Starting XI Concerns...

[SBSP]

I know there is a couple of weeks until the next game and there could be soe more loans coming in until then but I think we have a couple of problems with our 'usual side', this is assuming that Blackie will stick with the current starters (no reason why he would change) and that Harper will just come into what was the Quinn / Howard role. Which would leave us like this:

Bunn
Walker - Killa - Morgs - Taylor
Ward - Monty - Quinn / Harper - Treacy
Evans - Hendo

Taylor
I know this is only temporary and he has done well making the jump but if Naysmith's recovery takes a dive and he is out longer than planned I would start to worry. He hasn't made any costly mistakes yet but I am sorry to say I can see some coming. i really don't want to knock the man because he is putting his all in, but simply I don't think he is good enough for us.

Monty
I know that he puts 100% in every match and that he would do anything for this club, but, unfortunatley this does not give you footballing ability. My main problem with him is his inability, most of the time, to make a simple pass. I know he isn't Essien or Makalele but someone who has been training at the game for the majority of his life should be able to do the basics. I would like to think that our coaches have addressed this problem and tried to teach him, so is it just that he cannot do it? I am guessing that he will continue to start alongside Harper, personally I would like to see Harper and Quinn together. Both can go box to box and may not be as good defensivley but are both willing to put a tackle in.

Henderson
This one is simple - why does he not try and win the ball rather than just trying to wrestle with their centre half. I know he doesn't get a lot of decisions that maybe he should but I think that is because it is so obvious that he is just playing for the foul everytime. The other problem isn't really his fault but it happens because he is there - big boot football. This is probably more down to Blackie but if he wasn't there I would like to think it would make us keep the ball on the deck a bit more. I don't know the figures but his goal per game ratio must be shocking (taking into consideration his £2m+ price tag). With the position we are aiming for we cannot afford to have a striker that doesn't score.

I Know some of my opinions aren't the most popular but let me know your views.

Sorry the long post - cheers for reading.

 

[BrixtonBlade]

I'm pretty happy with tha team actually. I like Monty and whilst I'm not Hendo's biggest fan I think we've got options there (eg Ward). Presumably there'll be another striker coming in on loan too.
Stewart might figure too - certainly competition for Taylor. I think I read on Wikipedia (so wouldn't put too much store in it) that he's played CB before so perhaps he could fill in there in emergencies.

 

[Dog Blade]

Agree on Taylor
Agree on Monty
Agree to some extent on Henderson. My only thing with him is that IF we had players that could pass, in to feet, more often and with a bit more accuracy then maybe he wouldn't have to fight so much...and that isn't just Monty, the quality from all others, including Evans, Kilgallon and Walker on Saturday just wasn't good enough.

 

[Blade]

With the squad available to us at this point and in respect of the other clubs at this level I think that we've got a strong team. Obviously it's a little thin behind the first 11.

For me I'd say that Quinn and Harper together would mean teams walk through us, Monty is essential to us having sorted out our defense over the last year. With him playing teams are restricted to a handful of chances a game, that's what he's there for and that's what he offers but to be honest I don't have any problems with his simple passes. Since coming back into the fold he's improved his simple passing remarkably and we've just needed a midfielder to play with him who offers themselves for the pass and isn't afraid to move forward with the ball more than 5 yards without getting rid, hopefully Harper is the man.

In regards to Henderson I appreciate he can look alright at times in terms of his hold up play and strength BUT.... he can't shoot.score, has made more abysmal passes than Monty since joining (remember at Palace away I don't think he passed to a red and white shirt for an hour and he has the ability to pas it off the pitch when stood a yard from the touchline with nobody in a 30 yard radius of him). We just resort to hoofing it at his face most of the time but most importantly referees fucking hate him and whether he's fouled or not 80% of the time we kick it at him a foul is given. We simply can't afford to have so many attacks break down every game because a foul is given regardless of whether he's guilty or not. Henderson seems to have played with about 5 different forwards since he cam and I just don't think he's gelled well with any of them, how many times do you see a pass between our strikers when he's playing?

Ward has done as well as he can but he just isn't a winger, if I was manager tomorrow I'd start by playing Cotterill on the right and Ward up front with Evans. Taylor is alright enough for now, we just need to make sure Killa keeps his eyes open and covers where he can.

My team:

Bunn
Walker - Killa - Morgs - Taylor
Cotterill - Monty - Harper - Treacy
Evans - Ward

I think more than anything that team would allow us to start playing more attractive football, we show glimpses here and there and I'm not saying we hoof all the time but it's just what we always resort to when things aren't going how we'd like.

 

[spadge]

dont agree with that at all, monty has been our most consistant player for the past god knows how many seasons, and to be honest evan if he scored 40 goals a season it wouldnt be good enough because come on were united fans and nothing ever is, hendo think hes been solid up front and brought the rest of the attacking options into the match unfortunatly think that the refs have a vendetta against him which doesnt help, taylor think hes done well up to now and put 110% every game and like evryone will make odd mistake it happens.
alot of my pig mates say one thing about our fans, how negative and how we get on our players backs no matter what and im sorry and evan tho i hate the blue and white half there right.

 

[madeinsheffield]

There's been a lack of off the ball movement for ages now, meaning nobody in space, so the only option left is kick it up to the big lad, down the wings to cross it for the big lad, meaning he can't score because the centre halves have been told about this before the game kicks off so can anticipate our plan and defend effectively KB doesn't make many changes during a game while late on, hopefully this will change as we go on this season with our new inspired signings

 

[Coily]

From what I've seen of Taylor then the signing of Stewart is a sensible move, he does seem quite lightweight and would in my opinion struggle against a pacey right winger. Damn shame the Pigs seem to have one of them who usually picks us as his one in ten to play well in.

