The Key Man

[Highbury_Blade]

Who's the key man that we can't afford to lose for the run in?

I'm going with Collins

Edit, whoops hit enter too quickly before I'd finished the poll options


The others would have been simmo, Quinn, Williamson, Maguire, Doyle, lowton. If you can fix Foxy?

 

[louthblade]

Definitely Ched the Goals

 

[Sirius]

The goal machine.

 

[Foxy]

The others would have been simmo, Quinn, Williamson, Maguire, Doyle, lowton. If you can fix Foxy?

Done

 

[blade too long]

I still see football as a team game

 

[stannyblade]

Kev Mc for me. Even though I feel Ched is player of season those games Macca missed we struggled

 

[SwissBlade]

Although I think Collins is absolutely vital for the run in and his contributions will help to win games, I don’t think there is anyone at the club at the moment that can bag the goals to win games as prolifically as Ched

Sure we need players all over the park to hit form, but I think without Ched’s goals we will need to rely on one of the workhorse strikers or wingers

 

[Balham]

I don't think he'd be as prolific but Hoskins could step in for Evans and we've got cover at the back so could cope without Collins.

It has to be McDonald - he is crucial to the way we play and we can't replace him as well as we could replace any of the others on that list.

 

[2ndtenorblade]

I don't think he'd be as prolific but Hoskins could step in for Evans and we've got cover at the back so could cope without Collins.

It has to be McDonald - he is crucial to the way we play and we can't replace him as well as we could replace any of the others on that list.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I think the MacDonald thing is largely overplayed. He's contributed to about 12 of our goals this season, quinn has contributed way more. We went to pieces at the back when Collins went out.

 

[2ndtenorblade]

I think the MacDonald thing is largely overplayed. He's contributed to about 12 of our goals this season, quinn has contributed way more. We went to pieces at the back when Collins went out.

Yes, but it is more than just scoring goals, with him in the middle we gain possesion longer, do this and it's less likely we will concede goals too.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Fair point, i still think Collins is more important, though i concede i may be in a minority

 

[boo radley]

Williamson

 

[davidpinder]

all the above

 

[super_pig]

>I think the MacDonald thing is largely overplayed
results would seem to suggest otherwise.. we are simply a different proposition when he plays IMHO.. we simply believe more

 

[SwissBlade]

I don't think he'd be as prolific but Hoskins could step in for Evans and we've got cover at the back so could cope without Collins.

It has to be McDonald - he is crucial to the way we play and we can't replace him as well as we could replace any of the others on that list.

You could well be right Balham Blade.

However, that’s speculation. He has a decent goal scoring record over his career and he looks good for us, but could he replace Evans at short notice? I’m not sure I’d like to find out. Don’t forget, Ched is within touching distance of 30 goals this season. We’ve not had that for a long time.

As the loan window has passed, I don’t also think that Collins could be replaced by what we have in reserve.

Macca, as Highbury_Blade alluded to contributes and certainly gets the team playing, but Quinn and Willo also offer assists and something which Macca struggles with – goals.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

>I think the MacDonald thing is largely overplayed
results would seem to suggest otherwise.. we are simply a different proposition when he plays IMHO.. we simply believe more

Results would also appear to suggest we are fucked without collins

 

[Bladesman]

all the above

Exactly we need them all.

We have already got rid of the ones we can do without *coughs* Monty.

 

[Balham]

McDonald also allows Williamson to play wide right, where he and Lowton have formed an excellent partnership. I just think he brings the balance to the midfield which is then reflected in the way we play. With McDonald on the pitch, we move the ball about quicker side to side which pulls the defensive line all over the place.

I agree though that McDonald struggles with goals - it's odd that he can put a 40+ yard pass exactly where the recipient wants it yet can't hit the target from 18 yards out...

 

[Balham]

Results would also appear to suggest we are fucked without collins

Collins missed Oldham (L), Walsall (L), Brentford (W), Colchester (D); meaning we got 4 out of 12 points (33%) without him.

McDonald missed Wednesday (L), Scunthorpe (W) and Tranmere (D) in addition to the games above, meaning we picked up 8 out of 21 points without him.

They're pretty similar records. What is incontrovertible is that the first game they both played together after their absences was Notts County...and we all know what happened there!

 

[Bladesman]

McDonald also allows Williamson to play wide right, where he and Lowton have formed an excellent partnership. I just think he brings the balance to the midfield which is then reflected in the way we play. With McDonald on the pitch, we move the ball about quicker side to side which pulls the defensive line all over the place.

I agree though that McDonald struggles with goals - it's odd that he can put a 40+ yard pass exactly where the recipient wants it yet can't hit the target from 18 yards out...

His job is to help others score and if he could score more as well then he certainly wouldn't be with us that is for sure.

 

[Muttley]

Gone for Collins.......but not in the same way as I would have done last season!

 

[stannyblade]

Don’t forget, Ched is within touching distance of 30 goals this season. We’ve not had that for a long time.

He will get to that tonight

 

[super_pig]

Results would also appear to suggest we are fucked without collins

agree with you totally .. problem seemed to be we had them both out at the same time.. collins though eh? .. zero to hero in a year.. who'd have thunk it last year?

 

[Kenilworth]

I don't think he'd be as prolific but Hoskins could step in for Evans and we've got cover at the back so could cope without Collins.

It has to be McDonald - he is crucial to the way we play and we can't replace him as well as we could replace any of the others on that list.

Spot on Balham
Keeping the ball means conceding fewer goals.
Not conceding means we have to score fewer to win.
Whilst Ched has been excellent since he got his shit together we still ahve enough goals in the rest of the squad to win games.
Controlling midfield is the key to not losing and establishing a platform to go on and get 3 points from each of the games we have left.

 

[SwissBlade]

60% for MacDonald, but Ched has made 1 and smashed 3 to hit 30 goals for the season...

 

[Highbury_Blade]

60% for MacDonald, but Ched has made 1 and smashed 3 to hit 30 goals for the season...

Yeah, i might reassess on the collins pick

 

[SwissBlade]

Yeah, i might reassess on the collins pick

I think it goes Ched - Collins - Quinn - Macdonald - Williamson

We now have a few players who can step up to the plate...

 

[stannyblade]

Don’t forget, Ched is within touching distance of 30 goals this season. We’ve not had that for a long time.

He will get to that tonight

told you so

 

[SwissBlade]

told you so

I didn't think he'd get a hatrick last night, but always thought that he'd score!

30 in 38 starts this season... pretty impressive.