Reply To: Predictions

[PhilAnders]

Further to my analysis of our rivals, come some tactical appreciations. We have the capacity to provide a serious goal threat for 90 plus minutes against every NL team, including all those considered to be potential champions and playoff contenders and by serious goal threat I mean 3 or 4 goals. By the same token, our defence has the potential to leak 3 or 4 goals against these sides. On the whole defensively we are slow and vulnerable to balls over the top of our center backs and to pacey wing play. Often conceding at the back stick from the cross with no full back in sight. To me this is because Denton and Starbuck don’t appear to recognise the danger down the wing on the opposite side, when they are tracking back. Whilst Barrows does see the danger, he is not fast enough to get back to challenge effectively. JB can lose his concentration at times as well. Thus, I would play Ogle or Rose at Right Back and Horton at Left Back because these players defend the back stick better. I think, if they are fit our Captain and Vice captain will be the first choice CB’s.
Against, the better teams, two defensive midfielders would prevent us being stretched. Richards, Rowley and Rose could do this job, and the third midfielder must be attack minded. Alfie Beestin for me and Butterfield if the ball needs spraying around. Otherwise Gayle, but I think Brennan and Smith could fit in here. The wide players for me would be Luke Brennan and Pat Jones, although I think there is a role on the right for Dec Howe, and Hurst could step up. Smith looked good on the left pre season. Whitehall, seems nailed on for every game , so I’m delighted that Hugh Parker will be coming in to challenge him, because sometimes again, his concentration levels drop. In my opinion, the midfield and defence are geared to get the ball quickly to our explosive players, and that is what makes us a massive threat, to every NL defence. If we can press our opponents, keep our concentration at the back and get the ball forward quickly to our explosive players we will have a very good season. And these are our controllables. Shit Refs, opposition GK’s having a worldy and us missing sitters are not, if we don’t go up automatically we don’t want it to be a controllable ( like leaking goals in the last 10 mins) that stops us!