moan... Why talk of a game upcoming when we can discuss all the wonderful moments over the last half century .

 

Vernam will play wide in front of both Evans and Crankshaw

 

That means no Rowe or dropping Cooke. If Rowe is fit it has to be Evans, Cooke & Vernham in the three

 

The middle of the pitch at Exeter was awful which made it very hard to play the way we have been. And with no centre forward it was difficult to bypass it with no one to hold the ball up. We also missed Clarke who as well as linking up play well tackles back .
Hopefully we won’t have that problem on Saturday agains a good team

 

The pitch (was it really that bad?) was the same for both teams in fairness and the Exeter goals came from a corner, a cross and a long punt down the centre, where Canavan was slow to anticipate. Our first came down centre left!
I agree on your Clarke point but with him likely out, we need to find a way to fill his void and link up play, without us giving up possession from long balls and inevitably been forced deeper

 

As I said earlier our game is that quick inter passes in midfield which wasn’t possible. Boden was the difference in that match

 

If we do play Salford, what better game to judge how we've improved after our tonking under Stuart?

Their front line ripped us to pieces, and though they didn't create that many more chances than we did, it did have that 'walk in the park' feel.

Win, lose, or draw, we need to be competitive to retain the optimism built and earned under T and S.

Henderson was involved in all 4 of Salford's goals as they hammered league leaders Cambridge; but if they were performing to that level every week, or even close to replicating that form often enough, they wouldn't be just another play off contending team.

Their overall form is middling.

I'd be happy with a point.

 

I wouldn't take a point right now. Not that it wouldn't be an ok result, but given our recruitment, given the test that T&S need to be judged by, we need to go into any game at home looking to win. I honestly believe that. Salford are a good team but no one in this league should be feared.

I do worry about whether the game will be on though. The milder weather that was due to arrive before Saturday hasn't, overnight temperatures of -5 and tomorrows temperatures not due to rise above freezing. Hopefully the covers and blowers do the job.

 

That game at Salford was as much about city being awful as it was them being good. It was the most comprehensive demonstration of how we were beaten before we even started in many games, because of the way Stuart set us up.

 

A steady improvement which is apparent at the end of the season is the only thing they should be judged on and so far they well in front on that score

 

I have us losing this im afraid. The two wins out of three were against bottom three sides and we were cut open by Exeter who id put Salford in the bracket as.

1.3

 

A judgement at the end of the season is right. But there's no reason to go into any home game in this season, without going out for the win. We've invested in the squad well during January. If the season started now, I'd expect this squad to be capable of challenging for the playoffs.

 

Of course teams should always go for a win but if not against a decent team a draw us not a bad result. As for the play offs to be even talking about them is down to what the two have done so far. From six defeats in the trot to 8 unbeaten before Exeter shows they are doing a great job

 

Sick of hearing that bollocks about the bad pitch when some good football was played on it.

 

Don’t forgot we scored two and it should have been three with two good chances before they scored a third and that was without 4 or 5 players . But Salford have to be strong favourites after the money they have spent the last few years

 

I'll bet we've spent more money than them over the last 3 years.

 

Certainly not on wages