Thetownend.com

If you were in charge of the team in the current scenario what would you do? Bear in mind that for the next game, you won't have Ifil, Smith or Miglioranzi available the only player(s) you'd be able to bring in would be on loan.

Personally, I'd have started today by getting them in for training early and forcing them to sit and watch the game through, not for them to see their mistakes or to analyse the goals conceded but to see how utterly shameful they were. Hopefully some of them will take a long hard look at themselves and have a further chance to reflect when some of them are sat on the bench for the next game.

I'd change back to 4-4-2 and play the following team:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/option30/bournemouthaway.jpg

This would mean that Howard would find himself on the bench - then suspended - and given a nice long opportunity to do some extra fitness work and learn how to pass the ball to teammates. Hewlett makes way for Pook who was in and around the squad a great deal last season and after seeing how Garrard has performed since being given a chance, it could give the lad a confidence boost and we've nothing to lose really. I feel that Rhys has looked nervous of late and he's not kept a clean sheet for over 10 games whereas Book has conceded one goal in three appearances and has impressed in all of them. The competition for places should keep everyone on their toes. Nicholas deserves a chance again but not at the expense of Duke, so Duke is moved out onto the left wing in absence of anyone else capable of playing there.

In all honesty there's not many changes King can actually make, of the players on the bench last night Smith is suspended, Nicholas, Book and Robinson all get to start and Pook is thrown in as well. Fallon simply isn't an option. Once we've got Ifil, Stef and Smith back then there's room for more changes but King's hands are pretty tied at the minute in the way of dropping players.

my line up would be



on the bench i would put book garrard caton pook robinson

i would play duke in the middle as he seems to be the only one who gives a fuck at the moment and at least he would get stuck in. stick howard on the left wing we know what he can do out there.

Sonic, you complain of other people's knee jerk reactions yet when selecting a side for the next game you pick a pensioner instead of one of the best keepers in the division and randomly decide to play pook in central midfield. WTF?

Rhys hasnt been the greatest this season, but he's miles better than Book. full stop. Cant really think of anything he did wrong last night other than possible not communicate with heywood when he kept trying to head it out of his hands.

Why just randomly hand out a start to Pook? he looks ok but to just start chucking in fairly promising 18/19 year olds for thier debut aint gonna suddenly make us a better side.

We'd do much better getting the players to practice passing and moving all week (did anyone else notice that no-one moved off the ball for a team mate at all last night)

Evans hasn't commanded his box for past 4-5 games and its causing major problems, he either needs to learn how to shout or stay on his line. The defence don't know whether they are coming or going with high balls into the box. therefore making our team a liability from corners/free kicks.

word to big bird

Bit like Mexico's lineup but when Howard is be suspended have duke on the left of midfield and robinson in the centre.




I don't rate Robinson but we don't have many options.

Keep Hewlett behind after training so he can practice kicking a fcuking football. Why can't he shoot when he has time to? The never go on target. In fact they never go wide OR over either, more like always wide AND over.

Evans' biggest problem last night was that the central defence was sitting so far back, in particular Reeves, who was almost playing as a sweeper. And when they attacked they dropped even further, almost interfering with his space.
I d choose
Evans
Jenkins O'Hanlon Heywood Nicho
Roberts Hewlett Turbo Duke
Parkin, Caton

I think the overwhelming opinion here - and my opinion - is that we need to do one thing above all else ...

Go back to 4-4-2

3-5-2 does not suit our players!!

Something needs to change, the most direct change you can make is through changing the players that start. The limited options on the bench and in the reserves mean that in order to make changes on a larger scale, you have to drop some of your better players - especially when they're underperforming which Rhys is. The reason for Pook was mainly because Hewlett needs a kick up the arse and I can't think of any other central midfielders at the club, can you?

sonic are you going mental?
usually our most thoughtful poster has gone ape.
i've lost count of how many threads you have said "hewlett isnt that good but is essential" and things to that affect, but nbow you are slapping an 18 year old without a single league start under his belt into a very tough game away at bournemouth?!
and your whole idea seems pretty knee jerk, which you've been condeming all day. i dont understand?

The only other alternative is to continue with the same eleven players who were awful last night, if anything this goes to highlight what small resources Kingy is working with.

Pray for Miglioranzi to come back.

evans
jenkins ohanlon heywood nicholas
    igoe hewlett robinson duke
            parkin roberts

i hope they don't rush him back, will only end in more problems  :?

Not sure  there is much that  can be done, other than trying for a  loan midfielder.

 I would atttempt to try and park a bus in front of the Bormuff goal.

  So.....
                             

     Garrard for Jenkins, because it enables the dream team of Book Pook Luke and Duke........but will probably end in sick

Reg. that formation is working well for everton, ok alot of there wins are 1-0 but a win is a win at the moment isn't it?

i think the main thing about using the above is players keeping in position, they did a feature on the everton team on MOTD and the way you can see 4-1-4 with carsley infront of the defence making it tough to get that through ball in. Would be intresting to see us have a go but i have a feeling we would lose shape to quickly. We need a bit of team spirit dashed with a bit of luck to  :)

You need to be able to win and hold onto the ball with that formation, something we're simply incapable of doing. Sadly formation won't change this whatsoever and it's down to personnel.

Just go conventional 4-4-2 ffs. It's the only thing that will suit us right now without Jerel. Tough on Garrard but he should miss out.

Above all else we need some graft.....I've seen Pook in the reserves and he's not great, but having Turbo and Hewlett in there would help and he'll probably work his nuts off, given a chance.

 It works for Everton, because  Cahill is one of those clever players....(Peters, Platt) who can arrive in the box unnoticed.

 We haven't got such a player, but Roberts could get a free role behind Parkin.

Unfortunately though Reg, Roberts seems the sort of bloke his isn't gonna run his nuts off for anyone.

If you have a non commanding goal keeper it makes the defence nervous as fluck. But King got it all wrong not the players. When they got the ball we did well. We couldn't get it back