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Post by stevek192 on Apr 23, 2016 6:50:03 GMT
So here we are right in the middle of the business end of the Season with a must win game against Exeter and this is a REAL must win game whatever people say. Ok defeat will not mathematically rule out automatic promotion but lets be honest in the worst case scenario after today defeat would leave us 4 points behind Plymouth and Oxford and 5 points behind Accrington which would mean we would have to win both our remaining games and the other three not pick up 2 points from their remaining games - very unlikely. What makes it even more interesting is that Exeter are also in a similar position but in relation to the Play offs except they are 5 points behind to start off with so defeat today or even a draw would almost certainly be the end of their hopes. The important games for us today are Accrington v York Bristol Rovers v Exeter Oxford United v Hartlepool Plymouth v Dagenham Portsmouth v Wycombe IMO today is just a keep up game with very little hope of being in the top three at 5pm and even if we win today we will still need to win the remaining two games. Ok football is a funny old game and maybe one or two of the unexpected teams can get a result but who would have thought at this stage of the season that the main three of your opponents would all be home with very easy games. There again win today and we have the bottom two left to play with both being relegated! Last week I would have said that the most likely upset would be Hartlepool at Oxford but I was very disappointed to hear that they put out half a reserve side against Accrington in the week for the Manager to look at other players. Hardly sporting play by them and if they do similar today then they will no doubt get a similar poor result- it doesn't matter to them but hardly fair on the teams who don't have to play them. Despite Yorks incredible win over Portsmouth you can hardly see them gettinga result away at Accrington and surely Plymouth will just use Dagenham to boost their goal difference! If only football was this easy to predict. So what team will Darrell select today with the task of despatching Exeter to another season in League 2? We all know it is an almost impossible task to pick the same side as he picks. Myself I would be brave and pick an attacking line up which will probably be a mile away from the team selected. I would plump for
Mildenhall
Leadbitter Lockyer McCrystal Brown
Bodin Lines Easter Montano
Harrison or McBurnie Taylor
Subs Harrison or McBurnie, Gaffney, Parkes, O Clarke, Puddy, Mansell, J Clarke
I would say that DC's team is likely to have a much more "respect for Exeter" look about it !
Whatever team is selected let's get right behind the lads in another big crowd around the 10,000 mark and enjoy the games as much as you can these nerve wracking games - who would have it any other way ie would you prefer to be watching another non event like City fans!! UTG |
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Post by ThisCharmingMan on Apr 23, 2016 7:00:32 GMT
Easter in central midfield Steve? That would surely leave Lines way too exposed and would be counter intuitive to an attacking line up, as when Exeter get the ball, they'll be able to maraud straight through us, especially with such attacking wingers as well. It would have to be Lines and Mansell in there for me.
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Post by Langford Gas on Apr 23, 2016 7:09:45 GMT
I think Mansell will have an impact today and would not be surprised to see him start, I will be surprised if he doesn't have the experience of Lawrence somewhere up his sleeve either
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Post by yategas78 on Apr 23, 2016 7:09:46 GMT
Got to give Ellis a start this one is made for him plus mansell in midfield we need to get at em from the first whistle huge day for us come on the GAS you can do it
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Post by Henbury Gas on Apr 23, 2016 7:11:26 GMT
I would play 4-3-1-2 with Easter in Behind the front 2
Midfield would be Lines, clarke & Mans if fit
Gaffers & Main Sail up front
and the normal back four
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Post by pucklegas on Apr 23, 2016 7:12:18 GMT
Steve usually think you give a balanced opinion which I agree with, but that midfield would be over run, who is going to break up the play, need Manse there alongside Linesy, wouldn't disagree with Easter playing in the hole but that would be behind one striker and you can't drop your top goalscorer as Gaffers and Ellis hold it up better. This season we have had plenty of options from the bench unlike other years when we have had dross.
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Post by justin blue on Apr 23, 2016 7:17:26 GMT
So here we are right in the middle of the business end of the Season with a must win game against Exeter and this is a REAL must win game whatever people say. Ok defeat will not mathematically rule out automatic promotion but lets be honest in the worst case scenario after today defeat would leave us 4 points behind Plymouth and Oxford and 5 points behind Accrington which would mean we would have to win both our remaining games and the other three not pick up 2 points from their remaining games - very unlikely. What makes it even more interesting is that Exeter are also in a similar position but in relation to the Play offs except they are 5 points behind to start off with so defeat today or even a draw would almost certainly be the end of their hopes. The important games for us today are Accrington v York Bristol Rovers v Exeter Oxford United v Hartlepool Plymouth v Dagenham Portsmouth v Wycombe IMO today is just a keep up game with very little hope of being in the top three at 5pm and even if we win today we will still need to win the remaining two games. Ok football is a funny old game and maybe one or two of the unexpected teams can get a result but who would have thought at this stage of the season that the main three of your opponents would all be home with very easy games. There again win today and we have the bottom two left to play with both being relegated! Last week I would have said that the most likely upset would be Hartlepool at Oxford but I was very disappointed to hear that they put out half a reserve side against Accrington in the week for the Manager to look at other players. Hardly sporting play by them and if they do similar today then they will no doubt get a similar poor result- it doesn't matter to them but hardly fair on the teams who don't have to play them. Despite Yorks incredible win over Portsmouth you can hardly see them gettinga result away at Accrington and surely Plymouth will just use Dagenham to boost their goal difference! If only football was this easy to predict. So what team will Darrell select today with the task of despatching Exeter to another season in League 2? We all know it is an almost impossible task to pick the same side as he picks. Myself I would be brave and pick an attacking line up which will probably be a mile away from the team selected. I would plump for
Mildenhall
Leadbitter Lockyer McCrystal Brown
Bodin Lines Easter Montano
Harrison or McBurnie Taylor
Subs Harrison or McBurnie, Gaffney, Parkes, O Clarke, Puddy, Mansell, J Clarke
I would say that DC's team is likely to have a much more "respect for Exeter" look about it !
