Full Steam Ahead to Orient (a) 10/08, 17:30

[truewhite15]

The mystery of pre-season is over. Questions have been asked, answered, then asked again. Time to get competitive.

Definite starters are likely to be Baxter, Rico, Toal, Cogs, Schön, Sheehan, Tomo, Collins and Vic.

So that sorts out the four in midfield. Who starts on the left of the back three, Iredale or Johnston? Does Charles start up front, or does Vic fill that role with Lolos accompanying Collins in behind?

Or are there more signings between now and then to muddy the waters? Armstrong or McAtee, perhaps?

[officer_dibble]

Iredale will play - if I see Toal start on the left of a back three again I will probably walk out before kick off!

Charles may well be on the bench given lack of minutes. Decent sub to bring on!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The mystery of pre-season is over. Questions have been asked, answered, then asked again. Time to get competitive.

Definite starters are likely to be Baxter, Rico, Toal, Cogs, Schön, Sheehan, Tomo, Collins and Vic.

So that sorts out the four in midfield. Who starts on the left of the back three, Iredale or Johnston? Does Charles start up front, or does Vic fill that role with Lolos accompanying Collins in behind?

Or are there more signings between now and then to muddy the waters? Armstrong or McAtee, perhaps?

I would expect Iredale to get the nod over Johnston. Big call up front - Vic seemed to enjoy the 9 today but Dion is Dion.

The fact Lolos came off the bench for Arfield today suggests the Scot is ahead of the Cypriot - but if Dion comes in and Vic shifts to the support role, then Schön will be the only summer signing in the XI. TBH I wouldn't expect that to change even if we sign an Armstrong or a McAtee, unless it's very early in the week.

[BWFC_Insane]

The mystery of pre-season is over. Questions have been asked, answered, then asked again. Time to get competitive.

Definite starters are likely to be Baxter, Rico, Toal, Cogs, Schön, Sheehan, Tomo, Collins and Vic.

So that sorts out the four in midfield. Who starts on the left of the back three, Iredale or Johnston? Does Charles start up front, or does Vic fill that role with Lolos accompanying Collins in behind?

Or are there more signings between now and then to muddy the waters? Armstrong or McAtee, perhaps?

I would expect Iredale to get the nod over Johnston. Big call up front - Vic seemed to enjoy the 9 today but Dion is Dion.

The fact Lolos came off the bench for Arfield today suggests the Scot is ahead of the Cypriot - but if Dion comes in and Vic shifts to the support role, then Schön will be the only summer signing in the XI. TBH I wouldn't expect that to change even if we sign an Armstrong or a McAtee, unless it's very early in the week.

Could Dion play in one of the number 10 roles? I think he could. It would not necessarily be his entire natural game but he grafts and if he’s floating in and around the box I could see that being dangerous. I’m guessing he won’t but some games especially away I could see that being dangerous.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Possibly, but I would suspect Evatt wants Dion at 9 for two reasons - to lead the press and to be as close as possible to the goal.

[BWFC_Insane]

Possibly, but I would suspect Evatt wants Dion at 9 for two reasons - to lead the press and to be as close as possible to the goal.

Maybe but after what seems like a good pre season and the ‘lone striker’ role being more up his street you’d think Vic starts there. I’d quite like a way to get him, Collins and Charles on the pitch at times.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It's definitely a possibility and Evatt will be loathe to leave Dion out for long. So it kinda depends how much of a hit Vic is at 9. Not bad for there to be pressure for places.

[TANGODANCER]

Possibly, but I would suspect Evatt wants Dion at 9 for two reasons - to lead the press and to be as close as possible to the goal.

Again, this might depend on who we're playing and their modus operandi. Some games might need Charles for the "fresh-legs" move if we're against severe press, especially if we get in front . As ever, Que Sera...

[Mar]

I'm thinking the starting line up would like be dependant on injuries and Evatt would be happy to field a variety of starters in the opening lineup.

Personally, i'd go with:

-----------------Baxter-----------------
--------Toal---Santos---Johnston----
JDC--Sheehan-Thomason-----Schon
-----------------Vic---------------------
--------Collins----Charles-------------

Bench: Southwood, Iredale, Forino, Morley, N'lundulu, Arfield, Lolos

I can see a case for Arfield starting too, he's impressed in pre-season as far as I can tell and going off the highlights was unlucky not to score against Port Vale.

I'm a tad concerned about the effectiveness of that central midfield given we're missing Dempsey. We were never fully physical last season with Maghoma, but we were better than we are now. If Lolos is going to step up to fill his shoes then he's got a long way to go.

Charles' injury poses a few questions. Is he fully fit for a full match? Clearly rotation is going to happen and the rotation of the top three is common. Lolos, Arfield and N'lundulu in the closing stages would seemingly be the play.

[BWFC_Insane]

That would be Charles and Collins behind Vic surely? Can’t see Dion starting next week. Assume what we saw today is team that starts next week barring injury - we should be wrapping them up in cotton wool this week.

[GhostoftheBok]

It'll be a box midfield (or two 10s, however you like to phrase it). Sheehan + Thommo deep with Collins + probably Arfield ahead of them. Vic will most likely play as centre forward.

