Our defence continues to look formidable but the lack of goals scored cannot just be attributed to misfiring strikers - despite often dominating possession we do not put enough quality passes or crosses in. The wing-backs are the weak links in the team with misdirected or predictable crosses that are very easy for the opposition to defend. We need to get attacking players who can vary the crosses in behind the opposition. I feel at the moment the system is dictating the composition of the side so we need a change. I would play 4 -1- 3- 2 with Ellis and Goldson in the middle and Knight-Percival at left back and Grandison at right back. I would play Griffith in front of the back four to break up the opposition play and protect the back four. I would play Woods in behind the striker where he can best use his passing with Wesolowski forward on the right side of midfield and Grant wide out on the left. I would have Collins up front and start Mangan. If Mangan cannot play more than 30 minutes a game I would put him in for an operation on his troublesome knee and get him back fully fit as soon as we can. We would need a striker in on loan and we should beg Wolves for Mcalinden who I think would team up well with Collins. I do not think the system we play at the moment is the complete explanation for our good defence - it is simply that we have in Goldson, Knight -Percival and Grandison three of the best defenders in league2 (Ellis would also walk into most of the teams in this league). I know Grandison will not have the mobility he had two years ago but he is a clever footballer and a much better crosser than either of our wing-backs. Come on MM - other managers have worked out how to stop us scoring and we need to make a change.
I see nothing wrong with the system. Just the personnel. Gayle is not attacking enough and I would play Vincent in his position. As shown early on he is capable of defending. Not sure that Woods is capable of a telling through pass apart from very occasionally. As soon as he gets near to the opposing penalty area, he is like a rabbit caught in headlights---frightened to shoot or comes up with a timid misplaced pass. I'm beginning to think he is tired or over-rated. Give him a rest and play Wes as the holding midfielder. Agree about Mangan--should start with Collins.
KDS, I agree about Vincent - he put in some promising performances early in the season but has not even been on the bench at times recently. He supplied a lot of assists when Port Vale went up a couple of years ago and surely must be a better crosser than any of our wing-backs. I also think Griffith has been under-used and knowing we have a player like him in front of the defence would let Wesolowski and Woods bomb forward a lot more. Unfortunately I must say that we have become quite a dull and frustrating team to watch recently and it needs some change to liven it up. It is no use going on about the depth of our squad if we are not actually going to use the fringe players for more than a few minutes per game, especially when we have not scored a goal over the last five hours of game time. Woods is becoming something of a disappointment (some on B and A think he is undroppable as a bid may be coming in ) but it may be time to rest him for a game or two - you cannot expect a young player to perform brilliantly week in week out and he is no exception to that.
Why does MM not recognise when the system is not working? He does make subs but surely Mangan should still have come on on Thursday? Clark or Grant on early on in the second half too.
