Lee Novak

Can’t see that tweet, what does it say?

 

Out for 4-6 week's

 

Not too bad then.

 

We are obviously better placed than we were when he last came back but I for one will be pleased to have him back again. His positional nous, movement off the ball and working back transformed us going forward. He is a different type of option to Cook which is another good thing to have in the armoury.

 

T&A link

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19046190.injured-novak-miss-four-six-weeks-bantams/

 

Carpet will be bloody filthy in 4-6 weeks

 

No vac... gedditt..... ?

 

Agree and disagree. Recruitment up top has been good - or at least Rowe’s performances so far are promising. On paper we’re much better covered but for me, his influence on games (let alone his goals) since he came back from first injury makes me think he’ll be missed.

That said with current form it looks like one up top is working well so interesting to see how Novak, Rowe and Cook will be used when all fit.

 

One up front has been a major factor in our success over the last 7 games. It's seen us concede 3 goals in 7 games, a remarkable achievement for a team that was starting to look like shipping goals for fun. How we fit these new players in is anyone's guess but for me I'd keep Callum Cooke in the number 10 role and the others positions play around that, to me that mean going with one striker whether that be Rowe, Cook or Novak when he's fit. I'm not convinced playing two of the above together would have more positives than Cooke at 10.

 

Rowe, Cooke, Evans as a midfield three with Cook up front

 

Got to disagree with that, Billy Clarke adds so much to the team as a whole and we look a better player with him in it. Yu lose Cooke's effectiveness on the right, and Rowe in the middle makes it much more of a 4411, with the two wide players more withdrawn

 

I'm not too sure Clarke is contributing much at the moment. He is a good player and an asset, but in current form I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Trevor's suggestion.

Rowe can't half hit a ball and if he is playing as the striker he'll have his back to goal plenty of time. If Cook is winning the knock downs and Rowe is running on to them and facing goal he might be even more effective.

 

I just dont see any reason to change the formation at the moment, nor personnel if all fit. Cook will surely have to be patient and start on the bench for now, that said, he said one of the reasons for looking to leave Mansfield was lack of starting appearances and being on the bench, so we will wait and see

 

Might depend on the conditions. If the weather and pitch aren’t great, it might be better to go with Cook than Clarke. No urgent need for change though - those on the bench can’t complain when the team is winning, they just need to be ready to take their chance when it comes. Competition for places is healthy.

 

Agreed. There will be plenty of time for squad rotation in February when we have 3 games a week. He'll get his chance then, no doubt about it.

 

Not sure what he’s adding at the moment. I wouldn’t go as far as saying he’s a passenger but he ain’t far off. He doesn’t score many, nor assist much, doesn’t have much influence on the game either, as an attacking player he has to have an impact of sorts otherwise what’s his worth? Yes he works hard but so do the rest of the lads and the lads on the bench would work just as hard given the opportunity too. Don’t get the Clarke love in one bit personally. Sooner give Stevens a start, especially at home, see what he’s about - that’s not tinkering with a winning team either, it’s replacing its weakest member to adapt, at home to someone below us in the league.

 

We miss him. Cook is a yard of pace too slow, and Rowe is also sluggish. Either is fine but together the partnership doesn’t work.

anyone have a recent update on Novak?

 

So called set back from his injury... that was last week is my memory is correct.

But I said at the start of his injury he won't be back.

Cough.... off the wage bill... the real reason. HaHa

 

All the injured players on our books seem to be having “setbacks” these days

 

I get that you might want Novak in but I'm not sure, out of all his attributes, it's his pace that we're missing.