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Team vs Villa

Team vs Villa

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sedgwick__7

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Jan 17, 2015
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Preston
Clearly there is a big problem at the back in terms of availability. It's going to be a patch-up job.

As far as I can see, it can only be Woods and Boyle at centre back. This could be a defining moment for Boyle at PNE, who is well down the pecking order. Another chance may not arrive anytime soon after this.

I'd like to have seen Earl given a rest but Woods who could have moved to left back will be needed at centre back, and Spurr who could've provided an experienced option at left back although he prefers the centre, is now out for months after knee surgery. The only other option would be to play O'Connor, and with respect, looking at the quality of Villa's wide players like Adomah, I'd rather stick with Earl for now.

In other areas, today proved that that no.10 role needs to be filled with more of a 'midfielder' i.e. Browne/Harrop/Gallagher, and not a slender 'forward' like Robinson. Harrop's not had the best few games lately, plus I'm not convinced Gallagher has the legs to press in this Neil team, and Browne has been great in that role recently so it's a must that he comes back in, and I'm sure everyone will agree with that.

The front 3 picks itself for me. So -

Maxwell

Fisher
Woods
Boyle
Earl

Pearson
Johnson

Barkhuizen
Browne
Maguire

Hugill


Rudd/Hudson, Vermijl, O'Connor, Gallagher, Harrop, Robinson, Mavididi.
 
sedgwick__7 said:
Clearly there is a big problem at the back in terms of availability. It's going to be a patch-up job.

As far as I can see, it can only be Woods and Boyle at centre back. This could be a defining moment for Boyle at PNE, who is well down the pecking order. Another chance may not arrive anytime soon after this.

I'd like to have seen Earl given a rest but Woods who could have moved to left back will be needed at centre back, and Spurr who could've provided an experienced option at left back although he prefers the centre, is now out for months after knee surgery. The only other option would be to play O'Connor, and with respect, looking at the quality of Villa's wide players like Adomah, I'd rather stick with Earl for now.

In other areas, today proved that that no.10 role needs to be filled with more of a 'midfielder' i.e. Browne/Harrop/Gallagher, and not a slender 'forward' like Robinson. Harrop's not had the best few games lately, plus I'm not convinced Gallagher has the legs to press in this Neil team, and Browne has been great in that role recently so it's a must that he comes back in, and I'm sure everyone will agree with that.

The front 3 picks itself for me. So -

Maxwell

Fisher
Woods
Boyle
Earl

Pearson
Johnson

Barkhuizen
Browne
Maguire

Hugill


Rudd/Hudson, Vermijl, O'Connor, Gallagher, Harrop, Robinson, Mavididi.
Click to expand...

Could we play Earl at CB & Woods at LB , just a thought using Earl height & should be less running etc?
 
sedgwick__7 said:
today proved that that no.10 role needs to be filled with more of a 'midfielder' i.e. Browne/Harrop/Gallagher, and not a slender 'forward' like Robinson.
Click to expand...

Frankly it should have been obvious before the game but if the lesson has been learned then there will at least have been some point today.

The team you suggest is very likely what we will play. But just for the sake of argument an alternative might be to try a wing-back formation:

Maxwell

Woods, Boyle, Earl

Barkhuizen or Horgan, Browne, Pearson, Johnson, Harrop or Barkhuizen

Maguire, Hugill

If you think about it we are up to strength in midfield/attack so something like that might make the most of that.
 
ernest said:
Frankly it should have been obvious before the game but if the lesson has been learned then there will at least have been some point today.

The team you suggest is very likely what we will play. But just for the sake of argument an alternative might be to try a wing-back formation:

Maxwell

Woods, Boyle, Earl

Barkhuizen or Horgan, Browne, Pearson, Johnson, Harrop or Barkhuizen

Maguire, Hugill

If you think about it we are up to strength in midfield/attack so something like that might make the most of that.
Click to expand...

I doubt very much AN will try a WB formation ?
 
ernest said:
Frankly it should have been obvious before the game but if the lesson has been learned then there will at least have been some point today.

The team you suggest is very likely what we will play. But just for the sake of argument an alternative might be to try a wing-back formation:

Maxwell

Woods, Boyle, Earl

Barkhuizen or Horgan, Browne, Pearson, Johnson, Harrop or Barkhuizen

Maguire, Hugill

If you think about it we are up to strength in midfield/attack so something like that might make the most of that.
Click to expand...

If we played wing backs that would be when O'Connor might be considered on the left as he supposedly loves to get forward, and Fisher would almost certainly be the right wing back. Certainly not the likes of Horgan/Harrop who are totally unsuited to it imho, and Barkhuizen would be wasted that far back.