Whatever team is selected let's get right behind the lads in another big crowd around the 10,000 mark and enjoy the games as much as you can these nerve wracking games - who would have it any other way ie would you prefer to be watching another non event like City fans!! UTG Not quite non event for City fans they could stil go down. Happy days.  |
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Post by speedwellgas on Apr 23, 2016 7:20:52 GMT
Definately be back to 442, can see Lawrence coming back into the starting line up today
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Post by stevek192 on Apr 23, 2016 7:25:43 GMT
I feel Lines does far more breaking up than people give him credit for. He is not the all attacking no defending midfielder he once was and that is one of the problems with the Lines/Ollie Clarke combination as it makes us play far too deep. As regards Lawrence I had completely forgotten him and would have him in the squad in place of either James Clarke or Parkes.
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Post by DTGas on Apr 23, 2016 7:34:01 GMT
As others have mentioned, I would go back to 442 with Manse in the middle with Lines. Ollie Clarke hasn't been at his best recently and could do with a rest, plus, we look so much more solid and organised in a 442 as everyone knows their jobs.
If its not working or one of the wingers look off the pace then I'd be happy to see an early change and put Easter in the hole. He looked lively on Tuesday when he came on
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Post by piratesfchhh on Apr 23, 2016 7:55:54 GMT
Got to be 4-4-2, we always look more balanced and a threat going forward playing this formation at home.
Agree with others that Easter in midfield would leave us horribly overrun. Unfortunately I feel there is a general feeling of negativity to O Clarke and Lines in midfield and people are quick to criticise any slight mistake. I put this down to them missing their 'favourites' of Mansell and Sinclair. Surely recent form suggests we are better off with OC/CL?
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Post by bs9trymer on Apr 23, 2016 7:57:56 GMT
As others have mentioned, I would go back to 442 with Manse in the middle with Lines. Ollie Clarke hasn't been at his best recently and could do with a rest, plus, we look so much more solid and organised in a 442 as everyone knows their jobs. If its not working or one of the wingers look off the pace then I'd be happy to see an early change and put Easter in the hole. He looked lively on Tuesday when he came on I agree with that. I would also start with Macburnie and Harrison up front,Macburnie because he looked aggressive at Newport and he could 'smash them up' a bit and Harrison to run his legs off first half and tire them out,Taylor to come on second half when they are **d. Also I hope the ball is kept on the floor more than at Stevenage and the wingers put in low crosses into the box. Corners,try mixing them up a bit,that short corner at Notts County was great. I don't think that Rovers are quite good enough to get promoted but in this case I would be very happy to be proved wrong...3 scrappy 1-0 wins would be good enough now.
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Post by Rod1883 on Apr 23, 2016 8:11:28 GMT
Good analysis Steve - we have to win this one, especially with Hartlepool and Stevenage experimenting with team selection now (the latter not affecting today, but will the final weeks round of games).
Like others I feel we need a bit more bite in central midfield than Easter might be able to bring.
What is the news with McChrystal - was he ill/injured or just rested midweek?
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Post by Antonio Fargas on Apr 23, 2016 8:20:32 GMT
Win our last three games and we will go up, virtually guaranteed, imo.
Don't win any of those games, and we won't go up, virtually guaranteed, imo.
Simple as that, imo.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 9:01:10 GMT
I feel Lines does far more breaking up than people give him credit for. He is not the all attacking no defending midfielder he once was and that is one of the problems with the Lines/Ollie Clarke combination as it makes us play far too deep. As regards Lawrence I had completely forgotten him and would have him in the squad in place of either James Clarke or Parkes. i agree that lines often reads opponents attacking moves and covers well defensively although he dosnt really tackle. i dont fancy lines/easter in centre midfield at all to be honest,im hoping mansell will start in there,also wonder if lawrence will start ahead of montano if dc changes back to 4-4-2 though he might stay with 3-5-2 |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 9:20:17 GMT
Win our last three games and we will go up, virtually guaranteed, imo. Don't win any of those games, and we won't go up, virtually guaranteed, imo. Simple as that, imo. i feel we could win our last 3 games and still miss out |
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Post by tommym9 on Apr 23, 2016 9:58:30 GMT
If Easter is in midfield then it has to be behind the strikers.
If that's the way DC wanted to go then I'd go with Harrison and Taylor up top.
Must win game today no matter how DC sets up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 10:01:38 GMT
Not going to follow the others games today if I can avoid it, expecting all three to win!
4-4-2 with Mansell and Lines, Montano and Bodin on the wings. Take the game to them.
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Post by lpgas on Apr 23, 2016 10:43:06 GMT
Lawrence injured? Mansell fit?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 10:50:19 GMT
Lawrence injured? Mansell fit? Manse should be fit, no idea about Lawrence. |
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