Football, as has been said a number of times, is a game of opinions and I didn't come away from the Walks yesterday quite as negative as some. Really difficult for Joe given the woeful 'backing from the director' in midweek did the brave thing and switched the formation and, whilst there were obvious teething troubles, individual errors and a couple of players in the first half who really let him down, on the whole I thought we looked better for the switch. Hopefully the return of Crane and T Wilson on Tuesday evening will strengthen the team as both were missed today.
Positives - I thought Collins had a really good game in midfield but nothing in front of him first half didn't help but thought him and Clunan worked well together, likewise when Maja came on he did nothing wrong so would be happy with either starting on Tuesday. Wilson from Norwich stepped in and commanded the back line, appreciate it was only a half of football but looked very good. Also Marriott showed he has still got something about him, might not be as fit but still has enough to warrant more minutes even if it is off the bench.
Negatives - having praised one loan signing, Kamara has to be from the other end of the spectrum, hopefully it just 'wasn't his day' but saw nothing that justified waiting until half time to replace him, same could be said of Lambert who again was wasteful with what ball he had.
So onto Tuesday, hopefully Joe sticks with the back three, I would have Wilson, Wilson and Dickens, decision to be made on midfield two and could be Williams at right wing back over Hall-Johnson to give us a bit more in the middle, Crane an obvious starter at 10 and then the difficult choice of who are the front two. Gold is never going to win over his detractors so we either accept him for what he is or maybe mix things up - if Maja starts we don't need the defensive cover at set pieces so maybe go with Gyasi up top with Collins and Crane behind?
Positives - I thought Collins had a really good game in midfield but nothing in front of him first half didn't help but thought him and Clunan worked well together, likewise when Maja came on he did nothing wrong so would be happy with either starting on Tuesday. Wilson from Norwich stepped in and commanded the back line, appreciate it was only a half of football but looked very good. Also Marriott showed he has still got something about him, might not be as fit but still has enough to warrant more minutes even if it is off the bench.
Negatives - having praised one loan signing, Kamara has to be from the other end of the spectrum, hopefully it just 'wasn't his day' but saw nothing that justified waiting until half time to replace him, same could be said of Lambert who again was wasteful with what ball he had.
So onto Tuesday, hopefully Joe sticks with the back three, I would have Wilson, Wilson and Dickens, decision to be made on midfield two and could be Williams at right wing back over Hall-Johnson to give us a bit more in the middle, Crane an obvious starter at 10 and then the difficult choice of who are the front two. Gold is never going to win over his detractors so we either accept him for what he is or maybe mix things up - if Maja starts we don't need the defensive cover at set pieces so maybe go with Gyasi up top with Collins and Crane behind?