I'm happy with Monty as the holding midfielder with a remit of win it and give it to someone who can play. He can pass the ball, but if he makes 9 passes out of 10 it's the 10th which is always remembered. I'd be a lot less confident with Quinn in this role, it's underestimated how much Monty protects the defence. Harper is an attacking midfielder from memory and although he can play box to box we need someone with the discipline to hold back from going forward as much, which I'd question Quinn has.

Henderson gets a bad rap IMHO due to his price tag yet gets absolutely nothing from most refs despite him being manhandled each and every game. I'd like to see more goals from him but he is good at holding up play in attacking positions for midfielders to push on and as long as he doesn't lose his rag and get sent off then he'll improve as the season goes on. Bare in mind he had no pre-season, I think he's doing a decent enough job without the end product admittedly. It also takes time for his partnership with Evans (also unfit) to develop and although I can't stand these international breaks it may have come at a good time for us to get them both fitter and working together better.

 

[SBSP]

I'm pretty happy with tha team actually.

alot of my pig mates say one thing about our fans, how negative and how we get on our players backs no matter what and im sorry and evan tho i hate the blue and white half there right.

I am happy with out team on the whole and am very impressed with the start we have made, think I may have come across a bit more negative than intened. A sa fan your never going to like all the side so I think me having an issue with 3 out the 11 isn't bad. Still easily one of the strongest sides in the division.

Ward has done as well as he can but he just isn't a winger, if I was manager tomorrow I'd start by playing Cotterill on the right and Ward up front with Evans.

Sorry meant to put this bit in, at the moment Ward is the our best striker 9in my opinion) and should be upfront using his pace to get in behind their defence.

I'm happy with Monty as the holding midfielder with a remit of win it and give it to someone who can play. He can pass the ball, but if he makes 9 passes out of 10 it's the 10th which is always remembered. I'd be a lot less confident with Quinn in this role, it's underestimated how much Monty protects the defence. Harper is an attacking midfielder from memory and although he can play box to box we need someone with the discipline to hold back from going forward as much, which I'd question Quinn has.

I agree that Monty is probably doing what he has been told. but my thought is that we shouldn't have 1 defensive and 1 attacking CM. Both should be able to do each others job, maybe not as good as a specialist player but I think we would be better with 2 decent CM that can do everything required.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

To me, Henderson is the key. Whilever he's there, we have the excuse to knock it long and it's an easy option. Evans seems to like him there but maybe he's just staying that although to be fair, if I was a striker, I'd prefer Hendo to be taking all the flack and physical stuff !

I'd like to see Evans and Ward with Cotts wide right as I think it would give us more options, make us less predictable and I think it would suit Harper but I can't see Blackie moving away from his preferred front 2.

 

[davidpinder]

With the squad available to us at this point and in respect of the other clubs at this level I think that we've got a strong team. Obviously it's a little thin behind the first 11.

For me I'd say that Quinn and Harper together would mean teams walk through us, Monty is essential to us having sorted out our defense over the last year. With him playing teams are restricted to a handful of chances a game, that's what he's there for and that's what he offers but to be honest I don't have any problems with his simple passes. Since coming back into the fold he's improved his simple passing remarkably and we've just needed a midfielder to play with him who offers themselves for the pass and isn't afraid to move forward with the ball more than 5 yards without getting rid, hopefully Harper is the man.

In regards to Henderson I appreciate he can look alright at times in terms of his hold up play and strength BUT.... he can't shoot.score, has made more abysmal passes than Monty since joining (remember at Palace away I don't think he passed to a red and white shirt for an hour and he has the ability to pas it off the pitch when stood a yard from the touchline with nobody in a 30 yard radius of him). We just resort to hoofing it at his face most of the time but most importantly referees fucking hate him and whether he's fouled or not 80% of the time we kick it at him a foul is given. We simply can't afford to have so many attacks break down every game because a foul is given regardless of whether he's guilty or not. Henderson seems to have played with about 5 different forwards since he cam and I just don't think he's gelled well with any of them, how many times do you see a pass between our strikers when he's playing?

Ward has done as well as he can but he just isn't a winger, if I was manager tomorrow I'd start by playing Cotterill on the right and Ward up front with Evans. Taylor is alright enough for now, we just need to make sure Killa keeps his eyes open and covers where he can.

My team:

Bunn
Walker - Killa - Morgs - Taylor
Cotterill - Monty - Harper - Treacy
Evans - Ward

I think more than anything that team would allow us to start playing more attractive football, we show glimpses here and there and I'm not saying we hoof all the time but it's just what we always resort to when things aren't going how we'd like.

Am a straight forward 4-4-2 fan don't like to see players out of position my team would be.

Bunn
Walker-Morgs-Killa-Taylor
ward/Cotts-Monty-Harper-Treacy
Hendo-ward/evans

Ward is an out and out striker as is Evans i would only play all 3 against poor sides at home. Its always good to have a striker on the bench chomping at the bit to get on.
Hendo is a must for me because of his size and our style of play.
The rest picks itself

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Mmmm, cover at the back is an issue. The starting four is strong but what of the back-up.

RB: Walker, France, Brown (he did well pre-season and I assume he's still around)

LB: Taylor, Stewart, Naismith (injured)

CB: Morgan, Kilgallon, Walker, Stewart (played there for Watford), Maguire (getting rave reviews from the academy and said to be ready to step-up)

Does look a little thin. Maybe the academy lads are ready to be included much like the Kyles last season.

Up front whether we like it or not, Blackwell will stick with Henderson and either Ward or Evans alongside. Could do with another one in there, again maybe Foster is ready to be elevated from the academy, scored enough last season! Wonder who the foreign loanee is?

 

[Grecian2000]

Sorry meant to put this bit in, at the moment Ward is the our best striker 9in

Blimey, he's even smaller than I thought.