How does Tommy put it right ?

[TonyM]

What can Tommy do to get things back on track?   Maybe change the system but would that be like trying to put square pegs in round holes.   One thing many feel should be happening is Tommy’s boy being ‘rested’. Difficult with nepotism though...

I think maybe you are asking the wrong question Mall... the question may be less about getting back on track and more about having an appreciation of how well we did pre-Christmas based on a relatively injury-free start to the campaign.  Since the injuries to Theo and Hargreaves, TW has continually swapped systems to try and find the right formation and personnel based on the players he had available but the truth imo is that the compromise has been too great.  Most players are at NLN level because they have flaws and to TW's credit the lineups he put out for the first 20 or so games were very good at hiding individual player's weaknesses whilst focusing on their strengths. 

As an example, Theo is now suffering from coming back from injury AND often being asked to play in a midfield two rather than three which highlights his lack of pace and also with lesser players around him has limited the number of passing options open to him - early season he would generally pick the ball up deeper and have many options in front of him - Jones/Scott wider, Clunan/Hargreaves/Ponticelli making positive forward runs and then, once he got into the side, Barrett being available.  We have a core of players who are good for NLN level but they are struggling to compensate week in, week out to fill the shortfall in quality when we have to bring in multiple players from the wider squad.  This isn't anyone's fault but just basic economics - the club is being heavily financially doped at present and there is a finite pot of money, we can't expect to have players capable of coming in and replacing Hargreaves just sitting on the bench waiting patiently. 

Really the only answer is for fans to have patience, appreciate that isn't always easy and I would accept the last three home games have been frustrating but part and parcel of supporting a club is riding out the highs and lows and if this is a low (when we are still 2nd in the league and are still in a very strong position to finish comfortably in the play off picture) then that is a much better 'low' than many are experiencing.

[John H]

Good post Tony, highs and lows exactly. The memory of the Doncaster game will be talked about for many years and that is what this squad are capable of. We can’t produce that sort of performance every game.
Like Mallard, I haven’t given up on us winning the league, we do still have to play Fylde twice.
I just wonder what would happen if we miss out altogether on promotion, would we then stay full time. If we did go up, then we would need several better players to be able to compete. It’s a shame that we never made a better fist of it when we did get there. That’s all history now, but SC’s plan is to get us back there, so I think we need to be patient and above all, support the team, manager included.

[dillydilly]

True that injuries have reduced our potency, with Hargreaves and Scottthe biggest misses.  However, for far too many games on the trot, TW has used too defensive a line-up, and too light a number of attacking players.  Tonight vs Banbury the safety-first shape is there again.  Five defenders and a gk means only5 in m/f and attack.  And Barrett as part of a midfield behind two forwards, imho.  We used to say football is a simple game. It is.  If we’re not pushing them back they will be us, and that doesn’t work over 90 minutes.  COYL….

[Dazzarugby65]

  Winning football matches is all he needs to do to put it right,simple as that, then all the moaniing and groaning will stop again. Keep the faith, as I’ve said before, lots of twists and turns still to happen this season. 

[jesuslinnet]

Like that.
And Gold haters...

[WRH]

True that injuries have reduced our potency, with Hargreaves and Scottthe biggest misses.  However, for far too many games on the trot, TW has used too defensive a line-up, and too light a number of attacking players.  Tonight vs Banbury the safety-first shape is there again.  Five defenders and a gk means only5 in m/f and attack.  And Barrett as part of a midfield behind two forwards, imho.  We used to say football is a simple game. It is.  If we’re not pushing them back they will be us, and that doesn’t work over 90 minutes.  COYL….

I get what you're saying (and agree for some situations) about too defensive of a formation for certain games. But it's not subutio, the players move from those positions. it's more about the role they are asked to play. Wing backs can be very attacking or extra security at the back, depending how they are used. The idea that playing more attacking players than the other side means that they will be too busy defending to attack is also very simplistic. What if the opposition go for one at the back? We'd never get out of our half with that sort of logic. Or more likely we'd hit them on the counter attack again and again.

[dillydilly]

Interesting WRH!  I like your Subbuteo reference as it’s one I use myself whenever w3 ge2 hours of tactical stuff before Z tv game, and another 2 hours afterwards.  Their computer graphics and “formations” are daft because when the whistle goes for the ok they all move!  I’m only saying that all our disappointing results have been in games in which the natural defenders are asked to be attackers.  And that being too heavy with natural defenders is not a defence, as it reduces our own visits up the opponents end (no joke intended!). I think we’ve lost 9 points so far through having safety-first selections.  Each to their own - but overall we’re top at the mo, so well done TW. Not that I believe managers or pundits know more than punters, as it really is a simple game?

[rod]

https://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/videos/banbury-united-0-kings-lynn-town-1--highlights-187500.html

[Support Worker]

https://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/videos/banbury-united-0-kings-lynn-town-1--highlights-187500.html

Thanks for sharing / posting. Pity Barrett didn't convert that penalty to make the match win more emphatic and boost our goal difference with Fylde.

[AXV]

That's some quality footage from Banbury

[rod]

https://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/videos/banbury-united-0-kings-lynn-town-1--highlights-187500.html

Thanks for sharing / posting. Pity Barrett didn't convert that penalty to make the match win more emphatic and boost our goal difference with Fylde.

I tjought that Clunan was the usual penalty taker?

[Mallard]

To be fair to Barrett I thought it was a decent stop by the keeper.  He gambled the right way and fished it out at full stretch down near his post.    3 points for Lynn and zero for Fylde made for a good night.