What's the plan Jim?

[Jettyson]

Defend for 60 mins then try and score?
That won't work.
Hoof the ball up the pitch to a single striker?
That won't work either.
New plan required asap.

[Phil Anderer]

Defend for 60 mins then try and score?
That won't work.
Hoof the ball up the pitch to a single striker?
That won't work either.
New plan required asap.

So what's your suggestion Jettyson? Instead of just being negative, say how you think it should be improved. For me, ball on the deck, coherent passing, but the two main improvements needed from Saturday are more accurate shooting (leave Ellison on the bench, or we'll just lose more footballs) and tighter defence, starting with tighter marking instead of leaving too much space. On the positive, Saturday we did at least go out to try to win the game from the off, or that's how it looked to me. I always felt we looked like we could score, and the 8 missed or saved chances that immediately spring to mind support this. It's not all negative from my point of view.

[mrpotatohead]

5 at the back ,2 up front , a bit of width and wing play , make the game exiting to watch as everyone expects us to lose anyway.

[Jettyson]

Phil Anderer,
Sat was better than Tuesday.Fleming was awful. We didn't have the shooting boots on.
I would play 4/2/1/3 AND TELL THE FULL BACKS TO MARK THEIR PLAYERS INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM 20 YARDS (BEELEY).
Same at the back unless McGowan is fit; if so Beeley goes.
2 holding midfield (Goodall/Kenyon)
Dev as central attacking midfield .
Barky/Miller/and I would stick with Ellison.
Play via Dev to put the ball into the channels for Barky & co to run onto. Get behind their back four.
Ellison is useful as he is one of few who will win headers.

[Phil Anderer]

Phil Anderer,
Sat was better than Tuesday.Fleming was awful. We didn't have the shooting boots on.
I would play 4/2/1/3 AND TELL THE FULL BACKS TO MARK THEIR PLAYERS INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM 20 YARDS (BEELEY).
Same at the back unless McGowan is fit; if so Beeley goes.
2 holding midfield (Goodall/Kenyon)
Dev as central attacking midfield .
Barky/Miller/and I would stick with Ellison.
Play via Dev to put the ball into the channels for Barky & co to run onto. Get behind their back four.
Ellison is useful as he is one of few who will win headers.

Ellison may win headers, but he was most guilty of squandering shooting opportunities on Saturday, which is why I'd drop him. From in or around the 6 yard box on Saturday he shot wide on the far side twice and shot over the top of the Bay Radio stand on another. Before all of that he dollied a free kick straight into the keeper's hands. He couldn't hit a barn door from 5 paces, so he shouldn't be on the pitch in an attacking role, in my book.

[Jettyson]

Phil Anderer,
Sat was better than Tuesday.Fleming was awful. We didn't have the shooting boots on.
I would play 4/2/1/3 AND TELL THE FULL BACKS TO MARK THEIR PLAYERS INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM 20 YARDS (BEELEY).
Same at the back unless McGowan is fit; if so Beeley goes.
2 holding midfield (Goodall/Kenyon)
Dev as central attacking midfield .
Barky/Miller/and I would stick with Ellison.
Play via Dev to put the ball into the channels for Barky & co to run onto. Get behind their back four.
Ellison is useful as he is one of few who will win headers.

Ellison may win headers, but he was most guilty of squandering shooting opportunities on Saturday, which is why I'd drop him. From in or around the 6yard box on Saturday he shot wide on the far side twice and shot over the top of the Bay Radio stand on another. Before all of that he dollied a free kick straight into the keeper's hands. He couldn't hit a barn door from 5 paces, so he shouldn't be on the pitch in an attacking role, in my book.

Who instead then?
Who else can win headers and crucially rough up their back 4 if required?
Saturday he missed a few, given. Barky missed a 1v1. Bad day at the office?
Edit; good to have a tactical debate.Jim are you reading this?

[Christies Child]

I'd like to see Kevin in a more central midfield role saving energy and using his height to win some balls in the air rather than him charging about like a headless chicken which he has (for me) been doing of late. I suspect he's given a free role but he needs to be given a more central role dictating play very much in the Drummy style.

[BerlinWaller]

The conditions should dictate the game plan tonight. Lets get the wind behind us and bombard them with high balls and high pressing. It is not the night to be trying to pass it round and retain possession. Lets turn it in to a battle and really get at the southern softies.

[Jettyson]

I'd like to see Kevin in a more central midfield role saving energy and using his height to win some balls in the air rather than him charging about like a headless chicken which he has (for me) been doing of late. I suspect he's given a free role but he needs to be given a more central role dictating play very much in the Drummy style.

Play him as one of the defensive midfield? But then who out wide?

[Phil Anderer]

Phil Anderer,
Sat was better than Tuesday.Fleming was awful. We didn't have the shooting boots on.
I would play 4/2/1/3 AND TELL THE FULL BACKS TO MARK THEIR PLAYERS INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM 20 YARDS (BEELEY).
Same at the back unless McGowan is fit; if so Beeley goes.
2 holding midfield (Goodall/Kenyon)
Dev as central attacking midfield .
Barky/Miller/and I would stick with Ellison.
Play via Dev to put the ball into the channels for Barky & co to run onto. Get behind their back four.
Ellison is useful as he is one of few who will win headers.

