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25% => Players => Topic started by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 14:19:02



Title: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 14:19:02
Well, yesterday certainly put a cat amongst the pigeons!

I feel it would be harsh to change yesterday’s XI v Rochdale. Surely, the players should be certain that individual performances like that deserve at least another chance.

It’s also getting harder to see just how Grant gets back in as a regular starter - should always be in the matchday squad imo.

Is Jonny Williams a bit of an extravagance?

An abundance of riches!


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Quagmire on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 14:47:17
KKH comes in for me instantly, I don’t think he’s been as good in recent weeks but he is still head and shoulders above our other full backs. Rob Hunt hasn’t been close to his first seasons form and Iandolo just isn’t a full back.

The keeper thing is a tough one, Wollocott hasn’t put a foot wrong this season, and because of that has been called up to international duty, as good as Ward was yesterday, Wollocott has to come back in.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 15:00:55
Thought Rob Hunt was superb yesterday - also Iandolo. If KKH can play LWB put him in and leave Hunt on the right. Tough on Iandolo, though.

I’d be mightily pissed off if I was Ward and got dropped. Maybe he’ll get the nod Saturday with Garner using the tiring trip excuse for leaving out Wollacott.

No way McKirdy can be left out.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: DiV on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 15:06:10
Same XI for me without a doubt

Harsh on JoJo admittedly.
Grant, Williams weren’t starting anyway. Gilbert started a couple but would have lost his place to McKirdy yesterday even if he’d been available.
KKH hasn’t been particularly great the last few games (not bad tbf) but certainly not good enough to be a certain starter.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Nomoreheroes on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 15:30:23
I think Ward will play on Tuesday - If he plays well, then he stays in for Saturday. If not, then Wollacott comes back in.

Hunt keeps his place for Saturday after this week's performance. As stated above, his performance vs FGR was his best of the season and on par with when he was on top form. He is a RB who can fill in at LB if necessary.

McKirdy keeps his place on Saturday at the expense of Gilbert. Again, if Gilbert can play on Tuesday then he should (to keep McKirdy fresh). I might even give Simpson the night off and give Parsons a run out.

Reed and Payne I might rest for East and Lyden on Tuesday too.

Bottom line is an unchanged team for Saturday, with other fringe and returners getting a run out on Tuesday.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Jimmy HaveHave on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 15:45:02
I think you've got it spot on :pint:


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Crozzer on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 16:16:13
Well, yesterday certainly put a cat amongst the pigeons!

I feel it would be harsh to change yesterday’s XI v Rochdale. Surely, the players should be certain that individual performances like that deserve at least another chance.

It’s also getting harder to see just how Grant gets back in as a regular starter - should always be in the matchday squad imo.

Is Jonny Williams a bit of an extravagance?

An abundance of riches!


There may be selection at stake for Rochdale in the Pizza-Pot at Plymouth.  Ward has to start on Saturday unless he has a stinker at Plymouth.  Gilbert will be benched for McKirdy, who will increase the attendance.

Good point about Williams, you can't break up Reed, Payne and Gladwin, he's on the bench for sure.  Regarding wing backs, KKH may have to win his place back in the days ahead.  Garner may not be for having to win the shirt back, with KKH obviously offering more going forward, especially if Rochdale are expected to park the bus.  Tough on Rob Hunt, but that's just the way it is. So only one change for Saturday, KKH in for Rob Hunt.  That decision is probably going to be mainly tactical.

Expect Lawson and Dabre to feature at Argyle.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Legends-Lounge on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 16:45:08
Well, yesterday certainly put a cat amongst the pigeons!

I feel it would be harsh to change yesterday’s XI v Rochdale. Surely, the players should be certain that individual performances like that deserve at least another chance.

It’s also getting harder to see just how Grant gets back in as a regular starter - should always be in the matchday squad imo.

Is Jonny Williams a bit of an extravagance?

An abundance of riches!

Would seem an abundance of riches, until we get some injuries and suspensions on a very small squad. That said, at the moment we do seem to be relatively injury free, suspensions not a worrying issue on the horizon, though as we have all seen over the years that can change very quickly.

The pizza cup is a potential money maker in the later stages and can be used instead of or alongside ‘development games’ to keep fringe players fresh, match fit and injured players up to speed. As loathed as the pizza cup is, like yesterday’s £10k money in the till is very important, especially this year.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: theakston2k on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 17:15:52
Wollacott comes straight back in, he’s probably player of the season thus far and hasn’t put a foot wrong over a sustained period of time including international duty for a pretty decent National team. His stock is rising so need to keep him developing as he’s only gonna get better.
I’d keep Hunt at RWB and see if KHH can play on the left hand side as that’s our obvious weak side. Other than that it would be as is.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Crackity Jones on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 17:50:26
Unchanged for me. We just won 2-0 at the league leaders and they hadn't conceded in 4 or 5 games


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Dr Pierre Chang on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 18:09:00
Wollacott back in and KKH for Hunt to give us more attacking threat at home are the only two changes I’m expecting to see next Sat. I hope Lyden gets a decent run out on Tuesday night.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: JBZ on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 18:09:30
No tinkering


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Abrahammer on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 18:32:45
100% JoJo should come back in on Saturday, he is class keeper at this level and Ward is a journeyman (not a dig) who had a superb game

