The Pre Season So Far

[PhilAnders]

With one pre season friendly to go, I’m posting my thoughts on where I think we are:
1. The Pitch. Of course, I’ve not been to the Attis this pre season so I’m relying on photos and what’s been said in interviews by staff and if Half of that is true, then we have a pitch we can play football on. Maybe the most important signing of the summer was the Groundsperson!
2. The Squad. Of the 4 games I’ve seen, this is a stronger squad than last year. There is an attacking intent in how we play, which at home on that pitch should see us win and win handsomely. A lot of teams will come and try to “park the bus” and we have no Cal Roberts to bring a piece of individual brilliance to break them down. Who steps up to the plate to do that we will see.
3. We are a taller squad. That should help at set pieces.
4. We have recruited some experience, hopefully that will help us see out games.
The down side:
1. AB continues to flirt with 5 at the back. I know we won with it at Borehamwood last year, but I think it’s a negative, largely because our “wing backs” aren’t good enough to make it work.
2. Concentration levels still drift off. The vulnerability to the opposition quick break down the flanks persist, as is switching off at defensive set pieces. 5 at the back doesn’t remedy this issue.

If AB can banish the idea of playing wingbacks from his head, and improve concentration levels, then we will have a great season. If not, well mid table mediocracy calls!

[MK Iron]

Seen 3 of the pre season games and pretty much agree with your thoughts PA.
I’m encouraged that 5 at the back was conspicuous by it’s absence last night. Of course Butler might throw it back in the mix on Friday.

[cassidystash]

He’s still trying to work out how to get 5 RBs into the team.
1 at RB, 1 as a 3rd CB and 1 as a DMF is as close as I can get. I suppose 1 on the bench is an option?

[lesgeo]

That would be scary, MK. What we do in the final friendly will surely be pretty close to what we are planning to do for the Yeovil game.

[MK Iron]

My take on last night was that the first half was the possibles and the second half the probables.

Slightly worrying was the possibles won their half against a fresh and hard working team 4-1 whilst the probables drew their half 2-2 against a tiring side that didn’t have many substitute options.

I would assume Evans will join his vice captain at CB for the Chesterfield and Yeovil games with Horton moving to left back in place of Barrows.

That would give us a starting 11 of:
Jones
Ogle Howe Evans Horton
Rose Rowley Gale
Smith Whitehall Jones

I almost agree with that line up although would probably put Rose at RB and Richards in midfield.

Still leaves Beestin, Butterfield, Brennan, Hurst and Richards as potential subs which is a very much stronger bench than last season.

Probably all wrong and Andy will do as Cass suggests and squeeze 5 centre backs in.

[Square Ball Bullimore]

Thats quite a positive post. Phil can you get your avatar back as I seem to recall that it was quite good.

[Rene Artois]

cassidystash wrote:

He’s still trying to work out how to get 5 RBs into the team.

SST
Stan’s Sisyphhean Task!

[ironfromafar]

there is my guessimate of ABs first starting 11 for Yeovil depending on injuries.

Jones
Rose Evans Howe Horton
Richards Rowley Gale
? +1 TBD ? Whall Brennan

Subs
Bfield , Howe , Smith, Beestin, Jones , Denton

[cassidystash]

Pat Jones as TBD with JB/Ogle + Campbell on the bench and you could be close IFA.
I’d be surprised if Hurst & Ogle didn’t make the squad at least, a lot depends on formation and fitness I guess, one or two have been carrying knocks. Certainly a stronger looking bench this year.

[Northumbiron]

Looks like losing a pre season friendly to a club from a lower division was all too much for steady Eddie at the Toon.

Now he’s going to miss out on the KK love-in with Liverpool.

[MK Iron]

Pat Jones the stand out individual performer in the 3 games I have seen.

He’s not Cal Roberts but for me if he is fit he starts.

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lesgeo

[alcazar]

MK Iron wrote:

Pat Jones the stand out individual performer in the 3 games I have seen.

He’s not Cal Roberts but for me if he is fit he starts.

Hope we have him on a long contact then…

[PhilAnders]

After the Chesterfield game, Andy Butler has a lot of thinking to do as to his starting Squad , let alone starting XI! IMHO I think only Callum Howe, Whitehall, Evan’s and Rowley are nailed on starters, probably Pat Jones as well. The other spots are all up for grabs and will depend very much on who suits his formation. I pray it’s not 5 at the back. I’ve seen no evidence so far of decent wing back play!

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Deereyme66

[Iron-awe]

Easy Phil don’t start hyperventilating before we’ve kicked a ball in anger 🙄

[lesgeo]

I got Chesterfield commentary last night. The two guys weren’t bad at all – also very fair-minded.
They think that the Spireites will do very well this season and they spoke pretty favourably about what we managed to achieve last night.
They seemed to have three – maybe 4 – players who were surely better than any we’ll be facing in the NL.
Tough ask but we survived it.
4-3-3 rules?

[Deereyme66]

PhilAnders wrote:

After the Chesterfield game, Andy Butler has a lot of thinking to do as to his starting Squad , let alone starting XI! IMHO I think only Callum Howe, Whitehall, Evan’s and Rowley are nailed on starters, probably Pat Jones as well. The other spots are all up for grabs and will depend very much on who suits his formation. I pray it’s not 5 at the back. I’ve seen no evidence so far of decent wing back play!

Good to read an honest account. I’ve just read another summary elsewhere that made us sound like Barca.