There's no issue with the physicality in there. It's a 4 on 3 against most sides. Thommo and Arfield have an edge to them, Sheehan wins more turnovers than he has any right to and Collins works hard defensively.

There's a spare centre half to step-up to win headers most the time.

The press triggers are set up for that 4-man trap and the release is the switch to the opposite wingback running in behind.

It's worked a treat so far in preseason, we will have to wait and see how we do in competitive games.

We hit Schon probably 6-7 in that first hour, following a midfield turnover. Often with the switch from Toal. It created 3 good openings, but the timing of the forward's run was off for one and the cross wasn't quite there for the other two.

On the right we look like we're expecting Armstrong (that may not be true, but it looks it). We are playing for the underlap on that flank, with a #10 switching wide as an orthodox 7. That leaves the RWB free to cut in and act as an inside forward. Cogley was in that position with time and runners 2-3 times in the first half. A more natural (and left-footed) attacker would have killed them.

We're playing to shut down the space in front of the back three and leave them less exposed. It does leave us vulnerable to an outside-to-inside run around the wide centre back, which teams will target. It should solidify us, though. Each mid has far less space to cover now and fewer triggers to react to.

[Mar]

That would be Charles and Collins behind Vic surely? Can’t see Dion starting next week. Assume what we saw today is team that starts next week barring injury - we should be wrapping them up in cotton wool this week.

Rotate the triangle up top however you see fit. I'd expect Collins to be further wide compared to the other two, but hard to represent on the text.

[TANGODANCER]

Full voltage ahead today, the age of steam's redundant and the Orient Express is electrified.

As ever, patience is the watchword. Only actual league games as they happen will show where we're at as we go. Change is happening by the minute with youth no longer a mandate. Old enough/good enough has never been a truer saying. Not losing used to be a brownie point, now it's a loss of two. We might be caught a bit between two stools with too many options for places and picking a bench is as crucial as picking the start team. Players want to play not just be cheer-leaders and personally, I'd like to see a will-o-the-wisp type, like a Mordric, De Bruyne, etc who has no set in stone position but can wander about at will. Dempsey isn't too far off what I mean. I think Evatt is on the right lines; just give him time.

[GhostoftheBok]

It's interesting looking at the squad numbers and trying to figure out a bench for Orient from those who are fit.

Leaving aside the prospect of a new arrival this week and assuming the 11 from Vale is the 11 for Saturday, there are big gaps.

Charles, Lolos, Nlundulu, Morley, Johnston...then what? Bring Conway into the reckoning and roll the dice on Randell?

It'll be a tad tight early doors. Just hope that doesn't cause any more injuries.

[BWFC_Insane]

I tried listening to the radio Manchester interview. With an open mind. But no. He’s completely insufferable. Suggests there are only two way to play football. How we do. Or long ball. And you can’t do both. And if you don’t play how we do you will be relegated from the championship if you get there. But how we play makes it harder to get promoted in the first place.


AHHHHHHHH!

[TANGODANCER]

I tried listening to the radio Manchester interview. With an open mind. But no. He’s completely insufferable. Suggests there are only two way to play football. How we do. Or long ball. And you can’t do both. And if you don’t play how we do you will be relegated from the championship if you get there. But how we play makes it harder to get promoted in the first place.


AHHHHHHHH!

For xxx's sake give the man a chance Insaney, the season hasn't even starting yet.. Are you a better judge than the manager? With a bit of elasticity, he's right in principle, you can mix styles any time depending on the opposition or how the game's going. The end result is all that really matters whether you're Real Madrid or Moss Bank Rovers.

[GhostoftheBok]

It's also misleading.

Evatt was asked by Jack whether he'd agree with the "broad stroke" idea that there are basically two ways to play. He was asked to deal with a very broad question in a very broad way.

He provided a detailed answer, dealing with recruitment problems in lower divisions.

[BWFC_Insane]

It's also misleading.

Evatt was asked by Jack whether he'd agree with the "broad stroke" idea that there are basically two ways to play. He was asked to deal with a very broad question in a very broad way.

He provided a detailed answer, dealing with recruitment problems in lower divisions.

He could have said ‘no it’s not that simple, Man City and Liverpool are completely different but neither play long ball’. But instead he said ‘yeah basically I think there are two ways and we can’t go long because we have no physicality up top’.

Instead of saying ‘look it went wrong and we have to fix it’ he’s still deep down of the view that there is nothing he could do, and as long as we play some nice football nothing else matters.

Edit: if he then goes onto say in ‘big games’ we are working on a more pragmatic way to play that simplifies it for the players because it’s hard to do what we do under pressure so they need a simplified way of dealing with big pressure games.

Sounds like there are maybe more than two ways to play football…

[Prufrock]

...and that he understands and accepts that?

And so I'm not sure what the issue is. I mean I know it's summer but come on.

[GhostoftheBok]

...and that he understands and accepts that?

And so I'm not sure what the issue is. I mean I know it's summer but come on.

Bizarre, isn't it? Evatt says there are multiple ways to play within the overarching style and the complaint is apparently that he doesn't know there are multiple ways to play within the overarching style.