With Lee out for a couple of games now, it got me wondering, who will fill in his position at right back until he returns from suspension? I would say Fish, but with such a big game against Crawley coming up, is it worth taking the risk? personally I would play Jack Payne there, I feel he could do a good job there as he often plays in a defensive midfield role anyway. This would also mean that montrose would keep his place at center midfield..
Yeah Payne played there a while ago covering for Fuller, I would play him there and then stick with Montrose in central.
Good idea. We certainly don't want Lawrence there, and IMO Fish at the moment lacks experience and speed against the better teams
Yeh, when Lawrence played a couple of games there earlier this season he really struggled due to his lack of pace, and it was dangerous playing him there as there are some tricky wingers in this league. Still looks solid at center half though from his performance yesterday.
I'd go for Fish, Jack Payne is too important in his sweeper role as testified by our clean sheet, win ratio since he came back from injury.
The performance of the defence seems to depend more on midfield selection than who plays in the back four. So long as Payne and montrose play in midfield few goals are conceded. Hessy knows this and I reckon he will want these two to play defensive midfield duties even though Payne is probably the best full back in the club. So if Payne is needed elsewhere who stands in at fullback? If Frampton is unfit then there is little choice because Lawrence will be needed in the centre so Fish plays. If Frampton is fit there is a choice between Lawrence and Fish. Fish is the fastest defender at the club but hugely inexperienced and short on confidence after only recently making his first league appearance. Lawrence has spent most of his career at right back and looked totally at ease when he played there recently but he is 37 and would be vulnerable these days to pace. Watching Matt Jarvis up against Jonathan Woodgate on TV last night spoke volumes about needing more than just skill to be effective. I reckon Hessy will be influenced by the type of players coming down the leftwing for Crawley. We might see an early substitution whoever gets selected.
I agree with what you say, I'm not doubting Lawrence's ability, but I feel at his age he does not have the pace to play at full back. I think he will partner Richards at center back. As with Fish I think people have been very unfair on him since his arrival, he's a young player who has never played in the football league, I can see he's got the potential, it'll just take time for him to develop in too a league player, he does need a chance to play, but with such a big game against Crawley, is it worth putting that much pressure on a player with low confidence?
big-silv, you say fish is a suitable replacement, or is he our only real option at crawley??? just think if we want promotion this season, then we can't put someone like fish in the side from the start who is prone to make two or three telling mistakes in every game! lawrence does'nt have the legs to get up and down and can't mark a tricky winger for 45mins...let alone 90mins nowadays!!! maybe put whelpdale right back as i'm sure posh played him in that position a few times, just until lee is back for the gills!
Interesting debate this one. It depends on the Crawley left winger/left-sided midfielder. If he's pacey and skilful then I'd say maybe we need Jack Payne at right back (with Montrose and Jackman in defensive midfield). If not, then Lawrence should be a perfectly decent option. Definitely not Fish!
Crawley may well play Tyrone Barnett on the left wing, who if you may recall, tore our slow defence apart for Macclesfield at the back end of last season. My views are:- I'm sorry but if you don't place Fish in the team now then there's just very little point of having him at the club. Leaving him out of the side when we are missing both our first choice right back (Fuller), and his replacement (Lee) would be so damaging to his confidence and I can't see how it would help him. Unless....you have a little rejig, as per the below example? Flitney Frampton (CB#1) Richards (CB#2) Lawrence (CB#3) Whelpdale (RWB) Martin (LWB) J Payne (CM#1) Montrose (CM#2) Jackman (CM#3) Kedwell Kuffour SUBS Gazzaniga Fish Weston Rance S Payne (for example) I know the above is a little un-tried and tested, but going to Crawley surely we have to accept that a slightly different approach and perhaps getting a draw would be a decent result? Thoughts?
Tom Tom I think it could be worth a try to be honest, I think most of us would take a draw now but I do think we have a chance of nicking it. I do think Fish needs a few more starts before we write him of, he is quick just lacking in experience. UTG!!
I can see a 451 formation coming for this one . I would play Fish at right back ...its his job ....but I would tell Richards not to sell him short with dodgy passes lol
I think Hessy will start Fish at right back Lawrance with Richards at centre halfs Kuffer replacing Nouble the rest of the team as saturday.
I think you may be correct, but the best he could do is this Flitney Whelpdale Lawrence Richards Martin Montrose Weston Payne Jackman Kuffour Kedwell Bench Gazza Fish Rance Oli S.Payne I think this would be our best options, Jackman has been great on the left, he is a brilliant player. Richards has been one of the most improved players this season.
give fish a chance its his position (didnt we try try whelpdale there against barnet in the cup? cant remember him impressing there) if we take payne out of midfield we'd be in big trouble. also this will probably be one of the few games where we are likely to be under the cosh a bit, fish's pace could work well on the break. if we counter attack well with pace i think we have a chance of an upset.
Yes we did try Whelpdale at right back. "In the 71st minute the injured Fish was replaced by Whelpdale and within a minute Marshal had caught him cold" (goal)
It looks like overwhelming support for Fish. I reckon he is a great prospect with exceptional mobility and pace. The only real problem is the one facing every player trying to break into a team when he has limited experience, that is the crowd get on his back if he makes a mistake. Lee made a real boob to let that guy get away and score on Saturday and nobody uttered a word of censure. Had it been Fish, the morons would have bayed for his blood. So if Fish plays at Crawley,a case of inexperience against the top team, the gills supporters really need to get behind him.
