Stoke

[Lee Trundle]

I agree that Clarke is better in the air that is why I said he defends better at set pieces. Hunts is better in the air than Clarke so why not put him in the side if it is that important? Play the best back 4 against Stoke which would not include Clarke.

Don’t be so absolutist.

Yes Rafu is a better fullback than TC, but situationally Clarke might be a better fit in one particular game. Football management isnt just picking your best team week in week out, its about counteracting the threats posed by an opposition by varying the playing squad.

If Rafferty had started ahead of Hughes on Saturday, he'd arguably have been our 8th best player. Its not as though we are taking Pearson, DJ or Ben Davies out the side

 

[pthnorthender]

Don’t be so absolutist.

Yes Rafu is a better fullback than TC, but situationally Clarke might be a better fit in one particular game. Football management isnt just picking your best team week in week out, its about counteracting the threats posed by an opposition by varying the playing squad.

If Rafferty had started ahead of Hughes on Saturday, he'd arguably have been our 8th best player. Its not as though we are taking Pearson, DJ or Ben Davies out the side

Unless AN has inside information on which eleven the opposition are going to play or what tactics they are going to employ it is no more than guess work who he will play. Same team as Saturday for me.

 

[ernest]

Fisher is our best right-back and over the last few games has upped the attacking side of his game - for instance those forward balls he was playing on Saturday to send Barkhuizen away. He should start at right-back on Wednesday with either Hughes or Rafferty at left-back. Clarke as we all know does a sterling job of whatever role he is asked to play but as a fullback he is a stopgap and it would be absurd for him to displace Fisher from the position in which he excels. If we need a bit of extra height for dealing with set pieces then it would be better to start Stockley and get him to drop back when required.

 

[sports rehab]

Unless AN has inside information on which eleven the opposition are going to play or what tactics they are going to employ it is no more than guess work who he will play. Same team as Saturday for me.

he nearly always knows what tactics they will employ...... thats his homework passion...

He will certainly know that Moore is big and Garns likes a battle, so which ever started they werent going to pass out from the back - certainly not in the last 20 when losing. Plus he also knew that Dunkley is a big threat at corners..

 

[pthnorthender]

he nearly always knows what tactics they will employ...... thats his homework passion...

He will certainly know that Moore is big and Garns likes a battle, so which ever started they werent going to pass out from the back - certainly not in the last 20 when losing. Plus he also knew that Dunkley is a big threat at corners..

Yes he does his homework on the opposition but so do all the other managers. I imagine O'Neill is plotting a way to get Pearson sent off and nulify the threat of Sinclair and Barky. That's his job.

 

[JohnPNE]

Yes he does his homework on the opposition but so do all the other managers. I imagine O'Neill is plotting a way to get Pearson sent off and nulify the threat of Sinclair and Barky. That's his job.

He'll have a tough job. Pearson is a changed man.

 

[pthnorthender]

He'll have a tough job. Pearson is a changed man.

He has certainly calmed down a lot but could easily lose it. He is, however, becoming one of the best players I have seen in a North End shirt.

 

[nigelscamelcoat]

He'll have a tough job. Pearson is a changed man.

He's practically a saint now.😇

 

[sports rehab]

Yes he does his homework on the opposition but so do all the other managers. I imagine O'Neill is plotting a way to get Pearson sent off and nulify the threat of Sinclair and Barky. That's his job.

and the players will tell you Neils attention to details is far greater than most managers they've played under.

 

[Madferret]

I went just over 12 months ago, a nice little win Browne and Potts I seem to remember, and the other thing I remember well was the bitter cold wind blowing across the stands from the corner of the ground, I was frozen to the bone but as an old fart I tend to feel it a bit more these days. 😟

It’s the worst ground in the country

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Interesting take from jesusmcmuffin on the Stoke Forum, Oatcake Fanzine:

“I would do it the other way round. Start Campbell away where he has space. Wigan should have put 3 or 4 past Preston, real poor from high balls”

Did I miss something from the weekend? Bar Lowe’s shot early doors and some possession towards the end, I don’t remember them even coming close to scoring.

Does he have a point re the high balls? Sure I read a stat on Twitter about Bauer winning the most aerial duels in the division but we definitely didn’t deal with that Gelhardt cross well enough.

 

[Tino]

Interesting take from jesusmcmuffin on the Stoke Forum, Oatcake Fanzine:

“I would do it the other way round. Start Campbell away where he has space. Wigan should have put 3 or 4 past Preston, real poor from high balls”

Did I miss something from the weekend? Bar Lowe’s shot early doors and some possession towards the end, I don’t remember them even coming close to scoring.

Does he have a point re the high balls? Sure I read a stat on Twitter about Bauer winning the most aerial duels in the division but we definitely didn’t deal with that Gelhardt cross well enough.

They had a couple of headers that went over, but I wouldn't call them clear chances, half chances at best really. Bauer is number 1 in the league for winning aerial duels and Davies is no slouch in the air. But it probably explains why Clarke came on and could well start on Wednesday if Hughes isn't fit.

 

[Yoowell]

They had a couple of headers that went over, but I wouldn't call them clear chances, half chances at best really. Bauer is number 1 in the league for winning aerial duels and Davies is no slouch in the air. But it probably explains why Clarke came on and could well start on Wednesday if Hughes isn't fit.

I’m not sure I’d like the prospect of Clarke against McClean.

 

[Dick Dastardly]

It’s more interesting in that the aforementioned expert is going by the name of Jesusmcmuffin

 

[ChuckD]

Interesting take from jesusmcmuffin on the Stoke Forum, Oatcake Fanzine:

“I would do it the other way round. Start Campbell away where he has space. Wigan should have put 3 or 4 past Preston, real poor from high balls”

Did I miss something from the weekend? Bar Lowe’s shot early doors and some possession towards the end, I don’t remember them even coming close to scoring.

Does he have a point re the high balls? Sure I read a stat on Twitter about Bauer winning the most aerial duels in the division but we definitely didn’t deal with that Gelhardt cross well enough.

We’ve had a problem dealing with corners and crosses into the box all season in my opinion.

Whether it’s because the defence don’t know if Rudd is going to claim it (although they should know by now he isn’t) or whether it’s a problem with the zonal marking where we don’t reset quickly enough for the second balls it needs sorting.

 

[buckshawwhite]

That can be deliberate to unsight the keeper

Many strikers place the ball between a lunging defenders legs to wrong foot the keeper. One of those will go in for him one day soon

 

[diggerb]

Starting Clarke would be a mistake, it was tried at Blackburn and it backfired, that lesson should be learned !!!!!

 

[bowlandwhites]

Starting Clarke would be a mistake, it was tried at Blackburn and it backfired, that lesson should be learned !!!!!

Why did it backfire we got a point in a game we had very few chances. Stoke have some very big players & the extra hight a corners & free kick is a must . There's been to many goals scored against us with balls put in the box.
Stoke fans are saying they think villa o will start tonight & Gregory on bench & play long ball.

 

[BPIG]

Fisher is our best right-back and over the last few games has upped the attacking side of his game - for instance those forward balls he was playing on Saturday to send Barkhuizen away.

He’s always done that. Not just the last few games.

Why did it backfire we got a point in a game we had very few chances.

Because without Clarke gifting them a goal they probably wouldn’t have scored.

 

[SF]

Fisher's attacking threat is massively under-stated.

Carries the ball really well, good pace, decent crossing, can find feet in tight areas.