Ellison may win headers, but he was most guilty of squandering shooting opportunities on Saturday, which is why I'd drop him. From in or around the 6yard box on Saturday he shot wide on the far side twice and shot over the top of the Bay Radio stand on another. Before all of that he dollied a free kick straight into the keeper's hands. He couldn't hit a barn door from 5 paces, so he shouldn't be on the pitch in an attacking role, in my book.

Who instead then?
Who else can win headers and crucially rough up their back 4 if required?
Saturday he missed a few, given. Barky missed a 1v1. Bad day at the office?

I'd play Mullin & Miller up front together. Mullin tries to put himself about a bit and annoy people. Maybe not as effective at that as Ellison, but hey. As for winning headers, don't we all want the ball played on the ground? We lose too many in the air even with Ellison on the field, so keep him off and it might discourage the high ball and improve the overall play.

The conditions should dictate the game plan tonight. Lets get the wind behind us and bombard them with high balls and high pressing. It is not the night to be trying to pass it round and retain possession. Lets turn it in to a battle and really get at the southern softies.

How do we do that for 90 minutes? We have to change ends at half time.

[Jettyson]

Phil,
When Baz takes goal kicks his options are Ellison or Barky.No one else wins headers.Against the wind by all means play it short but otherwise we need players who can win headers.

[steve mfc]

We have to improve defensively to stand any chance of getting a result and as others have said close the opposition down and get tight there's no point in getting to within a couple of yards then stopping and giving them a chance to pick out a pass.

To be fair to Kev he has the knack of getting into good positions ( apart from when he gets caught offside ) and he is one of our best finishers so i would back him to score tonight if he gets a chance.

[marky No.1]

Trying to keep it tight and 0.0 will be a waste of time and a point is not much good either quite frankly, so personally I would rather lose while trying to get into them - it is the only way to get people off his back..
Please don't worry primarily about their strike force, concentrate, close them down and dont hoof the ball up to Kevs head time after time.

[Phil Anderer]

We have to improve defensively to stand any chance of getting a result and as others have said close the opposition down and get tight there's no point in getting to within a couple of yards then stopping and giving them a chance to pick out a pass.

To be fair to Kev he has the knack of getting into good positions ( apart from when he gets caught offside ) and he is one of our best finishers so i would back him to score tonight if he gets a chance.

With that comment, I take it you weren't there Saturday. To be honest, for some time now, when Kev steps up to take a free kick, I've expected it to fly high or wide. I know this looks like a personal vendetta against Kev, but I think he's been a damn good servant to the club, I just think he's gone well off the boil, and I can only recall one really solid performance from him so far this season. I think we ought to explore other options.

When Baz takes goal kicks his options are Ellison or Barky.No one else wins headers.Against the wind by all means play it short but otherwise we need players who can win headers.

If Baz could react and release quicker, and if the defenders were more mobile creating space for themselves, then the 'on the ground' option would present itself more frequently, particularly important when there's a high wind.

[steve mfc]

We have to improve defensively to stand any chance of getting a result and as others have said close the opposition down and get tight there's no point in getting to within a couple of yards then stopping and giving them a chance to pick out a pass.

To be fair to Kev he has the knack of getting into good positions ( apart from when he gets caught offside ) and he is one of our best finishers so i would back him to score tonight if he gets a chance.

With that comment, I take it you weren't there Saturday. To be honest, for some time now, when Kev steps up to take a free kick, I've expected it to fly high or wide. I know this looks like a personal vendetta against Kev, but I think he's been a damn good servant to the club, I just think he's gone well off the boil, and I can only recall one really solid performance from him so far this season. I think we ought to explore other options.

When Baz takes goal kicks his options are Ellison or Barky.No one else wins headers.Against the wind by all means play it short but otherwise we need players who can win headers.

If Baz could react and release quicker, and if the defenders were more mobile creating space for themselves, then the 'on the ground' option would present itself more frequently, particularly important when there's a high wind.

I was there, yes he did miss some chances but then again they all do, thats not to say i would start him in every game but i stand by my original comments. Who would you say is a better finisher than Kev, Miller possibly but thats about it for me.

[Starandcrescent]

We will play 4-2-3-1.
Depending on the conditions, nothing. We pass the ball around whatever. We will keep the ball on the ground and play football. If it doesn't go as expected or we need a goal, expect the big centre forward just signed to come on and change to 4-4-2.
Bennett, Roberts and McNulty will be the dangermen for us.
Play up Pompey

[Blackpool Shrimp]

Same team as SAT so anyone wanting mullin in for ellison will not be happy

[John L]

Defend for 60 mins then try and score?
That won't work.
Hoof the ball up the pitch to a single striker?
That won't work either.
New plan required asap.

Send the keeper up for a last minute corner. The old ones are the best!