Match Thread Mansfield v City | League 2 | 17 October

Sutton. It only takes one player to be out of position for the whole system to be compromised. When you have a left sided player there is no excuse to play a right side player in the left. It's inexcusable.

 

Sutton plays there all the time and he was close to being mom in the previous game. I knew that Harrogate would be really up for that game it was their first big game for them in front of the cameras and their work rate particularly without the ball was probably the highest I have seen for a long time. They closed us down everywhere and no matter what formation we played I believe we would have lost that match.

 

How can he play there all the time when McCall has already stated he can play numerous positions? Playing right side midfield and playing right in a diamond are two completely different roles. And midfielders always favour playing either Central, right or left. We wouldn't play Connor Wood at right back or Stephen Darby at left back, it's the same principle with midfielders.

 

we were good yesterday, but no more than that.. consistency is key now and yesterday gives us something to build on. it will be interesting to see what McCall does on Tuesday - there's no reason to change that system or starting XI for Walsall. the only downside would be that we're still allowing too many shots at our goal and with better finishing (from both teams) it could've easily ended 4-4.. steady 7's all across the board.

 

As good as Harrogate were and as poor as we were, there was only one goal in it. With a different formation and players in their best positions, I believe we could have drawn that game.

 

Well even if it was wrong system,poor overall tactics,
players playing out of position,changes to previous
game,they can still show effort and that was missing.

Would they of tried harder if the fans had been there
or would Harrogate of tried even harder?

 

You could argue that out of all our players,Sutton showed
more energy but "headless chicken" came to mind.He
was like a kid at school in the playground running around
with a ball at his feet trying to beat everyone and predictably
over running the ball or just losing possession.I don't think
he knew what he was going to do with the ball,he seemed
oblivious to our other players.

 

I'm bias (yes I'll admit it) but as bad as Monday night was it might have given Stuart food for thought, this was my post after the game, and it would have be a travesty to have got anything from the game .

https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/city-vs-harrogate-league-2-12-10-20.4299/page-21#post-407903

 

Agree 100%, that if we'd won with players out of position and using that formation, it would very definitely have papered over the cracks. However, I'm not convinced the changes yesterday were as a direct result of any deep contemplation by Stuart, but more so that his hand was somewhat forced. As I said in a previous post, sometimes injuries can be a blessing in disguise

 

We must have watched a different game. There have been plenty of games over the past couple of years when that criticism would be justified, but lack of effort was not the reason we lost on Monday night imo.

 

For those who missed it here is Kenny Blacks post match interview:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08vl14d?fbclid=IwAR2frkG5vzVhtRkCDIhjEyMSwqlgVFMypqeDxm3hU_mqePD0RYlszzp-ChE

And what Clayton said about yesterdays performance and formation :
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08vl1gz?fbclid=IwAR0H2TZp_doEf7jEf1AptHJ-5D-sCkHyFZJgaLXLJ6uUUN26TUpN1NFeYME

A different angle for Woods goal great flick from Pritchard @

 

2 tough games this week. That'll give us a better view of how we've started the season.

 

It was a well controlled first time hit.

I know some will say the keeper should have saved it but it's often said just get it on target and make the keeper save it, especially when low down. Well done Connor.

 

We were good against a very poor outfit who should have scored from a ROD slip, absolute sitter!
Yes we played some very good stuff and the last goal was the result of real determination to keep the ball, great to see and Mansfield Directors admitted they had been 'battered'.
That said I do believe two changes, not to the system which worked really well like at Bolton but for me POC for BRE and also change DMH.

 

Sticking your neck out giving suggestions re team selection aren't you.. ?
Agree re BRE though, dances around our penalty area watching what's going on rather than getting too involved..

 

After listening to Kenny Blacks post match interview his reference to managing the squad suggests there could be changes, if we stick with Saturdays formation we have little choice with regards our wideman unless Zeli is fit.
I've not been the most complementary poster with regards DMH but he and Hosannah formed a good partnership down the right so for me he plays.
With regards Paudie I do believe he's the better all round player but BRE did little wrong on Saturday, I would say no one was less than a 6 possibly 7 out of 10, but I do believe BRE will make way for Paudie coming back.

 

Out of interest, why would you make those changes? BRE has done well in both games he's played in (and we've won them both), and DMH linked up well with Hosannah on Saturday and I think that partnership deserves to be given a couple of games at least to see how it develops.
I'm not a fan of swapping and changing for the sake of it, especially after a win. The 11 that started on Saturday deserve to keep the shirts imo.

 

Not really Tony, I wouldn't do it if I was on the Board, just looked at this as a fan.

 

Central defence continues to be a worry for me. In each of our games, we have looked nervous defending set pieces, and as with Andy Cook at Mansfield, we see far too many free headers for the opposition

 

Unless that player is better and you want him to cut inside. Many players nowadays aren't as blatantly one footed as in the past