I'd like to see King given a game up front, but Fryatt won't be rested after scoring and going with 4231 again I'd go with: Mannone Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dawson Evans, McKenna King, Koren, Brady Fryatt Subs: Gulacsi, Dudgeon, Olofinjana/Cairney, Stewart, McLean That's based on Olofinjana not being able to do a lot of games. King only played about 20 minutes or so tonight, and Brady was rested (I assume) so will be fresh and it gives us a chance to let Stewart or McLean (or both) loose after an hour. I know it seems early in March to be resting players, but I'm going with the philosophy that if we rotate them before they get tired we've got more options and can still have players on the bench that can be brought on, rather than burning Stewart out and then having Brady get injured by a bad tackle.
Oli looked like a donkey tonight - the ball always looked to be getting away from - Corry Evans showed what a much better player he is when he came on. Happy with a point after being second best for much of the game. Also James Chester had his poorest game for a long long while. Hobbs by comparison was excellent.
Oli is far from full fitness (thank god because if that was him at his best, well...) but Evans was knackered. As I said on mine, I'd go: Mannone Rosenior Chester Hobbs Dawson McKenna Evans King Koren Stewart Fryatt Bench: Gul Dudge Mclean Brady Cullen
Hobbs really was the stand out at the back, Chester was brilliant the last few games, but i don't think the pitch suited quick incisive short balls, rather longer balls relying on pace, which when we did that it worked well. Oli i disagree, he showed touches of sheer class at times, just not enough as he didn't really look fit enough. I would go with that team but i am loathed to leave Stewart out as he didn't give the ball away once and i think he really has started to learn a lot about his game.
AND Fryatt scored? So has to play for me. My team would be... Mannone Dudgeon (fresh legs), Chester, Hobbs, Rosenior Evans, McKenna Brady, Koren, Stewart Fryatt Bench: Oxley, Dawson, Olofinjana, King, Simpson. I know I've left McLean out but to be honest tonight he didn't really do that much to earn his place. And like I said with Matty Fryatt a few weeks ago; needs a kick up the arse to get his scoring form back on track. Feel a bit hard leaving Cullen out but this is a HUGE game in our season and I'd feel more assured with Simpson on the bench who scored plenty for Milwall and within 1 minute of his only appearence of 2012 made something happen for Cam Stewart. Feel free to disagree but with that team I'd fancy a 2/3-0 against TWS and Colin ****er; and would go to Leeds on the Thursday a very happy City fan.
I'd bring Evans and Dudgeon in for Oli and Dawson. I thought Oli might do well tonight but it didn't happen. His passing was decent but he didn't get forward any more than Evans does and this is the problem we have with that position, and if we're choosing from two players who won't get forward, I'll go for the one who can tackle. I've ben going on about left back for ages but Dawson did my head in tonight. He's just beaten far, far too easily. So many times tonight Ince went past him like he wasn't there. For the goal Dawson fell over (he didn't slip but fell over because of being thrown way off balance by a simple turn). When Dudgeon was playing he seemed to be loads better at both ends. I'd consider bringing King in but I don't think you can drop McLean and woud the system work without Brady or Stewart? I don't know.
With Dudgeon you also have another man who can beat his man for pace, and someone whose first line of defence is to pull someone. I disagree about Mclean though, he is not a winger, when we get the ball wide and get balls in the box we look a far better team, Blackpool got so many balls in the box it caused havoc. Yet we insist on trying not to play with wingers. We need out and out wingers, and use their pace, at least King plays like a winger even though he isn't one. Mclean plays like a striker on the wing, its not his fault but where deluded if we think we can use Mclean as a winger and try to win promotion. He is decent enough upfront as back up, but he's not a winger. Evans needs to come back in, but he has to get forward more as we need more support up there.
Finally someone who agrees on Andy Dawson! Whilst the bloke next to me is shouting "GO ON DAWS GET FORWARD!" every home game I'm thinking "Well IF he gets back in about 5 minutes time, some speedy bugger will get past him"; sure he's one of our best signings in recent times but Dudgeon NEEDS to play on Tuesday as we have a much bigger threat with him there (and there's the option of the long throw). But dropping McLean; he did NOTHING except scuff a shot tonight and I watched the full 90 minutes on the box. There are players now that deserve a place ahead of him in my eyes.
I'm pretty much undecided on the wingers at the moment, we have 4 decent options and it could well be any 2 of those 4 who play against TWS. I don't mind too much either way. With Stewart and Brady together against Brighton we created a lot but looked a lot better when McLean came on. We also looked better with King on the pitch tonight so you could make a case for all 4 of them. I agree fully about Evans needing to get forward more but I'm not sure what you're getting at RE Dudgeon.
I said he'd scored. I think if you played the same 10 players with King as the lone striker or with Fryatt as the lone striker we'd score more goals with King up there. He may score less than Fryatt but he'll produce a greater difference in the number of goals the two wide players score (so long as they tried to work off the striker), and possibly Koren. But because he's scored tonight we won't see either way on Tuesday as it won't be tried. It was mentioned more as an explanation of me playing King wide even though I said I wanted to see him upfront.
I mean Dudgeon has the legs that means he doesn't have to do what Dawson does and foul so many men. Also like you said we seem to be getting less men forward, Dudgeon can get forward whilst not actually affecting his defensive duties. I agree with Brighton that Mclean did play well, then there are other games where he doesn't, but you can say the same for Stewart and Brady, even King, with wingers i suppose you will always get inconsistency due to the supply to them, i just think we need to choose two and maybe stick with them.
-----------Mannone Rosenior Chester Hobbs Dudgeon -------McKenna Evans King-------Koren------Brady -----------Fryatt Bench - Gulacsi, Mclean, Cullen, Stewart and Dawson
I like that team. Why people think Simpson should get a chance I don't know. When he first came back i would have said bring him on and I have found it quite frustrating that he doesn't get a look in but time is passing now and I am not sure if he has even featured in Reserve games so will just have to accept that Nick sees more than we do and he does not think he should be included for whatever reason that may be. Like someone else pointed out Cullen has earned his place, scoring plenty in behind doors games and Reserves.
dawson shouldnt have to get forward as much as he does if our so called wingers ran forward down the wing like wingers are supposed too, boring myself making this point every time, but needs to be done evans and king for mclean and oli for me.... p.s where was brady?
Wev'e got to drop Srewart,i wouldn't even give him a place on the bench. He's been out of form after his first two come back games,and im worried about his commitment to the cause. Cullen looked very sharp and should be given his chance now. Oily is no where near as good an option as Cairney,who has looked good on his last two chances,also played well for the Scotland U21's.
I was told last night that he was definitely on the bench, but then he wasn't, someone has posted that he injured himself somehow yesterday, but I've not heard anything.
------------Mannone Rosenior Chester Hobbs Dudgeon ---------McKenna Evans ------Stewart Koren Brady -------------Fryatt