Play the best keeper, simple


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Crackity Jones on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 18:53:07
100% JoJo should come back in on Saturday, he is class keeper at this level and Ward is a journeyman (not a dig) who had a superb game

Play the best keeper, simple
Journeyman? Really? Ward is 24.  Spent his career on loan at various clubs from Reading until he joined Exeter in 2019. For comparison, Jojo is 25 and spent his career on loan at various clubs from Bristol City until he joined Swindon in 2021. I would say their careers have been similar until now.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Legends-Lounge on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 19:15:45
100% JoJo should come back in on Saturday, he is class keeper at this level and Ward is a journeyman (not a dig) who had a superb game

Play the best keeper, simple

Well if you’re 12 then @ 24 it would seem a lifetime away and therefore a journeyman (not a dig) of a player, with only shock horror another 10 years left in his career 🤣🤣🤣


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: adje on Monday, October 11, 2021, 07:40:18
One game,albeit a brilliant one does not necessarily make Ward a better keeper than Wollacott. Personally I
 think JoJo should start.Your number 1 is that until he proves otherwise I think


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Moss on Monday, October 11, 2021, 08:18:22
Absolutely Jo Jo should keep his place. Given that he is also on a one year contract (I think) alienating him by dropping him would be a dumb move when it comes to tempting him to sign a new one. He is number one until form suggests otherwise. He got an international call up - dropping him for that, no matter ho good a game Ward had would be poor management in my view.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Jimmy HaveHave on Monday, October 11, 2021, 08:20:26
Gordon Banks esque :clap:


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Nomoreheroes on Monday, October 11, 2021, 08:48:12
Absolutely Jo Jo should keep his place. Given that he is also on a one year contract (I think) alienating him by dropping him would be a dumb move when it comes to tempting him to sign a new one. He is number one until form suggests otherwise. He got an international call up - dropping him for that, no matter ho good a game Ward had would be poor management in my view.
But the thing is, we don't know how good Ward is.

Both keepers have similar backgrounds and both may have benefitted from coaching with Mildy. I think that dropping Ward after that (an almost perfect game) would alienate him and show that no matter what he does, he is only ever the back up.

There is an ideal opportunity to keep both players happy at the moment. Play Ward again on Tuesday and see how he does. If he is as awesome as Saturday, you don't drop him for next Saturday.

In the mean time, you talk to Wollacott and praise him for what he has done so far this season and tell him to rest from the travel and get back to fitness in training. You let him see how brilliant Ward was on Saturday and you motivate him to battle for his place.

If Ward doesn't do so well on Tuesday and Wollacott looks sharp in training then he comes back in on Saturday. But if not, Garner has already shown with Grant that he will make the tough calls.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR on Monday, October 11, 2021, 09:37:41
Absolutely Jo Jo should keep his place. Given that he is also on a one year contract (I think) alienating him by dropping him would be a dumb move when it comes to tempting him to sign a new one. He is number one until form suggests otherwise. He got an international call up - dropping him for that, no matter ho good a game Ward had would be poor management in my view.
That's one way of looking at it. It's different sides of the same coin though. Personally, my golden rule as a manager would be not to change a winning side and that every player had to retain/win his place in the side on merit. In this situation I would say that few people would argue with that other than at the GK spot.

I would argue that Wollacott would not be getting dropped. He went on international duty, Ward came in and had a blinder and has earned the right to keep his spot. JJ now has to earn the right displace him.  It's a tough call, JJ is probably my player of the season so far and it would be unfortunate for him but a football team in my opinion has to be run as a meritocracy and it would be just as hard, if not harder on Ward to get dropped after performing outstandingly well.

Hell of a good problem to have though after last season's goalkeeping debacle.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: theakston2k on Monday, October 11, 2021, 09:45:58
JW is better with his feet so that will be a deciding factor with the way we play.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Private Fraser on Monday, October 11, 2021, 10:23:43
It's a tough call regarding the keeper slot. I would argue that JoJo 'retains' his place on merit because he hasn't done anything yet to 'lose' it. He'll have to really stay on his toes now, though .....


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Peter Venkman on Monday, October 11, 2021, 10:32:00
It's a tough call regarding the keeper slot. I would argue that JoJo 'retains' his place on merit because he hasn't done anything yet to 'lose' it. He'll have to really stay on his toes now, though .....
Same for me too.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR on Monday, October 11, 2021, 10:44:59
Like I say... same coin, different sides. Nice problem to have. I certainly won't have a problem with whoever starts...


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Nomoreheroes on Monday, October 11, 2021, 13:44:31
JW is better with his feet so that will be a deciding factor with the way we play.
I was waiting for someone to say that....

I wondered whether some of our 'urgency' and lack of 'pissing about at the back' was down to the fact that Ward isn't as comfortable on the ball as Wollacott?

Having said that, I think that Ward did satisfactorily pass it around, but he also kicked long at times to mix it up a bit.

I can't fault anything about his performance on Saturday - But I thought he was decidedly average (at best) in the preseason and Cup game he played.


Title: Re: Next League Game Starting XI
Post by: Peter Venkman on Monday, October 11, 2021, 13:51:07
TBH I thought Wards distribution wasn't quite as good as Jojo's has been, but its a close call.