[PhilAnders]

After a nights sleep and reflection, I think the starting XI will be:

Campbell
Ogle C Howe Evans Horton
Rowley Butterfield Beestin
Smith Whitehall P Jones

No Idea as to the subs!

[Deereyme66]

There’ll be some gnashing from certain quarters if that no.1 position pertains.

[Rene Artois]

Résistance IS Futile!
Pre-Seasons are meaningless!
4-4-2

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Iron-awe

[Rene Artois]

Jones
Rose C Howe Evans Horton
Rowley Butterfield Beestin Jones
D Howe Whitehall

[Northumbiron]

I think they’ll be wrapping Rose up in cotton wool. So Ogle at RB for me.

Butterfield won’t do many 90 minute games either so he’ll be interchangeable with someone like Smith or Richards.

Would like to see Dec given game time as he is a goal scorer.

If we stay injury free I can see some possible out going loans. Hope he’s not one of them.

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Rene Artois

[MK Iron]

To get to last seasons levels we have got to somehow replace the 20ish goals and 10ish assists Roberts typically contributed.

Pat Jones has impressed in many ways but does not look a consistent goal scorer. Hurst looks livelier than last season but final ball (be it cross or shot) seems to be his weakness.

Butterfield is good for a few but nowhere near what is needed and realistically he’s not going to get a lot of minutes. Smith if he gets back to previous levels will get a few but we’re probably talking single figures.
Other than Whitehall I am only seeing Dec Howe and Beestin as natural goal scorers who could potentially get double figures.
I think it’s probably now or never for both in terms of becoming regulars under Butler.
Beestin suffers from playing too many positions. For me he is an attacking midfielder or a 10 and give him 40 games there and I think he will give you 10 or 12 goals and a similar number of assists. He is too slow to excel as a wide forward and not physical enough for centre forward in this league.
With Dec he is a centre forward but only in a team that does not play long up to him. Also if you play him there you lose Whitehall’s 20ish goals and his comedy value.
Not really quick enough to play traditional wide forward role in Butler’s favourite 4-3-3. Not really a great partner for Whitehall in a 4-4-2 either as Whitehall is even slower.
I’m with NI and think it’s time to give him a go on the right of a front 3. He looked lively in that position last night.
Starbuck/Rose/Ogle/Belahoun/Barrows all have the pace and/or drive to constantly overlap Dec and provide the genuine width that he does not really offer.

Give it 10 games Andy with Dec as a 7 and Alfie as a 10. You know it makes sense.

[alcazar]

Good grief!
“Butler”, and “sense” in the same sentence.

[Apollo11]

PhilAnders wrote:

After the Chesterfield game, Andy Butler has a lot of thinking to do as to his starting Squad , let alone starting XI! IMHO I think only Callum Howe, Whitehall, Evan’s and Rowley are nailed on starters, probably Pat Jones as well. The other spots are all up for grabs and will depend very much on who suits his formation. I pray it’s not 5 at the back. I’ve seen no evidence so far of decent wing back play!

I thought Rowley had a surprisingly quiet game, didn’t seem as effective as “usual”. There wasn’t too much going on in the midfield – but I would not say Ewing was a miss, at all, nor Westbrooke. We looked good going forward when Pat Jones had his dander up. The defence looked all at odds a couple of times. Howe’s experience combined with Evans’ power could be key.

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alcazar

[Rene Artois]

Northumbiron wrote:

I think they’ll be wrapping Rose up in cotton wool. So Ogle at RB for me.

Butterfield won’t do many 90 minute games either so he’ll be interchangeable with someone like Smith or Richards.

Would like to see Dec given game time as he is a goal scorer.

If we stay injury free I can see some possible out going loans. Hope he’s not one of them.

Yes. Stan has not yet identified … or that he is resistant to a director … or even worse; a fan induced acquisition – and doesn’t want to give him a fair crack of the whip!

Goals, goals, goals!

And at the other end – Big Cal stops them !

WIN – WIN … with those two!

STAN… read… digest… implement!

[Rene Artois]

MK Iron wrote:

To get to last seasons levels we have got to somehow replace the 20 ish goals Roberts typically contributed.

Start Dec in every game – play him for the full 90 mins … and he will smash your 20 goals target!

[Deereyme66]

‘The defence looked all at odds a couple of times’.

I’m intrigued by this point Apollo as, according to Stuart Maw, the defence looked ‘solid and composed’

Would you say apart from those couple of times, it was okay?. Or is ‘strong and composed’ over positivity talking?

[Rene Artois]

MK Iron wrote:

Other than Whitehall I am only seeing Dec Howe and Beestin as natural goal scorers who could potentially get double figures.

If we play 4-3-3
Then they would all be banging in the goals!

[Rene Artois]

MK Iron wrote:

Give it 10 games Andy
with Dec as a 7 and Alfie as a 10.
You know it makes sense.

Whitehall as a 9 (ZZ)
Howe as a 9 (XX)
Beestin as a 10

Goals, goals, goals!

[MK Iron]

Deereyme66 wrote:

‘The defence looked all at odds a couple of times’.

I’m intrigued by this point Apollo as, according to Stuart Maw, the defence looked ‘solid and composed’

Would you say apart from those couple of times, it was okay?. Or is ‘strong and composed’ over positivity talking?

The truth of the matter is Chesterfield could easily have had 5 or 6 and should certainly have had 2 or 3. Which does not suggest solid or composed.
In the interest of balance and positivity the Iron could have had 3 or 4.
Lots of things to be positive about the performance but the defence being solid/strong and composed was not one of them.

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alcazar, Deereyme66

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