Saturday's win was obviously a whole team effort. Harrison impressed, Richards turned up, Hitchcock did everything but score; and we kept a clean sheet. So, if players like Clarkson and Anyinsah are fit again, should Ward keep a winning team or tinker a little? I'd stick. Hopefully (though often it doesn't work this way!) the team will be confident following that win and they deserve another go. It will be a great message to the younger players that if you're good enough there's a place in the first XI for you. Ward would have a stronger bench anyway if things go t*** up.
clucas and o'toole are building up a good partnership as both played the last 2 games. think it will be a mistake to change that in midfield now as thats an area that we have struggled in for the last 2 seasons. so clarkson on the bench for me. i wouldnt put clarkson up front either as richards and hitchcock sounded good together so i would let them have another chance. like you said p49 the bench would be stronger so if it aint working out with richards and hitchcock then clarkson can come on. think anyinsah will miss out. why run the risk if he aint 100%. he wont last long like the gills game. however if the hammer is fit i would be tempted to play him out of all the players that were missing at fleetwood. this would mean harrison to be on the bench and he can be used as a sub. if the youths got a game on friday then dont want to over do it so best to bench harrison for exeter me thinks. ---------------mildenhall--------------- woodards---parkes---mchrystal---brown smith------clucas----o'toole-----hammer ----------richards----hitchcock-------- thats how i would play it. but i think as we will have more options, i think ward will go back to 451 formation and play more of the experienced players who will be returning.
Agree that we should keep it exactly the same - why change a winning team? As McChrystal said in today's Evening Pisspoor - it's important to keep a settled back four, especially one that has kept a cleen sheet. Also, why change midfield when Clucas and O'Toole work so well together. And I was impressed with how Hitchcock and Richards quickly forged an understanding up front. Being little fellas it also means that we have to play the ball on the ground, instead of hoofing it up the pitch. Mind you, I bet the bloody game will be called off due to a frozen pitch, just as we hit form. Typical luck that we've had this season....
exactly what i was thinking. ward said he is glad there is no tuesday game to allow players to come back but i think its a shame that there is no tuesday game as after a performance like saturday i bet the players are buzzing to get out there again.
however it should go ahead...... just seen on the OS that we have put covers on the pitch today and will stay on until the weekend to protect the pitch from the cold weather that is expected. however the covers will only protect the pitch from the cold temperatures up to minus 4. so anything colder than that the covers wont help. so maybe game on http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/pitch-covers-599635.aspx
snow is predicted friday and saturday (apparently) so the pitch might get the go ahead. however will will the surrounding area? how many times have we seen our games get called off due to this??
If the senior players are fully fit then Ward has a slight selection problem,although Clarkson will not play the whole 90 mins so if fit he should in my opinion warm the bench and pick up 20 or 30 useful mins at the end depending how the game is panning out although Ward has yet to see the ex BCFC man clock up decent mins on the field.Anyinsah will be given more time to heal, as his injury will benefit from extra rest and fitness training.Kenneths out so no issues there.The Hammer may also feature on the bench as Ward tries to instil confidence in the team follow Fleetwoods shock victory. As for the youngsters, if Ward wishes to use them on Sat they will not feature in Fridays cup simples. Hoping for at the very minimum a draw to keep the momentum going COR