I don't expect it to happen though. We're already struggling at the back, adopting a whole new shape may just make it worse.
 
sedgwick__7 said:
I don't expect it to happen though. We're already struggling at the back, adopting a whole new shape may just make it worse.
Click to expand...

Neither do I - just flying a kite. No reason if we can somehow remain solid at the back that we cannot do well on Wednesday. As I said previously we will be up to strength in midfield and attack.
 
Boyle's confidence must be shot. We have one other fit centre half, and he still doesn't get a start?! What if he doesn't get a start on Wednesday, as the only centre half available?

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
 
jumping mouse said:
Boyle's confidence must be shot. We have one other fit centre half, and he still doesn't get a start?! What if he doesn't get a start on Wednesday, as the only centre half available?

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Boyle will surely have to start. Spurr will be out for a month or more and Davies after appendix op will be missing for 3 weeks. Maguire went off with slight strain but will be ok . With Clarke and Cunningham a long way off and some of our younger players feeling the strain we will need Boyle and O'Connor to step up to the mark, this will be their big chance. Gally and Welsh if fit may well be used from the bench.
 
kellys eye said:
Boyle will surely have to start. Spurr will be out for a month or more and Davies after appendix op will be missing for 3 weeks. Maguire went off with slight strain but will be ok . With Clarke and Cunningham a long way off and some of our younger players feeling the strain we will need Boyle and O'Connor to step up to the mark, this will be their big chance. Gally and Welsh if fit may well be used from the bench.
Click to expand...

With the current shortage of centre backs, we could do with Welsh or even Gallagher protecting the back 4.
 
sedgwick__7 said:
Clearly there is a big problem at the back in terms of availability. It's going to be a patch-up job.

As far as I can see, it can only be Woods and Boyle at centre back. This could be a defining moment for Boyle at PNE, who is well down the pecking order. Another chance may not arrive anytime soon after this.

I'd like to have seen Earl given a rest but Woods who could have moved to left back will be needed at centre back, and Spurr who could've provided an experienced option at left back although he prefers the centre, is now out for months after knee surgery. The only other option would be to play O'Connor, and with respect, looking at the quality of Villa's wide players like Adomah, I'd rather stick with Earl for now.

In other areas, today proved that that no.10 role needs to be filled with more of a 'midfielder' i.e. Browne/Harrop/Gallagher, and not a slender 'forward' like Robinson. Harrop's not had the best few games lately, plus I'm not convinced Gallagher has the legs to press in this Neil team, and Browne has been great in that role recently so it's a must that he comes back in, and I'm sure everyone will agree with that.

The front 3 picks itself for me. So -

Maxwell

Fisher
Woods
Boyle
Earl

Pearson
Johnson

Barkhuizen
Browne
Maguire

Hugill


Rudd/Hudson, Vermijl, O'Connor, Gallagher, Harrop, Robinson, Mavididi.
Click to expand...

I think Earl needs a rest as you suggest so maybe time to give O'Connor his chance. I didn't go to Accy so haven't seen him but somebody must have seen something in him for us to sign him and he was on the bench yesterday. Earl has been exposed in the last couple of games and in the bigger picture maybe right to take him out of the firing line.
 
PNEinGranby said:
Don't think that was why he wasn't played. Think it was because Woods has a left foot and Hunts and Boyle don't
Click to expand...

plus Woods has more pace than those two and Brentford had pace in attack and wide.

Neil has explained WHY he chose the team he did and the logic makes sense- especially knowing Woods has had 2 games recently and Boyle none since August.

Had Woods not gone missing for 2 of the goals and ben injuured for the other we wouldnt have mentioned it..... hindsight hey?
 
sedgwick__7 said:
Maxwell

Fisher
Woods
Boyle
Earl

Pearson
Johnson

Barkhuizen
Browne
Maguire

Hugill


Rudd/Hudson, Vermijl, O'Connor, Gallagher, Harrop, Robinson, Mavididi.
Click to expand...

Horgan instead of the injured Vermilj on the bench and that is just about it. Browne must come back into the starting line-up to give us extra bite in midfield. In fact if you think about it that really is it - I cannot think of a single fit available player who would not be in that squad. Apart from the suspended Huntington everyone else is injured.
 
Last edited:
ernest said:
Horgan instead of the injured Vermilj on the bench and that is just about it. Browne must come back into the starting line-up to give us extra bite in midfield. In fact if you think about it that really is it - I cannot think of a single fit available player who would not be in that squad. Apart from the suspended Huntington everyone else is injured.
Click to expand...

Pringle?
 
So far so good looking at the "As it Stands" league table with 80 minutes gone across the country. North End still in the play offs with a win against the Villans.
 
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